bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
THEORETICAL STUDY ON VIBROACOUSTIC DYNAMICS OF SPLIT-TYPE SPINDLE HEADS
Authors: Kadubovskaya, G. V. , Chukarin A. N.
Published: December 2014

Vibration and noise levels of the split-type spindle heads are theoretically investigated. It is noted that in this case, the head oscillating system changes and this leads to the need of modeling the vibroacoustic dynamics of these structures. The calculation of the noise and vibration spectra is based on the power balance method of the construction consisting of a system of rectangular plates where the vibration power flows from spindle bearings are transmitted. The appropriate calculations for spindle cases made of steel and cast iron are carried out. The following data are obtained. The propagation velocity of flexural waves of an iron spindle case is factor of 0.62 lower, its own oscillation frequency is factor of  0.78 lower, the vibration power absorption coefficient is 11.4 times larger, which leads to a significant reduction in noise levels. The investigation timeliness is proved by an extended application of split-type spindle heads in the production, particularly in lathe tools.
AB INITIO MODELING AND NANOSTRUCTURING OF TIC SURFACE BY LASER RADIATION
Authors: Ilyasov V. V. , Pham D. K.
Published: December 2014

The processes of surface nanostructuring of titanium carbide by Nd radiation: YAG-laser with the wavelength of 1.06 microns is investigated. The laser pulse length is 40 ns, the travel rate is 10 mm / s. The radiation energy density on the surface of titanium carbide at the oscillation frequency of 2000 Hz is 2.06 ÷ 6.36 J / cm2. The results of ab initio study of the atomic, electronic structure, and the elastic characteristics of TiC and TiC1-хOх (x = 0,25; 0,5; 0,75) are presented. The band structure of TiC calculated with the use of the density functional theory corresponds to a metal type. It is shown that the calculated elastic properties of titanium carbide are in good agreement with the known theoretical and experimental estimates. The study of the microstructures topography on the of titanium carbide surface using the atomic force microscopy (AFM) shows that in the area of the direct laser action, the roughness is 0.254 µm. Mechanical properties in the direct laser impingement spots, and in the temperature exposure regions are investigated by the nanoindentation. The effect of nanostructuring is determined: the titanium carbide surface hardness goes up to 47.2 hPa after the laser action.
FAILURE ANALYSIS OF BOOM SEAT METAL STRUCTURES
Authors: Lukianov Vitaliy Fedorovich , Assaulenko Semen Semenovich
Published: December 2014

The causes of the destruction of the crane Gottwald НМК 170 EG (63 t) which happened in 2011 on the territory of “Novorossiysk Commercial Sea Port” are analyzed. The structural and engineering recommendations on the platform bearing capacity restoration are developed. These proposals are based on the failure analysis of the weld joints of the prow rotating platform, and on the 3D numerical simulation of its stress state. It is shown that an abrupt change in the welded assembly compliance in the area of the stiffening ribs supporting the platform bedplate causes a local increase in stress and predetermines the fatigue-crack nucleation. The results of the crack nucleation regions simulation are in good agreement with the crane diagnostic results. It is shown that the stress localization in the welded node joints with non-uniform compliance of the connected components is a common pattern. It must be taken into account in both the designing and the development of the repair technique. A specific case suggests extra pads to provide a smooth change in the welded assembly compliance in the area of the platform stiffening rib under the weld assembly repair.
Mean Field Equilibria of Dynamic Auctions with Learning
Authors: Iyer Krishnamurthy , Johari Ramesh , Sundararajan Mukund
Published: December 2014

We study learning in a dynamic setting where identical copies of a good are sold over time through a sequence of second-price auctions. Each agent in the market has an unknown independent private valuation that determines the distribution of the reward she obtains from the good; for example, in sponsored search settings, advertisers may initially be unsure of the value of a click. Though the induced dynamic game is complex, we simplify analysis of the market using an approximation methodology known as mean field equilibrium (MFE). The methodology assumes that agents optimize only with respect to long-run average estimates of the distribution of other players' bids. We show a remarkable fact: In a mean field equilibrium, the agent has an optimal strategy where she bids truthfully according to a conjoint valuation. The conjoint valuation is the sum of her current expected valuation, together with an overbid amount that is exactly the expected marginal benefit of one additional observation about her true private valuation. Under mild conditions on the model, we show that an MFE exists, and that it is a good approximation to a rational agent’s behavior as the number of agents increases. Formally, if every agent except one follows the MFE strategy, then the remaining agent’s loss on playing the MFE strategy converges to zero as the number of agents in the market increases. We conclude by discussing the implications of the auction format and design on the auctioneer’s revenue. In particular, we establish the revenue equivalence of standard auctions in dynamic mean field settings, and discuss optimal selection of reserve prices in dynamic auctions.

This paper was accepted by Assaf Zeevi, stochastic models and simulation.
Development of Wood-Based Materials Bonded with Citric Acid*
Authors: Umemura Kenji , Kawai Shuichi
Published: December 2014

The development of biobased adhesives without harmful chemical agents is very important for the future. In this study, citric acid was used as a wood adhesive. Citric acid (2-hydroxy-1,2,3-propanetricarboxylic acid) is a very safe substance, and it is commercially produced by the fermentation of glucose or glucose- and sucrose-containing materials.

