bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effective Modeling and Analysis of Salt-Cavern Natural-Gas Storage
Authors: Barajas Pablo , Civan Faruk
Published: March 2015

A rigorous modeling approach is developed for effective management and inventory analysis of natural-gas storage in underground salt caverns by considering the interactions of storage gas with surface facilities through wells and surrounding salt formations. Computational-fluid-dynamics (CFD) and heat-transfer-modeling approaches are used to simulate the strongly coupled fluid-mechanics and heat-transfer problems involving cavern gas storage. Implementation of effective numerical methods and algorithms successfully generates the wellbore-temperature and -pressure distributions; storage-gas-temperature, -pressure, and -velocity distributions; and temperature and pressure distributions of the gas leaking into the surrounding naturally fractured salt formation. Practical applications are performed concerning typical gas-injection, -storage, and -production scenarios and inventory analyses for both regular- and irregular-shaped caverns. Reversible and irreversible losses of natural gas into surrounding salt formations through natural defects, such as natural fractures, and defects resulting from deformation, ballooning, and aging effects are taken into account. The maximum amounts of gas that can be stored up to the pressure-safety limit of caverns are shown to vary with cavern shapes. Thus, the cavern-gas inventory analysis is not only dependent on temperature, pressure, and total volume of the cavern, but also the cavern shape. Accurate prediction of the natural-gas storage performance and inventories on the basis of the present comprehensive simulation approach can be instrumental in effective management and balancing of the natural-gas supply and demand.
Produced-Water-Reinjection Design and Uncertainties Assessment
Authors: Ochi J.. , Dexheimer D.. , Corpel P.V.. V.
Published: March 2015

Produced-water reinjection (PWRI) is an important strategy for deriving value from waste water (Abou Sayed et al. 2005), but its implementation can face challenges related to injectivity and safety issues. Reinjection in a fracturing regime is often the only option to guarantee the sustainability of injectivity (Detienne et al. 2005), but it can present some risks to be anticipated early in the design phase.

The first objective of a PWRI-design study is to supply water-quality specifications to petroleum architects (in terms of solid and oil contents) to allow for the design of water-treatment facilities. The second objective is to supply injection-pressure specifications for the design of injection pumps and an injection network. These specifications must allow for sustaining well injectivity over the life of the field, while preventing any risk of caprock failure.

The water-quality specification is of prime importance because a maximum of contaminant injection is sought to minimize the cost related to water treatment, but at the same time, it must prevent any injectivity loss or excessive increase of pressure beyond which fracture confinement is no longer possible.

Water quality and injection pressure are thus linked to each other. They are deduced by simulation on a case-by-case basis. The modeling approach used by Total was presented in previous publications (Detienne et al. 1998, 2005; Ochi et al. 2007). The objective of this paper is to detail the manner in which the two parameters are deduced when uncertainties on input data are considered. Indeed, a workflow for uncertainty management based on experimental design and Monte Carlo theories was implemented to combine the simultaneous effect of a relatively large number of uncertain parameters, each of them being characterized by its own probabilistic distribution. Two-thousand simulations were run systematically, and water-quality and injection-pressure specifications were supplied with a probabilistic value (P10, P50, and P90). Application of this approach to real-design examples is detailed and discussed in this paper.
Multivariate Analysis and Data Mining of Well-Stimulation Data by Use of Classification-and-Regression Tree With Enhanced Interpretation and Prediction Capabilities
Authors: Maucec Marko , Singh Ajay P. , Bhattacharya Srimoyee , Yarus Jeffrey M. , Fulton Dwight D. , Orth Jon M.
Published: March 2015

The well-treatment program is an important part of the field-development plan, and certain variables, such as job-pause time (JPT) and fracture screenout, can affect its efficiency. JPT is the time during which pumping is paused between subsequent treatments of a job. Screenout occurs because of a sudden restriction of fluid flow inside the fracture and through the perforation. The objectives of this work are to investigate whether, from existing data, it is possible to find patterns in significant variables that affect the extreme values of JPT in a particular region, and what is the most critical variable causing screenout. The answers are sought by applying a classification-and-regression tree (CART) to both categorical and continuous variables in the database. The practical application of CART is presented by use of case studies containing JPT and screenout. Significant variables are found that affect the response variables, and predictor variables are ranked in the hierarchal order of their importance. Such information can be used to control predictor variables that cause high JPT or screenout.

