bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Within-day biological variation and hour-to-hour reference change values for hematological parameters
Authors: Hilderink Judith M. , Klinkenberg Lieke J.J. , Aakre Kristin M. , de Wit Norbert C.J. , Henskens Yvonne M.C. , van der Linden Noreen , Bekers Otto , Rennenberg Roger J.M.W. , Koopmans Richard P. , Meex Steven J.R.
Published: December 2016

Background:

Middle- and long-term biological variation data for hematological parameters have been reported in the literature. Within-day 24-h variability profiles for hematological parameters are currently lacking. However, comprehensive hour-to-hour variability data are critical to detect diurnal cyclical rhythms, and to take into account the ‘time of sample collection’ as a possible determinant of natural fluctuation. In this study, we assessed 24-h variation profiles for 20 hematological parameters.

Methods:

Blood samples were collected under standardized conditions from 24 subjects every hour for 24 h. At each measurement, 20 hematological parameters were determined in duplicate. Analytical variation (CV

Results:

All parameters showed higher CV

Conclusions:

We present complete 24-h variability profiles for 20 hematological parameters. Hour-to-hour reference changes values may help to better discriminate between random fluctuations and true changes in parameters with rhythmic diurnal oscillations.
On positive periodic solutions of linear second order functional differential equations
Authors: Bravyi Eugene I.
Published: December 2016

The periodic boundary value problem for linear second order functional differential equations
is considered. Sharp sufficient conditions for the positiveness of solutions are obtained.
Novel domain architectures and functional determinants in atypical annexins revealed by phylogenomic analysis
Authors: Fernandez Maria-Pilar , Garcia Montserrat , Martin-Almedina Silvia , Morgan Reginald O.
Published: December 2016

The fundamental cellular role and molecular interactions of annexins in vesicle trafficking and membrane remodeling remain to be further clarified in order to better understand and exploit their contributions to health and disease. We focused on distinctive features of atypical annexins from all domains of life using phylogenomic, molecular systematic and experimental approaches, to extend the current paradigm and better account for annexin diversity of structure, function and mechanistic role in membrane homeostasis. The analysis of gene duplications, organization of domain architectures and profile hidden Markov models of subfamily orthologs defined conserved structural features relevant to molecular interactions and functional divergence of seven family clades ANXA-G. Single domain annexins of bacteria, including cyanobacteria, were frequently coupled to enzymatic units conceivably related to membrane metabolism and remodeling. Multiple ANX domains (up to 20) and various distinct functional domains were observed in unique annexins. Canonical type 2 calcium binding ligands were well-preserved in roughly half of all ANX domains, but alternative structural motifs comprised of ‘KGD’, cysteine or tryptophan residues were prominently conserved in the same strategic interhelical loops. Selective evolutionary constraint, site-specific location and co-occurrence in all kingdoms identify alternative modes of fundamental binding interactions for annexins.
The cancer cell adhesion resistome: mechanisms, targeting and translational approaches
Authors: Dickreuter Ellen , Cordes Nils
Published: December 2016

Cell adhesion-mediated resistance limits the success of cancer therapies and is a great obstacle to overcome in the clinic. Since the 1990s, where it became clear that adhesion of tumor cells to the extracellular matrix is an important mediator of therapy resistance, a lot of work has been conducted to understand the fundamental underlying mechanisms and two paradigms were deduced: cell adhesion-mediated radioresistance (CAM-RR) and cell adhesion-mediated drug resistance (CAM-DR). Preclinical work has evidently demonstrated that targeting of integrins, adapter proteins and associated kinases comprising the cell adhesion resistome is a promising strategy to sensitize cancer cells to both radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Moreover, the cell adhesion resistome fundamentally contributes to adaptation mechanisms induced by radiochemotherapy as well as molecular drugs to secure a balanced homeostasis of cancer cells for survival and growth. Intriguingly, this phenomenon provides a basis for synthetic lethal targeted therapies simultaneously administered to standard radiochemotherapy. In this review, we summarize current knowledge about the cell adhesion resistome and highlight targeting strategies to override CAM-RR and CAM-DR.
Variation in the ACE gene in elite Polish football players
Authors: Cięszczyk Paweł , Leońska-Duniec Agata , Maciejewska-Skrendo Agnieszka , Sawczuk Marek , Leźnicka Katarzyna , Contrò Valentina , Trybek Grzegorz , Lulińska-Kuklik Ewelina
Published: December 2016

Purpose

A common polymorphism in the angiotensin converting enzyme I gene (the ACE I/D variant) represents one of the first characterized and the most widely studied genetic variants in the context of elite athletes status and performance related traits. The aim of the study was to determine the genotype and allele distribution of the allele and genotype of the ACE gene in Polish male football players.