This article shows the bonding properties of citric acid in wood-based moldings and particleboards. In wood-based molding, wood and bark powders were used as elements. Citric acid powder was mixed with wood or bark powders, and the mixture was hot pressed at 200°C for 10 minutes. The wood-based moldings had good mechanical properties and excellent water resistance. When wood powder was used as an element, the specific modulus of rupture and modulus of elasticity values were 38.1 kN·m/kg and 4.9 MN·m/kg, respectively. In the case of particleboard, sucrose was used in addition to citric acid; both were dissolved in a water solution and used as an adhesive. Particleboard was manufactured at 200°C for 10 minutes. The board had good mechanical properties and water resistance. When bonded with a 25/75 ratio of citric acid and sucrose, the mechanical properties of the board were comparable to the 18 type JIS A 5908 standard. We conclude that citric acid could be used as a bioadhesive for wood.
Análisis y modelación de los procesos de deforestación: un caso de estudio en la cuenca del río Coyuquilla, Guerrero, México
Authors: Mas Caussel Jean Francois , Osorio Laura Paulina , Guerra Francisco , Maass Manuel
Published: December 2014

El estudio analizó los cambios de cubierta y uso del suelo en la cuenca del río Coyuquilla, en Guerrero, México durante los periodos 1986-2000 y 2000-2011. Se elaboraron mapas de cubiertas y usos del suelo con base en la interpretación de imágenes de satélite. Durante el period 1986-2000 se observó una pérdida del 16% de la cubierta vegetal que afectó principalmente el bosque tropical seco con una tasa anual de deforestación de -3.7%. De 2000-2011 se observó una pérdida del 22% de cubierta vegetal y fue el bosque de encino, la cubierta que presentó la tasa más alta de deforestación (-5.54%). El incremento de los pastizales inducidos fue la principal causa de la pérdida de las cubiertas forestales. La altitud, la distancia a carreteras, la distancia a localidades y la pendiente del terreno fueron indicadores importantes para explicar la deforestación en los tres tipos de bosque y los dos periodos analizados. La evaluación de los modelos probabilísticos a través del análisis ROC muestra que los resultados se encuentran muy por arriba de un modelo aleatorio y fueron capaces de identificar las áreas más propensas a los CCUS del siguiente periodo (2000-2011) para las ocho transiciones analizadas.

 
Reinforced hybrid wood-aluminum composites with excellent fire performance
Authors: Lu Keyang , White Robert H. , Fu Feng , Hou Junfeng , Zhang Yisheng , Gribbins Neil , Cai Zhiyong
Published: December 2014

The fire performance of several types of wood-aluminum composites (WAC) was analyzed by the small vertical furnace test. The time needed to reach the temperature of 139°C/181°C (T139°C/181°C) and the linear char rate of 300°C (L300°C) were obtained by evaluating the fire performance of WAC. TheT139°C/181°Cvalues ranged from 23.6 to 44.8 min. The presence and position of the aluminum alloy sheet remarkably affected the fire performance of WAC. In addition to an initial delay of 19 min, theL300°Calso increased when the aluminum alloy sheet was located on the surface. However, the times for 300°C only increased slightly when the aluminum alloy sheet was in the middle. The initial delay observed for the aluminum alloy sheet on the surface was reduced by more than 50% when the wood veneer was located on the surface of the aluminum alloy sheet. The mechanical properties of WAC were also investigated. It was concluded that the uniformity and strength of different composites was improved after the lamination of the aluminum alloy sheet. In addition, the modulus of elasticity of WAC quadrupled, and the bonding strength between the aluminum alloy sheet and the oriented strand board (OSB) was greater than that of the OSB.
Rezension von Ansgar Beckermann: Glaube
Authors: Schüz Simon
Published: December 2014

Ansgar Beckermanns kürzlich erschienenes Studienbuch »Glaube« wird rezensiert. Beckermann versucht zu zeigen, dass religiöser Glaube epistemisch gesehen irrational ist, indem er erstens die Argumente
Unequal Outcomes for Women Academics in Australian Universities: Reflections on Belinda Probert’s ‘I Just Couldn’t Fit In’
Authors: Vu Jo (Chau) , Doughney James
Published: December 2014

The position of women academics in Australia is similar to that in other countries, where women are still under-represented in senior academic leadership positions. Why does progress seem to be so slow? This article hopes to contribute critically to the challenge entailed by Belinda Probert’s (2005) work, ‘“I just couldn’t fit in’: Gender and unequal outcomes in academic careers”. It considers her conclusions in the light of the 1992-2005 data from one of Australia’s newer universities, Victoria University in Melbourne. The paper also introduces a flow (or transition) model for analysing staffing changes in organisations that provides insights not usually presented in the literature on gender inequity in academic employment. The paper proposes a holistic explanation for persistent gender inequity, combining structural barriers in appointments with the unequal responsibilities women have for care.
Aspects of Professionalism, Ethics and Lifelong Learning for Australian ICT Professionals
Authors: Davey Bill , Tatnall Arthur
Published: December 2014

