bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
APPLICATION OF MATHEMATICAL MODELING FOR THE UNIFICATION OF THE PRODUCTION OF METALLURGICAL ENTERPRISES ON THE EXAMPLE OF TUBING
Authors: Golodnov Anton , Golodnova Anastasia , Burlakova Natalia , Elantsev Alexey
Published: June 2017

The article is devoted to topical issues of resource saving and application of modern systems of engineering analysis for forecasting the properties of products of metallurgical enterprises. The article discusses the problems of interchangeability of cast-iron tubing used in the mining industry for the lining of mines and tunnels. On the example of the VC60 alloy product, a mathematical model was proposed that allows to unify this type of product while maintaining the required quality indicators. The analysis of the safety factor of tubing, both with changes in the design of the stiffener and without them, using the finite element method (FEM) and the program of mathematical modeling SAE module SolidWorks Simulation. The constructed diagrams and the results of stress state calculations showed that the design of universal tubing, with additional fixing holes in the stiffener, will not yield to the standard reliability by reliability. Based on the conducted research and analysis of international quality standards, the authors consider the possibility of eliminating ten separate tube sizes and the commissioning of one type of tubing, but of universal design.
INFLUENCE OF HYDROGEN ON PLASTIC FLOW OF THE TITANIUM AND ITS ALLOYS
Authors: Ovchinnikov Alexey , Skvortsova Svetlana , Mamonov Andrey , Yermakov Eugene
Published: June 2017

In this paper the effect of hydrogen as an alloying element on the yield stress in commercial titanium and Ti-6Al and Ti-6Al-4V alloys is investigated. The connection is made between the strain resistance and phase composition in the wide range of temperatures. It has been found that the hydrogen alloying of commercial titanium in the α-field is accompanied by the yield stress decrease. The role of volume phase ratio in the alloys softening in α+β-field has been shown. The hydrogen hardening parameters in α-field are defined. The paper materials are of a usage value for researchers and technologists, developing innovative technological processes of strained semi-finished titanium products manufacturing.
EVALUATION OF HIGHT PURITY ALUMINIUM AFTER ASYMMETRIC ROLLING AT AMBIENT AND CRYOGENIC TEMPERATURES
Authors: Šimčák Dušan , Kvačkaj Tibor , Kočiško Róbert , Bidulský Róbert , Kepič Ján , Puchý Viktor
Published: June 2017

Ultrafine grained materials are capable of superplastic elongation at strain rates faster than those currently employed for commercial superplastic forming operations. However, such operations require the material in the form of thin sheets. Asymmetric rolling (ASR), as one of severe plastic deformation (SPD) methods, was used to make ultra-fined grain materials with enhanced performance. This work show effect of the deformation paths on micro-hardness and mechanical properties changing during asymmetric rolling of pure aluminium. In our case, the asymmetric condition was introduced by using different diameters with a ratio of upper and bottom roll 2,4. The thickness of samples was reduced about 20% - 40% at ambient temperature and at cryogenic temperature. Asymmetric rolling at cryogenic temperature (ASR-C) provides greater strength tensile properties than rolling at ambient temperature (ASR-A).
Optimal Contracts for Intermediaries in Online Advertising
Authors: Balseiro Santiago R. , Candogan Ozan
Published: June 2017

In online advertising, the prevalent method advertisers employ to acquire impressions is to contract with an intermediary. These contracts involve upfront payments made by the advertisers to the intermediary, in exchange for running campaigns on their behalf. This paper studies the optimal contract offered by the intermediary in a setting where advertisers’ budgets and targeting criteria are private. This problem can naturally be formulated as a multidimensional mechanism design problem, which in general is hard to solve. We tackle this problem by combining a performance space characterization technique, which relies on delineating the expected cost and value achievable by any feasible (dynamic) bidding policy, and a duality-based approach, which reduces the optimal contract design problem to a tractable convex optimization problem. This approach yields a crisp characterization of the intermediary’s optimal bidding policy: the policy is stationary and bids a weighted average of the values associated with different types (to guarantee that the advertiser reports her type truthfully) that is appropriately shaded (to account for budget constraints). Additionally, when advertisers have identical value distributions, our formulation yields a closed-form characterization of the optimal contract. Our results indicate that an intermediary can profitably provide bidding service to a budget-constrained advertiser and at the same time increase the overall market efficiency.

