bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Las Comarcas de Acción Especial en la provincia de León. Crisis y alternativas de potenciación socio-económica
Authors: Astorga González Ana Fe
Published: June 2015

Las características del medio físico en las C.A.E. de la provincia de León condicionan el desarrollo del sector base de la economía, las actividades agrícolas y ganaderas. Por otro lado, las técnicas empleadas y las estructuras son anacrónicas e impiden la capitalización, exigiéndose por ello una inmediata modernización.

La emigración ha sido tan acusada desde comienzos de siglo que la estructura demográfica se halla totalmente desarticulada, con un elevado porcentaje de ancianos.

La recuperación de estas zonas necesita fuertes mejoras para retener a la población joven que aún queda, encaminadas tanto a la dotación de equipamientos como a la inversión en creación de empresas y alternativas de empleo.
La emigración rural y la dimensión social: un estudio de dos pueblos marginales de Europa
Authors: Ní Laoire Caitriona
Published: June 2015

La emigración tiene mucha importancia en la geografía rural de Europa, con significado tanto demográfico como económico. Pero la dimensión social es muy importante también. Este es un estudio de la dimensión social de la emigración (*) desde dos pueblos situados en regiones marginales de la Europa Atlántica. Es un estudio comparativo que supera los límites nacionales, concentrándose en lugares de España e Irlanda. Investiga el significado que tiene la emigración en la mentalidad local y su impacto social. Aunque ambos pueblos han tenido experiencias parecidas en la emigración, las actitudes de la gente han sido distintas, lo cual refleja la importancia de las dimensiones sociales y culturales y las características locales en el proceso emigratorio.

(*) En este contexto, la emigración se refiere al movimiento de personas desde las áreas rurales hacia las ciudades o al extranjero
La producción de electricidad en la provincia leonesa: las instalaciones hidroeléctricas
Authors: Moralejo Mateos María Pilar
Published: June 2015

La luz artificial es un factor decisivo en el progreso de la humanidad y uno de los elementos fundamentales en que se apoya el actual estilo de vida occidental. León se presenta como una de las principales provincias productoras de energía eléctrica de nuestro país, aunque solo consume una mínima parte de la que genera, sin recibir apenas compensación por parte de las empresas productoras de electricidad; por este motivo la superficie provincial ha sido relegada a la categoría de "espacio-recurso" y se encuentra menos desarrollada económica y socialmente que aquellas otras provincias y comunidades aurónomas a las que exporta energía. Esta se obtiene a partir de dos fuentes naturales: el carbón y la energía hidráulica, dos recursos renovables que el territorio leonés posee en abundancia; la instalación de centrales hidroeléctricas es importante y se ve favorecida por las condiciones que ofrece el medio geográfico provincial.
Influencia de los factores geográficos en las temperaturas medias anuales. Resultados en las zonas de montaña de Extremadura
Authors: Sánchez Martín José Manuel
Published: June 2015

Determinar la influencia que ejercen los factores geográficos en las temperaturas medias resulta bastante complejo, ya que todos ellos influyen a la vez, dando lugar a diversas modificaciones en estos registros térmicos. Para determinar dichas mutaciones, proponemos seguir un método bastante laborioso, pero que sirve para obtener las variaciones que provoca cada uno de ellos. El marco elegido es el de las zonas de montaña de Extremadura, área en la que intervienen de forma determinante todos estos factores para originar un peculiar entramado climático
Ammonia as Alkali for Alkaline/Surfactant/Polymer Floods
Authors: Southwick Jeffrey G. , van den Pol Esther , van Rijn Carl H. , van Batenburg Diederik W. , Boersma Diederik , Svec Yi , Mastan Ahmad Anis , Shahin Gordon , Raney Kirk
Published: June 2015

Ammonia is logistically preferred over sodium carbonate for alkaline/surfactant/polymer (ASP) enhanced-oil-recovery projects because of its low molar mass and the possibility for it to be delivered as a liquid. On an offshore platform, space and weight savings can be the determining factor in deciding whether an ASP project is feasible. Logistics may also be critical in determining the economic feasibility of projects in remote locations.

Ammonia as alkali together with a surfactant blend of alkyl propoxy sulfate/internal olefin sulfonate (APS/IOS) functions as an effective alkali. Surfactant adsorption is low, and oil recovery in corefloods is high. Static adsorption tests show that low surfactant adsorption is attained at pH >9, a condition that ammonia satisfies at low solution concentration.

It is expected that ammonia has a performance deficiency relative to sodium carbonate in that it does not precipitate calcium from solution. Calcium accumulation in the ammonia ASP solution will occur, caused by ion exchange from clays. The high oil recovery for ammonia and the calcium accumulation in ASP and surfactant/polymer corefloods with APS/IOS blends show that this surfactant system is effective and calcium-tolerant. Also, phase behavior and interfacial-tension (IFT) measurements suggest that APS/IOS blends remain effective in the presence of calcium. Ethylene oxide/propylene oxide sulfates (such as the used APS) are known commercially available, calcium-tolerant surfactants. However, because of hydrolysis, sulfate-type surfactants are suitable for use only in lower-temperature reservoirs.