In a change from 20 years ago, the majority of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) professionals in Australia now have some form of initial tertiary qualification and also understand the need for keeping up-to-date with new technologies, processes and concepts. They thus typically engage in some form of on-going professional development or Lifelong Learning. Not all, however, fully realise the need to keep up with other issues such as ethics and professionalism. In this article we look at what is meant by ICT professionalism, particularly from an Australian perspective, and consider its importance. Professionalism in ICT should be seen as a way of maximising quality and reducing risks. The ICT industry itself is changing and the Australian Computer Society is in the process of developing a new ICT Body of Knowledge, based on specific Technical and also Professional Knowledge. This article examines how the issue of professionalism is handled in Australia in both undergraduate education and lifelong learning of ICT professionals. It gives examples of how ICT professionalism in undergraduate courses is handled, and looks at examples of why and how ICT professionals undertake further education and lifelong learning.
Governance Issues for SMEs
Authors: Clarke Thomas , Klettner Alice
Published: December 2014

This paper draws on research into the corporate governance practices of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. Interviews were conducted with the directors and/or company secretaries of 19 SMEs. The aim of the research was to explore not only SME corporate governance structures and processes but how SMEs had chosen to implement the Principles and the reasons for their choices. The paper addresses the issue of whether the ASX Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations were appropriate for SMEs. It describes the SME responses to the requirements, how these differ from those of larger companies, and how these differences impact on small companies.
Ethical Dilemmas In Management: An African Perspective
Authors: Abiodun Abolaji Joachim , Oyeniyi Joseph Omotayo
Published: December 2014

The modern workplace is composed of people with diverse backgrounds in terms of nationality, culture, religion, age, education and socioeconomic status. Each of these people enters the work with different values, goals, and perceptions of acceptable behaviours. The diverse background creates ethical challenges for individuals as well as managers. There are issues and decisions that are to be made by workers in the organization that have implications for their job security and salary, and success of the organization. Pressure may be on the workers to protect their own interests, sometimes at the risk of losing personal and corporate integrity. This paper attempts to evaluate ethical dilemmas and conflicts from an Africa perspective, bearing in mind different value systems between western and African nations.
Fishes collected with an artisanal fish trap in Barra de Camaratuba estuary, northeastern Brazil
Authors: Martins Tayná Oliveira , Vendel Ana Lúcia
Published: December 2014

A list of the species of fishes collected in the Barra de Camaratuba estuary, Paraiba, Brazil, is presented.Specimens were collected on a monthly basis between January and December 2012, using a fishing technique known locally as “Tomada”, an artisanal fish trap like a barrier. Forty species were collected, belonging to 27 genera and 20 families of the Teleostei. The Gerreidae was the most representative family, with 6 species, followed by the Lutjanidae and Tetraodontidae, with four species each.
Mammals of the San Pedro-Mezquital River Basin, Durango-Nayarit, Mexico
Authors: López-González Celia , Lozano Abraham , García-Mendoza Diego F. , Villanueva- Hernández Alí Ituriel
Published: December 2014

The San Pedro–Mezquital River Basin is located in the southern Sierra Madre Occidental, at the Nearctic– Neotropical transition. The river traverses the Sierra through a canyon that reaches over 1000 m in depth. Based on examination of museum specimens, literature records, and our own collections, we documented the occurrence of 120 species (24.6% of the Mexican terrestrial mammals), 24 endemic to Mexico. Richness was comparable with other megadiverse areas of Mexico, and higher than any other Nearctic–Neotropical transition area, moreover species richness is likely to rise as survey continues. Contrary to expectation, distribution of mammals across the basin not only reflected the Nearctic–Neotropical divide, but a third fauna that is a mixture of tropical, temperate and desert species was identifiable at the canyon. Anthropogenic threats including damming of the river, uncontrolled cattle grazing, and pollution from domestic sources, call for effective management strategies to preserve one of the most biodiverse areas of Mexico.
Melastomataceae from the “Parque Estadual do Guartelá”, Tibagi, Paraná, Brazil: species list and field guide
Authors: Maia Fabiano Rodrigo da , Goldenberg Renato
Published: December 2014

We studied an area with “Cerrado” associated to other vegetation types at the “Parque Estadual do Guartelá”, Tibagi, in the state of Paraná, Brazil. Herein, we have a list with all species of Melastomataceae recorded in the area with an illustrated guide including all of them. Despite the small area of this Conservation Unit, the park hosts a large number of species (36), in the following genera: Acisanthera, Chaetostoma, Lavoisiera, Leandra, Miconia, Tibouchina and Trembleya. The region where the park is located is considered the southern limit of the “Cerrado” biome, and also the limit of distribution of many Melastomataceae species. The distribution of the Melastomataceae species along the different vegetation types in the PEG seems to be a pattern for the family in general, registered also for other areas of “Cerrado” in Brazil.
Bat (Chiroptera) assemblages in three Cerrado fragments of Mato Grosso do Sul, southwestern Brazil
Authors: Shapiro Julie Teresa , Bordignon Marcelo O.
Published: December 2014