The results are outlined in an intuitive way, including categorical, continuous, and missing values. Because CART is a data-driven, deterministic model, one cannot calculate the confidence interval of the predicted response. The confidence in results is purely because of historical values, and the accuracy of the result produced by a tree model depends on the quality of recorded data measured in terms of volume, reliability, and consistency. The prediction capability of CART is enhanced by use of the normal-score transform and by dividing the data set into smaller groups by use of clustering. The approach presented in this paper analyzes a data set under limited information and high uncertainty and should lead to developing methodology for generating proxy models to find future success indices (e.g., one for drilling efficiency or production from a fracture). This could standardize stimulation and generate decision practices to save costs in field development and the optimization process.
Numerical Simulation to Reduce NOx of Diesel Engine Urea-SCR System
Authors: Hui Zhang , Boyan Xu , Chuansheng Wang
Published: March 2015

By using computational fluid dynamics and chemical reaction dynamics method, the mathematical model of
SCR (selective catalytic reduction) system was established. On the basis of the verified feasibility, by CFD numerical
analytical method, the reducing agent inside the catalysts concentration distribution was compared under different added
urea schemes. Jet direction and the form of fuel injector were studied on the basis of the effects of reducing agent
concentration distribution. The simulation result shows good agreement with the experimental data. The simulated results
can be utilized in optimization design of the diesel SCR catalyst.
Narcissism and Defending Self-Esteem. An Exploratory Study based on Self-characterizations
Authors: Veronese Guido , Procaccia Rossella , Ruggiero Giovanni M. , Sassaroli Sandra , Castiglioni Marco
Published: March 2015

The present qualitative study aims at investigating the role of socio-relational variables in the construction of threats to self-esteem, grandiosity, and relaxation in a non-clinical sample of 35 young university students. The work provides fresh experimental evidence of the structural analogy observed in clinical settings between constructions of threat to self-esteem and grandiose fantasies. We hypothesize that the relational dimension would be more strongly present than either biological or psychological dimensions.The results show that descriptions of relaxation differ significantly from their characterizations of the other two domains. Specifically we found greater continuity and narrative connection between the aspects of threat and grandiosity, while the domain of relaxation showed a more “isolated” pattern.
A Novel Approach to Detect Tubing Leakage in Carbon Dioxide (CO)
Injection Wells via an Efficient Annular Pressure Monitoring
Authors: Ouyang Liang-Biao
Published: March 2015

Due to the unique corrosion potential and safety hazards of carbon dioxide (CO), tubing leakage of CO in a
CO injection well may occur and lead to undesired consequences to environment, human being and facility. As a result,
quick detection of any carbon dioxide leakage and accurate identification of leakage location are extremely beneficial to
obtain critical information to fix the leakage in a prompt manner, prevent incidents / injury / casualty, and achieve high
standards of operational safety. Annular pressure monitoring has been identified as an effective and reliable approach for
detecting tubing and casing leakage of fluids (including hazardous gas like CO) in a well. Accurate prediction of annular
pressure change associated with the leakage will certainly help the operation. In an effort to assess annular pressure characteristics
and thus improve understanding of tubing leakage, a multiphase dynamic modeling approach has been applied
to simulate the carbon dioxide, completion brine and formation water’s flow and associated heat transfer processes along
wellbore, tubing and annulus in carbon dioxide injection wells designed for carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) [1]
projects. Two operational scenarios – one for routine CO injection and another for well shut-in – have been considered in
the investigation. Key parameters that may have significant impacts on the process have been investigated. On the basis of
the investigation, a novel approach has been proposed in the paper for quickly detecting the leakage of carbon dioxide in a
CO injection well. Two simple equations have been developed to pinpoint the leakage location by means of real-time
measurement and monitoring of the change in annular pressure. Recommendations based on a series of dynamic simulation
results have been provided and can be readily incorporated into detailed operating procedures to enhance carbon dioxide
injection wells’ operational safety.
Fault Classification of Hydroelectric Generating Unit Based on Improved Evidence Theory
Authors: Cheng Jiatang , Ai Li , Duan Zhimei , Xiong Yan
Published: March 2015

Aiming at the problem of the conventional vibration fault diagnosis technology with inconsistent result of a
hydroelectric generating unit, an information fusion method was proposed based on the improved evidence theory. In this
algorithm, the original evidence was amended by the credibility factor, and then the synthesis rule of standard evidence
theory was utilized to carry out information fusion. The results show that the proposed method can obtain any definitive
conclusion even if there is high conflict evidence in the synthesis evidence process, and may avoid the divergent
phenomenon when the consistent evidence is fused, and is suitable for the fault classification of hydroelectric generating
unit.
Magnetohydrodynamic flow and heat transfer of a Jeffrey fluid towards a stretching vertical surface
Authors: Ahmad Kartini , Ishak Anuar
Published: March 2015

This study investigates the steady-mixed convection boundary layer flow near
a stagnation point that runs about a linearly stretched vertical surface
filled with a Jeffery fluid in the presence of a transverse magnetic field.
It is assumed that the external velocity impinges normally to the wall and
the wall temperature varies linearly with the distance from the stagnation
point. The governing partial differential equations that govern the fluid
flow are transformed into a set of coupled ordinary differential equations,
which are then solved numerically using a finite-difference scheme. The
numerical results are presented for some values of parameters, namely the
Deborah number ?, the Prandtl number Pr, the magnetic parameter M and the
mixed convection parameter ?, for both assisting and opposing flows.
Climate change effects and UV-B radiation in the Vojvodina region, Serbia under the SRES-A2
Authors: Malinovic-Milicevic Slavica , Mihailovic Dragutin , Dreskovic Nusret , Djurdjevic Vladimir , Mimic Gordan , Arsenic Ilija
Published: March 2015