Very different behavior was noticed for phase-behavior measurements with calcium-intolerant surfactants such as alkyl benzene sulfonates and IOS. In this case, calcium addition results in a very high IFT and complete separation of oil and brine. Presumably, this will result in low oil recovery. A preferred approach for ASP offshore with divalent-ion-intolerant surfactants may be the use of a hybrid alkali system combining the attributes of sodium carbonate and ammonia. The concept is to supply the bulk of the alkalinity for an ASP flood by ammonia with all the inherent logistical advantages. A minor quantity of sodium carbonate is added to the formulation to specifically precipitate calcium ions.
A Laboratory and Numerical-Simulation Study of Co-Optimizing CO2 Storage and CO2 Enhanced Oil Recovery
Authors: Kamali Fatemeh , Hussain Furqan , Cinar Yildiray
Published: June 2015

This paper presents experimental observations that delineate co-optimization of carbon dioxide (CO2) enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and storage. Pure supercritical CO2 is injected into a homogeneous outcrop sandstone sample saturated with oil and immobile water under various miscibility conditions. A mixture of hexane and decane is used for the oil phase. Experiments are run at 70°C and three different pressures (1,300, 1,700, and 2,100 psi). Each pressure is determined by use of a pressure/volume/temperature simulator to create immiscible, near-miscible, and miscible displacements. Oil recovery, differential pressure, and compositions are recorded during experiments. A co-optimization function for CO2 storage and incremental oil is defined and calculated using the measured data for each experiment. A compositional reservoir simulator is then used to examine gravity effects on displacements and to derive relative permeabilities.

Experimental observations demonstrate that almost similar oil recovery is achieved during miscible and near-miscible displacements whereas approximately 18% less recovery is recorded in the immiscible displacement. More heavy component (decane) is recovered in the miscible and near-miscible displacements than in the immiscible displacement. The co-optimization function suggests that the near-miscible displacement yields the highest CO2-storage efficiency and displays the best performance for coupling CO2 EOR and storage. Numerical simulations show that, even on the laboratory scale, there are significant gravity effects in the near-miscible and miscible displacements. It is revealed that the near-miscible and miscible recoveries depend strongly on the endpoint effective CO2 permeability.
Carbon Capture and Storage—Hard-To-Pass Decision Gates
Authors: Emhjellen Magne , Osmundsen Petter
Published: June 2015

Socio-economic criteria for climate projects were used in analyzing the value of the climate benefit of a reduction in carbon dioxide. These reports are optimistic, yet European carbon-capture-and-storage (CCS) demonstration plants are not implemented as expected. Little attention was devoted to profitability assessments on the basis of commercial considerations. Economic valuation of climate projects, seen from the perspective of the commercial companies that are to implement the projects, is the subject of this article. We examine key economic parameters of 27 oil and gas projects and compare them to a CCS project. We find that the CCS project ranks the lowest and is unlikely to be implemented by a private company. Our findings may explain why it is hard for oil companies to justify climate projects in their portfolios.
Assessing droughts using meteorological drought indices in Victoria, Australia
Authors: Rahmat Siti Nazahiyah , Jayasuriya Niranjali , Bhuiyan Muhammed
Published: June 2015

Droughts adversely impact rural and urban communities, industry, primary production and, thus, a country's economy. Drought monitoring is directed to detecting the onset, persistence and severity of the drought. In this study, meteorological drought indices such as the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), the Reconnaissance Drought Index (RDI) and deciles were assessed to investigate how well these indices reflect drought conditions in Victoria, Australia. The Theory of Runs was also used to identify the drought deficit. The study uses 55 years (1955–2010) of monthly precipitation and reference evapotranspiration data for five selected meteorological stations in Victoria, Australia. Results show that drought characterization using SPI and RDI provides a standardized classification of severity thus exhibiting advantages over deciles. As RDI considers both rainfall and potential evapotranspiration in calculations, it could be sensitive to climatic variability. For characterizing agricultural droughts, the application of the RDI is recommended. The use of the SPI was shown to be satisfactory for assessing and monitoring meteorological droughts. The SPI was also successful in detecting the onset and the end of historical droughts for the selected events.
Hydrochemical changes in a reservoir that receives water contaminated by acid mine drainage
Authors: de la Torre M. L. , Grande J. A. , Valente T. , Santisteban M. , Cerón J. C.
Published: June 2015

The aim was to characterize hydrochemical changes that take place in the Sancho reservoir, which receives waters contaminated by acid mine drainage (AMD) from the Meca River (Iberian Pyrite Belt, SW Spain). The sampling procedure comprised bimonthly campaigns carried out between October 2011 and May 2012, in the entrance of the reservoir and in the input river waters. In addition to in situ parameters, heavy metals and sulphate were analysed in the laboratory by photometry and atomic absorption spectrometry, respectively. The database was submitted to statistic treatment through the STATGRAPHICS Centurion XVI.I software. The results show a clear relationship between the sampling site in the entrance of the reservoir and in the watercourse, with an almost instantaneous cross-correlation. At the beginning of the sampling period a small rise in pH at both sites was detected, coinciding with a reduction in the concentration of heavy metals. This attenuation results from the dilution process caused by rain as well as the sorption by iron oxyhydroxysulphates that precipitate as a consequence of the above-mentioned rise in pH. The time changes that were detected in this system are due to the influence of input waters from the waste dumps of the Tharsis mines.
Characterisation of dissolved organic matter in the Lower Kinabatangan River, Sabah, Malaysia
Authors: Harun Sahana , Baker Andy , Bradley Chris , Pinay Gilles , Boomer Ian , Liz Hamilton R.
Published: June 2015