Despite its high species richness and large area, the Brazilian Cerrado is a generally undervalued and under-protected biome. There are relatively few published studies of bat assemblages in this area. We surveyed for bats using mist-nets from April–November 2013 within and around Campo Grande, Brazil in an urban fragment, an agricultural fragment, and a larger fragment of continuous forest. We captured 508 individuals from 21 species representing four families: Phyllostomidae (10), Molossidae (6), Vespertilionidae (4), and Noctilionidae (1). Phyllostomids accounted for 91.73% of captures. The most common species were Artibeus planirostris (27.76%), Artibeus lituratus (21.06%), and Sturnira lilium (11.61%). There was variation between the sites: richness and diversity was highest in the continuous forest and lowest in the urban fragment. Evenness was highest in the rural fragment. The least similar sites were the urban fragment and the continuous forest; similarity was greatest between the rural site and continuous forest.
Anurans of the Reserva Biológica do Parazinho, Municipality of Macapá, state of Amapá, eastern Amazon
Authors: Araújo Ananda Silva , Costa-Campos Carlos Eduardo
Published: December 2014

We report a list of anurans from the Reserva Biológica do Parazinho (00°52′30″ N, 49°59′15″ W), a strictly protected area, part of the Bailique archipelago, in the municipality of Macapá, state of Amapá, Brazil. The study was carried out in September–October 2010 (dry season) and May–June 2011 (rainy season). We recorded 13 species of anurans, distributed among four families: Bufonidae (1), Hylidae (8), Leptodactylidae (3) and Pipidae (1). The accumulation curves did not stabilize, suggesting that the community was not completely sampled. This study provides the first information on anurans in insular areas of the state of Amapá, and highlights the importance of these areas for the conservation of anurans.
Checklist of vascular plants from Batu Caves, Selangor, Malaysia
Authors: Kiew Ruth
Published: December 2014

The vascular plant flora of Batu Caves, a tower karst limestone formation, includes 269 species; 51 species (19%) are Peninsular Malaysian endemics and 80 species (30%) are calciphiles of which 56 (21%) are obligate calciphiles and 26 species are obligate calciphiles endemic to Peninsular Malaysia. Four taxa are endemic to Batu Caves itself. That Batu Caves harbours a sizeable fraction (21.4%) of Peninsular Malaysia’s limestone flora underlines the need for detailed checklists of each and every limestone hill to enable adequate planning of conservation programmes to support biodiversity. Because botanical collecting began in the 1890s, Batu Caves is important as the type locality of 24 plant species. Land-use pressures have over time eliminated the surrounding native vegetation, leaving the flora vulnerable to aggressive weedy and alien species. Although designated as a Public Recreation Area, its protection status needs to be enforced and the boundaries clearly marked.
Orchidaceae in Santa Catarina: Update, geographic distribution and conservation

Authors: Siqueira Carlos Eduardo de , Zanin Ana , Neto Luiz Menini
Published: December 2014

This study consists of a checklist and an analysis of the spatial distribution of the species of Orchidaceae of the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina. Based on literature, the accepted names and current synonyms for the species in the state are cited. The occurrence of 121 genera and 560 accepted species was detected, 12 of them endemic. Of the three subfamilies represented in the state, Epidendroideae is the most representative, with 94 genera and 432 species, followed by Orchidoideae with 25 genera and 122 species, and Vanilloideae, with only two genera and six species. According to the criteria of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, 24 species fall within the vulnerable category, seven are endangered and four are critically endangered. The life form, plant formation and habitat of each species are also presented.
Checklist of marine fishes of the Zunan Islands, located between the Izu and Ogasawara (Bonin) islands, Japan, with zoogeographical comments
Authors: Kuriiwa Kaoru , Arihara Hisashi , Chiba Satoru N. , Kato Shoichi , Senou Hiroshi , Matsuura Keiichi
Published: December 2014

The Zunan Islands are located 360–650 km south of Tokyo, and consist of four uninhabited volcanoes: the Bayonnaise Rocks, the Smith Rocks, Torishima Island and the Sofugan Rock. Although all of the elements of the Zunan Islands are tiny islets and rocks, they form a series of stepping stones for shallow water fishes between the Izu Islands in the north and the Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands in the south. We report here the first comprehensive survey of marine fishes in the Zunan Islands. A total of 139 species of fishes (88 genera of 46 families in 11 orders) were recorded on the basis of specimens and/or underwater photographs. Although our survey showed that the fish fauna of the Zunan Islands was more similar to that of the Ogasawara than that of the Izu islands, most of the species from the Zunan Islands occurred in all three island groups.
Gyrodontium sacchari (Spreng.: Fr.) Hjortstam (Boletales, Basidiomycota) in America: new records and its geographic distribution
Authors: Robledo Gerardo L. , Giorgio Ernesto M. , Franco Clovis R. P. , Popoff Orlando , Decock Cony
Published: December 2014

Gyrodontium sacchari (Spreng.: Fr.) Hjortstam is reported from two new areas of northwest and northeast Argentina, Brazil, and French Guiana. A geographic distribution map of the species in America and a discussion on its pattern of distribution are presented.
New record of the ectoparasite insect Speiseria ambigua Kessel, 1925 (Diptera: Streblidae) of Platalina genovensium Thomas, 1928 (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) from Peru
Authors: Velazco Paúl M. , Autino Analia G. , Claps Guillermo L.
Published: December 2014