Methods

The total of 106 Polish male professional football players were recruited. They were divided into groups according to the position in the field: forwards, defenders, midfielders, and goalkeepers. For controls, samples were prepared with 115 unrelated volunteers. DNA was extracted from the buccal cells donated by the subjects, and the PCR amplification of the polymorphic region of the ACE gene containing either the insertion (I) or deletion (D) fragment was performed.

Results

The genotype distribution and allele frequencies among all football players did not differ significantly when compared with sedentary control individuals (p = 0.887, p = 0.999, respectively). Likewise, the analysis of forwards, defenders, midfielders, and goalkeepers revealed no significant differences in either ACE genotype or allele frequencies.

Conclusions

We did not provide evidence for difference of variation of the ACE I/D polymorphism between Polish football players and controls,
as we did not obtain any statistically significantly higher frequency of either of the analysed alleles (I and D) or genotypes (DD, ID, and II) in the studied subgroups. It may be suspected that harbouring of I/D allelic variants of the ACE gene neither decreases nor increases the probability of being a professional football player in Poland.
Dysphagia related quality of life (QoL) following total laryngectomy (TL)
Authors: Georgiou Anastasios M. , Kambanaros Maria
Published: December 2016

Purpose:

This cross-sectional study evaluated the relationship between dysphagia post-total laryngectomy (TL) and quality of life (QoL) of people who reside in Greece. This is the first such report to be undertaken on the topic.

Methods:

Speech and language therapists typically use patient judgement to identify difficulties with swallowing. The Greek adaptations of the M.D. Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI) and the Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10) were completed by members of the Hellenic Association of Laryngectomees (HAL). More than 400 questionnaires were sent, but only 23 were returned (18 males and 5 females).

Results:

The results revealed that dysphagia has a negative impact on the QoL of people who have undergone TL for treatment of laryngeal cancer.

Conclusion:

It appears that not only treatment (i.e. TL) of the primary disease, but also secondary problems as a result of the treatment, such as dysphagia, have a significant impact on the QoL of patients and must be taken into consideration when therapeutic decisions for laryngeal cancer are made. The qualitative measures used here provide a starting point to objectively describe QoL as perceived by TL patients. This is particularly pertinent in Greece where access to delivery and quality of health services has been challenging because of recent fiscal constraints.
“Shikl, what did you do for Yiddish today?” An appreciation of activist scholarship
Authors: Spolsky Bernard
Published: December 2016

Academic biographies seldom go into details about motivation, but in the case of Joshua Fishman, we have his statement that much of his career was directed by the question posed to him by his father, “What did you do for Yiddish today?” Answering this question did not just lead to his personal decision to speak Yiddish with his wife and children, but also to make sure that his grandchildren would be fluent speakers. But as he explains, his pioneering academic work in the sociology of language had a similar purpose: to explore the nature of language maintenance and shift and to build a scientific basis to support language activists who wished, like him, to fight what seems to be the inevitable evolutionary forces leading to the endangerment and loss of minority languages. His scholarly work included many pioneering contributions to the study of Yiddish sociolinguistics, but it expanded to include not just other threatened languages but also to build a solid academic basis for studying what happens when stronger languages meet weaker. Thus he was the creator of the field of the sociology of language and provided support for language minority activists, all the time making sure he was doing something for Yiddish.
Energy Associated Tuning Method for Short-Term Series Forecasting by Complete and Incomplete Datasets
Authors: Rivero Cristian Rodrìguez , Pucheta Juliàn , Laboret Sergio , Sauchelli Vìctor , Patiǹo Daniel
Published: December 2016

This article presents short-term predictions using neural networks tuned by energy associated to series based-predictor filter for complete and incomplete datasets. A benchmark of high roughness time series from Mackay Glass (MG), Logistic (LOG), Henon (HEN) and some univariate series chosen from NN3 Forecasting Competition are used. An average smoothing technique is assumed to complete the data missing in the dataset. The Hurst parameter estimated through wavelets is used to estimate the roughness of the real and forecasted series. The validation and horizon of the time series is presented by the 15 values ahead. The performance of the proposed filter shows that even a short dataset is incomplete, besides a linear smoothing technique employed; the prediction is almost fair by means of SMAPE index. Although the major result shows that the predictor system based on energy associated to series has an optimal performance from several chaotic time series, in particular, this method among other provides a good estimation when the short-term series are taken from one point observations.
Kernel Analysis for Estimating the Connectivity of a Network with Event Sequences
Authors: Tezuka Taro , Claramunt Christophe
Published: December 2016

