bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aging Impairs Endocytic Capacity Of Splenic Dendritic Cells From Dark Agouti Rats And Alters Their Response To TLR4 Stimulation
Authors: Biljana BUFAN , Zorica STOJIĆ-VUKANIĆ , Jasmina DJIKIĆ , Duško KOSEC , Ivan PILIPOVIĆ , Mirjana NACKA-ALEKSIĆ , Nevena ARSENOVIĆ-RANIN , Gordana LEPOSAVIĆ
Published: May 2015

The study was undertaken considering: i) that relative proportion of distinct subsets of splenic dendritic cells (DCs) is strain-specific and predictive for the susceptibility to autoimmune diseases; ii) age-related changes in endocytic, allostimulatory and polarizing capacity of splenic OX62+ DCs from Albino Oxford rats (relatively resistant to Th1/Th17-mediated diseases) and iii) strain specificities in age-related changes of mouse DCs. To ascertain whether there are strain specificities in age-related rat DC changes, we examined the influence of aging on OX62+ DCs from Dark Agouti (DA) rats prone to Th1/Th17-mediated autoimmune diseases. The study provided additional evidence that the predominance of CD4-cells within OX62+ DCs from young adult rats correlates with their susceptibility to Th1/Th17-mediated diseases. Consistently, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-matured DCs from 3-month-old (young) rats exhibited Th1 driving force when co-cultured with allogeneic CD4+ T cells. This most likely reflected enhanced TNF-α and iNOS expression. Comparing with young rats, OX62+ DCs from 26-month-old (aged) rats showed: i) diminished endocytic capacity; ii) impaired ability to mature in vitro upon LPS stimulation (as indicated by lower MHC II, CD86 and CD40 surface expression), which is consistent with the increase in their IL-10 production, and iii) diminished allostimulatory capacity and loss of Th1-driving capacity in the mixed lymphocyte reaction. The latter, probably, reflected greater IL-10 production by LPS-stimulated DC from aged rats, as well as lower CD40 density on their surface. Overall, our findings suggest that aging might affect DA rat capability to mount an efficient Th1 immune response, and consequently susceptibility to Th1/Th17-mediated pathology.
Seroprevalence Of IgG Antibodies Against Borrelia burgdorferi In Dogs In Belgrade Area, Serbia
Authors: Sonja OBRENOVIĆ , Elizabeta RISTANOVIĆ , Radovan ČEKANAC , Željko RADULOVIĆ , Vesna ILIĆ
Published: May 2015

In this study the seroprevalence of anti-Borrelia burgdorferi IgG antibodies in populations of naturally exposed dogs in the Belgrade area was determined. Serum samples of 215 dogs were tested with in-house made indirect immunofluorescent-antibody assay (IFA), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and Western blot assay (WB). Sera were from 34 pet dogs suspected of having Lyme borreliosis, 41 hunting dogs, 125 shelter dogs, and 15 clinically healthy pet dogs. Results of WB were used as a standard against which the performances of ELISA and IFA were evaluated. ELISA was significantly more sensitive than IFA (84.8 vs 67.9%), whereas the specificities of these tests were just slightly different (94.4% vs 92.6 %). Borrelia burgdorferi seroprevalence of 24.7% among tested dogs was recorded by WB test. The highest seroprevalence of 31.2% was found in the group of shelter dogs, while hunting and pet dogs showed lower seroprevalence of 19.5% and 17.6%, but the difference was statistically insignificant. These results are the first report on the seroprevalence of IgG antibodies to B. burgdorferi in dogs in the Belgrade area and could be of importance in the assessment of the risk of infection with B. burgdorferi in human population.
Fabrication of Composite Polyurethane/Hydroxyapatite Scaffolds Using Solvent-Casting Salt Leaching Technique
Authors: Wosek J.
Published: May 2015

Scaffolds are porous three-dimensional structures which are used to fill bone losses and make them possible to cells to grow. Many different structural and biological properties are required from them: porosity, mechanical strength and biocompability. The present research is aimed at development of composite polyurethane/hydroxyapatite scaffolds by using the solvent-casting salt leaching method. The SEM examinations were applied to assess the structure of obtained scaffolds
Spatial analysis of air masses backward trajectories in order to identify distant sources of fine particulate matter emission / Analiza przestrzenna wstecznych trajektorii mas powietrza w celu rozpoznania odległych źródeł emisji pyłu drobnego
Authors: Godłowska Jolanta , Hajto Monika J. , Tomaszewska A. Monika
Published: May 2015

