bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mixing sweet cream buttermilk with whole milk to produce cream cheese
Authors: Bahrami Masoud , Ahmadi Dariush , Beigmohammadi Faranak , Hosseini Fakhrisadat
Published: January 2016

Buttermilk is an important by-product of the manufacture of butter. Sweet-cream buttermilk (SCBM) is similar in composition to skim milk, except for its high phospholipid and milk fat globular membrane protein content. The main objective of this investigation was to produce optimum quality cream cheese by replacing whole milk with different proportions of SCBM (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, and 50%). Statistical analysis showed that there were significant differences (p < 0.05) between the chemical and organoleptic properties of the samples. As the percentage of SCBM increased, the chemical composition of total solids, fat, protein, fat in dry matter (FDM) and ash of cheese milk decreased significantly, leading to a softer, moister curd. Samples prepared with more than 25% SCBM were not acceptable to the taste panel. The cream cheeses prepared using 25% and 30% SCBM had the highest yields. Total solids and FDM were strong predictors of cheese yield (r2 ≈ 0.589). The results also showed that the best range for replacement using SCBM is 20–25%.
Influence of short-term pre-aging in vacuum on physicochemical characteristics and consumer acceptability of modified atmosphere packed beef steaks
Authors: Łopacka Joanna , Żontała Katarzyna , Pietras Jacek , Półtorak Andrzej , Wierzbicka Agnieszka
Published: January 2016

The objective of this study was to investigate the physiochemical changes and consumer acceptability of meat packed in high oxygen modified atmosphere during 12 days of storage with and without pre-aging in vacuum for 7 days. Steak samples from forequarter muscles Infraspinatus and Supraspinatus were stored at 2°C and tested for colour, Warner–Bratzler shear force (WBSF), storage/cooking loss, and consumer acceptability. Overall consumer acceptability at the beginning of modified atmosphere display was higher for aged Infraspinatus samples, however at the end of display samples from both treatments were equally rated by consumers. No impact of aging was observed in terms of storage loss, while cooking loss was slightly affected by aging, resulting in higher losses in aged samples at the end of modified atmosphere storage. Inclusion of an aging process prior to modified atmosphere display improved the tenderness of Infraspinatus muscle at the 8th day of display and led to a considerable increase in redness of both muscles.
Mycotoxin occurrence on baled and pit silages collected in Co. Meath
Authors: McElhinney C. , Danaher M. , Elliott C. , O’Kiely P.
Published: January 2016

Recent studies of baled silages produced in Ireland have identified considerable filamentous fungal contamination. Many of these fungi are toxigenic, capable of producing secondary metabolites, namely mycotoxins. Mycotoxins are potentially detrimental to livestock health and some can pose a risk to consumers of animal products. Baled (n=20) and pit (n=18) silages from a sample of farms (n=38) in Co. Meath were examined to assess the occurrence of mycotoxins and ascertain whether sampling position within the pit silos (feed face vs. 3 m behind the feed face) has an effect on mycotoxin content or other chemical compositional variables. Of the 20 mycotoxins assayed, baled silages contained [mean of positive values (no. of values in mean)] mycotoxin concentrations (μg/kg dry matter) of beauvericin 36 (2), enniatin (enn.) A 9.3 (3), enn. A154 (8), enn. B 351 (9), enn. B1136 (10), mycophenolic acid (MPA) 11,157 (8) and roquefortine C (Roq. C) 1037 (8) and pit silages contained beauvericin 25 (2) enn. A118 (2), enn. B 194 (9), enn. B157 (3), MPA 287 (6), Roq. C 3649 (6) and zearalenone 76 (1). There was no difference (P>0.05) observed in the mycotoxin concentrations between baled and pit silages, and 11 of the 20 mycotoxins assayed were below the limits of detection. The position of sampling had no effect on the mycotoxin concentration detected in pit silages. It is concluded that mycotoxin concentrations detected in these pit and baled silages in Co. Meath did not exceed EU regulation or guidance limits, and that similar chemical composition and mycotoxin concentration values occurred at the pit silage feed face and 3 m behind this feed face.
Distribution and incidence of viruses in Irish seed potato crops
Authors: Hutton F. , Spink J.H. , Griffin D. , Kildea S. , Bonner D. , Doherty G. , Hunter A.
Published: January 2016

Virus diseases are of key importance in potato production and in particular for the production of disease-free potato seed. However, there is little known about the frequency and distribution of potato virus diseases in Ireland. Despite a large number of samples being tested each year, the data has never been collated either within or across years. Information from all known potato virus testing carried out in the years 2006–2012 by the Department of Agriculture Food and Marine was collated to give an indication of the distribution and incidence of potato virus in Ireland. It was found that there was significant variation between regions, varieties, years and seed classes. A definition of daily weather data suitable for aphid flight was developed, which accounted for a significant proportion of the variation in virus incidence between years. This use of weather data to predict virus risk could be developed to form the basis of an integrated pest management approach for aphid control in Irish potato crops.
The response of sward-dwelling arthropod communities to reduced grassland management intensity in pastures
Authors: Helden Alvin J. , Anderson Annette , Finn John , Purvis Gordon
Published: January 2016