In this article we considered the extreme temperatures, precipitation and
UV-B radiation in Vojvodina region, Serbia. We describe the actual climate
conditions for the period 1981?2007 and applied a dynamic downscaling
technique using the EBU-POM regional coupled climate model under the SRES-A2
scenario to assess the changes for the period 2021-2100. The results indicate
that a warmer and drier climate in the Vojvodina region can be expected at
the end of the century. Projection of climate indicates to a strong increase
in the mean annual minimum temperatures, and much smaller increase in the
mean annual maximum temperatures. The increase of both extreme temperatures
is predicted to be the highest in the winter and the lowest in the summer.
Mean annual precipitation is projected to increase toward the end of the
first half of the 21st century and to decrease for the last 30 years of the
21st century. Precipitation amount will be the highest during the winter and
spring. The model simulations show that, by the end of this century, annual
mean UV-B dose will recover by 5.2%. Recovery will be faster in the first
half of the 21st century and more slowly later on. The UV-B doses recovery is
expected to be the highest during the autumn and spring.
Enhanced heat transfer characteristics of conjugated air jet impingement on a finned heat sink
Authors: Qiu Shuxia , Xu Peng , Geng Liping , Mujumdar Arun , Jiang Zhouting , Yang Jinghua
Published: March 2015

Air jet impingement is one of the effective cooling techniques employed in
micro-electronic industry. To enhance the heat transfer performance, a
cooling system with air jet impingement on a finned heat sink is evaluated
via the computational fluid dynamics method. A two-dimensional confined slot
air impinging on a finned flat plate is modeled. The numerical model is
validated by comparison of the computed Nusselt number distribution on the
impingement target with published experimental results. The flow
characteristics and heat transfer performance of jet impingement on both of
smooth and finned heat sinks are compared. It is observed that jet
impingement over finned target plate improves the cooling performance
significantly. A dimensionless heat transfer enhancement factor is
introduced to quantify the effect of jet flow Reynolds number on the finned
surface. The effect of rectangular fin dimensions on impingement heat
transfer rate is discussed in order to optimize the cooling system. Also,
the computed flow and thermal fields of the air impingement system are
examined to explore the physical mechanisms for heat transfer enhancement.
Survival rate and growth in the wild of sea trout (Salmo trutta L.) fry obtained using frozen semen
Authors: Domagała Józef , Dziewulska Katarzyna , Czerniawski Robert
Published: March 2015

The aim of the study was to assess the growth and development of sea trout, Salmo trutta L., fry obtained from frozen, thawed semen after the fish had been released into the wild and were feeding there. The semen was cryopreserved with either methanol (MeOH) or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Fresh eggs were collected and fertilized with the thawed semen. The control was eggs fertilized with fresh semen that had been kept on ice. The eggs were incubated and reared in a closed recirculating system. The fertilized eggs were counted for visible eye pigment. After rearing, three groups of fish were tagged and stocked into a stream. The fish aged 6 months were caught from the stream. The fish were measured, weighed, identified to which experimental variant they belonged, and their survival rate was estimated. No significant differences in survival rate, length, weight, or condition factor among the control, DMSO, and MeOH groups were noted during larval development in a closed recirculating system. These parameters were also similar in the control and experimental groups after the fish had grow in a natural stream. The use of frozen semen to fertilize fresh sea trout eggs resulted in a normal incubation process, larval stage, and regular fry growth and survival, both under laboratory conditions, and, most importantly, in the wild. The results indicate it is possible to use frozen semen for fry production and the restoration of wild fish populations.
Cell composition of the head kidney of European chub (Squalius cephalus L. )
Authors: Kondera Elżbieta
Published: March 2015

The aim of the present study was to perform quantitative and qualitative evaluations of developing blood cells in the head kidney of European chub, Squalius cephalus (L.). Twenty-one types of hematopoietic precursors and mature cells were identified in head kidneys isolated from ten juvenile fish. The lymphoid lineage was the most abundant, followed by granuloid, erythroid, thrombocytoid, blast, and monocytoid cells. The lymphocyte was the most frequently occurring cell in the kidney and the most numerous of the lymphoid cells. The neutrophilic lineage was the most numerous among the granuloid cells. The erythropoietic series comprised five stages (erythroblasts: basophilic, polychromatic, orthochromatic; young and mature erythrocytes), more than the numbers of developmental stages of any other lineages. Juvenile cells were more abundant than mature stages in the head kidney. Only mature eosinophils and thrombocytes were found in chub hematopoietic tissue. The cellular composition in chub hematopoietic tissue was similar to that in other fish species.
Finite Element Modelling for Tensile Behaviour of Thermally Bonded Nonwoven Fabric
Authors: Gao Xiaoping , Wang Liping
Published: March 2015