Spatial patterns and trends in the concentration and quality of dissolved organic matter (DOM) are characterised across a tropical agricultural catchment using ultraviolet (UV)-visible absorbance, and fluorescence spectroscopy. Related determination of the environmental isotopes 18O and 2H clarify the dynamics of catchment water movement. Water samples were collected from the Kinabatangan River, Borneo, and selected tributaries in August and September 2008 in four regions with oil palm plantations (KB1, KB2, KB3 and KB4). The isotopic compositions of surface waters suggest that canals were characterised by a strong evaporative effect than tributaries and streams with more natural, forested vegetation. DOM was characterised by variations in UV absorbance and spectral slope. Individual fluorescence excitation–emission matrices were decomposed by Parallel Factor Analysis (PARAFAC) and three components extracted (C1, C2 and C3). Components C2 and C3 both appear to be derived from microbial sources and/or photo-degradation. The PARAFAC components indicate a clear trend of increasing DOM degradation as waters pass through the catchment. It is hypothesised that upstream DOM is rapidly photo and microbially degraded to less fluorescent DOM, while DOM concentration and character of DOM downstream is controlled by the hydrology, specifically by variations in the rate of water movement.
Distribution and characteristic of PAHs in sediments from the southwest Caspian Sea, Guilan Province, Iran
Authors: Varnosfaderany Mohammad Nemati , Bakhtiari Alireza Riyahi , Gu Zhaoyan , Chu Guoqiang
Published: June 2015

Contamination by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the southwest Caspian Sea was assessed by examination of 45 sediment samples, collected from the coasts of the Guilan Province in 2012 and analyzed for 29 PAHs. The concentrations of PAHs were in the range of 232.1–1,014 ng g−1 dry weight (mean 520 ± 246.4 ng g−1). The predominance of alkyl-substituted naphthalenes and phenanthrenes and the higher contributions of petrogenic compounds (NPD = 35.4–74.4%) compared to pyrogenic PAH compounds (COM = 18.1–47.4%) reveal a petrogenic source for PAHs with ubiquitous distribution in the study area. Offshore increase of total PAH concentrations was found to be correlated with increase of organic matter content of sediments, but no correlations with particle size fractions were found. The evaluation of ecotoxicological risk by sediment quality guidelines indicated that total PAH concentrations at all sites were below the effects range-low (ERL), but some individual petrogenic PAHs at some stations were significantly above their ERL and likely to adversely affect benthic biota. According to the diagnostic ratios used, most stations revealed the major source of the PAHs to be petrogenic, but some stations suggested a mixed petrogenic-pyrogenic source.
Anaerobic biological treatment of methylparaben in an expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB)
Authors: Londoño Yudy Andrea , Peñuela Gustavo Antonio
Published: June 2015

This study evaluated the behavior of an anaerobic expanded granular sludge bed system using different methylparaben (MPB) concentrations. The assay was conducted for 268 days and was divided into seven stages of operation, which included the starting stage and subsequent stages where the MPB concentration was increased. The inoculum that was used was a mixture of anaerobic granular sludge with flocculent active sludge that contained 21.7 g/L of total suspended solids and 17.4 g/L of volatile suspended solids, resulting in an organic content of approximately 80%. The MPB removals after applying concentrations of 300 mg/L, 500 mg/L and 1,000 mg/L during the different stages and adding glucose to the influent were 94 ± 2.4%, 84 ± 5.8% and 88 ± 7.4%, respectively. For phases without glucose, the results were 97.4 ± 0.4%, 96 ± 1.6% and 98.2 ± 0.3%, respectively. The results showed a high pollutant removal and good progress in terms of the physical and biological characteristics of the granular biomass, which showed no change in the presence of the compound or a concentration increase.
Inhibitory effect of erythromycin, tetracycline and sulfamethoxazole antibiotics on anaerobic treatment of a pharmaceutical wastewater
Authors: Aydın Sevcan , Ince Bahar , Ince Orhan
Published: June 2015

Pharmaceuticals enter ecosystems, which causes changes to microbial community structure and development of resistant genes. Anaerobic treatments can be an alternative application for treatment of pharmaceutical wastewaters, which has high organic content. This study aims to develop an understanding of the effects of sulfamethoxazole–erythromycin–tetracycline (ETS), sulfamethoxazole–tetracycline (ST), erythromycin–sulfamethoxazole (ES) and erythromycin–tetracycline (ET) combinations on the anaerobic treatment of pharmaceutical industry wastewater. The results of this investigation revealed that bacteria have a competitive advantage over archaea under all antibiotic combinations. The ET reactor showed a better performance compared to other reactors; this could be due to antagonistic effects of sulfamethoxazole. Acute inhibition in the microbial community was also strongly affected by antibiotics concentrations. This indicated that the composition of the microbial community changed in association with anaerobic sequencing batch reactor performances. The results of this research support the idea that an acute test could be used to control and improve the anaerobic treatment system.
Manufacturing ceramic bricks with polyaluminum chloride (PAC) sludge from a water treatment plant
Authors: da Silva E. M. , Morita D. M. , Lima A. C. M. , Teixeira L. Girard
Published: June 2015