The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/opre.2017.1618 .
The selfie of the other: The Chinese dream in films and tourism
Authors: Li Dian , Luo Shuang
Published: June 2017

Lost in Thailand (Xu, 2012) and Finding Mr. Right (Xue, 2013) are two recent box office hits in China. Set in locales outside China, the films are designed to ride the wave of the country’s booming outbound tourism. The narrative of travel connects profoundly with the discourse of the Chinese Dream in that it reproduces the allure of economic prosperity and materialistic bliss. On the other hand, the films also bring into play the introspection that questions the very meaning of this dream, the cost of monetary excess and moral degradation in particular. In various intercultural encounters of the characters, the Chinese self is tested and constructed in familiar but reconstituted spectacles and symbols of global dimensions.
Ten Years: An exercise in negative identity in Hong Kong
Authors: Carrico Kevin
Published: June 2017

In late 2015 and early 2016, a low-budget independent film entitled Ten Years unexpectedly topped box office sales and provoked widespread discussion in Hong Kong. The film is composed of five fictional narratives from Hong Kong in 2025: false flag violence to force the passage of a national security law; a grocery owner harassed by Red Guard-like youth for using the banned term ‘local’ to describe his locally produced eggs; a taxi driver ostracized for his inability to speak the ‘national language’; and a self-immolator sacrificing herself in front of the British Embassy. These five distinct narratives coalesce around a common theme of anxiety about the political, cultural and social future of Hong Kong within the People’s Republic of China (PRC). How did these fictional scenarios come to dominate discussion on Hong Kong’s future in 2016? The symbols featured in Ten Years are not in any sense arbitrary: importantly, the blending of symbols from the two political spaces of Hong Kong and Mainland China in Ten Years enacts a shattering of the long-standing imaginarily immunizing political borders between the two spaces, thereby dramatically enacting the primary source of anxiety in Hong Kong politics and identity today: the idea of Hong Kong as just another PRC city. Yet beyond simply labelling China as an other and denouncing its colonization of Hong Kong, Ten Years engages in a sophisticated portrayal of identity politics that acknowledges the potential for anyone to participate in the ‘Mainlandization’ of Hong Kong, while attempting to avoid this outcome in its acknowledgement. In this sense, Ten Years presents an anti-essentialist and optimistically anti-teleological dystopia.
Preliminary evaluation of resorcinol-formaldehyde carbon gels for water pollutants removal
Authors: Zaini Muhammad Abbas Ahmad , Yoshida Seiichiro , Mori Takeshi , Mukai Shin R.
Published: June 2017

The present work was aimed to evaluate the suitability of resorcinol-formaldehyde carbon gels as adsorbent for water pollutants removal. The carbon gels were characterized using N2 adsorption-desorption isotherm for specific surface area, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) for surface functional groups. Methylene blue and cesium were employed as model water pollutants. Results show that the un-oxidized carbon gel, despite its lower specific surface area (333 m2/g) displayed a 118 mg/g removal of methylene blue, that is higher than 35 mg/g by the oxidized carbon gel (418 m2/g). The evaluation of adsorption kinetics revealed a lower pseudo-first order rate constant of 0.088 h-1 for 10 mg/L methylene blue adsorption. A positive effect of surface oxidation was demonstrated for cesium adsorption. On molar basis, however, the oxidized carbon gel exhibits a selective removal towards methylene blue compared to cesium. Carbon gel is a promising candidate for water pollutants removal, and further treatment needs to be sought to boost its performance.
Study of surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (SEIRAS) of black inkjet prints using silver colloid
Authors: Oravec Michal , Miura Katsuya , Čeppana Michal
Published: June 2017

Only black inkjet prints were studied with regard to forensic examination of documents. We analysed twenty-one inkjet prints using surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (SEIRAS). The present paper deals with micro-destructive document analysis based on silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) use to obtain surface enhanced ATR-FTIR (attenuated total reflection - Fourier transform infrared) spectra directly from the document. For this experiment, AgNPs in colloid form was applied. AgNPs for SEIRAS analyses were synthesised and afterwards analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The purpose of the enhancement of colloids was to improve the resolution of the absorption signal of the analysed samples from noise. In the experiment, the obtained ink ATR-FTIR spectra, with and without silver treatment, were significantly affected by the paper base.
Mobile devices and computing cloud resources allocation for interactive applications
Authors: Krawczyk Henryk , Nykiel Michał
Published: June 2017