Estimating the connectivity of a network from events observed at each node has many applications. One prominent example is found in neuroscience, where spike trains (sequences of action potentials) are observed at each neuron, but the way in which these neurons are connected is unknown. This paper introduces a novel method for estimating connections between nodes using a similarity measure between sequences of event times. Specifically, a normalized positive definite kernel defined on spike trains was used. The proposed method was evaluated using synthetic and real data, by comparing with methods using transfer entropy and the Victor-Purpura distance. Synthetic data was generated using CERM (Coupled Escape-Rate Model), a model that generates various spike trains. Real data recorded from the visual cortex of an anaesthetized cat was analyzed as well. The results showed that the proposed method provides an effective way of estimating the connectivity of a network when the time sequences of events are the only available information.
A New Mechanism for Data Visualization with Tsk-Type Preprocessed Collaborative Fuzzy Rule Based System
Authors: Prasad Mukesh , Liu Yu-Ting , Li Dong-Lin , Lin Chin-Teng , Shah Rajiv Ratn , Kaiwartya Om Prakash
Published: December 2016

A novel data knowledge representation with the combination of structure learning ability of preprocessed collaborative fuzzy clustering and fuzzy expert knowledge of Takagi- Sugeno-Kang type model is presented in this paper. The proposed method divides a huge dataset into two or more subsets of dataset. The subsets of dataset interact with each other through a collaborative mechanism in order to find some similar properties within each-other. The proposed method is useful in dealing with big data issues since it divides a huge dataset into subsets of dataset and finds common features among the subsets. The salient feature of the proposed method is that it uses a small subset of dataset and some common features instead of using the entire dataset and all the features. Before interactions among subsets of the dataset, the proposed method applies a mapping technique for granules of data and centroid of clusters. The proposed method uses information of only half or less/more than the half of the data patterns for the training process, and it provides an accurate and robust model, whereas the other existing methods use the entire information of the data patterns. Simulation results show the proposed method performs better than existing methods on some benchmark problems.
Can Learning Vector Quantization be an Alternative to SVM and Deep Learning? - Recent Trends and Advanced Variants of Learning Vector Quantization for Classification Learning
Authors: Villmann Thomas , Bohnsack Andrea , Kaden Marika
Published: December 2016

Learning vector quantization (LVQ) is one of the most powerful approaches for prototype based classification of vector data, intuitively introduced by Kohonen. The prototype adaptation scheme relies on its attraction and repulsion during the learning providing an easy geometric interpretability of the learning as well as of the classification decision scheme. Although deep learning architectures and support vector classifiers frequently achieve comparable or even better results, LVQ models are smart alternatives with low complexity and computational costs making them attractive for many industrial applications like intelligent sensor systems or advanced driver assistance systems.

Nowadays, the mathematical theory developed for LVQ delivers sufficient justification of the algorithm making it an appealing alternative to other approaches like support vector machines and deep learning techniques.

This review article reports current developments and extensions of LVQ starting from the generalized LVQ (GLVQ), which is known as the most powerful cost function based realization of the original LVQ. The cost function minimized in GLVQ is an soft-approximation of the standard classification error allowing gradient descent learning techniques. The GLVQ variants considered in this contribution, cover many aspects like bordersensitive learning, application of non-Euclidean metrics like kernel distances or divergences, relevance learning as well as optimization of advanced statistical classification quality measures beyond the accuracy including sensitivity and specificity or area under the ROC-curve.

According to these topics, the paper highlights the basic motivation for these variants and extensions together with the mathematical prerequisites and treatments for integration into the standard GLVQ scheme and compares them to other machine learning approaches. For detailed description and mathematical theory behind all, the reader is referred to the respective original articles.

Thus, the intention of the paper is to provide a comprehensive overview of the stateof- the-art serving as a starting point to search for an appropriate LVQ variant in case of a given specific classification problem as well as a reference to recently developed variants and improvements of the basic GLVQ scheme.
High-Speed Rotor Analytical Dynamics on Flexible Foundation Subjected to Internal and External Excitation
Authors: Jivkov Venelin S. , Zahariev Evtim V.
Published: December 2016

The paper presents a geometrical approach to dynamics simulation of a rigid and flexible system, compiled of high speed rotating machine with eccentricity and considerable inertia and mass. The machine is mounted on a vertical flexible pillar with considerable height. The stiffness and damping of the column, as well as, of the rotor bearings and the shaft are taken into account. Non-stationary vibrations and transitional processes are analyzed. The major frequency and modal mode of the flexible column are used for analytical reduction of its mass, stiffness and damping properties. The rotor and the foundation are modelled as rigid bodies, while the flexibility of the bearings is estimated by experiments and the requirements of the manufacturer. The transition effects as a result of limited power are analyzed by asymptotic methods of averaging. Analytical expressions for the amplitudes and unstable vibrations throughout resonance are derived by quasi-static approach increasing and decreasing of the exciting frequency. Analytical functions give the possibility to analyze the influence of the design parameter of many structure applications as wind power generators, gas turbines, turbo-generators, and etc. A numerical procedure is applied to verify the effectiveness and precision of the simulation process.