The objective of this research work is to assess the viability of manufacturing ceramic bricks with sludge from a water treatment plant (WTP) for use in real-world applications. Sludge was collected from settling tanks at the Bolonha WTP, which is located in Belém, capital of the state of Pará, Brazil. After dewatering in drainage beds, sludge was added to the clay at a local brickworks at different mass percentages (7.6, 9.0, 11.7, 13.9 and 23.5%). Laboratory tests were performed on the bricks to assess their resistance to compression, water absorption, dimensions and visual aspects. Percentages of 7.6, 9.0, 11.7 and 13.9% (w/w) of WTP sludge presented good results in terms of resistance, which indicates that technically, ceramic bricks can be produced by incorporating up to 13.9% of WTP sludge.
Biological regeneration of ferric (Fe3+) solution during desulphurisation of gaseous streams: effect of nutrients and support material
Authors: Mulopo Jean , Schaefer L.
Published: June 2015

This paper evaluates the biological regeneration of ferric Fe3+ solution during desulphurisation of gaseous streams. Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) is absorbed into aqueous ferric sulphate solution and oxidised to elemental sulphur, while ferric ions Fe3+ are reduced to ferrous ions Fe2+. During the industrial regeneration of Fe3+, nutrients and trace minerals usually provided in a laboratory setup are not present and this depletion of nutrients may have a negative impact on the bacteria responsible for ferrous iron oxidation and may probably affect the oxidation rate. In this study, the effect of nutrients and trace minerals on ferrous iron oxidation have been investigated and the results showed that the presence of nutrients and trace minerals affects the efficiency of bacterial Fe2+oxidation. The scanning electron microscopy analysis of the geotextile support material was also conducted and the results showed that the iron precipitate deposits appear to play a direct role on the bacterial biofilm formation.
Rheological behavior of sewage sludge with high solid content
Authors: Cheng Yingchao , Li Huan
Published: June 2015

Sludge rheological properties play a fundamental role in determining its performance in pipes, tanks or reactors. However, the relative information on high-solids sludge is very rare. In this study, the rheological properties of high-solids sludge were investigated systematically and a new rheological model was built. The results showed that the low-solids sludge with total solids content (TS) 2–15% was pseudoplastic fluid, and the high-solids sludge with TS 7–15% exhibited thixotropic property. Sludge viscosity increased exponentially with the increasing TS, and decreased in function of power along with the increasing shear rate. The new complex model combining the exponential model and the power model can perfectly describe the relation between TS, shear rate and viscosity of the high-solids sludge. Both sludge organic content and temperature have influence on sludge viscosity, but the influence was not significant for the low-solids sludge. For the high-solids sludge with TS 6%, 8%, 10% and 12%, their viscosities increased by 5.0, 9.1, 25.7 and 24.9 times, respectively, when sludge organic content increased from 28% to 53%, and decreased by 36.5%, 49.5%, 54.0% and 65.4%, respectively, when sludge temperature rose from 9 to 55 °C.
Highly effective biosorption of Sr(II) from low level radioactive wastewater
Authors: Liu Xun , Hu Wenyuan , Huang Xiaojun , Deng Hongquan
Published: June 2015

Bacillus subtilis was first used to remove Sr(II) from low-level radioactive wastewater. Influence parameters, biosorption kinetics and biosorption equilibrium were investigated. The results showed that the maximum adsorption capacity of Sr(II) at over 2,000 mg g−1 by Bacillus subtilis was higher than for other biosorbents. At pH 6.3, Sr(II) concentration of 15 mg L−1, biomass dosage of 0.3 g L−1 and temperature of 20 °C, the maximum removal efficiency was as high as 96.3% at 1,440 minutes. The biosorption kinetics and the equilibrium isotherm data can be described by the pseudo-second-order equation and Freundlich isotherm equation, respectively. The negative values of ΔG and the positive values of ΔH implied that Sr(II) biosorption on Bacillus subtilis was a spontaneous and endothermic process. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy indicated that the functional groups, hydroxyl, carboxylate and amide groups, might participate in the interaction between Sr(II) and Bacillus subtilis.
Emotional Labor and Workplace Relationships Among Personnel Officials and Teachers
Authors: Lu Hsi-Peng , Liou Her-Ran
Published: June 2015

We examined the influence of personnel officials' emotional labor on teachers' perceptions of personnel officials' emotional displays. Additionally, we assessed the effects of these perceptions on teachers' guanxi with personnel officials. Participants were 165 personnel officials and
490 teachers from Taiwanese public elementary and junior high schools. Results indicated that the type of emotional acting performed by personnel officials was significantly related to teachers' perceptions of the same type of acting. Teachers' perceived authenticity of personnel officials
was related to greater guanxi with personnel officials than was perceived inauthenticity. These results indicate the benefits associated with teachers' impressions of personnel officials' authentic emotional displays. Therefore, emotional authenticity might be important for an individual's
ability to understand another's personal identity.
The Impact of Gender, Culture, and Society on Korean Women's Mental Health
Authors: Choi Yun-Jung
Published: June 2015