The paper presents a method of identifying distant emission sources of fine particulate matter PM2.5 affecting significantly PM2.5 concentrations at a given location. The method involves spatial analysis of aggregate information about PM2.5 concentrations measured at the location and air masses backward trajectories calculated by HYSPLIT model. The method was examined for three locations of PM2.5 measurement stations (Diabla Góra, Gdańsk, and Katowice) which represented different environmental conditions. The backward trajectories were calculated starting from different heights (30, 50, 100 and 150 m a. g. l.). All points of a single backward trajectory were assigned to the PM2.5 concentration corresponding to the date and the site of the beginning of trajectory calculation. Daily average concentrations of PM2.5 were used, and in the case of Gdańsk also hourly ones. It enabled to assess the effectiveness of the presented method using daily averages if hourly ones were not available. Locations of distant sources of fine particulate matter emission were determined by assigning to each grid node a mean value of PM2.5 concentrations associated with the trajectories points located within the so-called search ellipse. Nearby sources of fine particulate matter emission were eliminated by filtering the trajectories points located close to each other (so-called duplicates). The analyses covered the period of January-March 2010. The results indicated the different origin of air masses in the northern and southern Poland. In Diabla Góra and Gdańsk the distant sources of fine particulate matter emission are identified in Belarus and Russia. In Katowice the impact of the Belarusian PM2.5 emission sources was also noted but as the most important fine particulate matter emission sources were considered those located in the area of Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Ukraine.
Dynamic risk assessment method – a proposal for assessing risk in water supply system / Metoda dynamicznego szacowania ryzyka – propozycja oceny ryzyka w systemie zaopatrzenia wody
Authors: Fortmann-Roe Scott , Iwanejko Ryszarda , Wójcik Włodzimierz
Published: May 2015

System Dynamics is methodology for modeling and analyzing complex systems. Such systems can be characterized by interconnectedness and feedback. Applying risk assessment to the results of System Dynamics models is a challenge. Though in some cases the resulting time series data generated by a simulation may appear approximately random at a specific scale, there is often a high-degree of auto-correlation within the data series due to the deterministic nature of generation and feedback loops inherent in the system. This paper presents proposed Dynamic Risk Assessment Method (DRAM) that allows for the estimation of risk for system dynamics data series that appear to be approximately random. DRAM is based on standard risk assessment methods and is simple both to calculate and apply. In this article, the proposed method is applied to determine the risk connected with hypothetical costs of illness stemming from water supply system contamination with Cryptosporidium.
Effect of fertigation on soil pollution during greenhouse plant cultivation / Wpływ fertygacji na zanieczyszczenie gleb podczas uprawy roślin w obiektach szklarniowych
Authors: Breś Włodzimierz , Trelka Tomasz
Published: May 2015

The aim of study was to investigate the effect of nutrient solution leakage during plant cultivation in greenhouse on soil pollution. Investigations were conducted in horticultural farms in the Wielkopolskie province (Greater Poland), specializing in soilless plant cultivation in greenhouse. In the first farm located on sandy soil tomato has been grown since its establishment (Object A). Prior to the beginning of crop culture soil samples were collected for analyses at every 0.2 m layer, to the depth of one meter. Successive samples were taken also in autumn after the completion of 1, 2, 3 and 7 culture cycles. For comparison, research was also conducted in a greenhouse located on loamy sand/sandy loam soil used for 8 years for tomato culture (Object B). In all these facilities plants in rockwool were grown and the fertigation in an open system was provided. Chemical analyzes showed the dynamics of soil properties changes and vertical distribution of cations and anions within the soil profile. Increased content of almost all nutrients and particularly of S-SO4, P, K, Zn, N-NH4, N-NO3 in the soil profile in object A and S-SO4, K, P, N-NO3 in the soli profile in object B were recorded. The results showed that the degradation rate of the soil environment as a result of open fertigation system application depends primarily on the duration of greenhouse operation. However, explicit changes in the chemical properties of soils were observed already after the first growth cycle. Smaller doses of fertilizers and water, and in consequence reduction of nutrients losses may be achieved by closed fertigation systems.
Influence of Machine-Derived Smoke Yields on Biomarker of Exposure (BOE) Levels in Cigarette Smokers*
Authors: Scherer Gerhard
Published: May 2015

Individual uptake of tobacco smoke constituents by smoking is highly variable in cigarette smokers and cannot be predicted by smoking behaviour variables and machine-derived smoke yields. It is well established that uptake of smoke constituents is best described by a series of bio-markers of exposure (BOEs) such as metabolites of nico-tine, tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), aromatic amines, benzene, 1,3-butadiene, acrolein, hydrogen cyanide, 2,5-dimethyl-furan and other smoke constituents.

The purpose of this review is to investigate the relationship between BOE levels and machine-derived smoking yields on the basis of published data. The influence of other smoking behaviour variables, in particular the number of cigarettes smoked per day (CPD) and smoking topography (puffing and inhalation patterns) is also considered, pro-vided suitable data are available.

Twenty eight (28) published studies, which report data on machine-derived smoke yields and biomarker concentrations in body fluids of smokers of these products were identified. In total, 33 different BOEs were applied in these studies. Important properties of the BOEs used in the further evaluation were described and discussed. In almost all studies selected, data for CPD were reported. In only a few studies, puffing and inhalation profiles have been determined so that no systematic evaluation of the association between smoking topography and BOE levels was possible. In the studies evaluated, no statistically significant association between daily cigarette consumption (CPD) and smoke yields was observed. This clearly indicates that low machine-derived yields were not com-pensated by increasing the daily cigarette consumption. As expected, positive and statistically significant relationships were found between CPD and BOE levels for most of the biomarkers investigated.