A nonwoven fabric has been widely used in geotextile engineering in recent years; its tensile strength is an important behaviour. Since the fibre distributions in nonwoven fabrics are random and discontinuous, the unit-cell model of a nonwoven fabric cannot be developed to simulate its tensile behaviour. This article presents our research on using finite element method (FEM) to study the tensile behaviour of a nonwoven fabric in macro-scale based on the classical laminate composite theory. The laminate orientation was considered with orientation distribution function of fibres, which has been obtained by analysing the data acquired from scanning electron microscopy with Hough Transform. The FE model of a nonwoven fabric was developed using ABAQUS software; the required engineering constants of a nonwoven fabric were obtained from experimental data. Finally, the nonwoven specimens were stretched along with machine direction and cross direction. The experimental stress-strain curves were compared with the results of FE simulations. The approximate agreement proves the validity of an FE model, which could be used to precisely simulate the stress relaxation, strain creep, bending and shear property of a nonwoven fabric.
Sticking with Spanish: Reasons for Study and Motivation Maintenance in Adult Beginner Distance Language Learners
Authors: Furnborough Concha , Coleman James A.
Published: March 2015

This paper examines the reasons for study of adult beginner distance learners of Spanish and the relationships between those reasons and motivation maintenance. A survey of 563 Open University UK students found motivational orientations distinct from those of young people in earlier studies. Adult learners who maintained their motivation also demonstrated a greater number of reasons for study. Their motivation embraced intrinsic and extrinsic, integrative and instrumental orientations, short-term and long-term ambitions, and an L2 self both ideal and realistically attainable. During their course module they focused more consistently than others on the language skills they had targeted, and expressed increased enjoyment of the learning experience. This study suggests that achieving ‘softer’ short-term goals encourages persistence towards longer-term goals which reflect the ideal L2 self.
Accreditation of Moocs
Authors: Pundak David , Sabag Nissim , Trotskovsky Elena
Published: March 2015

Higher education institutions face conflicting challenges; they must equip students with up-to-date knowledge in fields in which knowledge is constantly being renewed, while they also need to guide students to examine reality through broad-based observation and consider different scientific disciplines. They operate within different constrictions such as: learning program boundaries, budgetary constrictions, and lack of accessibility to experts in different areas, and the range of courses offered to students is limited. To cope with these constrictions, Ort Braude Academic College of Engineering opened an experimental program. As part of this program, students were allowed to study MOOC courses under the college’s supervision, and were eligible for accreditation if they completed the courses successfully. Only 15 out of the 600 students offered the program, registered for these courses. Only seven were accepted for the program. This paper describes the background for the college’s decision, the registration process and supervision of students, detailing students’ challenges and achievements in the MOOC courses. Students who completed the MOOC courses reported that they enjoyed meaningful learning, requiring serious efforts in comparison to the courses that the MOOC courses replaced. Given this positive feedback by the students, it was decided to continue with the experiment.
The Effect Of Some Plant Growth Regulators And Their Combination With Methyl Jasmonate On Anthocyanin Formation In Roots Of Kalanchoe Blossfeldiana
Authors: Góraj Justyna , Węgrzynowicz-Lesiak Elżbieta , Saniewski Marian
Published: March 2015

In this study, we investigated the effect of plant growth regulators (PGRs) - auxins, gibberellin, cytokinin, abscisic acid, brassinosteroid, ethylene and their interaction with methyl jasmonate (JA-Me) applied to roots of the whole plants Kalanchoe blossfeldiana on the accumulation of anthocyanins in roots. The highest stimulation of anthocyanins synthesis was stated with application of JA-Me alone. In response to treatments with the other tested PGRs, the content of anthocyanins in roots of a whole plant was different depending on the concentration of the PGR when being applied alone or together with JA-Me. Auxin, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) at a concentration of 50 mg·L-1, indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) at 5 mg·L-1 and abscisic acid (ABA) at 10 mg·L-1 induced anthocyanin accumulation with approximately 60-115% compared to the control while 24-epibrassinolid (epiBL), gibberellic acid (GA3) and 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) had no effect on the anthocyanin accumulation. The simultaneous administration of the PGRs with JA-Me usually resulted in the accumulation of anthocyanins in roots in a manner similar to that caused by JA-Me. PGRs applied to isolated roots did not stimulate anthocyanin accumulation, except for the combination of JA-Me with 50 mg·L-1 IAA.

The results indicate that in K. blossfeldiana, the aboveground parts of the plant play an important role in the biosynthesis of anthocyanins in roots.
The Influence Of Cultivation System On Biochemical Content Of Strawberry Fruits
Authors: Laugale Valda , Strautina Sarmite , Krasnova Inta , Seglina Dalija , Kampuss Kaspars
Published: March 2015

Three cultivars ‘Zefyr’, ‘Honoeoye’ and ‘Polka’ were grown on beds mulched with black plastic or without it, as well as in low tunnels covered by transparent polyethylene film or Agronet (Pegas agro, 17 g·m-2), or without covering. The quality of fruits determined by content of ascorbic acid, titratable acidity, soluble solids, total content of phenolics and anthocyanins, antiradical activity, and radical scavenging activity (RSA) was evaluated during two seasons. Significant differences in phytochemical contents within strawberry cultivars, production seasons and cultivation methods were stated. Cultivar had the greatest influence on the content of ascorbic acid, total phenolics and RSA among all the studied factors. The amount of anthocyanins was mainly influenced by plant covering, while the annual climatic conditions had the greatest impact on the amount of titratable acidity and soluble solids. Soil mulching had the lowest influence on the chemical content of fruits.
Suitability Of Sixteen Asparagus Cultivars For Growing In Polish Environmental Conditions
Authors: Knaflewski Mikołaj , Kałużewicz Alina , Chen Wenjing , Zaworska Anna , Krzesiński Włodzimierz
Published: March 2015