Platalina genovensium Thomas, 1928, the largest Lonchophyllinae, is a highly specialized phyllostomid bat that feeds primarily on columnar cacti and is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN. Here we report a new record of an ectoparasite insect for Platalina, Speiseria ambigua Kessel, 1925 (Diptera: Streblidae), obtained from a bat inventory carried out in northwestern Peru. Additionally this record represents the northernmost record of Sp. ambigua in Peru.
New records of the teiid lizards Kentropyx paulensis (Boettger, 1893) and Tupinambis duseni Lönnberg, 1910 (Squamata: Teiidae) from the state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil
Authors: Drummond Leandro De Oliveira , Cruz António Jorge do Rosário , Costa Henrique Caldeira , Braga Caryne Aparecida de Carvalho
Published: December 2014

Kentropyx paulensis and Tupinambis duseni are teiid lizard species endemic to the Cerrado ecoregion. They are, respectively, considered “Vulnerable” and “Near Threatened” in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Herein, we report the occurrence of both species in the municipality of Buenópolis, Minas Gerais, representing their easternmost locality and the second state record. An updated distribution map for K. paulensis and T. duseni is presented.
Estratégias homeopáticas: a Liga Homeopática do Rio Grande do Sul nos anos 1940-1950
Authors: Weber Beatriz Teixeira
Published: December 2014

Após 1930, vários espaços foram usados pelos homeopatas para divulgação de sua proposta, apesar de o período ser considerado de declínio de sua inserção acadêmica. É o caso das atividades desenvolvidas pela Liga Homeopática do Rio Grande do Sul, fundada em 1941, que publicou uma revista até os anos 1970, fundou três dispensários para atendimento gratuito da população em Porto Alegre e manteve atuante um grupo de homeopatas, inserido na discussão política que procurava difundir e ampliar a prática homeopática. A análise do Boletim de Homeopatia, editado pela Liga, permite considerar as estratégias de inserção dos homeopatas na capital do Rio Grande do Sul.
Bubble Breakup in Porous Media
Authors: Javadpour F.
Published: December 2014

Bubble nucleation and growth are the results of pressure depletion in solution-gas drive reservoirs. The interfaces of the generated bubbles move in pore spaces due to their expansion and applied pressure gradient. Mobilized bubbles might break into smaller bubbles or coalesce with other bubbles. The former event keeps the bubbles isolated and hinders their movement and increases critical gas saturation. Critical gas saturation signifies the onset of a continuous gas phase and is identified by a dramatic increase in GOR at the wellhead. Certain solution-gas drive heavy oil reservoirs (foamy oil reservoirs) demonstrate a low producing gas-oil ratio. A pore-scale model of porous media is modified to investigate the effect of pressure gradient and oil viscosity on the breakup of a solitary bubble. This event is then related to reservoir behaviour. The model is modified by including film flow and different breakup processes. New hydraulic conductivity formulations are derived for a pore containing oil, gas and oil film. The model results show that bubble breakup is more likely to happen in networks with high-pressure gradients. Also, increasing oil viscosity hinders bubble breakup.
Fear Avoidance and Pain Catastrophizing among Women with Sexual Pain
Authors: Thomtén Johanna , Lundahl Rebecka , Stigenberg Karin , Linton Steven
Published: December 2014

Aim: Among women under 30 years of age, around 20% report recurrent sexual pain. Although the amount of studies investigating sexual pain has increased, little is known about the role of psychosocial factors. The present study used the fear-avoidance model from musculoskeletal pain as a theoretical frame of reference, and examined fear-avoidance beliefs, avoidance behaviors, pain catastrophizing and symptoms of anxiety and depression among women (18–35 years) reporting sexual pain. Methods: The study was cross-sectional, based on a sample of 133 women, where 37 women (27.8%) reported sexual pain often or always. Results: Women with pain reported higher levels of fear avoidance and pain catastrophizing as well as depression and anxiety, with fear avoidance and pain catastrophizing reaching similar levels as has been reported in other long-term pain populations. The level of anxiety and depression did not reach clinical levels. Fear-avoidance beliefs and pain catastrophizing were related to sexual pain and to pain intensity in the regression analysis. Conclusion: The data are in line with, and give further support to, a fear-avoidance perspective in female sexual pain, emphasizing the role of fear and avoidance of pain/sex.
Antibiotic susceptibility patterns of isolated bacteria from bile fluids of patients with gallstone disease in Isfahan city (Iran)
Authors: Fatemi Seyed-Masih , Doosti Abbas , Tavakoli Hamid , Moayednia Reza , Ghasemi-Dehkordi Payam , Kelidari Behrooz , Mahmudieh Mohsen , Moayednia Milad
Published: December 2014