Bi- and multivariate linear regressions were calculated for the relationships between BOE levels (dependent variable) and machine-derived yields as well as CPD (independent variables). Whenever possible, results from various studies were combined (this was only possible, when identical biomarkers and yield types were available). Aggregation of the results from all studies independent of BOE and yield type used is feasible on the basis of relative BOE and yield levels. The multivariate linear regression models obtained reveal that both CPD and machine-derived yields are significant predictors of the measured BOE levels. The models predict that, on average, a 50% reduction in CPD or yield are accompanied by a 33 or 15% reduction, respectively, in smoke uptake, as measured by various BOEs. Taken together, the evaluated data from the literature show that lower machine-derived yields lead to a reduced uptake of smoke constituents. The reduction is statistically significant, but substantially lower than the decrease in machine-derived yields. [Beitr. Tabakforsch. Int. 26 (2014) 138-175]
Effect of Machine Smoking Intensity and Filter Ventilation Level on Gas-Phase Temperature Distribution Inside a Burning Cigarette
Authors: Li Bin , Zhao Lucan , Yu Chuanfang , Liu Chuan , Jing Yi , Pang Hongrui , Wang Bing , McAdam Kevin G.
Published: May 2015

Accurate measurements of cigarette coal temperature are essential to understand the thermophysical and thermo-chemical processes in a burning cigarette. The last system-atic studies of cigarette burning temperature measurements were conducted in the mid-1970s. Contemporary cigarettes have evolved in design features and multiple standard machine-smoking regimes have also become available, hence there is a need to re-examine cigarette combustion. In this work, we performed systematic measurements on gas-phase temperature of burning cigarettes using an improved fine thermocouple technique. The effects of machine-smoking parameters (puff volume and puff duration) and filter ventilation levels were studied with high spatial and time resolutions during single puffs. The experimental results were presented in a number of differ-ent ways to highlight the dynamic and complex thermal processes inside a burning coal. A mathematical distribution equation was used to fit the experimental temperature data. Extracting and plotting the distribution parameters against puffing time revealed complex temperature profiles under different coal volume as a function of puffing intensities or filter ventilation levels. By dividing the coal volume prior to puffing into three temperature ranges (low-temperature from 200 to 400 °C, medium-temperature from 400 to 600 °C, and high-temperature volume above 600 °C) by following their development at different smoking regimes, useful mechanistic details were obtained. Finally, direct visualisation of the gas-phase temperature through detailed temperature and temperature gradient contour maps provided further insights into the complex thermo-physics of the burning coal. [Beitr. Tabakforsch. Int. 26 (2014) 191-203]
Measurement of Chlorinated Dioxins and Furans in Cigarette Mainstream Smoke
Authors: Guthery William
Published: May 2015

Chlorinated dioxins and furans (‘dioxins’) are not ordinarily detected in cigarette smoke at levels likely to exceed the recommended ‘safe’ limits recognised by health and environmental protection agencies. By convention they are measured in terms of their total toxic equivalence (TEQ). The method developed by this group utilises high sensitivity gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GCMS/ MS). The limit of detection (LOD) was determined to be 4.3 pg TEQ/cig; under ISO 3308 smoking conditions. Dioxins are not subject to any routine regulatory control in cigarette smoke. However, certain dioxin congeners are highly toxic and they have been cited by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as harmful and potentially harmful constituents (HPHC) of tobacco smoke. This raises the issue of how to monitor and measure uncertainty when the analyte(s) of interest are not normally present in the matrix of interest. In the absence of a reference cigarette containing levels of dioxins above the detection limit; we prepared test pieces containing known quantities of 17 dioxin congeners, regarded by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as significantly toxic. This paper provides data for the transfer rates performed under ISO 3308 (ISO) and Health Canada Intense (HCI) machinesmoking conditions; and proposes a means to estimate the uncertainty (U) based on TEQ. [Beitr. Tabakforsch. Int. 26 (2015) 214-218]
Tackling Illegal Activities Through Tax Law – Al Capone Case Study
Authors: Kacaljak Matej
Published: May 2015

This paper discusses the Al Capone case and identifies legal institutions which contributed to the conviction of Al Capone for tax evasion in the USA and discusses similarities in Slovak law. The Slovak legal environment is assessed with the aim of identifying potential room for improvement. Under an assumption of identical factual circumstances, it is tested whether Al Capone would be convicted of tax evasion in the Slovak Republic and if not, what would be the main reasons. The paper concludes that due to some, probably unintentional, specifics of Slovak tax and criminal law, Al Capone could not be convicted of tax evasion by the Slovak courts. In our opinion, these specifics do not, however, constitute material elements of the basic structure of Slovak tax and criminal law and could be relatively easily corrected.
Daily activity rhythm and habitat use of the semi-free European bison herd during the growing season / Denní aktivita a využití prostředí zubrem evropským (Bison bonasus) během vegetační sezóny
Authors: Červený Jaroslav , Ježek Miloš , Holá Michaela , Zikmund Miloslav , Kušta Tomáš , Hanzal Vladimír , Kropil Rudolf
Published: May 2015