Green spear yield of 16 asparagus cultivars originating from six countries was assessed from 2011 to 2013. There were considerable differences in total, marketable and early yields between the cultivars. The quality of harvested spears also varied remarkably. On average, the highest mean total and marketable yields from 3 years of investigation came from Dutch cultivars ‘Gijnlim’ and ‘Cumulus’ and German cv. ‘Mondeo’. The lowest yields were found in New Zealand cultivars ‘Pacific Challenger’ and ‘Pacific 2000’. The greatest mean marketable spear weight was recorded for ‘Cumulus’, whereas the smallest spear weight was obtained from ‘Pacific 2000’, ‘H666’ and ‘NJ 953’. Cultivars ‘Gijnlim’, ‘Cumulus’ and ‘Mondeo’ produced the highest early yields, while ‘Pacific 2000’ and ‘Pacific Challenger’ produced the lowest.

In order to determine the dependence between summer stalks size of tested cultivars in the preceding year and their yields in the following year, regression equations and their correlation coefficients were estimated. The size of summer stalks was expressed as plant growth index, which was the multiplication of height and total cross-sectional area of summer stalks. There was a significant and positive correlation between plant growth index of tested cultivars and their yields in the next vegetation period. The correlation coefficients between these two parameters amounted to 0.62 and 0.68 in 2011/2012 and 2012/2013, respectively
Association of Functional Variants of Phase I and II Genes with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in a Serbian Population / Udruženost Funkcionalnih Varijanti Gena Faze I I Ii Sa Hroničnom Opstruktivnom Bolešću Pluća U Srpskoj Populaciji
Authors: Stanković Marija , Nikolić Aleksandra , Tomović Andrija , Mitić-Milikić Marija , Nagorni-Obradović Ljudmila , Petrović-Stanojević Nataša , Radojković Dragica
Published: March 2015

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complex disorder characterized by increased oxidative stress. Functional genetic variants of phase I and II genes are implicated in oxidants-antioxidants imbalance and may be involved in COPD development. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of cytochrome P450 (CYP), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and microsomal epoxide hydrolase (mEH) functional variants in the pathogenesis of COPD in a Serbian population.

Methods: The genotypes of 122 COPD patients and 100 controls with normal lung function were determined for CYP1A1 *1A/*2A, CYP2E1 *1A/*5B, GSTM1 null, GSTT1 null GSTP1 Ile105Val, mEH Tyr113His and mEH His139Arg gene variants.

Results: Results obtained showed that GSTM1 null variant was significantly more represented in COPD patients than in controls (61.5% vs. 47.0%; OR=1.80; p=0.042). Also, a significant difference was observed for combinations of GSTM1 null and GSTP1 105Val/(Val) (38.5% vs. 24.0%; OR=1.98; p=0.029), as well as for CYP1A1 *1A/*2A, GSTM1 null and mEH 113His/(His) genotypes (7.4% vs. 1.0%; OR=7.88; p=0.025).

Conclusions: These are the first data concerning the analysis of the variants of phase I and II genes in the pathogenesis of COPD in a Serbian population. Results obtained in this study open up the possibility for thorough analyses of the role of genetic factors in COPD on larger cohorts. Also, they implicate the importance of previously described genetic associations with COPD in our population, as well as reveal a new one, not reported so far.
Effect of L-Carnitine Supplementation on Circulating C-Reactive Protein Levels: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis / Uticaj Suplementacije L-Karnitinom Na Nivoe C-Reaktivnog Proteina U Cirkulaciji: Sistematski Pregled I Metaanaliza
Authors: Sahebkar Amirhossein
Published: March 2015

Background: C-reactive protein (CRP) has been proposed as a risk marker and risk factor of cardiovascular disease. There have been a number of clinical reports suggesting that supplementation with L-carnitine can modulate systemic inflammation and lower circulating CRP concentrations, but the results have not been consistent.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search in Medline, Scopus and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials was performed in December 2012 to identify clinical trials investigating the impact of oral L-carnitine supplementation on serum/plasma CRP concentration. A random effect method was used to calculate the combined effect size.

Results: Six studies comprising 541 cases and 546 controls met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis of included trials revealed a significant reduction of circulating CRP concentrations in subjects under L-carnitine intervention compared to the control treatment. The calculated combined weighted mean reduction in CRP concentrations was -0.39 mg/L [95% CI (-0.62 - -0.16)]. This effect size estimate was found to be robust and remained unaffected by the removal of each single study.