Bacterial infections are one of the important agents in the creation of
gallstones in the gallbladder. In recent years the spread of
antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as extended-spectrum ?-lactamases (ESBL)
is increasing and of concern in hospitalized patients worldwide. The purpose
of this study was to investigate the antibiotic susceptibility patterns of
isolated bacteria from the bile specimens of patients with chronic and acute
cholecystitis who had been operated by single-incision laparoscopic
cholecystectomy (SILC) in Isfahan (Iran) 2 using an antibiogram
susceptibility test and molecular technique. The bile fluids of 91 patients
were obtained from the Al-Zahra hospital and were cultured on specific media
for the isolation of Gram-negative and positive bacteria and the disk
diffusion test was done to determine the antibiotic susceptibility patterns
of isolated bacteria. Finally, bacterial DNA was extracted from the bile
samples and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to investigate
extended-spectrum ?-lactamases genes. The bacteria Escherichia coli,
Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus spp. and Staphylococcus aureus were detected
in bile specimens cultured with high frequency, and the results showed that
biliary infection increased with aging in patients with gallstone disease
operated by SILC. The results showed a high frequency of ESBL genes including
TEM, SHV, and CTX-M in isolated bacteria (especially Escherichia coli and
Klebsiella spp.). Thus, evaluating the antibiotic susceptibility patterns and
screening of ESBLs bacteria in patients with gallstones are essential.
Prescribing suitable drugs, designing good strategies, and informing the
medical community could decrease bile infection and antibiotic-resistant
bacteria in clinical centers and hospitals.
Water Kefir grain as a source of potent dextran producing lactic acid bacteria
Authors: Davidovic Sladjana , Miljkovic Miona , Antonovic Dusan , Rajilic-Stojanovic Mirjana , Dimitrijevic-Brankovic Suzana
Published: December 2014

Water kefir is abeverage fermented by a microbial consortium captured in
kefir grains. The kefir grains matrix is composed of polysaccharide,
primarily dextran, whichis produced by members of the microbial consortium.
In this study, we have isolated lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from
non-commercial water kefir grains (from Belgrade, Serbia) and screened for
dextran production. Among twelve Lisolates threeproduced slime colonies on
modified MRS (mMRS) agar containing sucrose instead of glucoseand were
presumed to produce dextran. Three LABwere identified based on morphological,
physiological and biochemical characteristics and 16S rRNA sequencing as
Leuconostoc mesenteroides(strains T1 and T3) and Lactobacillus hilgardii
(strain T5). The isolated strains were able to synthesize a substantial
amount of dextran in mMRS broth containing 5% sucrose. Maximal yields (11.56,
18.00 and 18.46 g/l) were obtained after 16h, 20h and 32h for T1, T3 and T5,
respectively. Optimal temperature for dextran production was 23oC for two
Leuconostoc mesenteroides strains and 30oC for Lactobacillus hilgardii
strain. The produced dextrans were identified based on paper chromatography
while the main structure characteristics of purified dextranwere observed by
FT-IR spectroscopy. Our study shows that water kefir grains are a natural
source of potent dextranproducing LAB.
The Local Anaesthetic Effect of a Dental Laser Prior to Cavity Preparation: A Pilot Volunteer Study
Authors: Al Bukhary R , Wassell R , Sidhu S , Naimi O Al , Meechan J
Published: December 2014

Objectives

It has been suggested that laser preconditioning can produce dental anaesthesia. This study aimed to assess the response of the dental pulp to laser preconditioning.

Methods

The effects of laser preconditioning, sham laser (negative control), and composite curing light (positive control) on the response of the dental pulp to electric pulp testing was investigated in this double-blind crossover trial with six volunteers. The Er,Cr:YSGG laser or curing light was shone on a premolar tooth in a sweeping motion for 30 seconds (in the sham treatment, the laser was not activated) in blindfolded volunteers subjected to a consistent aural stimulus. Treatment method at each visit was randomized and performed by a researcher not involved in pulp testing. Teeth were pulp tested twice initially by another member of the research team to get baseline readings, immediately following the treatment, and thereafter every two minutes for 10 minutes. Results were analyzed using analysis of variance and an independent-sample t-test.

Results

There were no significant differences in pulpal response between treatments (p>0.05).

Conclusion

Laser preconditioning did not affect pulpal response as measured by an electronic pulp tester. Laser preconditioning did not result in any pain or noticeable symptoms for both teeth and soft tissues.
Demand Artifact: Objectively Detecting Biased Participants in Advertising Research
Authors: Miller Felicia , Schertzer Susan
Published: December 2014

Detecting and reducing the effect of biased participants continues to be an important task for researchers. However, the lack of objective measures to assess demand artifact has made it difficult to effectively address this issue. This paper reports two experiments that apply a theory-based post-experimental inquiry that can systematically identify biased participants in consumer research. The results demonstrate how easily and effectively researchers can incorporate this tool into experimental studies of all types and reduce the likelihood of systematic error.
Surgical treatment of anogenital hemangiomas of infancy
Authors: Bulea Raluca , Enescu D.M , Giuvelea Steluţa , Stoicescu Simona , Alexandru Raluca , Ioniţă D
Published: December 2014

Introduction Infantile hemangiomas (IHs) are the most common benign tumors of the soft tissue in infants and children and they often represent a serious challenge for the treating physician. Hemangiomas located in the anogenital region represent only about 1% of all IHs, but raise special concerns as they have the propensity to ulcerate. This condition may appear spontaneously, or could result from therapeutic procedures. Ulceration is extremely painful and takes many weeks of conservative therapy to heal.