The European bison (Bison bonasus) became extinct in the wild in the 20th century. Due to successful reintroductions of captive individuals, the free-ranging bison population has been steadily increasing. However, the population consists of small and isolated herds whose survival depends on creating larger and connected populations. Detailed knowledge of movement and habitat use in human-dominated landscape is essential for further successful reintroductions of the European bison. Therefore, we studied daily activity and habitat use of the semi-free European bison herd in the hunting enclosure of Židlov from April to September 2014. The lead cow of the herd was fitted with a GPS collar equipped with GSM module. The average home range size of the herd was 29.5 km2 and the average daily utilisation area was 0.5 km2. Forested habitats were preferred during the day (Rayleigh test: Z = 107.31; p < 0. 0001) whereas idle lands (i.e. former shooting ranges now dominated by a mixture of pioneer tree species, hawthorn and grasslands) during the night (Rayleigh test: Z = 214.451; p < 0. 0001). The bison herd did not show any clear preference for a particular forest type (i.e. coniferous, deciduous, different age classes). Additional knowledge on year-long patterns of movement and habitat use is needed to ensure the success of reintroduction programmes
Foretičtí roztoči lýkožrouta smrkového Ips duplicatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) z oblasti recentní gradace ve střední Evropě / Phoretic mites (Mesostigmata) on double-spined spruce bark beetle Ips duplicatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) in recent oubreak area in the central Europe
Authors: Čejka Martin , Holuša Jaroslav
Published: May 2015

Phoretic mites can be predators of eggs and larvae of bark beetles. Phoretic mites associated with Ips duplicatus have not been systematically studied so far. Therefore, we studied the spectrum and abundance of phoretic mites associated with this species in the eastern part of the Czech Republic. Beetles were sampled with pheromone traps. In total, 500 beettle individuals were captured. From their bodies and the sediment of collecting bottles, 292 mite individuals were collected, and three species of phoretic mites (Mesostigmata) were identified. The most numerous species was Dendrolaelaps quadrisetus. This mite species as well as the other identified species Uroobovella ipidis were not known as phoretic on I. duplicatus before. The second most numerous species was Trichouropoda polytricha known from galleries of I. duplicatus. Total abundance and the number of phoretic mites per beetle as well as the species spectrum significantly differed between localities. The values of abundance and species spectrum were similar to I. typographus
Importance of automatic threshold for image segmentation for accurate measurement of fine roots of woody plants / Význam automatického prahovania na obrazovú segmentáciu pre presné merania jemných koreňov drevín
Authors: Surový Peter , Dinis Cati , Marušák Róbert , Ribeiro Nuno de Almeida
Published: May 2015

The fine roots are considered the key organs for plant survival, growth and productivity. Measurement of fine roots variables is easily and conveniently achieved by means of digital image. The descriptive variables like root area, surface, total length and diameter distribution may be obtained from the image. Analysis of digital image consists from several steps, each of them represents potential source of the error. In this article we want to evaluate the automatic thresholding and its impact on principal variables obtainable from digital scans of the fine roots. We compare 16 different thresholding methods and compare them with the human processed binary images of roots of cork oak (Quercus suber L.). We found some of the thresholding methods perform significantly better than others in the estimation of total projected area however the length estimation error points out a little different order of accuracy
The assessment of forest parameters by combined LiDAR and satellite data over Alpine regions – EUFODOS Implementation in Austria / Hodnotenie parametrov lesa kombináciou LIDAR-u a satelitných údajov v alpských regiónoch – implementácia systému EUFODOS v Rakúsku
Authors: Schardt Mathias , Granica Klaus , Hirschmugl Manuela , Deutscher Janik , Mollatz Michael , Steinegger Martin , Gallaun Heinz , Wimmer Andreas , Linser Stefanie
Published: May 2015

Regional authorities require detailed and georeferenced information on the status of forests to ensure a sustainable forest management. One of the objectives in the FP7 project EUFODOS was the development of an operational service based on airborne laser scanning and satellite data in order to derive forest parameters relevant for the management of protective forests in the Alps. The estimated parameters are forest type, stem number, height of upper layer, mean height and timber volume. RapidEye imagery was used to derive coniferous and broadleaf forest classes using a logistic regression-based method. After the generation of a normalised Digital Surface Model and a forest mask, the forest area was segmented into homogeneous polygons, tree tops were detected, and various forest parameters are calculated. The accuracy of such an assessment was comparable with some previous studies, and the R-square between the estimated and measured values was 0.69 for tree top detection, 0.82 for upper height and 0.84 for mean height. For the calculation of timber volume, the R² for modelling is 0.82, for validation with an independent set of field plots, the R² is 0.71. The results have been successfully integrated into the regional forestry GIS and are used in forest management.
Decision support systems in Slovak forestry planning: a review / Systémy na podporu rozhodovania v lesníckom plánovaní na Slovensku: prehľad
Authors: Tuček Ján , Sedmák Róbert , Majlingová Andrea , Sedliak Maroš , Marques Susete
Published: May 2015