I review the issue of Korean women's anger from the perspectives of gender, culture, and society, and describe the influences of those factors on the women's mental health. Hwa-byung (HB) is a Korean culture-bound syndrome that translates into English as an anger disorder. In Korea,
middle-aged women are the mostly highly represented societal group with HB, the symptoms of which are connected with complex psychological, physiological, behavioral, and social disabilities. In this paper, associations among elements related to Korean women's anger and HB are examined within
the frameworks of gender, culture, and society. I concluded that the issue of Korean women's anger is not limited to its own context but is part of the wider issues of gender, culture, and society. These issues produce many difficulties, amplify problems, and generate interrelated women's
mental health concerns.
The Role of Power Motivation in Creativity: A Moderated Mediation Model
Authors: Zhang Jie , Fan Yun , Zhang Xu
Published: June 2015

We hypothesized that power motivation would influence employees' creative performance. Drawing on a relational perspective, we conceptualized a moderated mediation model in which power motivation enhanced individual creativity through improving the quality of leader–member exchange
(LMX). We further hypothesized that supervisor support for creativity would moderate the indirect effect of power motivation on creativity through LMX. In a sample of 410 Chinese employees in 6 state-owned companies, we found that power motivation was positively related to creativity, and
that this relationship was mediated by LMX. Moreover, the results suggested that the indirect relationship between power motivation and creativity via LMX was stronger when supervisor support for creativity was high than when it was low.
Impact of Self-Framing on Decision Making: Timing Matters
Authors: Yu Xiaobo , Zhang Hongning , Yu Xiaodong , Zeng Juli
Published: June 2015

Our aim was to extend the understanding of self-framing. Our focus was on the impact of self-framing on immediate and delayed decision making. Using cluster sampling, we recruited 350 university undergraduates who completed a self-framing measure adapted from the classic Asia disease
problem scenario. The participants were randomly assigned to 2 groups: immediate decision making and delayed decision making. The results indicated that self-framing could influence participants' decisions. In the immediate decision-making group, when the sure option was described (hedonic
tone) more positively than the risk involved, the participants preferred the sure option. However, in the delayed decision-making group, self-framing had no significant impact on the decision made. The results showed that both timing (immediate decision or delayed decision) and self-framing
had an impact on decision making, implying that immediate decision and delayed decision may have different cognitive mechanisms.
Testing Intention to Continue Exercising at Fitness and Sports Centers with the Theory of Planned Behavior
Authors: Song Chang-Ik , Park Hee Sun
Published: June 2015

We used the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to explain Korean adults' intention to continue to exercise at public fitness and sports centers. It was predicted that whether an individual used the centers primarily for sports played alone or for sports played with others would influence
how TPB variables were related to intention to exercise. The findings showed that attitude was more strongly related to intention to participate in sports played with others at the centers than it was for sports played alone. Subjective norms were more strongly related to intention to play
sports alone at the centers than intention to play sports with others. The implications of the different reasons that motivated people who were doing different types of exercise are discussed.
The development of the program of voluntary blood donation promotion in students population of the University of Belgrade
Authors: Jovanovic-Srzentic Snezana , Rodic Ivana , Knezevic Mirjana
Published: June 2015

Background/Aim. Given that in each country students represent the most
progressive population group, as of 2001, the Blood Transfusion Institute of
Serbia (BTIS) has been carrying the program of voluntary blood donation
promotion and education of volunteers at the University of Belgrade (UB). In
2011, the BTIS intensified all activities at the UB. The aim of this study
was to present activities performed from 2001 at the Blood Donors` Motivation
Department (DMD) of the BTIS related with increasing the level of awareness
on voluntary blood donation in the Belgrade students` population, enhancing
their motivation to become voluntary blood donors (VBDs), increasing the
number of blood donations at faculties of the UB, and increasing the number
of blood donations in the UB students population compared with the total
number of blood units collected by BTIS in Belgrade, with the emphasis on the
year 2013. Methods. Initially, the applied methodology was based on
encouraging students to donate blood through discussions and preparatory
lectures, followed by organized blood drives. Appropriate selection of
volunteers at each faculty was crucial. Besides their recognisable identity,
they had to have remarkable communication skills and ability to positivly
affect persons in their environment. The applied principle was based on
retention of volunteers all through the final academic year, with the
inclusion of new volunteers each year and 1,000 preparatory lectures on the
annual basis. The activities were realized using two Facebook profiles, SMS
messages and continuous notification of the public through the media.
Results. There was an increase in the average number of students in blood
drives at the faculties from 2011, when the average number of the students
per blood drive was 39, followed by 43 in 2012 and 46 in 2013. The number of
students who donated blood in 2013 increased by 21.3% compared with 2012
data. Conclusion. The applied concept highly contributed to generation and
retention of future VBDs willing to regularly donate blood in the coming
years, with a minimum risk of transmission of transfusion transmissible
diseases markers.
Analysis of risk factors for occlusions of a synthetic femoropopliteal bypass graft
Authors: Mirkovic Nikola , Stefanovic Srdjan , Jankovic Slobodan
Published: June 2015