We compared arthropod taxon richness, diversity and community structure of two replicated grassland husbandry experiments to investigate effects of reduced management intensity, as measured by nutrient input levels (390, 224 and 0 kg/ha per year N in one experiment, and 225 and 88 kg/ha per year N in another). Suction sampling was used to collect Araneae, Coleoptera, Hemiptera and Hymenoptera, with Araneae and Coleoptera also sampled with pitfall trapping. Univariate analyses found no significant differences in abundance and species density between treatments. However, with multivariate analysis, there were significant differences in arthropod community structure between treatments in both experiments.

Reducing N input and associated stocking rates, as targeted by agri-environment schemes, can significantly alter arthropod communities but without increasing the number of species present. Other approaches that may be necessary to achieve substantial enhancement of sward arthropod biodiversity are suggested.
A note on challenge trials to determine the growth of Listeria monocytogenes on mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus)
Authors: Leong Dara , Alvarez-Ordóñez Avelino , Jordan Kieran
Published: January 2016

In the EU, food is considered safe with regard toListeria monocytogenesif the number of micro-organisms does not exceed 100 colony forming units (cfu)/g throughout its shelf-life. Therefore, it is important to determine if a food supports growth ofL. monocytogenes. Guidelines for conducting challenge tests for growth assessment ofL. monocytogeneson foods were published by the European Union Reference Laboratory (EURL) in 2014. The aim of this study was to use these guidelines to determine if refrigerated, fresh, whole, closed-cap, prepackaged mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) support the growth ofL. monocytogenes. Three batches of mushrooms were artificially inoculated at approximately 100 cfu/g with a three-strain mix ofL. monocytogenesand incubated for 2 days at 8°C followed by 4 days at 12°C.L. monocytogenesnumbers were determined (in triplicate for each batch) on days 0, 2 and 6. Water activity, pH and total bacterial counts were also determined. There was no increase in the number ofL. monocytogenesabove the threshold of 0.5 log cfu/g in any of the replicates. In 8 of 9 replicates, the numbers decreased indicating thatA. bisporusdo not support the growth ofL. monocytogenes. As the EU regulations allow < 100 cfu/g if the food cannot support growth ofL. monocytogenes, the significance of this study is that mushrooms with < 100 cfu/g may be within the regulations and therefore, quantitative rather than qualitative determination may be required.
A note on the Hybrid Soil Moisture Deficit Model v2.0
Authors: Schulte Rogier P.O. , Simo Iolanda , Creamer Rachel E. , Holden Nicholas M.
Published: January 2016

The Hybrid Soil Moisture Deficit (HSMD) model has been used for a wide range of applications, including modelling of grassland productivity and utilisation, assessment of agricultural management opportunities such as slurry spreading, predicting nutrient emissions to the environment and risks of pathogen transfer to water. In the decade since its publication, various ad hoc modifications have been developed and the recent publication of the Irish Soil Information System has facilitated improved assessment of the spatial soil moisture dynamics. In this short note, we formally present a new version of the model (HSMD2.0), which includes two new soil drainage classes, as well as an optional module to account for the topographic wetness index at any location. In addition, we present a new Indicative Soil Drainage Map for Ireland, based on the Irish Soil Classification system, developed as part of the Irish Soil Information System.
The Creative Industries: a discourse-theoretical approach
Authors: Mäe Rene
Published: January 2016

The aim of this paper is to examine the emergence of the idea of the creative industries in a particular former socialist country – Estonia. Instead of regarding the creative industries as an economic sector, the article (re)conceptualises it as an ‘empty signifier’. The paper borrows its central theoretical concepts (hegemony, empty signifier, floating signifier) from post-Marxist discourse theory and employs them to explore the ways in which the creative industries are instituted within particular social, discursive or political struggles. The article proposes that Laclauian (or post-Marxist) discourse theory can raise some new fruitful methodological problems and challenging research directions among the researchers of the creative industries and cultural policy, especially in the Eastern European context.
Public banking for the cultural sector: financial instruments and the new financial intermediaries
Authors: Monclus Rosa Perez
Published: January 2016

The use of financial instruments by the public sector to support the cultural and creative field is a rising trend. At a national and supranational level, public bodies are increasingly employing financial instruments, such as loan guarantees, to facilitate debt financing to creative organisations. This paper attempts to contribute to the understanding of these changes. It explores the logic of public intervention underpinning the emergence of this phenomenon in four distinct polities; France, Spain, the United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU), as well as their mutual influences. It does so from a historical perspective, placing special attention to economic, political and ideational factors. The article concludes by arguing that although financial instruments cannot be considered as novel mechanisms, the intensity under which they are currently being advanced may signal towards a profound change for the governance of the cultural sector.
Legitimising Strategies in the Field of Independent Cultural Production: the Case of Reissue Record Labels in the USA
Authors: Bowsher Andrew
Published: January 2016