Project COST Action FP 0804 - FORSYS summarizes European experiences in developing and applying decision support systems for forest management. This paper introduces FORSYS methodology for the classification of current forest management problems and for the description of existing decision support systems. The paper identifies the general forestry planning problems that need to be solved in Slovakia, lists the DSS tools available in Slovakia and evaluate their ability for addressing the identified problems. Finally, the research needs and gaps in this field were identified. A comparison of the situation regarding decision support in Slovakia and both in Europe and neighbouring countries (Austria, Hungary) is introduced in order to justify the identified needs. The paper is focused on the overview of models, methods and knowledge management techniques which are available in Slovakia now. We found out that the Slovak decision support research follows the state in Europe with a significant time delay and a lack of adequate instruments for addressing the contemporary planning problems exists. Consequently, there is a strong need for the development and application of computer-based tools to support decision-making problems in forest management.
The ‘Tisovik’ reserve of Silver fir in the Belarusian national park ‘Belavezhskaya Pushcha’
Authors: Korczyk Adolf F.
Published: May 2015

Silver firs (Abies alba Mill.) of natural origin occurring in the Belorussian part of the Białowieża Primeval Forest constitute an enclave situated 120 km to the north-east of a dense fir stand in the Polish part of the forest. In order to protect this population a reserve called ‘Tisovik’ was established. In this study, plant communities occurring in the ‘Tisovik’ reserve were described and its fir population (20 trees) was characterised in terms of its genetic structure.
The influence of stand canopy openness on the growth of common yew (Taxus baccata L.)
Authors: Niemczyk Marzena , Żółciak Anna , Piotr Wrzesiński
Published: May 2015

The aim of this study was to evaluate the development of common yew, Taxus baccata L., with respect to canopy openness. The plants were growing in ex-situ conservation plantations (established in 2008) in the understory of different tree species. Eleven forest plantations belonging to the following five forest districts were inventoried: Rokita, Baligród, Kołaczyce, Międzylesie and Henryków. In each plantation, the height and height increment of 200 yews were measured and gap light transmission indices were determined.

The canopy species affecting yew growth most significantly were oak (Quercus sp.) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), followed by Norway spruce (Picea abies Karst.), silver fir (Abies alba L.) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.). The most favorable development of yew occurred at 30% canopy openness. An increasing light transmission index correlated with a decrease in the proportion of treelike yews. An insufficient amount of light resulted in a low height increment of yews growing under the canopy and an extended period of direct competition of yews with herbaceous species.
The Borki Primeval Forest as an important forest bird area
Authors: Rąkowski Grzegorz
Published: May 2015

This paper presents an overview of bird research carried out in the Borki Primeval Forest during the last 30 years. The Borki Primeval Forest can be considered as one of the most important forest bird sites in Poland. Its avifauna comprises 139 breeding species, including 11 rare and endangered species listed in the Polish Red Data Book of Animals as well as 30 species listed in Annex I of the EU Birds Directive. Despite its relatively small area, the Borki Primeval Forest holds at least 1% of Polish breeding population of as many as 12 bird species. For seven out of these species it is one of the most important breeding sites in the country. The avifauna of the Borki Primeval Forest consists mostly of typical forest birds including 24 indicator species which are associated with natural forests. The richness of bird species in the Borki Primeval Forest and the abundance of several valuable groups of breeding species are the result of a high landscape and habitat diversity as well as a relatively small anthropopression combined with a high degree of naturalness of forest stands.
Holocene Chronology of the Brattforsheden Delta and Inland Dune Field, Sw Sweden
Authors: Alexanderson Helena , Fabel Derek
Published: May 2015

Brattforsheden is a large glacifluvial deposit in southwestern Sweden and associated with it is one of Sweden’s largest inland dune fields. Although the relative ages of the Brattforsheden depos-its are well known, absolute ages from the area are few. In this study we have used optically stimulat-ed luminescence (OSL), surface exposure (10Be) and radiocarbon (14C) dating to provide an absolute chronology for the deglaciation and for the Holocene development of the aeolian dunes. Our data show that the deglaciation took place just before 11 ka (11.5 ± 0.6 ka OSL, 11.3 ± 0.8 ka 10Be), in line with the 14C-based regional deglaciation age. Aeolian dunes started forming immediately after degla-ciation and were active for at least 2000 years, well after vegetation had established. Renewed aeolian activity occurred 270-180 years ago, resulting in the deposition of sand sheets. Comparison between dating methods and studies of OSL dose distributions show that glacial, glacifluvial and littoral sedi-ments suffer from incomplete bleaching and thus that mean OSL ages from such deposits overesti-mate the true depositional age. By using small aliquots and statistical age models, this effect can part-ly be countered. Also, some of the 10Be ages appear too old, which may be due to previous exposure.
Influence of in Situ Temperature on the Sensitization of Quartz: A Simulation Study
Authors: Koul Dileep K. , Patil Pallavi G.
Published: May 2015