Background/Aim. Femoropopliteal bypass is a revascularization technique of
lower extremities with excellent outcome. The great saphenous vein is the
best graft material, but if it is not adequate or has been removed, synthetic
grafts are an useful alternative. Graft occlusion is the most significant
complication with the most serious consequences. The aim of this study was to
analyse predictive factors for the synthetic femoropopliteal bypass
occlusions. Methods. This retrospective case-control study included all
patients who underwent synthetic femoropopliteal bypass due to peripheral
arterial occlusive disease at the Vascular Surgery Center, Clinical Center of
Kragujevac, Serbia, from 2007 to 2013. The cases group were the patients with
femoropopliteal graft occlusion (n = 44), with the control group consisted of
the patients without such an outcome (n = 88). Results. Significant effects
to occlusion were: concomitant cardiovascular disease (adjustedOR 27.05; 95%
CI 4.74; 154.35), a type of femoropopliteal bypass (adjustedOR 16.50; 95% CI
4.05; 67.24), previous vascular intervention (adjustedOR 4.67; 95% CI 1.20;
18.14), clinical stage of the disease (adjustedOR 3.73; 95% CI 1.94; 7.18),
administration of postoperative oral anticoagulant therapy (adjustedOR 0.05;
95% CI 0.01; 0.23) and the use of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors
(adjustedOR 0.14; 95% CI 0.03; 0.70). A significant synergism was shown for
the following combinations of the observed risk factors: type of
femoropopliteal bypass and cardiovascular disease, type of femoropopliteal
bypass and previous vascular intervention, previous vascular intervention and
cardiovascular disease, previous vascular intervention and beta blockers,
cardiovascular disease and diabetes, type of femoropopliteal bypass and
antiaggregant therapy, clinical stage of disease and cardiovascular disease,
previous vascular intervention and antiaggregant therapy. Conclusion.
Concomitant cardiovascular disease, belowknee femoropopliteal bypass,
advanced stage of vascular disease and non-use of anticoagulant therapy and
angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors are the significant predictors of
graft occlusion after synthetic femoro-popliteal bypass. Their synergistic
effect determines the importance of diabetes, use of beta blockers and
platelet antiaggregant therapy.
Hemangioma of uterine cervix associated with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion
Authors: Djolai Matilda , Boskovic Tamara , Djurdjevic Srdjan , Trivunic-Dajko Sandra , Andrejic-Visnjic Bojana , Rajovic Ranko
Published: June 2015

Introduction. Benign, especially polypoid, lesions of the cervix are common
in everyday work. Rare tumors of this region are vascular ones, particularly
capillary and/or cavernous hemangiomas. Cervical hemangiomas are especially
rare, usually asymptomatic and only one third of the cases is clinically
manifested as vaginal bleeding, polyps, etc. Case report. We reported a
54-year-old postmenopausal female patient who had undergone conization due to
high-grade squamous intra-epithelial lesion (H-SIL). Microscopic analysis of
slices confirmed the existence of dysplastic changes in the endocervical
epithelium and in small part in the epithelium of the gland of H-SIL type. In
2 of 15 slices, within the walls of the cervix, dilated, amplified and
abnormal blood vessels lined with endothelium were observed, vaguely limited
by the surrounding connective tissue of lamina propria and smooth muscle wall
of the cervix. According to the pathological characteristics, the change
corresponded to the hemangioma. Both changes were completely removed.
Conclusion. In comparison with the available literature data, the presented
case is the first to describe the association of hemangioma and dysplastic
changes in the endocervical epithelium. Hemangioma was incidentally
discovered in the histological sections of the material after the conization
in a postmenopausal women.
Hybrid surface treatment technology for increase of hot forging dies
Authors: Smolik J.A.
Published: June 2015

Hot working dies are influenced by three main factors causing their destruction: the cyclically changeable mechanical loads, intensive thermal shocks, as well as intensive friction, and erosion. Modification of surface properties with the use of hybrid plasma methods seems to be an effective way of improving its durability. The best known and widely used surface treatment hybrid technology is a combination of the nitriding process with the deposition of hard antiwear coatings by means of PVD methods. The designed composite layer “nitrided layer / Cr-CrN” was obtained with the use of the hybrid technology, which consist of ion nitriding followed by arc-evaporation coating deposition. The maintenance testing was performed on the forging dies employed for production of various parts in the automotive industry. The best durability was obtained for the dies used for the forging of rolling bearing tracks. In comparison with the durability of the dies subjected solely to the gas nitriding, nearly an increase of 600% in the durability was noticed.
An inoculation phenomenon in cast iron
Authors: Fras E. , Górny M.
Published: June 2015