This article examines the cultural practice of effecting an independent marketplace for reissued music in the United States, based on ethnographic fieldwork in Austin, Texas with independent record labels and consumers. As the music industry is not a homogenous entity (Williamson and Cloonan, 2007), I argue that the practice of legitimising an independent marketplace requires the formulation of a ‘mainstream’ market to which the independent is opposed, and the erecting of marketplace myths (Arsel and Thompson, 2010) to substantiate the independent marketplace’s claims to differ from the mainstream. Legitimising strategies (Strachan, 2007) protect the investments made by producers and consumers of goods in their marketplace. To overcome the anxiety that commodified culture is inauthentic culture, the independent marketplace for reissued music is idealised as a realm of soft capitalism that enables the commodification of cultural goods without the stigmatisation of profiteering, exploitation and ‘inorganic’ music associated with the mainstream (Negus, 1992).
Design, It’s Not What It Looks Like!
Authors: Puşcaşiu Voica
Published: January 2016

The main purpose of this paper is to explore the different ways in which materials are used to deceive, the reasons behind these practices, and what they say about society. Starting off from the premises that by choosing a medium one also implies a message due to the inherit personality of the materials, we will first take a swift look at the history of deceiving through artistic practices. Further on we shall take into consideration the shift in paradigm noticeable in contemporary design as we explain the motivations and the strategies behind creating objects that seem made out of plastic and yet they are not. Touching on subjects such as sustainable design and commodification, we will try to conclude whether the eco-friendly design is indeed working or if it is just another successful marketing strategy.
Less than Friends, More than Acquaintances: Artists, Markets and Gallery Openings in New York
Authors: Fuller Martin G
Published: January 2016

This article describes one way that unknown and ‘emerging’ artists with limited exhibition history or reputation take steps towards developing their careers. Artists cannot apply directly for exhibition opportunities, therefore they develop social associations with gallerists that are described as being ‘kind-of-friendly-with’. Using a descriptive ethnographic narrative drawn from a case study of artists as they navigate an evening of commercial gallery openings in New York’s Chelsea district, it is argued that establishing a career in contemporary visual art depends on the ability to render one’s self visible to other participants in an art world. Rather than viewing the symbolic value of artworks as antagonistic with the economic art market, artists seek to establish social associations in which different forms of value are interrelated. In conclusion it is suggested that this is an art world in which the ‘economic world reversed’ is inversed.
Institutional Logics as orchestras’ strategic dilemma
Authors: Heinen Andreas , Weisenfeld Ursula
Published: January 2016

In many societies, professional orchestras serve cultural, educational, entertaining, and economic functions, and they aim high: they aim to be artistically excellent. Pursuing partly cultural, social and economic goals, orchestras are exposed simultaneously to respective institutional logics. These logics provide a framework for relevant actors (state, benefactors, audiences) to support orchestras. Changing logics coupled with drastic changes in audiences afford to classical orchestras the challenge of developing strategies in order to survive. While Germany with its high number of orchestras per habitants experiences particularly high pressure to walk new paths, strategic development will become a more urgent topic in other countries as well since each performance begs for recognition in the big and increasing panoply of culture, education, and entertainment. Based on historical developments and an empirical study of German audiences we discuss two directions for strategic development, here for orchestras in Germany: a) the combination of elements from different logics, and b) the development of audiences.
The Opera Experience: Performing a Vibrato with the Audience
Authors: Cuenca Macarena , López-Sintas Jordi , García-Álvarez Ercilia
Published: January 2016

Audience development is a key issue in the cultural sector, so opera house managers and policy makers need to understand how and why opera goers enjoy an opera. Our research, which investigates opera enjoyment, is framed in the social constructivist paradigm and draws on interview data collected from 15 informants. Results suggest that certain pre-conditions are necessary to be able to enjoy an opera, mainly, being cultivated and actively acquiring a liking for the genre. As for strategies to prepare for an upcoming performance, some respondents approached it as a ‘special day’, while others viewed it as a ‘cultural experience’. For all our respondents, the experience was an emotional one. We conclude the article by discussing the implications of the results of our research.
Armed non-state actors as a distinct research topic
Authors: Miroiu Andrei , Ungureanu Radu-Sebastian
Published: January 2016

This article introduces the topic of armed non-state actors and briefly summarizes the contributions to this special issue.
Risk Management Responses to Armed Non-State Actor Risk in Afghanistan
Authors: Simpson Jeremy
Published: January 2016