The influence of ambient geological and burial temperatures, prevailing in nature, on the charge population of the defect centers and, eventually, the sensitivity of the luminescence emission of quartz was simulated using empirical model. Various permutation and combination of these tem-peratures were incorporated so as to observe, both, the collective and independent impact of these two temperatures on the charge kinetics. The results of seem to demonstrate the role of the ambient tem-perature in the sensitization of quartz mineral
Exploring Growth Variability and Crown Vitality of Sessile Oak (Quercus Petraea) in the Czech Republic
Authors: Rybníček Michal , Čermák Petr , Žid Tomáš , Kolář Tomáš , Trnka Miroslav , Büntgen Ulf
Published: May 2015

Unraveling climatic effects on growth of oak - Europe’s most ecologically and economically important forest species - has been the subject of many recent studies; however, more insight based on field data is necessary to better understand the relationship between climate and tree growth and to adapt forest management strategies to future climate change. In this report, we explore the influence of temperature, precipitation and drought variability on the productivity and vitality of oak stands in the Czech Highlands. We collected 180 cores from mature oaks (Quercus petraea) at four forest stands in the Czech Drahany Highlands. Standard dendromethods were used for sample preparation, ring width measurements, cross-dating, chronology development, and the assessment of growth-climate response patterns. Crown vitality was also evaluated, using the modified ICP Forests methodology. Late spring precipitation totals between May and June as well as the mean July temperature for the year of ring formation were found to be the most important factors for oak growth, whereas crown condition was significantly affected by spring and summer drought. This study is rep-resentative for similar bio-ecological habitats across Central Europe and can serve as a dendroclima-tological blueprint for earlier periods for which detailed meteorological information is missing
Quantity of Hydrophobic Functional CH-Groups – Decisive for Soil Water Repellency Caused by Digestate Amendment
Authors: Voelkner Amrei , Holthusen Dörthe , Ellerbrock Ruth H. , Horn Rainer
Published: May 2015

Anaerobic digestates are used as organic fertilizers; however, they are suspected to interfere negatively with soils. To investigate the relevance of the anaerobic digestates composition on potential wettability and contact angle of the soil, we mixed in a laboratory experiment 30 m³ ha-1 of anaerobic digestates derived from mechanically pre-treated substrates from maize and sugar beet with a homogenized Cambic Luvisol. Fourier transform infrared-spectra and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform-spectra of particle intact and finely ground soilanaerobic digestates-mixtures were analyzed to determine the quantities of hydrophobic functional groups in the soil-anaerobic digestates-mixtures that are used here as an indicator for the potential hydrophobicity. The anaerobic digestates application increased the amount of hydrophobic functional groups of the mixtures and reduced the wettability of the soil. However, for intact particle samples an up to threefold higher amount of hydrophobic groups was found as compared to the finely ground ones, indicating a dilution effect of mechanical grinding on the effectivity of the organic matter that is presumably located as a coating on mineral soil particles. For the particle intact samples, the intensity of hydrophobic functional groups bands denoting hydrophobic brickstones in organic matter is indicative for the actual wettability of the soil-anaerobic digestates-mixtures.
Thermal Effects of Laser Irradiation on Maize Seeds
Authors: Hernández Aguilar Claudia , Domínguez Pacheco Flavio Arturo , Cruz Orea Alfredo , Tsonchev Rumen Ivanov
Published: May 2015

It is important to know the temperature changes in seeds that have been irradiated with laser light because this could have substantial practical and theoretical importance. Thus, the thermal effects of low intensity laser irradiation on seeds was studied, showing variation of temperature produced by laser light applied during 60 s on two maize seed genotypes, ‘Toluqueño’ and ‘Cacahuazintle’: crystalline and floury, respectively, under two different conditions: natural colour and dyed black, evaluating the temperature changes by a thermal camera. The optical absorption spectra and the non-radiative relaxation time of the seeds were obtained using photoacoustic spectroscopy. The results indicate that it is possible to produce temperature changes, detected by an infrared camera, in crystalline and floury seeds when they are irradiated with a laser beam at a 650 nm wavelength and 27.4 mW power. The highest variation of temperature in the seeds was obtained for the black-dyed condition, these variations being 5.56 and 9.28°C for crystalline and floury seeds, respectively. Among the seeds, in the dyed condition, the floury seed had the lower non-radiative relaxation time, the higher optical absorption coefficient and a lower optical penetration length at the laser wavelength (650 nm).
Realization of a Simulation Model of SCADA – a System for Monitoring and Control of Sofia Metropolitan
Authors: Dimitrova E. , Dimitrov V.
Published: May 2015

In this paper, an imitation model of SCADA systems DISIM-V and DISIM-E, implemented in the Central Dispatcher Post (CDP) of the Sofia Metropolitan, is elaborated and described. These contemporary, modern and efficient SCADA systems are in operation in the subway and cover all technological processes for monitoring and control of the train traffic and power supply. Its extensive study is not possible due to the special mode and allowance. Thus a simulator, based on a synthesized imitation model has been also elaborated. The presence of laboratory models of these SCADA systems in Todor Kableshkov University of Transport is extremely useful in the learning process and enables the trainees to penetrate deeply into the core of modern SCADA technology. This simulation model is used by students and personnel for training and increasing the qualification of the operational specialists in the metropolitan, electricity distribution companies and the railway infrastructure.
Vzťah Prefixácie, Vidu a Valencie
Authors: Walková Milada
Published: May 2015