Conclusions: The overall findings of the present metaanalysis support the clinically relevant benefit of L-carnitine supplementation in lowering the circulating levels of CRP.
Families coping with the forensic anogenital colposcopic examination
Authors: Thastum Mikael , Beyer Marlene , Vesterby Charles Annie
Published: March 2015

Background: The anogenital colposcopic examination is not a routine procedure in the ordinary examination of children, and knowledge is sparse regarding child and parental anticipation and coping.

Methodology: The study included 60 children aged 4 - 15 years of age, examined on grounds of alleged sexual abuse, during a two year period. The physician rated the child using the Procedure Behavioral Rating Scale (PBRS). In addition, the child and parent completed a questionnaire concerning their experience.

Principal findings: Mean PBRS score was 1.3. Significant positive correlations were found between the parental expectations to the child’s anxiety regarding the examination, and the children’s anxiety, the experience of the examination being bad/ugly and the experience of pain during the examination. Significantly higher PBRS scores were found in the group with no perpetrator conviction.

Conclusions: High levels of parental and child distress emphasizes the need for better preparatory and stress reducing procedures, to avoid possible re-victimization and negative influence of parental anticipatory anxiety on the child. The finding of significantly higher PBRS scores in the group with no conviction could indicate, that lack of behavioral distress might be related to the possibility of sexual abuse.
Evaluation of Draw Beads Influence on Intricate Shape Stamping Drawing Process
Authors: Čada Radek , Tiller Petr
Published: March 2015

Paper concerns evaluation of influence of shape, size and location of rectangular and semicircular draw beads on sheet-metal forming process. For analysis the simulations of forming process of selected two types of intricate shape stampings with similar ground plan and with approximately the same height from steel strip DC04 with the use of models of optimal blanks made by BSE (Blank Size Engineering) modul of simulation program Dynaform 5.7 were carried out. From simulations of forming process in simulation program Dynaform 5.7 followed that the most suitable is drawing without use of draw beads because cracks in stamping bottom corners do not arise. In the case of undesirable secondary waviness in the walls of intricate shape stamping the drawing with draw beads could be used but it would be necessary to increase the radius at the bottom of both stampings alternatively to choose another material with higher formability.
Comparative Finite Element Method Analysis of Spiroid Worm Gear Drives Having Arched Profile and Having Linear Profile in Axial Section
Authors: Bodzás Sándor , Dudás Illés
Published: March 2015

With the knowledge of the advantageous characteristics of the cylindrical worm gear drives having arched profile in axial section and the conical worm gear drives having linear profile in axial section, a new geometric type conical worm gear drive has been designed and then manufactured, that is the conical worm gear drive having arched profile in axial section. Beside similar charging and marginal conditions in case of the same geometric spiroid worm gear drives having arched profile and having linear profile in axial section we have done comparative finite element method analysis for awarding of the strains, deformations and stresses of this gear drives.
Experimental Choice of Suitable Cutting Tool for Machining of Plastic
Authors: Sokova Dagmar , Cep Robert , Cepova Lenka , Kocifajova Simona
Published: March 2015

In today's competitive times overall development of the technology is moving somewhere further, including automotive industry, which went toward relieving material. One of the many materials which are applied in the automotive industry, are polymers. The aim of the article was to test three different types of cutters for machining material group N - nonferrous metals. The article was tested three different types of cutters from different vendors on electro material SKLOTEXTIT G 11 and samples size 12x100x500mm. The entire experiment was conducted in a company Slavík- Technické plasty on the machine tool SCM RECORD 220. In the conclusion are technical-evaluation, experimental results and conclusions for company.
Small Diameter Drilling Of Titanium Alloys on CNC Turning Machine
Authors: Czan Andrej , Martikan Anton , Pustay Jozef , Kuzdak Viktor , Mrazik Jozef
Published: March 2015

The article deals with drilling of titanium alloys, which are becoming more widely used in aerospace and automotive industry as well as in other sectors for its specific properties such as hardness, corrosion resistance, biocompatibility, etc. The aim of this article is basic research with focus on drilling conditions of titanium alloy using HSS drill bits with diameter ø2,3 mm with PVD coating and without coating on CNC turning machine Polygim Diamond 12 series. This research can support problem solutions in small diameter drilling.
Problems of Clamping Rotary Tools
Authors: Kunstfeld Jaroslav , Brychta Josef
Published: March 2015

The basic function of all rotary tool clamps used is to clamp a tool firmly and with as small deviation of the tool axis from the axis of rotation of the machine tool spindle as possible throughout the service life of both the tool and the clamp. Another important function of a clamp is to bring the cutting lubricant to the cutting point. A lubricant pressure of 60 and more bars is currently used there. To ensure the proper operation and long service life of the machine spindle, it is necessary that, especially in the case of high-speed machines, the clamp with the tool clamped meets the specified condition of the overall unbalance.
Simulation Comparison Studies of Stress and Deformation States of a Milling Head by Synchronous and Conventional Milling
Authors: Nizankowski Czeslaw , Otko Tadeusz , Piechnik Pawel
Published: March 2015