The article considers responses by different categories of actor to the threat of armed non-state actors in the international intervention in Afghanistan 2001-2015. Concepts from the sociology of risk, in particular risk-management and the distinction between operational and reputational risk, are related to field research in Afghanistan during the intervention. The ‘risk society’ approach of Beck (2009) is critiqued as relatively inapplicable to a discussion of differences in risks to and responses by different categories of actor. The article identifies some convergences of practice across three categories of intervening actor, civil-developmental, counter-insurgent and counter-terrorist, in particular tendencies to risk-transfer and remote-management that draws together theorisation of civil practice by Duffield (2010) and military practice by Shaw (2002). This is problematised relative to difficulties in managing tensions between operational risks to intervening actors and reputational risks vis-à-vis local actors.
A Casuistic explanation to Hizbullah’s realpolitik: Interpreting the re-interpreted
Authors: Farida Mariam
Published: January 2016

The recent development unfolding in the Arab region forces the observer into the question of security and stability. The Middle East region has been coined with violence and transformations with the growing inability to bring the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to an end. The history of Lebanon is not separate from the surrounding danger. For that end, Hizbullah has pushed Lebanon into the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian struggle. This article investigates the role Hizbullah plays amidst regional conflicts, and its ability to stand out as a religio-political party able to face the Israeli aggression and withstand its religious identity. Interestingly, this has been a key to the Party’s success, where the Party’s religious identity and politics go hand in hand. As such, this paper offers the reader an analysis of how Hizbullah uses religion to its favour, and how religion (specifically Shi’ism) offers a ground for political pragmatism to be justified.
Negotiating with the Other: Centre-Periphery Perceptions, Peacemaking Policies and Pervasive Conflict in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh
Authors: Wilkinson Matthew
Published: January 2016

Intrastate peace agreements tend to be drafted in situations of political chaos, multiple combatants and shifting allegiances within and between state and non-state actors. Despite this, such agreements continue to reflect a bilateral understanding of conflict, with the state on one side and the non-state on the other. Such an understanding was employed in the largely unsuccessful 1997 Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord in Bangladesh. This article argues that the failure of the Accord to secure a durable and lasting peace is due to the mistaken belief by the Bangladeshi government that the conflict was a ‘two sides’ war between the modern Bengali-Muslim state and it’s ‘primitive’ and ‘savage’ periphery. Soon after the Peace Accord was signed it became apparent that the Government of Bangladesh had made a fatal error in assuming that the communities in question were a simple, homogenous and unified group. Rather, the communities of the CHT are a collection of ethnically and ideologically distinct groups. This failure has led to division and competition of local politics in the CHT today, and continued warfare within and between many CHT communities. Violent actors have been polarized by the terms of the peace agreement and jungle warfare continues at great risk and cost to communities.1
Bringing the transnational into ‘new wars’: the case of islamic state
Authors: Layton Peter
Published: January 2016

In her seminal 1998 work on ‘new wars’ Mary Kaldor developed a heuristic framework usefully for understanding the characteristics of armed non-state groups involved in contemporary conflicts. This framework was derived from analysing the 1992-1995 Bosnia-Herzegovina conflict. Some two decades after this however, adjustments may now be necessary. A focussed examination of the strategy used during 2014 by Islamic State Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) reveals Kaldor’s framework may now need to include a more explicit focus on the transnational. Since the mid-1990s, the transnational has been made more accessible by advances in social media in particular, and by globalization more generally. ISIS’s use of the transnational indicates this may be an area that astute non-state actors can advantageously exploit - perhaps better than states - although there are some difficulties involved. ISIS’s success suggests that the transnational may in time have greater influence on the politics of international society.
Which Is Greener? The Gas Condenser Boiler Or Ground Source Heat Pump. Which Is The Contribution Of Renewable Energy To The Energy Consumption For Heating To A Building?
Authors: Cîrstolovean I. L.
Published: January 2016

The goals of this paper are: to estimate the carbon emission reduction on energy efficiency measurements in a laboratory building in Transilvania University from Braşov, Romania, in accordance with the European Directive 2009/28/EC and to estimate the contribution of renewable energy to energy efficiency of the building using the performance indicator named Renewable Energy Ratio - RER. We will detail the methods of calculation for CO2 emissions and we will present the results for gas condensing boiler, and ground source heat pump for the laboratory building. The results show that conventional energy efficiency technologies and renewable energy technologies can be used to decrease CO2 emissions in buildings by 20–30% on average and up to over 40% for some building types and locations. The contribution of renewable energy is between 40 and 50 % from total energy use and only for heating is 58%. This value could rise to 0.63 if we apply to electricity produced by photovoltaic panels.
Applications Of Terrestrial Laser Scanning And GIS In Forest Inventory
Authors: Cristea Cătălina , Jocea Andreea Florina
Published: January 2016

During last years the need of knowing the forest in its various aspects, quantitative and qualitative, has enabled the appearance of a new technique forestry geomatics. Named as “the science of future” this technique integrates multiple technologies such as Remote Sensing, Airborne Photogrammetry, LIDAR, Geographic Information System (GIS), Global Positioning Systems (GPS) or classical geodetic technology for data acquisition, data processing, data analysis and data management. The purpose is to provide specific information regarding the evaluation natural forestry resources. In this paper will be presented the utilization of terrestrial 3D laser scanner and GIS technologies in forestry inventory.
Behavior Of Beam-To-Column Connections With Angles. Part 1-Experimental Investigations
Authors: Ghindea M. , Cătărig A. , Ballok R.
Published: January 2016