Literature has pointed out to the existence of two kinds of aspectual prefixes in Slavic languages - external or superlexical and internal or lexical - which differ in the ability to mark telicity and alter argument structure. The study discusses the two kinds of prefixes in Slovak on the basis of scalarity underlying telicity. External prefixes are nonscalar, they express an event is bounded in time but not inherently delimited. They are ±telic and they do not alter argument structure. In contrast, internal prefixes are scalar, because they refer to a scale that measures the event. They are +telic because they denote a boundary on the scale. They can alter argument structure because the event participant measured by a scale must be obligatorily realized as subject or direct object. There are three cases of argument structure alternation: 1. an optionally transitive verb becomes an obligatorily transitive prefixed verb, 2. an intransitive verb becomes an obligatorily transitive prefixed verb with unselected direct object, 3. an intransitive verb becomes an obligatorily reflexive prefixed verb with unselected reflexive marker sa, which I consider a kind of direct object.
Vývin Miery Substantívnej Pádovej Homonymie Vo Svetle Kváziteleologických Princípov
Authors: Braxatoris Martin
Published: May 2015

The paper gives a basic characteristic of the methodology and results of quantitative research of the development of noun case homonymy in Slovak and the East Slavonic languages in the comparison with the late Proto-Slavic ground state. The methodology is based on findings in the field of cognitive psychology, according to which a higher degree of ambiguity is linked with a higher level of the interpretative complexity. The paper also includes a proposal of the interpretation of findings of this research, which reveal the operation of principles of positive and negative feedback in the development of the above-mentioned languages morphology. The interpretation is based on the basic assumptions of the natural selection theory, in accordance to which the author proposes to explain the identified trends in the quasi-teleological spirit. The text is inspired by Jakobson's understanding of markedness and language teleonomy.
Zero that-clauses in the history of English. A historical sociolinguistic approach (1424–1681)
Authors: Conde-Silvestre J. Camilo , Calle-Martín Javier
Published: May 2015

The present paper traces the history ofzeroandthatas competing links for object clauses in the history of English from chronological and sociolinguistic perspectives. Even though the zero link is sporadically attested in Old English, the rise of the zero complementizer takes place in late Middle English and is well-established in the second half of the sixteenth century, becoming more frequent in speech-based text types (trials, sermons) or in texts representing the oral mode of expression (fiction, comedies). The use of this construction is then observed to diminish drastically in the eighteenth century, plausibly as a result of the prescriptive bias of grammarians (Warner 1982; Fanego 1990; Rissanen 1991, Rissanen 1999; Finegan and Biber 1995). Our analysis is based on five high frequency verbs,to know,to think,to say,to tellandto hope, and their syntactic behaviour in theParsed Corpus of Early English Correspondence, especially in the periods 1424–1499, 1500–1569, 1570–1639 and 1640–1681. Our approach aims at showing progress of the zero link along the S curve in these four periods, before it became thwarted in the eighteenth century. We also aim at plotting the diffusion of zerothat-clauses against the social hierarchy of the period in order to detect (i) the existence of social stratification for this variant, and, if such be the case, (ii) the social group or groups that were leading the diffusion of the change in the different chronological stages, thus (iii) tracing the social origin and direction of the change as diffusingfrom beloworfrom abovein sociolinguistic terms.
Runology and historical sociolinguistics: On runic writing and its social history in the first millennium
Authors: Schulte Michael
Published: May 2015

This paper argues that the rise and the transmission of the runes is largely determined by sociolinguistic factors. First, the olderfuþarkis identified as a unique Germanic design, adapted from Latin or Greek sources by one or more well-born Germani to mark group identity and status. Hence it is rather unlikely that the search for an exact source alphabet of the olderfuþarkwill make a major breakthrough in future research. Second, the present author argues that the extension of thefuþarkin the Anglo-Frisian setting is due to high-scale contact with the Christian Church, including Latin manuscript culture and Classical grammatical schooling, whereas these factors were almost entirely absent in pre-Viking-Age Scandinavia. The clerical influence is shown not least by “Christian inscriptions” in Anglo-Saxon England such as the Ruthwell Cross. Learned Christians recycled the obsolete runes to reestablish the phonological type ofperfect fit– a situation which is diametrically opposed to the Scandinavian scenario. Typologically, therefore, theFirst Grammatical Treatisein Iceland is directly in line with the Anglo-Frisian extension of the runic alphabet, whereas the Viking-Agefuþarkrepresents a counter-development with no clear influence of the Christian Church until the early 900s.
Statistical inversion in electrical impedance tomography using mixed total variation and non-convex ℓ
p
regularization prior
Authors: Strauss Thilo , Khan Taufiquar
Published: May 2015