Nonlinear and transitional effects are analyzed and compared to the analytical results. External excitations, as wave propagation and earthquakes, are discussed. Finite elements in relative and absolute coordinates are applied to model the flexible column and the high speed rotating machine. Generalized Newton - Euler dynamics equations are used to derive the precise dynamics equations. Examples of simulation of the system vibrations and nonstationary behaviour are presented.
Wave Scattering by Cracks at Macro- and Nano-Scale in Anisotropic Plane by Boundary Integral Equation Method
Authors: Dineva Petia , Rangelov Tsviatko
Published: December 2016

Elastic wave scattering by cracks at macro- and nano-scale in anisotropic plane under conditions of plane strain is studied in this work. Furthermore, time-harmonic loads due to incident plane longitudinal P- or shear SV- wave are assumed to hold. In a subsequent step, the elastodynamic fundamental solution for general anisotropic continua derived in closed-form via the Radon transform is implemented in a numerical scheme based on the traction boundary integral equation method (BIEM). The surface elasticity effect in the case of nano-crack is taken into consideration via non-classical boundary condition along the crack surface proposed by Gurtin and Murdoch [1]. The numerical results obtained herein reveal substantial differences between anisotropic materials containing a macro- and a nano-crack in terms of their dynamic stress response, where the latter case demonstrates clearly the strong influence of the size-effects. Finally, these types of examples serve to illustrate the present approach and to show its potential for evaluating the stress concentration fields (SCF) inside cracked nanocomposites. The obtained results concern the reliability and safety of the advancing nanomaterials.
Viral shedders in a herd vaccinated against infection with bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) without prior testing for the presence of persistently infected animals
Authors: Polak Mirosław P. , Antos Aleksandra , Rola Jerzy , Żmudziński Jan F.
Published: December 2016

Introduction: Bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD), caused by the bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV), is one of the most important diseases of cattle worldwide. The purpose of the study was to determine the BVDV infection status in a dairy herd vaccinated against BVD. Before vaccination started in 2008, there had been no prior identification or the removal of the possible source of infection (persistently infected animals). It was expected that vaccination itself would enable the elimination of viral shedders on a long term basis. Material and Methods: Serological screening for antibodies against BVDV with determination for antibodies titres, BVDV antigen, and the presence of the viral genome with phylogenetic analysis of positive samples in the herd were performed, despite the lack of any clinical problems indicating possible presence of BVDV infection. Results: 19 individuals persistently infected with BVDV were identified among calves and heifers but not in adult cattle. All virus shedders were antibody negative and the genotype of isolated virus was BVDV-1b, indicating a single source of infection. The vaccine used in the herd was composed of BVDV-1a strain. In each of the tested cowsheds, antibody titres against BVDV-1b were higher than against BVDV-1a (median values). Conclusion: Despite a long-lasting vaccination programme and relatively high sequence homology of vaccinal and field strains of BVDV (83.6%), it was not possible to avoid transplacental infections of foetuses and the birth of persistently infected calves from vaccinated heifers although the protection against clinical disease was accomplished.
Shewanella putrefaciens – a new opportunistic pathogen of freshwater fish
Authors: Paździor Ewa
Published: December 2016

In recent years, Shewanella putrefaciens, commonly known as a halophilic bacteria, has been associated with serious health disorders in freshwater fish. Therefore, it has been described as a new aetiological agent of the disease, named shewanellosis. S. putrefaciens is a heterogeneous group of microorganisms, belonging to the Alteromonadaceae family. Based on different criteria, three biovars and biogroups as well as four genomic groups have been distinguished. The first infections of S. putrefaciens in fish were reported in rabbitfish (Siganus rivulatus) and European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.). Outbreaks in farmed fish were reported in Poland for the first time in 2004. The disease causes skin disorders and haemorrhages in internal organs. It should be noted that S. putrefaciens could also be associated with different infections in humans, such as skin and tissue infections, bacteraemia, otitis. Investigations on pathogenic mechanisms of S. putrefaciens infections are very limited. Enzymatic activity, cytotoxin secretion, adhesion ability, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and the presence of siderophores are potential virulence factors of S. putrefaciens. Antimicrobial resistance of S. putrefaciens is different and depends on the isolates. In general, these bacteria are sensitive to antimicrobial drugs commonly used in aquaculture.
Characterisation of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from meat processing plants – a preliminary study
Authors: Kizerwetter-Świda Magdalena , Chrobak-Chmiel Dorota , Rzewuska Magdalena , Pławińska-Czarnak Joanna , Binek Marian
Published: December 2016