In the article, there were processed the results of simulation-comparison studies of stress and deformation states of a polymetallic, 5-edge milling head CoroMill 290, of company Sandvick Coromant, in the synchronous and conventional milling of steel surfaces with various cutting depths.
Selected Methods for Locking Screw Joints, Including the Use of Adhesives, Used in the Helicopter Construction
Authors: Rudawska Anna , Cisz Sławomir , Warda Tomasz
Published: March 2015

The paper presents the problems of preventing screw joints from self-loosening on one of helicopter. The research examines selected locking methods used in aircraft produced by different manufacturers. Experimental tests were performed to investigate the loosening torque of screw joints locked by various devices: cotter pin, locknut, centre punching, self-locking nut and adhesive. A comparative analysis of the investigated locking methods is made with respect to their locking strength and efficiency.
Study of the Wear of the Cutting Edge of Milling Heads
Authors: Stancekova Dana , Pilc Jozef , Struharnansky Jozef , Janota Miroslav , Varga Daniel
Published: March 2015

The article deals with analysis of the charakter of the interaction of milling tools with cutting edges of the primary contact with the working materials. Based on the monitoring of wear is observed various charakter and intensity of wear of the cutting wedge, which is dependent on the position of the milling tool frame to the workpiece. Given the issue is analyzed in the state, according to the proposed method is the primary interaction of tool and workpiece milling tool, in order to increase tool life.
Study on Risk Taking Behavior to HIV/AIDS Among Injecting Drug User’s in a Easter Region of Nepal
Authors: Bhatta Bimala , Shah Sashi Dev , Koirala Nabaraj
Published: March 2015

Introduction: Drug abuse is the Universal Problem and Nepal is not the exception. Different study and report have reported high prevalence of HIV/AIDS among the IDUs in Nepal. According to the estimated data, there are eighty thousands drug addicts in Nepal and 50 % of them inject drugs through syringe. In Morang district, there are 1316 reported IDUs and 5000 to 7000 estimated IDUs. Objectives: To assess the risk taking behavior among IDUs with respect to needle syringe exchange and unprotected sex. Methodology: Cross sectional study design was applied to study the risk taking behavior among IDUs users in eastern region of Nepal. A non-probability, snowballing sampling technique was adopted. SPSS and Epi-Info was used to analyze the data of the study. Results: Majority of injecting drug users in eastern region were from the age group 21-30 years (62.7 %), unmarried (64.9 %) and living in nuclear family (80 %). Despite of the fact that most of the IDUs were unmarried most of them were sexually active (72.7 %). The study revealed that condom use during sexual intercourse was high (87.5 %) the consistent and regular use was low (57.5%). Sharing of syringe and reuse of needle was high among the IDUs i.e. 40 % of the respondent. In general the study had revealed that the harm reduction approaches among IDUs were low. Conclusion: The findings suggest that the majority of injecting drug users in eastern region were from the age group 21-30 years, unmarried and living in nuclear family. The study had further highlight that unsafe sex, sharing of syringe and needle and improper cleaning of needle and syringes before sharing is indication of unsafe behavior practices by IDUs. Finally, the study highlighted statistically significant relationship between HIV/AIDS knowledge and uses of condom during sexual intercourse and high rate of syringe sharing among married respondents.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jonmc.v3i1.12233Journal of Nobel Medical CollegeVol. 3, No.1 Issue 6, 2014, Page: 26-30
Mapping Knowledge Exchange in Early Modern Europe: Intellectual and Technological Geographies and Network Representations
Authors: Van Den Heuvel Charles
Published: March 2015

This paper discusses the development of digital intellectual and technological geographies showing spatial distributions of information and proposes to combine these with network representations of actors and documents relevant for the history knowledge exchange in Early Modern Europe. The amount of technical and fortification drawings that were copied throughout Europe and the New World and the different nature of networks in which they were exchanged raises the question whether they belonged to the Republic of Letters, as some authors claim. We argue that instead of trying to explain knowledge exchange in Early Modern Europe by focusing on The Republic of Letters as one entity consisting of scholars , it might be more useful to reconstruct the spatial distribution of actors and of (non-)textual documents in virtual networks of knowledge. Inspired by the term “deep maps” coined by David Bodenhamer, we will introduce the concept of “deep networks” and explore the requirements for their future development. Hereto, we focus on the representation of historical evidence and of uncertainties in analyses of intellectual and technological letters and drawings and hybrid combinations of these.
The Potential Use-Value of Hume's ‘True Religion’
Authors: Willis Andre C.
Published: March 2015

Many hold that Hume was an atheist, that he despised the church, and that he was a devastating critic of religion. One cannot deny, however, the references to ‘true religion’ in his work, his sometimes seemingly favorable references to Deity, his call for religion in ‘every civilized community’, and his sense of (what has come to be known as) ‘natural belief’. The following essay describes a speculative Humean ‘true religion’ and discusses its potential use-value for contemporary philosophy of religion. It begins, anecdotally, with a description of Hume's happiness in France, which I attribute to the fact that Hume was not taken to be an atheist by the French reading public. The main argument is that while Hume was critical of ‘vulgar’ and ‘popular’ religion, his philosophical position did not deny our habit to accept a genuine theism that could, if informed by the calm passions, serve to ‘purify our hearts’ and bond us more closely together. Reconceiving Hume's ‘true religion’ in this way allows his insights to be used to support constructive efforts in the philosophy of religion. I conclude with a description of how this might work in light of three debates in religious studies and the philosophy of religion.
Adam Smith on the ‘Natural Principles of Religion’
Authors: Hanley Ryan Patrick
Published: March 2015