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is a well-known technique to estimate the conductivity distribution γ of a body Ω with unknown electromagnetic properties. EIT is a severely ill-posed inverse problem. In this paper, we formulate the EIT problem in the Bayesian framework using mixed total variation (TV) and non-convex ℓ
p
regularization prior. We use the Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method for sampling the posterior distribution to solve the ill-posed inverse problem in EIT. We present simulations to estimate the distribution for each pixel for the image reconstruction of the conductivity in EIT.
Ethnic and Racial Employment Discrimination in Low-Wage and High-Wage Markets: Randomized Controlled Trials Using Correspondence Tests in Israel
Authors: Ariel Barak , Tobby-Alimi Ilanit , Cohen Irit , Ben Ezra Mazal , Cohen Yafa , Sosinski Gabriela
Published: May 2015

A rich body of literature on employment discrimination exists. Theoretically, discriminatory practices are explained by taste-based discrimination, differences in the bargaining ability of applicants or statistical discrimination. Global experimental research tends to show significant anti-minority attitudes in the hiring process, specifically at the entry stage into the engagement cycle – when an application and resume are sent to the prospective employer. These field studies often employ “correspondence tests,” in which identical, fictitious resumes are sent to employers with differences only in the racial, gender, religious or national origin of the applicant (e.g., the name of the applicant). Yet, the literature is lacking in at least three areas: First, evidence from correspondence tests has primarily focused on middle-range wage earners, and little research exists on low-wage or high-wage earner positions. Second, research has looked at employment discrimination that excludes certain groups, but has neglected possible prejudice that “locks” such groups into unqualified or underpaid positions. Finally, there may also be a place-based effect – in which diverse communities are less discriminatory than more homogeneous communities, or vice versa. In this paper, we report on two population-level experiments with seven independent correspondence tests that were conducted in the Israel labor market, both designed to fill these three lags in the literature. We tested the likelihood of (a) Israeli-Arab lawyers versus Jewish lawyers being asked to job interviews at Israel’s largest law firms (n = 178); and (b) Mizrahi Jews versus Ashkenazi Jews being asked to job interviews, in any one of the registered security firms (n = 369). We compared which groups are more likely to be called for interviews and then meta-analyzed the results using standardized differences of means. Our findings suggest significant overall employment discrimination against both Arab-Israelis and Mizrahi Jews, whose applications are overall less likely to be both acknowledged by the prospective employers and asked for interview – despite the applicants having identical qualifications. However, we find that the effect in low-wage jobs is conditional on geographic location, with evidence to suggest that in some regions there is no preference toward either ethnicity. We find no support for a locking effect. We discuss the findings in the broader theoretical context, but suggest that a more granular application of the theory is called for, which takes into account community dynamics and the level of localized ethnic integration.
Trophic water assessment of the small retention reservoirs Blizne and Cierpisz in the Podkarpacie Region (Subcarpathian Province)
Authors: Miąsik Małgorzata , Koszelnik Piotr , Bartoszek Lilianna
Published: May 2015

The paper presents an analysis of the trophic status of two small retention reservoirs located in the Subcarpathian region: Blizne reservoir on the River Ladzierz and Cierpisz reservoir on the River Tuszymka. The capacity of the reservoirs is respectively 137,000 m3 and 22,000 m3 and they occupy an area of 11.46 and 2.3 hectares. The study was conducted from May to October in 2013 and in 2014. Samples of surface water were collected from two locations for each reservoir. Assessment of the trophic status of the reservoirs was based on the concentrations of phosphorus, nitrogen and chlorophyll a. Criteria available in the literature were used to assess the trophic status. The progress of eutrophication was also evaluated on the basis of the Trophic State Index (TSI). Analysis of the results showed that in the studied period the water of Blizne was on the border of eutrophic and hypertrophic. The fertility of the water of Cierpisz in the analysed period deteriorated from the eutrophic state to the border with hypertrophic
Dynamics and consequences of water level fluctuations of selected lakes in the catchment of the Ostrowo-Gopło Channel
Authors: Piasecki Adam , Marszelewski Włodzimierz
Published: May 2015

The article discusses water level fluctuations in lakes and the associated changes in the lake surface and water resources in the years 1992-2011. On the basis of detailed field studies carried out in the hydrological year 2011, short-term and dynamic changes in the lakes’ hydrology were determined. Changes in hydrological lake types were evoked by unexpected hydro-meteorological situations, in particular high precipitation totals and sudden thaws in winter. The main symptom of the lake type change was the restoration, after nearly 10 years, of channels connecting the lakes. In addition, a strong interdependence was recorded in the difference between evaporation and precipitation, as well as the mean annual ranges of lake water levels in the years 1992-2010
RES-E Support Policies In The Baltic States: Development Aspect (Part I)
Authors: Bobinaite V. , Priedite I.
Published: May 2015

Despite quite similar conditions (natural resources) for electricity production from renewable energy sources (RES-E) in three Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania), significant differences exist in these countries as to the RES-E production volume. In Latvia this volume is the highest, while in Estonia and Lithuania it is half as high. One of the factors that determine the RES-E production volumes is support policies, which in the Baltic States are different. The main objective of this work was to analyze and compare these support policies. The results have shown that for rapid RES-E development the most effective policy is to be market-oriented (as in Estonia), whereas for more stable development such policy should be producer-oriented (as in Lithuania).