Introduction: Livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) belonging to the clonal complex 398 (CC398) emerged recently in livestock as a new type of MRSA, which may cause zoonotic infections. This study presents data on the characterisation of S. aureus isolated from the meat processing plants. Material and Methods: S. aureus was isolated from 90 samples collected in the raw meat warehouse, from devices and surfaces of meat processing plants, and from finished meat products. The isolates were subjected to molecular analysis in order to investigate the presence of enterotoxin genes, the mecA gene, and to verify whether they belong to the clonal complex 398. The genetic relatedness of the isolates was determined using pulsed-field electrophoresis. Likewise, antimicrobial susceptibility was tested. Results: From 21 S. aureus strains isolated, five belonged to the CC398, two of which were recognised as MRSA and three as methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA). The most prevalent enterotoxin genes were seg and sei. Two MRSA CC398 isolates, three MSSA CC398, and one MSSA were classified as multidrug-resistant. Conclusion: The first isolation of MSSA CC398 from beef in Poland indicates contamination of beef by strains belonging to this clonal complex. The occurrence of multidrug-resistant enterotoxigenic S. aureus isolates in the finished meat products constitutes a potential risk for the consumers.
Mechanisms of tumour escape from immune surveillance
Authors: Lisiecka Urszula , Kostro Krzysztof
Published: December 2016

The progressive growth and spread of tumour cells in the form of metastases requires an interaction of healthy host cells, such as endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and other cells of mesenchymal origin with immune cells taking part in innate and adaptive responses within the tumour lesion and entire body. The host cells interact with tumour cells to create a dynamic tumour microenvironment, in which healthy cells can both positively and negatively influence the growth and spread of the tumour. The balance of cellular homeostasis and the effect of substances they secrete on the tumour microenvironment determine whether the tumour has a tendency to grow or disappear, and whether the cells remain within the lesion or are capable of metastasis to other regions of the body. Intercellular interactions also determine the tumour’s susceptibility to radiation or other types of cancer treatment. They may also be a rational explanation for differences in treatment outcomes, in which some metastases regress and others progress in response to the same treatment method.
Variations of selected trace element contents in two layers of red deer antlers
Authors: Giżejewska Aleksandra , Nawrocka Agnieszka , Szkoda Józef , Żmudzki Jan , Jaroszewski Jerzy , Giżejewski Zygmunt
Published: December 2016

Introduction: Hard antlers of deer are unique bioindicators of environmental metal pollutions, but sampling methods presented in the literature are inconsistent. Due to the specific growth pattern of antlers and their histological structure, sampling methods described in the literature were reviewed, the suitability of using mixed samples of both antler layers as element bioindicators was assessed, and the codified method of antler sampling used for bioindication was described. Material and Methods: Lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic, copper, zinc, and iron in trabecular and cortical parts of hard antlers of red deer (Cervus elaphus) were determined using different methods of atomic absorption spectrometry (depending on the element). Results: Mean mercury content in trabecular bone (0.010 ±0.018 mg/kg) was 5 times higher than in cortical bone (0.002 ±0.003 mg/kg). Mean iron concentration was approximately 15 times higher in trabecular (239.83 ±130.15 mg/kg) than in cortical bone (16.17 ±16.44 mg/kg). Concentrations of other analysed elements did not differ statistically between antler layers. Conclusion: In mixed antler samples, concentrations of mercury and iron depend on the particular antler layer contents. This therefore warrants caution when comparing results across studies and specification of the sampling methodology of antlers is highly recommended.
Content of selected amino acids in the gastrocnemius muscle during experimental hypothyroidism in rats
Authors: Gołyński Marcin , Szpetnar Maria , Tatara Marcin R. , Lutnicki Krzysztof , Gołyńska Magdalena , Kurek Łukasz , Szczepanik Marcin , Wilkołek Piotr
Published: December 2016

Introduction: Thyroid hormones affect protein turnover, and in the case of hypothyroidism a decrease in protein synthesis and reduced release of certain amino acids from skeletal muscles are observed. Changes in the amino acid system of skeletal muscles may be responsible for the occurrence of muscle disorders. Material and Methods: The study measured the content of selected amino acids in the gastrocnemius muscle of Wistar rats during experimental hypothyroidism induced by oral administration of methimazole at a concentration of 0.05% in drinking water for 90 d. The rats were divided into four groups: E1 (n = 6) - experimental males, E2 (n = 6) - experimental females, C1 (n = 6) - control males, and C2 (n = 6) control females. Results: A statistically significant reduction occurred in leucine, isoleucine, and 1-methylhistidine levels in males, and 1-methylhistidine in females, in comparison to the control groups. Conclusion: The hypothyroidism-induced changes in amino acid content may be responsible for the occurrence of skeletal muscle function disorders.
Kant über Mitleidenschaft
Authors: Timmermann Jens
Published: December 2016