In this paper, four specimens of steel beam to column joints with different configuration of bolted angle connections are experimentally tested. The specimens are double sided beam to column connections and are tested under bending loading conditions in order to investigate elastic and inelastic connection behaviour. The semi-rigid beam-to-column connections were subjected to monotonous static loading. The bolted beam-to-column connections are composed from top and seat angle connections with and without web angles as well as with stiffened top and seat angle cleats. The intent of the experimental investigations is to highlight the ability of the connections to maintain strength and to provide rotational capacity. The experimental results are evaluated with the measured force displacement data, from which the characteristic moment-rotation curves were established. The experimental results indicate the primary failure modes include member deformation. The moment-rotation relationship of the tested joints exhibits a significant inelastic nonlinear response. The paper concludes with the comparison of the tested joints in terms of strength and stiffness, highlighting the advantages and weaknesses of the studied joint typologies.
Calculation Of Heat Loss Through The Pipes Of The Interior Central Heating System
Authors: Giurca I.
Published: January 2016

The article presents aspects related to the calculation of heat loss through the pipes of the interior central heating system. The purpose of the article is to detail the local heat losses in case of central heating systems. Based on the conclusions of the article, we propose the modification of the calculation methodology related to the building energy audit.
The Integration Of CAD Instruments And Databases For The Historical Monuments Records In The Area Of Bighi, Malta
Authors: Koncsag Magdolna Eva , Man Ioana Maria
Published: January 2016

Malta is a representative model for recording and preserving archaeological remains and historical monuments. Being a historically and culturally rich location, it requires creating, maintaining and updating a database in order to keep a record of the state of degradation or the actions to restore historical monuments. One way to preserve the image and shape of a historical monument is by creating a three-dimensional model. The advantage of such a model is its visualization and keeping in a form close to the real shape of a monument in a particular moment in time. It can thus highlight the levels of wear and degradation, the eventually necessary rehabilitation works or simply reproduce the impressions that the building would actually leave on a visitor.
The Shape-Structure Relation For The Light Construction Membrane Type
Authors: Kopenetz L. , Cătărig A. , Ghemiş Mihaela Teodora
Published: January 2016

In the case of light structures membrane type the form is confused with the structure and vice versa. Thus the analysis process, non-linear type, the one for form finding is also a means of optimizing these structures. To respect the natural principle of minimum it is advisable that the structure’s shape is similar to the minimum surface area. The numerical problem solving is based on using finite elements with constant strain of soap film. Based on these considerations, the paper presents aspects of determining the shape of the membrane structure using finite elements of soap film.
Earth As Wealth Resource In The Crisul Repede Basin
Authors: Mancia M.S. , Mancia Aurora
Published: January 2016

From the entire globe surface which is over 13.5 billion ha, the agricultural area represents more than one quarter (means 3.4 billion ha). The cultivated areas cover approximately 1.5 billion ha, which means 8% of the total lands, to each inhabitant of the planet assuming the 0.25 ha. The most agricultural space is located in the temperate zone (about 2 billion ha), which represents 55% of agricultural space world and also here lies mostly in the sown area of the planet (830 thousand ha, 59%).
Statics And Kinematics Of Semirigid Steel Frames Under Seismic Action
Authors: Mathe Aliz , Cătărig Al. , Moldovan Ilinca
Published: January 2016

Intended contribution emphasizes the statics and kinematics of semi-rigid steel frames seismically acted upon. The dynamic model of analyzed structures consists of multi degree of freedom systems with lumped masses located at floor levels. The dynamic degrees of freedom are the lateral seismically induced floor displacements. A cyclic behavior of semi-rigid beam – column connections associated with the four parameters analytical bending moment M – relative rotation θr
is considered. Time history seismic analyses are performed on multi-story steel planar frames equipped with several top and seat and web angle beam – column connections acted upon by recorded seismic actions. The computed numerical results refer to the contrary static and effects of semi-rigidity: the increase in lateral floor displacements accompanied by a decrease in the seismic base shear force. Relevant comments are drawn.
Thermal Bridges At Wood Frame Construction
Authors: Moga Ligia , Moga I.
Published: January 2016

The paper presents the results of numerical analysis on the effects of thermal bridges at wood frame buildings with or without thermal insulation placed on the exterior surface of the wall. The heat flow crossing the wooden thermal bridges, respectively the linear heat transfer coefficients ψ and the temperature factors fRsi, can be established based on the plane temperature field in stationary thermal regime. The “PSIPLAN” computer program used to determine the temperature field, derived from the original program “CIMPLAN” with its first version developed in 1980. The program allows graphic description of the plane section of a thermal bridge and discretizes automatically the section on both axes in accordance with the stipulations of the EN ISO 10211-1:1995 standard and EN ISO 10211:2007 standard. The computer program generates automatically the system of equations that is solved using iterative methods until the heat flows on the two surfaces of the section are balanced. The calculation results are presented with numerical values and in a graphical manner by isothermal surfaces. The program has various libraries that include several types of wood thermal bridges.
Using Different Mapping Function In GPS Processing For Remote Sensing The Atmosphere
Authors: Nistor S. , Buda A.S.
Published: January 2016