Material and Methods. The aim of this study is to present the surgical approach of the IHs located in the anogenital area and the outcomes of this treatment option.

Results. During a period of 36 months, 11 children (nine girls, two boys) were referred to our plastic surgery department with hemangiomas involving the anogenital, groin and perineum areas. The average follow-up period was of 8 months, during which 82% of cases experienced complications, especially ulceration. All the target hemangiomas were removed through a lenticular excision and the wound closed with a linear suture.

Conclusions. Our study has shown that surgical excision of a complicated anogenital hemangioma or of a “healthy” hemangioma at high risk for ulceration in the anogenital region is an effective treatment, with fast healing and complete resolution of the pathogenic condition. Lenticular excision and linear closure represent a convenient surgical technique that can be performed as early surgery, during the proliferative stage, or at any time later, when the patient needs treatment, in safety conditions and with good results.
Characteristics modeling for supercritical circulating fluidized bed boiler working in oxy-combustion technology
Authors: Balicki Adrian , Bartela Łukasz
Published: December 2014

Among the technologies which allow to reduce greenhouse gas emission, mainly carbon dioxide, special attention deserves the idea of ‘zeroemission’ technology based on boilers working in oxy-combustion technology. In the paper the results of analyses of the influence of changing two quantities, namely oxygen share in oxidant produced in the air separation unit, and oxygen share in oxidant supplied to the furnace chamber on the selected characteristics of a steam boiler including the degree of exhaust gas recirculation, boiler efficiency and adiabatic flame temperature, was examined. Due to the possibility of the integration of boiler model with carbon dioxide capture, separation and storage installation, the subject of the analysis was also to determine composition of the flue gas at the outlet of a moisture condensation installation. Required calculations were made using a model of a supercritical circulating fluidized bed boiler working in oxy-combustion technology, which was built in a commercial software and in-house codes.
Some problems of hydrodynamics of two-phase flow mixtures in minichannels
Authors: Wengel Monika , Miłaszewicz Barbara , Ulbrich Roman
Published: December 2014

Gas-liquid two-phase flow in minichannels has been the subject of increased research interest in the past few years. Evaluation, however, of today’s state of the art regarding hydrodynamics of flow in minichannels shows significant differences between existing test results. In the literature there is no clear information regarding: defining the boundary between minichannels and conventional channels, labelling of flow patterns. The review of literature on the hydrodynamics of gas-liquid flow in minichannels shows that, despite the fact that many research works have been published, the problem of determining the effect of diameter of the minichannel on the hydrodynamics of the flow is still at an early stage. Therefore, the paperpresents the results of research concerning determination of flow regime map for the vertical upward flow in minichannels. The research is based on a comprehensive analysis of the literature data and on the research that has been carried out. Such approach to the mentioned above problems concerning key issues of the two-phase flow in minichannels allowed to determine ranges of occurrence of flow structures with a relatively high accuracy.
Evaluation of resisdence time measurements on heat exchangers for the determination of dispersive Peclet numbers
Authors: Roetzel Wilfried , Ranong Chakkrit Na
Published: December 2014

The recently developed special unity Mach number dispersion model prescribes the corrections to heat transfer coefficients which are simple functions of the dispersive Peclet numbers. They can be determined through the residence time measurements. An evaluation method is described in which the measured input and response concentration profiles are numerically Laplace transformed and evaluated in the frequency domain. A characteristic mean Peclet number is defined. The method is also applied to the parabolic dispersion model and the cascade model. A calculated example of a tube bundle with maldistribution and backflow demonstrates the suitability of the evaluation method.
Development of fiber Bragg gratings technology and their complex structures for sensing, telecommunications and microwave photonics applications
Authors: Osuch T. , Gąsior P. , Markowski K. , Jędrzejewski K.
Published: December 2014

In this paper research on the development of the fiber Bragg grating (FBG) technology which has been conducted at the Institute of Electronic Systems (IES), Warsaw University of Technology (WUT) since 2004 is presented. In particular the directions in the development of advanced set-ups employing the phase mask inscription scheme are discussed and supported with the descriptions of structures designed and fabricated with the use of the laboratory stages constructed at the IES. The novelty of the presented solutions is based on the combination of numerous techniques of the external modification of the interferometric patterns (projected onto cores of photosensitive fibers to modulate their refractive index) as well as application of the modification of the internal properties of the waveguides themselves by the means of introducing strain or tapering.

The development of these sophisticated set-ups resulted in the inscription of FBGs with precisely designed spectral characteristics which found application in telecommunications and sensor technology are also illustrated here.