In his discussion of sympathetic participation in § 34 of the Doctrine of Virtue, Kant twice uses an unusual word that does not reappear anywhere in his writings: Mitleidenschaft. So far, the significance of this has gone unnoticed. But there is a historical source that reveals precisely why he uses this word, which in turn sheds new light on the philosophical substance of Kant’s theory of sympathy.
Abilities to exploit newly-acquired technologies as a source of competitive advantage of finance companies in Poland
Authors: Glabiszewski Waldemar , Grego-Planer Dorota
Published: December 2016

The article of empirical nature is an attempt to evaluate the influence of the abilities to exploit newly acquired technologies possessed by finance companies operating in Poland on the competitive advantages they gain. The findings obtained confirm the existence of such influence, although its force seems rather moderate. A stronger influence was noted in relation to the jointly analyzed individual components, as well as the one related to general organization, which constitute the exploitation abilities, as well as in relation to three basic specialized assets within this type of abilities.
Approach to strategy and enterprise size
Authors: Radomska Joanna
Published: December 2016

The article describes the subject of approach to strategy based on the current classification differentiating five types of approach specified on the basis of three features relating to business environment, such as predictability (ability to forecast), malleability (ability to shape) and harshness (ability to survive). The research demonstrated the existence of a correlation between the approaches and the size of an enterprise, indicating that small organisations most often apply a classical and renewal strategy. Medium-sized companies, however, are characterised by a low pressure on visionary behaviour and the shaping of the boundaries of the business environment. They therefore select most often a classical and adaptive approach. Large enterprises, according to the assumptions made, most often demonstrate the ability to change the conditions of competitive struggle and create new markets by showing a visionary approach.
Using the organizational network analysis to build competitiveness on the example of enterprise energy sector
Authors: Wawrzynek Łukasz
Published: December 2016

Contemporary organizations operate in dynamic, complex markets. One of the directions of their development is the increase of competitiveness level. This level must be based on factors for building competitive advantage, clear for the given organization, or, in a broader sense, based on general conditions for the increase of competitiveness. One of these directions could be innovation, which would lead to development and the gaining of new markets. Being innovative depends on the ideas and their implementation. This in turn depends on knowledge, primarily tacit knowledge, which is associated with the employees. To identify it, and next lead to its diffusion and application, the organization must learn the dependencies in which employees function, and match to them certain actions that would result in the increase of innovation potential. The learning of the actual relations is possible with the application of the organizational network analysis. This paper presents an example of applying organizational networks in an enterprise, on the basis of a conducted study. The results suggest that such tools are useful and that the organization, after the interventions it launched, achieves in the analyzed area a level of competitiveness higher than in other areas.
Elements of knowledge management in the improvement of business processes
Authors: Brajer-Marczak Renata
Published: December 2016

The key role in process management is played by the systematic analysis, measurement and improvement of processes. The imperative of continuous introduction of changes in processes is the answer to the changing conditions of competition and the great dynamics in the expectations and preferences of customers. Information related to business process should be collected and formalized in order to improve the execution of processes. In connection with the above, it may be stated that the improvement of processes should be supported by the concept of knowledge management in the institutional sense where we refer to the structure of communication and information which enables the interaction between members of the organization. The purpose of the study is to present relations between process management and the concept of knowledge management, with particular attention being paid to the improvement of processes seen through the prism of knowledge resources. The execution of the objective formulated above made use of such research methods as research on the literature on the subject related to process management and knowledge management as well as the findings from the author’s own surveys conducted in 2015 among medium and lower management personnel in organizations improving processes.
Impact of strategic orientation adopted by an organisation on its performance, as shown on the example of public healthcare entities
Authors: Szymaniec-Mlicka Karolina
Published: December 2016

The resource-based view has an established position in the strategic management of a public organisation. However, it is not given much attention in the area of public governance, focusing instead on analysing the impact of a single resource on an organisation’s performance. This article attempts to fill this gap by analysing the impact of strategic orientation adopted by an organisation on its performance. In addition, the analysis also covers the impact of the approach to stakeholder relations management adopted by an organisation on its performance. Studies were conducted on public healthcare entities, using a survey questionnaire and quantitative methods. The obtained results indicate that a resource-based view to strategic thinking has an impact on an organisation’s performance (negative correlation). A positive correlation, on the other hand, exists between the approach to stakeholder relations management adopted by an organisation and its performance.
Building resilient relationships with suppliers in the B2B market
Authors: Wieteska Grażyna
Published: December 2016