Due to development of GPS technology and by using the combination LC of L1 and L2 frequency the first order effect of the ionosphere tends to be canceled. Thus the main source of errors in the atmosphere which causes the delay in GPS signal is the neutral part of the atmosphere, usually referred to tropospheric delay. In general, the delay is computed at the zenith direction and it is referred to zenith tropospheric delay. The zenith tropospheric delay consist of two parts: zenith hydrostatic delay and zenith wet delay. The zenith hydrostatic delay can be very well modeled which accounts for nearly 90% to 100% of the atmospheric delay. The zenith wet delay is due to the water vapor and represents the “harder” part that need to be modeled caused by “unmixed” condition of the wet atmosphere. The influence of the zenith wet delay is around 0-40 cm. The aim of the article is to present the results obtain on the network of three station which were spread around the Oradea city using different types of mapping functions. The mapping functions are: global pressure and temperature – GPT2 and Vienna mapping function – VMF1. For the vertical studies to obtain the highest accuracy, the recommended mapping function is VMF1.
Research On Recycling Of Hardened Mortar From Construction And Demolition Waste
Authors: Smical Irina , Filip-Văcărescu F. , Danku G. , Paşca V.
Published: January 2016

The recycling issues related to the construction and demolition (C&D) wastes in the sustainable development and the circular economy context represent a continuous challenge for researchers. This paper reveals the possibility to recycle the hardened mortar recovered from C&D wastes. Thus, the recovered hardened mortar with grains size less than 16 mm was used in the concrete structure. The compression resistance of the final concrete was determined using a Heckert 3000 KN testing machine and the results showed a better compressive strength for the samples with C&D waste content than the standard sample of about 1.19 times. This is a good premise for improving the researches related to C&D waste usage in concrete production.
The Influence Of Foundation Soils Concernig The Behaviour Of Buildings
Authors: Tudorică M. , Bob C.
Published: January 2016

An issue more and more important in construction science represents the rehabilitation of structures placed on difficult soils. This paper presents the behaviour analysis of an existing structure and summarizes several consolidation solutions at both levels of a severely damaged construction placed on a shrinking and swelling soil, located in Arad County - Romania, situated on 55 Revolutiei Avenue. These types of soils are known in specialty literature as shrinking fields, expansive or active soils, having the property to modify sensitively their entire volume when there are variations of moisture, being spread on a large scale in Romania. After the assessment of seismic safety for a section of the damaged structure, which is characterized by a high risk of collapse from seismic action, reason for which it has been proposed to immediate by consolidate the damaged construction.
Observation of Physiological Changes after Detomidine Administration in Pateri Goat
Authors: Tunio Ahmed , Bughio Shamasuddin , Sahito Jam Kashif , Shah Muhammad Ghiasuddin , Ebrahimi Mahdi , Tunio Shazia Parveen
Published: January 2016

The objective of this study was to determine the physiological effects of detomidine on Pateri goats. A total of six female Pateri goats were randomly treated with three different dose rates of Detomidine at 40 μg, 50 μg and 60 μg/kg body weights. The effects of Detomidine on respiratory and heart rate, rectal temperature and serum glucose level were investigated. Following detomidine intravenous administration in goats, it produced dose dependent effect on physiological parameters. Respiratory and heart rate decreased after intravenous administration in all goats. The heart rate decreased at 5 min with all dose rates and returned to the base line at 60 min. This change in heart rate was dose dependent and there was no significant (P>0.05) change observed with 40 μg and 50 μg/kg of Detomidine. However, there was significant difference (P<0.05) at 75 min between the 40 μg and 60 μg/kg of Detomidine in all goats. However, significant (P<0.01) increase in serum glucose level occurred with all dose rates at 30 min compared with control groups. It is concluded that Detomidine has produced no adverse effect on physiological parameters.
Economic Growth and Public Indebtedness in the Last Four Decades: Is Portugal different from the other PIIGS’ economies?
Authors: Ferraz Ricardo , Duarte António Portugal
Published: January 2016

Portugal is a member of the group known by investors as ‘PIIGS’, countries characterised by having high public debt and weak economic growth. Using an extended time horizon, 1974–2014, this study seeks to empirically explore the relationship between economic growth and public debt in the PIIGS economies, particularly in the case of Portugal. Based on the estimation of linear regression models, it was concluded that in the last four decades there has been a negative relationship between economic growth and public debt in both cases, which is consistent with the literature. The negative relationship was even more pronounced in the case of the PIIGS than it was in the case of Portugal.
Tax Policy and Income Inequality in the Visegrad Countries
Authors: Moździerz Anna
Published: January 2016