Smith scholars have become interested of late in his thoughts on religion, and particularly the question of the degree to which Smith's understanding of religion was indebted to the influence of his close friend Hume. Until now this debate has largely focused on three elements of Smith's religious thought: his personal beliefs, his conception of natural religion, and his treatment of revealed religion. Yet largely unexplored has been one of the most important elements of Smith's thinking about religion: namely his treatment of ‘the natural principles of religion’ in TMS 3.5. What follows aims to reconstruct this treatment and thereby shed light on what Smith might have meant by ‘the natural principles of religion’, and how he understood the relationship of religion and morality more generally – an understanding, it is argued, that significantly differs from Hume's, and reveals Smith to have been a critic of Hume's vision of the relationship of religion to morality, for all their agreements on other fronts.
In the Garden of God: Religion and Vigour in the Frame of Ferguson's Thought
Authors: Heath Eugene
Published: March 2015

Although Adam Ferguson is regarded typically as a secular thinker, the larger frame of this thought may reflect his theism. After recounting, in summary fashion, elements of Ferguson's life, the paper sets forth his embrace of standard doctrines of eighteenth-century natural theology, including the metaphysical basis between mind, activity, and moral happiness, as well as Ferguson's treatment of an important theme of Christian belief – human sinfulness. Turning to Ferguson's moral theory, it is argued that energetic and moralized activity, vigour, may be less an expression of ‘civic humanism’ than of Ferguson's practical experience within the Scottish Church. More important, the very idea of vigorous exertion manifests, in Ferguson's own view, the human reflection of the Divine. Even if Ferguson remains a secular thinker, there is reason to regard him as a man whose thought bears the marks of religious belief and institutional practice.
StAR Protein Stability in Y1 and Kin-8 Mouse Adrenocortical Cells
Authors: Clark Barbara , Hudson Elizabeth
Published: March 2015

The steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (STAR) protein expression is required for cholesterol transport into mitochondria to initiate steroidogenesis in the adrenal and gonads. STAR is synthesized as a 37 kDa precursor protein which is targeted to the mitochondria and imported and processed to an intra-mitochondrial 30 kDa protein. Tropic hormone stimulation of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) signaling pathway is the major contributor to the transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of STAR synthesis. Many studies have focused on the mechanisms of cAMP-PKA mediated control of STAR synthesis while there are few reports on STAR degradation pathways. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of cAMP-PKA-dependent signaling on STAR protein stability. We have used the cAMP-PKA responsive Y1 mouse adrenocortical cells and the PKA-deficient Kin-8 cells to measure STAR phosphorylation and protein half-life. Western blot analysis and standard radiolabeled pulse-chase experiments were used to determine STAR phosphorylation status and protein half-life, respectively. Our data demonstrate that PKA-dependent STAR phosphorylation does not contribute to 30 kDa STAR protein stability in the mitochondria. We further show that inhibition of the 26S proteasome does not block precursor STAR phosphorylation or steroid production in Y1 cells. These data suggest STAR can maintain function and promote steroidogenesis under conditions of proteasome inhibition.
Hypertension and the Fat-Soluble Vitamins A, D and E
Authors: Llopis-González Agustin , Rubio-López Nuria , Pineda-Alonso Monica , Martín-Escudero Juan , Chaves Felipe , Redondo Maximino , Morales-Suarez-Varela Maria
Published: March 2015

Hypertension affects populations globally and is thus a public health and socio-economic problem. Macronutrient and micronutrient deficiencies are common in the general population, and may be even more prevalent in hypertensive patients. This study aimed to determine a possible association between hypertension and intake of fat-soluble vitamins A, D and E. Participants were from the cross-sectional Hortega nutrition study conducted with a random sample of 1514 people (50.3% women, 49.7% men) and two groups: nonhypertensive controls ≥40 years old (n = 429; 28.3%); unknown untreated hypertension cases ≥40 years old (n = 246; 16.2%). Biochemical and anthropometric measurements were taken. Data on dietary intakes, education, socio-economic status, place of residence, health habits, comorbidities, alcohol consumption and smoking were collected and assessed. A descriptive data study was done and compared by ANOVA and Chi-Square. No p value higher than 0.05 was considered significant. The results showed that vitamin A intake was higher in the hypertensive subpopulation (1732.77 ± 962.27 µg vs. 1655.89 ± 902.81 µg), and vitamin D and E intakes were lower (8.13 ± 9.71 µg vs. 8.25 ± 9.52 µg and 18.79 ± 7.84 mg vs. 18.60 ± 8.20 mg, respectively). No statistically significant differences were found in any adjusted model. This study did not significantly associate intake of vitamins A, D and E with hypertension in people aged over 40. Future studies on this topic and a larger sample are necessary.