The growing uncertainty of business environment that negatively influences the contemporary supply chains is one of the major challenges for today’s managers. The literature recommends the development of resistant supply chains, defining them as adaptive and flexible. However, there are a few scientific publications that directly link to the area of Supplier Relationship Management in this regard. The article aims to answer the question what is the flexibility and adaptability and how to perceive these two characteristics in terms of an upstream supply chain. The observations indicate that building relationships resistant to these disruptions with suppliers includes the formulation of appropriate strategies towards both the suppliers and the purchasing process. Their choice depends on the source of uncertainty and the costs of switching the suppliers
Students’ perception of attributes of independent colleges of business profile in the market of higher education in Poland
Authors: Dejnaka Agnieszka , Kulig-Moskwa Katarzyna , Łobos Krzysztof , Nogieć Joanna , Szewczyk Mirosława
Published: December 2016

The article examines the general attributes which are in use by clients (students) in the process of evaluation of non-public colleges of business profile in Poland. The evaluations are presented in comparison with other academic institutions having the same profile, both independent and public ones. In the research part, the method of factor analysis was used with the aim of distinguishing the general values which are in students’ use. The most important conclusion resulting from the work is that students of non-public colleges perceive two basic types of attributes regarding a business school, that is practical and academic assets, yet they are most clearly governed by a more pragmatic than academic system of values and choose colleges which – beyond any doubt – offer the model of vocational teaching supported by practice.
Payments under the Common Agricultural Policy as a determinant of development of different types of agricultural holdings
Authors: Czyżewski Andrzej , Kryszak Łukasz
Published: December 2016

The main aim of this article was to investigate the influence of payments under the CAP on economic development of different types of farms. The main source of data was FADN database. A period of research covers the years of 2004-2013. The article referred to previous results of research in the field of payments and its role for the economic situation of agricultural holdings. Then the share of payments in agricultural income was examined as well as the use of subsidies on investments. The process of accumulation, both in real and theoretical approach, and influence of this phenomenon on change of economic size were also presented. In addition the paper analysed the changes in return on equity in order to show the changes in economic efficiency of farms. The analyses that were conducted showed a significant role of payments in the formation of incomes and accumulation. On the other hand payments may lead to decrease in efficiency. In long term there is a risk that dependence on payments in functioning of farm will be excessive.
European Union subsidies and bank credits as external sources of financing for small and medium enterprises in Poland
Authors: Kata Ryszard , Filip Paulina
Published: December 2016

The selection of financing sources constitutes an important decisive problem for small and medium enterprises. The study encompasses the assessment of which scale small and medium enterprises in Poland use EU funds and bank credits as the sources connected with financing business activity. Moreover, based on surveys of enterprises in Podkarpackie voivodship, the barriers and limitations of SMEs in the access to such financing sources have been defined. The classification and assessment of the significance of particular financial limitations have been performed by means of the reasons for credit passiveness of SMEs and their financial exclusion.
Determinants of milk production in FADN dairy farms in the regions of the European Union with predominance of intensive production in 2011
Authors: Guth Marta
Published: December 2016

The main aim of the considerations was to determine the factors determining the variability of milk production in selected macroregions of the European Union. The regions were selected on the basis of the analysis of the diversity of dairy farms FADN in the regions of the European Union, which was determined by the agglomeration cluster analysis using Ward method. In order to highlight the determinants of production there was factor analysis made. On the basis of the results of factor analysis there were factors that have a decisive impact on milk production in dairy farms from areas with a predominance of intensive production identified, and there was a possibility to find out which macro-regions of the European Union reached a relatively best and worst performance in terms of the distinguished factors.
Effects of Cutting Parameters on Quality of Surface Produced by Machining of Titanium Alloy and Their Optimization
Authors:   Niharika, Agrawal B.P. , Khan Iqbal A. , Khan Zahid A.
Published: December 2016

Titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) has been extensively used in aircraft turbine-engine components, aircraft structural components, aerospace fasteners, high performance automotive parts, marine applications, medical devices and sports equipment. However, wide-spread use of this alloy has limits because of difficulty to machine it. One of the major difficulties found during machining is development of poor quality of surface in the form of higher surface roughness. The present investigation has been concentrated on studying the effects of cutting parameters of cutting speed, feed rate and depth of cut on surface roughness of the product during turning of titanium alloy. Box-Behnken experimental design was used to collect data for surface roughness. ANOVA was used to determine the significance of the cutting parameters. The model equation is also formulated to predict surface roughness. Optimal values of cutting parameters were determined through response surface methodology. A 100% desirability level in the turning process for economy was indicated by the optimized model. Also, the predicted values that were obtained through regression equation were found to be in close agreement to the experimental values.
A Regression-Based Family of Measures for Full-Reference Image Quality Assessment
Authors: Oszust Mariusz
Published: December 2016