The paper is summarized with the specification of the most important achievements attained at the lab and drafting of the possible directions of further research.
Erbium and Al2O3 nanocrystals-doped silica optical fibers
Authors: Kasik I. , Podrazky O. , Mrazek J. , Cajzl J. , Aubrecht J. , Probostova J. , Peterka P. , Honzatko P. , Dhar A.
Published: December 2014

Fibre lasers and inherently rare-earth-doped optical fibers nowadays pass through a new period of their progress aiming at high efficiency of systems and their high power. In this paper, we deal with the preparation of silica fibers doped with erbium and Al2O3 nanocrystals and the characterization of their optical properties. The fibers were prepared by the extended Modified Chemical Vapor Deposition (MCVD) method from starting chlorides or oxide nanopowders. Conventional as well as modified approaches led to a nanocrystalline mullite phase formation in the fiber cores in which erbium is dissolved. The proposed modified approach based on starting nanopowders led to improved geometry of preforms and fibers and consequently to the improvement of their background attenuation. Such nanocrystal -doped fibers can be used for ASE sources. Further improvement of fiber optical properties can be expected.
Multipitch estimation using judge-based model
Authors: Rychlicki-Kicior K. , Stasiak B.
Published: December 2014

Multipitch estimation, also known as multiple fundamental frequency (F0) estimation, is an important part of the Music Information Retrieval (MIR) field. Although there have been many different approaches proposed, none of them has ever exceeded the abilities of a trained musician. In this work, an iterative cancellation method is analysed, being applied to three different sound representations - salience spectrum obtained using Constant-Q Transform, cepstrum and enhanced autocorrelation result. Real-life recordings of different musical instruments are used as a database and the parameters of the solution are optimized using a simple yet effective metaheuristic approach - the Luus-Jaakola algorithm. The presented approach results in 85% efficiency on the test database.
Comparison of transient states in step-down power converter (BUCK) in continuous and discontinuous conduction mode
Authors: Janke W. , Walczak M.
Published: December 2014

The object of this paper is a step-down (BUCK) power converter working in the continuous conduction mode (CCM) or discontinuous conduction mode (DCM). Two types of transient states in a converter have been analyzed and observed experimentally: slow transients, described by averaged models of a converter and fast transients, in the course of a single switching period. The averaged models of converter working in CCM, presented in various sources are similar, with some differences concerning only the description of parasitic effects. The averaged models for DCM depend on the adopted modeling method. Models obtained by the switch averaging approach are second-order models (containing two reactive elements in equivalent circuit representation). Models obtained by the separation of variables approach are first-order models. The experimental results given in this paper show the first-order type of transients. Another group of experiments concern fast transients in the course of a single switching period. The oscillations of inductor voltage in the part of a switching period are observed for DCM.
Due window assignment and scheduling on parallel machines: a FPTAS for a bottleneck criterion
Authors: Janiak A. , Janiak W. , Kovalyov M.Y.
Published: December 2014

A fully polynomial time approximation scheme (FPTAS) with run time is developed for a problem which combines common due window assignment and scheduling n jobs on m identical parallel machines. The problem criterion is bottleneck (min-max) such that the maximum cost, which includes job earliness, job tardiness and due window size costs, is minimized.
Duality of variable fractional order difference operators and its application in identification
Authors: Sierociuk D. , Twardy M.
Published: December 2014

The paper presents a number of definitions of variable order difference and discusses duality among some of them. The duality is used to improve the performance of the least squares estimation when applied to variable order difference fractional systems. It turns out, that by appropriate exploitation of duality one can reduce the estimator variance when system identification is carried out.
Reduced-order fractional descriptor observers for fractional descriptor continuous-time linear system
Authors: Kaczorek T.
Published: December 2014

Fractional descriptor reduced-order observers for fractional descriptor continuous-time linear systems are proposed. Necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of the observers are established. The design procedure of the observers is given and is demonstrated on two numerical examples.
Multiple Soft Fault Diagnosis of Bjt Circuits
Authors: Tadeusiewicz Michał , Hałgas Stanisław
Published: December 2014

This paper deals with multiple soft fault diagnosis of nonlinear analog circuits comprising bipolar transistors characterized by the Ebers-Moll model. Resistances of the circuit and beta forward factor of a transistor are considered as potentially faulty parameters. The proposed diagnostic method exploits a strongly nonlinear set of algebraic type equations, which may possess multiple solutions, and is capable of finding different sets of the parameters values which meet the diagnostic test. The equations are written on the basis of node analysis and include DC voltages measured at accessible nodes, as well as some measured currents. The unknown variables are node voltages and the parameters which are considered as potentially faulty. The number of these parameters is larger than the number of the accessible nodes. To solve the set of equations the block relaxation method is used with different assignments of the variables to the blocks. Next, the solutions are corrected using the Newton-Raphson algorithm. As a result, one or more sets of the parameters values which satisfy the diagnostic test are obtained. The proposed approach is illustrated with a numerical example.
Prototype of a Dsp-Based Instrument for In-Service Wireless Transmitter Power Measurement
Authors: Angrisani Leopoldo , Cennamo Felice , Scarpato Giovanni , Schiano Lo Moriello Rosario
Published: December 2014

A prototype of a DSP-based instrument for in-service transmitter power measurements is presented. The instrument implements a signal-selective algorithm for power measurements that is suitable for use in wireless environments, where possible uncontrolled interfering sources are present in the radio channel and are overlapped to the signal emitted by the transmitter under test, possibly in both time and frequency domain. The measurement method exploits the principles of cyclic spectral analysis, which are briefly recalled in the paper. Potentialities, as well as limitations of the prototype use are discussed, and the results of experiments with both modulated and unmodulated interfering sources are presented.