Using mobile devices such as smartphones or iPads for various interactive applications is currently very common. In the case of complex applications, e.g. chess games, the capabilities of these devices are insufficient to run the application in real time. One of the solutions is to use cloud computing. However, there is an optimization problem of mobile device and cloud resources allocation. An iterative heuristic algorithm for application distribution is proposed. The algorithm minimizes the energy cost of application execution with constrained execution time.
Kolmogorov--Sinai entropy for p-preserving systems
Authors: Khare Mona , Shukla Anurag
Published: June 2017

The objective of the present paper is to develop a comprehensive theory of entropy in the realm of ags-space{(L,p)}involving the notion of a generalizeds-map, and to study dynamics of ap-preserving system{(L,p,\phi)}. It is obtained that the entropy ofp-preserving systems is isomorphism invariant, and also entropy of an invertiblep-preserving system vanishes provided the corresponding Rokhlin space admits a one-sided generator.
Variation of Static-PPP Positioning Accuracy Using GPS-Single Frequency Observations (Aswan, Egypt)
Authors: Farah Ashraf
Published: June 2017

Precise Point Positioning (PPP) is a technique used for position computation with a high accuracy using only one GNSS receiver. It depends on highly accurate satellite position and clock data rather than broadcast ephemeries. PPP precision varies based on positioning technique (static or kinematic), observations type (single or dual frequency) and the duration of collected observations. PPP-(dual frequency receivers) offers comparable accuracy to differential GPS. PPP-single frequency receivers has many applications such as infrastructure, hydrography and precision agriculture. PPP using low cost GPS single-frequency receivers is an area of great interest for millions of users in developing countries such as Egypt. This research presents a study for the variability of single frequency static GPS-PPP precision based on different observation durations.
Research of Biodegradable Fluid Impacts on Operation of Tractor Hydraulic System
Authors: Tkáč Zdenko , Čorňák Štefan , Cviklovič Vladimír , Kosiba Ján , Glos Josef , Jablonický Juraj , Bernát Rastislav
Published: June 2017

This paper is focused on the impacts of the biodegradable hydraulic and transmission fluid (Universal Tractor Transmission Oil) on operation of tractor hydraulic and transmission systems. The fluid was used in the hydraulic and transmission systems of a Zetor Proxima 6321 tractor. Fluid samples were taken from the Zetor Proxima 6321 tractor at intervals of 250 engine hours. These samples were subjected to an infrared spectroscopy analysis in order to measure the total acid number and perform the ferrography analysis. This paper proves minimal impacts of the biodegradable hydraulic fluid on operation of the Zetor Proxima 6321 tractor. The biodegradable fluid meets the requirements for the operation of agricultural tractors in terms of low impacts on the wear of hydraulic components.
Comparative Analysis of Access, and Preferences of Rural and Urban Households for Cooking Energy, and the Determinants in Nigeria: A Case of Ogun State
Authors: Elijah Obayelu Abiodun , Balikis Lawal Iyabode , Ambali Omotuyole Isiaka
Published: June 2017

This study identified and compared the use of cooking energy among rural and urban households in Ogun State, Nigeria using a sample of 300 households. Empirical results indicate that electricity and gas are the least sources of cooking energy in rural area (RA) while firewood and electricity are least in urban area (UA). The level of education of the respondents was a significant (P < 0.05) factor influencing the probability of using charcoal and electricity in the RA relative to firewood, while there is a tendency towards positivity using charcoal, kerosene and gas relative to firewood with household size in UA. In addition, distance to energy source (P < 0.05), and household income (P < 0.01) significantly determine energy use in UA. Probability of using charcoal, electricity was also found to be significantly (P < 0.01) influenced by occupation and price of the cooking fuel, respectively, in a negative direction. In the UA, both income and price significantly influence the use of gas while only price influences its usage in the RA. There is therefore the need for price reduction and promotion of interventions that will enable low income earner to use cleaner and environmentally friendly energy source.
An Investigation into Dynamic Puncture Resistance of the Polyester Needled Nonwoven Geotextiles using Video Processing Technique
Authors: Dehghan-Banadaki Zahra , Mashroteh Hasan , Ahmadi Mohammad Saleh
Published: June 2017