The paper presents a solidification sequence of graphite eutectic cells of A and D types, as well as globular and cementite eutectics. The morphology of eutectic cells in cast iron, the equations for their growth and the distances between the graphite precipitations in A and D eutectic types were analysed. We observed a critical eutectic growth rate at which one type of eutectic transformed into another. A mathematical formula was derived that combined the maximum degree of undercooling, the cooling rate of cast iron, eutectic cell count and the eutectic growth rate. One type of eutectic structure turned smoothly into the other at a particular transition rate, transformation temperature and transformational eutectic cell count. Inoculation of cast iron increased the number of eutectic cells with flake graphite and the graphite nodule count in ductile iron, while reducing the undercooling. An increase in intensity of inoculation caused a smooth transition from a cementite eutectic structure to a mixture of cementite and D type eutectic structure, then to a mixture of D and A types of eutectics up to the presence of only the A type of eutectic structure. Moreover, the mechanism of modification of cast iron was studied.
Enhanced sintering of austenitic stainless steel powder AISI 316L through boron containig master alloy addition
Authors: Skałon M. , Kazior J.
Published: June 2015

It is well known that boron is widely used in order to enhance sintering process for obtaining high density of sintered iron alloys. It was found that even a small amount of elemental boron added to iron based powder compacts, produces significant increase in densification rate upon formation of a liquid phase. Due to the attractive characteristic the use of boron has also been actively investigated for enhancing sintering stainless steels powders. In present research boron was added as a part of master alloy, which has been designed to provide the formation of wetting liquid phase, with accomplished characteristics for manufacturing controlled densification of sintered austenitic stainless steels powders AISI 316L. In this paper the influence of sintering atmosphere and the boron in 0,1; 0,2; 0,3 and 0,4 wt. % amount on the density, microstructure and selected properties of sintered austenitic stainless steels were reported. Green compacts obtained by cold compaction at 600 MPa reached densities around 6,2 g/cm3. The sintering process was carried out both in pure dry hydrogen atmosphere and in vacuum at temperature 1240°C using dilatometer Netzsch DIL 402C. In order to interpret the influence of sintering atmosphere and boron content on the sintering behaviour of boron alloyed austenitic stainless steels powders during heating and isothermal holding, the evolution of the dilatometric curves have been discussed. The as-sintered microstructures were characterized under the SEM (EDS), while the pore morphology by the image analysis. In conclusion it could be affirmed that the addition of the master alloy containing boron to austenitic stainless steels powders, produces a permanent liquid phase that enhances densification compacts during sintering, in particular in hydrogen atmosphere. For this reason the results are promising from a technological point of view, because boron addition could extend applications of sintered stainless steel both with respect to lower sintering temperature and shorter time necessary to obtain well rounded pores which are desirable with respect to mechanical properties and corrosion resistance.
Maximal accepted cost of waste fuel burned in heat and power plants, including profitability of CO2 emission trading
Authors: Kozioł J. , Czubala J.
Published: June 2015

This paper presents the method of setting the maximal accepted cost of waste fuel burned in heat industry power plant with the regard of trading effects of CO2 allowances. In effected analysis, the entrance parameters are specified by the uncertain (heuristic) data or by probabilistic data (trough statistical distributions of given parameters). The research has accomplished for industrial power plant using waste gases from steelworks. The method proposed in this paper has been illustrated in 5-years period perspective of power plant operating. Economical effect was described as an object function, expressed as net present value (NPV).
Measurement of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and dibenzofuran emission from EAF steel making proces
Authors: Sofilic T. , Jendričko J. , Kovačevic Z. , Ćosić M.
Published: June 2015

Electric arc furnace (EAF) steel manufacturing is an important recycling activity which contributes to the recovery of steel resources and steel scrap/waste minimization. Because of the content of plastics, coatings and paintings as well as other nonferrous materials in the charge during melting, a strong emission of pollutants, including polluting substance group consists of persistent organic pollutions (POPs) represented by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) occurs.

This study was set out to investigate emissions of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDDs/Fs) from the stack of a new electric-arc furnace-dust treatment plant installed during modernisation of the Melt Shop in CMC SISAK d.o.o., Croatia. Obtained results have been compared with previously obtained results of PCDDs/Fs emission measurements from the old electric-arc furnace dust treatment without dust drop-out box, as well as quenching tower.

The total PCDDs/Fs concentration in the stack off gases of both electric arc furnaces EAF A and EAF B were 0.2098 and 0.022603 ng I-TEQ/Nm3 respectively, and these results are close to previous obtained results by other authors. The calculated values of the emission factors for PCDDs/Fs calculated on the basis of measured PCDDs/Fs concentration in the stack off gases in 2008 and 2011 were 1.09 and 0.22 ng I-TEQ/ ton steel, respectively.
Improvement of mechanical properties of a nanoaluminium alloy by precipitate strengthening
Authors: Wawer K. , Lewandowska M. , Kurzydłowski K.J.
Published: June 2015

In the present study, severe plastic deformation (SPD) processing was combined with pre- and post processing heat treatment to investigate the possibility of synergic grain size and precipitation strengthening. Samples of 7475 alloy were solution heat treated and water quenched prior to hydrostatic extrusion (HE) which resulted in a grain refinement by 3 orders of magnitude, from 70 μm to about 70 nm. The extruded samples were subsequently aged at temperatures resulting in formation of nanoprecipitates.
The Microstructure and Properties of Hydrostatically Extruded Polycrystalline Aluminium Al99.5 / Mikrostruktura I Własności Wyciskanego Hydrostatycznie Polikrystalicznego Aluminium Al99.5
Authors: Richert M.W. , Leszczyńska-Madej B. , Pachla W. , Skiba J.
Published: June 2015

The changes of Al99.5 microstructure and properties deformed by hydrostatic extrusion process in the conditions of constant strain rate (1.35×102s-1) and variable deformation (φ = 1.44÷2.85) were investigated. The samples were investigated by means both optical (LM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The size of subgrain was statistically measured by mean chord. To establish the influence of hydrostatic extrusion on the properties of the polycrystalline aluminium Al99.5, the microhardness was measured and the tensile test was performed.