The advances in the development of imaging devices resulted in the need of an automatic quality evaluation of displayed visual content in a way that is consistent with human visual perception. In this paper, an approach to full-reference image quality assessment (IQA) is proposed, in which several IQA measures, representing different approaches to modelling human visual perception, are efficiently combined in order to produce objective quality evaluation of examined images, which is highly correlated with evaluation provided by human subjects. In the paper, an optimisation problem of selection of several IQA measures for creating a regression-based IQA hybrid measure, or a multimeasure, is defined and solved using a genetic algorithm. Experimental evaluation on four largest IQA benchmarks reveals that the multimeasures obtained using the proposed approach outperform state-of-the-art full-reference IQA techniques, including other recently developed fusion approaches.
An Evaluation of the Usefulness of Stroke Index Values in the Swimming Training of People with Disabilities
Authors: Seidel Wojciech , Klarowicz Andrzej , Rejman Marek , Szczepan Stefan
Published: December 2016

Introduction. When evaluating the swimming technique of people with disabilities, a particularly important factor, besides physiological aspects, is the efficiency of the effort expended. This suggests that assessing and monitoring the effectiveness of swimming should be a regular part of training for swimmers with disabilities. Therefore, it seems important to distinguish how changes occur in the parameters that determine the effectiveness of swimming. This is especially true of anaerobic lactic exercise as the lactic acid concentration in the blood increases significantly. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of calculating velocity and the stroke index in the swimming training of people with disabilities, along with the progressive fatigue of a high-intensity interval training workout. Material and methods. The sample comprised 12 elite competitors with a disability. The experiment consisted in swimming sequential distances of 48 m, 50 m, 52 m, and 54 m at maximum intensity. Competitors performed four sets of four repetitions with a 75-second interval between repetitions and 15 minutes of active resting between sets. All sets were recorded using five digital cameras with a frequency of 50 frames per second. The recorded material was analysed with the use of motion analysis software, and the stroke index was calculated. Results. There was found to be no significant change in the average swimming velocity during each set and corresponding repetition, which means that the participants were able to tolerate the training intensity. Also, the stroke index did not change to a statistically significant degree in either of the subsequent sets or the subsequent repetitions (p < 0.05). Conclusions. We conclude that analysing the value of the swimming stroke index for people with disabilities can be a diagnostic method for assessing the effectiveness of high-intensity interval training.
The Effects of a Running Consistency Programme on Footfall Variability and Performance in the Long Jump
Authors: Starzak Marcin , Makaruk Hubert , Starzak Anna
Published: December 2016

Introduction. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a training programme aimed to enhance toe-toboard consistency on footfall variability and performance in the long jump. Material and methods. The study involved 36 male physical education students. The experimental group participated in a 12-week training programme, whereas the control group was limited to taking part in the classes held at university. All participants performed 6 long jump trials during two testing sessions. The kinematic parameters were assessed using the Optojump Next device and were further analysed to determine the variability of footfall placement during the approach run. Results. The analysis revealed a significant (p < 0.01) decrease in footfall variability in the experimental group between the pre-test and post-test. After the completion of the training programme, the participants significantly (p < 0.05) improved their take-off accuracy. Additionally, they significantly (p < 0.05) increased their velocity in the last five steps before take-off and the effective distance of the jump (p < 0.001). Conclusions. The results of this study indicate that through specific training, it is possible to improve the consistency of the steps in the acceleration phase of the approach run in the long jump. Moreover, decreasing footfall variability helps achieve a more stable step pattern which may be beneficial for greater accuracy at the take-off board and makes it possible to increase step velocity at the final stage of the approach run.
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) as Social Safety Net: Analysis of Public Works in Odisha, India
Authors: Das Tushar Kanti
Published: December 2016

Social safety nets are transfers targeted to the poor or vulnerable. They facilitate access to health and education services to build human capital. To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (earlier known as Millennium Development Goals), national and state governments as well as international organisations have focused on increasing the investments in social transfer programmes. Public works are the policy instruments for mitigating the negative effects of climatic and systematic risks on poor farmers and unskilled and semi-skilled workers. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) is the largest social protection programme in the world that provides 100 days of unskilled wage employment to any household residing in rural areas whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. In the state of Odisha the MGNREGA scheme is widely implemented. However, the irregularities involved in the implementation of this social protection programme are of great concern. The present study focuses on the implementation of MGNREGA in three districts of western Odisha. The study has tried to identify the bottleneck in the success of MGNREGA scheme.