The financialisation of economies is believed to be the primary cause of the increase in income inequality in the world, occurring on a scale unseen for more than 30 years. One can hypothesise that it is the state that is responsible for the widening inequality, as the state has not sufficiently used the redistributive function of taxation. The purpose of this paper is to study the impact of tax policy on income inequality in Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. These so-called Visegrad countries have, in the last several years, carried out some controversial experiments with tax policy, specifically in terms of the flattening of tax progressivity or its replacement with a flat tax, which led to the weakening of the income adjustment mechanism. The imbalance between income tax and consumption tax has contributed to perpetuating income inequality. The verification of tax systems carried out during the recent financial crisis has forced the countries included in this research to implement tax reforms. The introduced changes caused various fiscal and redistributive effects. Analyses show that the changes in income taxation and an increase in the consumption tax rate had the most negative impact on the income and asset situation in Hungary.
The Influence of Employees’ Values on the Acquisition of Knowledge in Organizations
Authors: Pivec Nataša , Potočan Vojko
Published: January 2016

In this paper, we focus on the importance and influence of employees’ values as an essential element of organizational culture in the acquisition of knowledge. Based on empirical research, we studied the influence of employees’ values in Slovenian organizations on the acquisition of knowledge, enabling us to identify the core values that exert the greatest effect on the acquisition of knowledge. The results of the analysis confirmed the positive impact of employees’ values on the acquisition of knowledge. We found that the more employees are dedicated to personal development and the more they feel connected and loyal to the organization, the more they are inclined to the development and acquisition of knowledge.
Relationships among Store Image and Store Loyalty in Slovenia
Authors: Grah Miran , Tominc Polona
Published: January 2016

Image has become one of the most important factors of stores’ survival and development. In this paper, a model of relationships among the multidimensional variables of store image, positive affect, satisfaction with the store, trust and commitment to the store is formed and tested with a sample of 209 customers in three stores in the Pomurje region of Slovenia. The important conclusion of the research is that several interrelations among store image, positive affect, satisfaction, trust and store commitment exist. The results also show significant gender differences in perceptions of store image. These results provide several important insights for managing supermarkets in the Slovenian market and are also important for future research.
Adjusting to population ageing: evidence for policy action
Authors: Sidorenko Alexandre
Published: January 2016

This article discusses the contribution of research evidence to shifting the focus of international policy planning on ageing from predominantly humanitarian aspects to predominantly developmental aspects. Opposing views on the implications of population change for societal development are delineated. Particular attention is paid to efforts aimed at linking research and policy processes in the area of population ageing. The role of international cooperation in developing/strengthening national capacity for evidence informed policy on ageing is reviewed.
Salinity Stress Tolerance Of Camelina Investigated In Vitro
Authors: Khalid H. , Kumari M. , Grover A. , Nasim M.
Published: January 2016

The ability of Camelina sativa to withstand salinity stress in vitro by adding NaCl (0, 25, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 175, 200mM) in Murashige and Skoog basal medium was studied. Performance of the plants was measured in terms of various growth parameters and physiological and biochemical tests performed on fully grown plants. The germination capacity, cotyledon unfolding and first true leaf emergence was reduced by 30.6, 17.3, and 28.8%, respectively in 200mM salt treatment with respect to control. The plant height, relative water content, and plant water content were decreased by 85.4, 10.8, and 9.8%, respectively, in stressed plants with respect to control. A decrease in chlorophyll a and b and total chlorophyll contents (by 81.3%), as well as of protein content was registered. Electrical conductivity increased by 52.8% in stressed plants over control, as expected. Other stress indicators like guiacol peroxidase activity and malondialdehyde also increased with respect to control. At salt concentrations lower than 200mM, no clear cut retardation effects were seen. Thus, the present study opens up the scope of further assessment of survivability of camelina in salt contaminated soils.
Genetic Diversity Of Plukenetia Volubilis L. Assessed By ISSR Markers*
Authors: Ocelák M. , Čepková P. Hlásná , Viehmannová I. , Dvořáková Z. , Huansi D.C. , Lojka B.
Published: January 2016

The diversity and genetic relationships in 173 sacha inchi samples were analyzed using ISSR markers. Thirty ISSR primers were used, only 8 showed variability in tested samples. ISSR fragments ranged from 200 to 2500 bp. The mean number of bands per primer was 12 and the average number of polymorphic bands per primer was 11. The lowest percentages of polymorphic bands (27%), gene diversity (0.103), and Shannon’s information index (0.15) were exhibited by the Santa Lucia population, which was also geographically most distant. This fact may be attributed to a very small size of this group. In contrast, the Dos de Mayo population exhibited the highest percentage of polymorphic bands (78%), and the Santa Cruz population the highest Nei’s gene diversity index (0.238) and Shannon’s information index (0.357). The obtained level of genetic variability was 36% among tested populations and 64% within populations. Although the diversity indices were low, a cluster analysis revealed 8 clusters containing mainly samples belonging to individual populations. Principal coordinate analysis clearly distinguished Chumbaquihui, Pucallpa, Dos de Mayo, and Aguas de Oro populations, the others were intermixed. The obtained results indicated the level of genetic diversity present in this location of Peru, although it is influenced by anthropological aspects and independent on the geographical distances.
Effect Of Dietary Medium-Chain Fatty Acids On Campylobacter Jejuni In Broiler Chickens*
Authors: Hovorková P. , Skřivanová E. , Kudrnová E. , Marounek M.
Published: January 2016