The bands and shear bands were the characteristic feature of the sample microstructure. TEM micrographs show equiaxed subgrains with small density of dislocations inside. The measured subgrain size was placed in the range of d = 550÷650 nm. The mechanical properties of polycrystalline aluminium Al99.5 keep almost the same level in the investigated range of deformations. It was found that after the initial deformation microhardness and yield stress nearly twice increase in comparison to the initial state. The greatest increase of properties was observed after deformation φ = 1.44. Then the mechanical properties stabilize.
Influence of Die Forging Parameters on the Microstructure and Phase Composition of Inconel 718 Alloy / Wpływ Warunków Kucia Matrycowego Na Mikrostrukturę Oraz Skład Fazowy Stopu Inconel 718
Authors: Bunsch A. , Kowalska J. , Witkowska M.
Published: June 2015

The object of the present investigation was Inconel 718 alloy. The material in the initial state and after forging at the temperatures of 1100°C and 1000°C was examined. Diffraction analyses indicate that a nickel-based γ solid solution is a dominating phase in the alloy (so-called nickel austenite). Apart from a γ solid solution, which constitutes the matrix, certain volume fractions of the other phase were detected e.g. δ phase and carbides. It was found that, due to thermo-mechanical-treatment at both temperatures, the phase composition of Inconel 718 was considerably changed in comparison to the initial state. On the contrary, differences in the temperature of forging did not significantly influence the alloy constitution. However, both of the temperatures of forging result in distinct texture intensity. Microstructure observations indicate that forging at 1000°C led to recrystallization by creation of the new recrystallizated grains near or on the grain boundaries of existing deformed grains. After forging at 1100°C, the microstructure was fully recrystallized at the whole volume of the material.
Optimization Methods in Modeling the Mechanical Properties of Heavy Steel Plates / Metody Optymalizacyjne W Modelowaniu Własności Mechanicznych Blach Grubych
Authors: Grzybowski A.Z.
Published: June 2015

The paper is devoted to an optimization approach to a problem of statistical modeling of mechanical properties of heavy steel plates during a real industrial manufacturing process. The approach enables the manufacturer to attain a specific set of the final product properties by optimizing the alloying composition within the grade specifications. Because this composition has to stay in the agreement with earlier indicated specifications, it leads to the large system of linear constraints, and the problem itself can be expressed in the form of linear programming (LP) task. It turns out however, that certain of the constraints contain the coefficients which have to be estimated on the base of the data gathered in the production process and as such they are uncertain. Consequently, the initial optimization task should be modeled as so-called Chance Constrained Programming problem (CCP), which is a special class within the stochastic programming problems. The paper presents mathematical models of the optimization problem that result from both approaches and indicates differences which are important for the decision makers in the production practice. Some examples illustrating the differences in solutions resulting from LP and CCP models are presented as well. Although the statistical analysis presented in this paper is based on the data gathered in the ISD Czestochowa Steelworks, the proposed approach can be adopted in any other process of steel production.
The Theoretical and Experimental Analyses of the Influence of Single Draft on Properties of Rope Wires / Analiza Teoretyczo-Doświadczalna Wplywu Wielkości Gniotu Pojedynczego Na Własności Drutów Liniarskich
Authors: Suliga M.
Published: June 2015

In the paper the influence of the value of a single draft on the properties of rope wires has been assessed. The drawing process of φ5.5 mm wire rod to the final wire of φ2.18 mm was conducted in 6, 11 and 17 drafts, by means of a block drawing machine with the drawing speed of 1.6 m/s. For the wires drawn with the medium single draft: 10.4%, 15.5% and 26.5% the investigation of mechanical-technological properties has been done, in which yield strength, tensile strength, elongation, contraction, number of twists and number of bands were determined. In order to explain the effect of value of a single draft on properties of rope wires, the fatigue strength, roughness and residual stresses of drawn wires have been also determined. In addition, the numerical analysis of the drawing process on the base of Drawing 2D in which distribution of redundant strain, effective strain, longitudinal residual stresses and temperature of drawn wires has been shown.

The theoretical-experimental analysis of drawing of rope wires have enabled the evaluation of optimal value of single drafts by which relatively the most advantageous and useful properties of wires can be used. The investigation has shown, that in manufacturing of rope wires small single draft in 10% range should be applied. It allowed to obtain products of good plasticity properties, low deformation inhomogeneity and residual stresses, high bending and fatigue strength.

The obtained data investigation can be applied while designing the production process of high carbon steel wires.