The inhibitory properties of a commercial product Fortibac® containing medium-chain fatty acids on Campylobacter jejuni were determined. The product is a mixture of C6:0-C14:0 fatty acids. After testing the antibacterial properties towards C. jejuni in in vitro conditions, an experimental infection on broiler chickens was performed to confirm the results. The product was admixed with feed (final concentrations 0, 0.25, and 0.5%) and broiler chickens were artificially infected with C. jejuni VFU 612. The chickens were infected on day 16 of age, while the aforementioned feed mixtures were used during the entire fattening period (days 0–35). After the infection, the dynamics of C. jejuni shedding was evaluated among treated groups and the control. Reduction of the number of campylobacters by the product with medium-chain fatty acids was not confirmed in vivo. It is assumed that the final amount of potentially active fatty acids in the digestive tract was not sufficient. The product, however, had a clear beneficial impact on mortality of infected chickens.
Application Natura 2000 Data For The Invasive Plants Spread Prediction*
Authors: Pěknicová J. , Petrus D. , Berchová-Bímová K.
Published: January 2016

The distribution of invasive plants depends on several environmental factors, e.g. on the distance from the vector of spreading, invaded community composition, land-use, etc. The species distribution models, a research tool for invasive plants spread prediction, involve the combination of environmental factors, occurrence data, and statistical approach. For the construction of the presented distribution model, the occurrence data on invasive plants (Solidago sp., Fallopia sp., Robinia pseudoaccacia, and Heracleum mantegazzianum) and Natura 2000 habitat types from the Protected Landscape Area Kokořínsko have been intersected in ArcGIS and statistically analyzed. The data analysis was focused on (1) verification of the accuracy of the Natura 2000 habitat map layer, and the accordance with the habitats occupied by invasive species and (2) identification of a suitable scale of intersection between the habitat and species distribution. Data suitability was evaluated for the construction of the model on local scale. Based on the data, the invaded habitat types were described and the optimal scale grid was evaluated. The results show the suitability of Natura 2000 habitat types for modelling, however more input data (e.g. on soil types, elevation) are needed.
Evaluation Of Slender Spindle Form In Young ‘Topaz’ Apple Orchard*
Authors: Mészáros M. , Sus J. , Laňar L. , Náměstek J.
Published: January 2016

Two growing systems were compared – slender spindle and modified slender spindle, supplemented with or without additional summer pruning. The trial was carried out in orchard of the apple variety ‘Topaz’ in years 2012–2014. The assessed parameters were: trunk cross sectional area (TCSA), crown volume, number of cuts, dry matter weight of pruned wood, cumulative yield, yield efficiency, and relative occurrence of size classes of fruits. The objective was to confirm the hypothesized advantages of modified slender spindle in the period of increasing yields. Based on statistical analysis there was no significant difference among systems in growth measured by TCSA. Increase in crown cubage was the highest on slender spindle with additional summer pruning. The lowest increase of crown cubage was on modified spindle without summer pruning. Number of winter cuts and similarly dry weight was significantly higher on the modified spindle only in 2013. Additional summer pruning influenced both the above-mentioned parameters. There were no significant differences in cumulative yield and yield efficiency between systems. Similarly, the difference in the occurrence of various fruit size classes was not significant. We conclude that study needs to be extended in order to confirm the suggested trends.
Microfinance As A Tool For Poverty Reduction: A Study Of Jordan
Authors: Žiaková M. , Verner V.
Published: January 2016

The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of microfinance on the poor, particularly in the specific areas of economic and social development of people and their employment. The research was carried out in Jordan, a country with a well-developed microfinance sector. The results have shown that microfinance has led to an improvement in the financial and social situation of the poor, especially for female clients of microfinance institutions. Interestingly, the higher income of clients has not caused higher expenditure on their basic needs, but rather people have generated saving for their future and used the additional money for education. According to the results of the microfinance impact assessment, it can be assumed that people, particularly females, prefer to improve the social situation for future generations. Based on this finding, we consider microfinance an effective tool for breaking the vicious circles of poverty, especially in Jordan. Furthermore, microcredits have facilitated in increasing employment for the poor, mainly through self-employment. It is believed that there exists a direct connection to the future expansion of microcredits that will lead to the development of small businesses with a promising impact on employability throughout the population structure.