In this study, the dynamic puncture behavior of nonwoven needle-punched polyester geotextiles has been studied using video processing technique. Twenty-seven needle-punched geotextile samples were produced by changing areal weight, needle penetration depth and punch density as independent variables. Cone drop test was carried out on the samples. In addition to measuring the hole diameter (HD), the video processing technique with a high frame rate camera was employed to calculate the energy absorbed by geotextile fabric up to puncture point (Ep) and the hole expansion energy (Ee). Multiple linear regression method was used to develop the predicting relationships between independent and reply variables. The models showed that an increase in areal weight results in an increase in Ep, whereas it causes a decrease in Ee and HD. Moreover, increasing punch density and needle penetration depth, leads to less Ep, and more Ee and HD. In addition, it was also found that significant relationships exist for Ep-HD and Ee-HD.
New discrete reactive power factor definition of the two-terminal network
Authors: Siwczyński M. , Jaraczewski M.
Published: June 2017

This paper describes a new method of determining the reactive power factor. The reactive power factor herein is calculated on the basis of time samples and not] with the Fourier transform of signals, like it was done previously. The new reactive power factor calculation results from the receiver admittance-operator decomposition into the product of self-adjoint and unitary operators. This is an alternative decomposition to another one, namely into a sum of the Hermitian and skew-Hemiitian operators.
Bi-Level Optimization as a Tool for Implementation of Intelligent Transportation Systems
Authors: Stoilova Krasimira , Stoilov Todor , Ivanov Vladimir
Published: June 2017

The Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) is used as a term for integrating requirements and functionalities towards transportation systems, which in urban environment raises complex exploitation and control problems. Important part of the ITS is the control which has to be applied for traffic flows. The control processes are strongly linked with requirements and targets for optimization of the transportation behavior. The paper applies new optimization formal description of control by bi-level optimization. Except the trivial traffic lights control, the bi-level formalization allows additional traffic characteristics to be defined like maximal/minimal values. The paper defines, solves and provides numerical simulations for minimization of the vehicle queues in front of the traffic lights. Such bi-level optimization problem is applied simultaneously for maximization the traffic flows on arterial and important directions of the urban transportation network. The formal description of the bi-level problem is provided. The results of the bi-level control have been compared with the cases of single optimization of the vehicles queues. The simulation results prove that the bi-level problem gives benefits satisfying an additional goal, which improves additional characteristic of the transport behavior. The bi-level optimization formalism can be used as a tool for implementation of integration of ITS control policies.
Ultrasonic Positioning System Implementation and Dynamic 3D Visualization
Authors: Lazarov Andon , Minchev Dimitar , Dimitrov Atanas
Published: June 2017

The paper contributes to the design and implementation of the ultrasonic positioning system based on new multifunctional hardware components, newly released. A moving object coordinates’ determination is described analytically and a matrix equation in respect to unknown coordinates with coefficients, measurement distances, is derived. Stages of data packet processing are formulated, and a pseudo pyramid of measurement distances is built. HX7TR multifunctional ultrasonic devises, transceivers, are used to implement the positioning system. A C# program source code for coordinate determination and 3D visualization is created. The algorithm for moving object coordinate computation, and its program realization as well as HX7TR ultrasonic devises can be used in development of indoor ultrasonic positioning systems embedded in IoT and robotics applications.
An Environment for Automatic Test Generation
Authors: Stancheva Nina , Stoyanova-Doycheva Asya , Stoyanov Stanimir , Popchev Ivan , Ivanova Vanya
Published: June 2017

This paper presents an environment which generates tests automatically. It is designed for assistance in the software engineering education and is part of the Virtual Education Space. The environment has two functionalities – generation and assessment of different types of test questions. In the paper, the architecture of the environment is described in detail. The test generation is supported by specialized ontologies, which are served by two intelligent agents known as Questioner Operative and Assessment Operative.
Connection Capacity of the Transition Zone in Steel-Concrete Hybrid Beam
Authors: Kozioł Piotr , Kożuch Maciej , Lorenc Wojciech , Rowiński Sławomir
Published: June 2017

The problem of transition zone of structural steel element connected to concrete is discussed in the following paper. This zone may be located for instance in specific bridge composite girder. In such case the composite beam passes smoothly into concrete beam. Because of several dowels usage in the transition zone, the problem of uneven force distribution were discussed through analogy to bolted and welded connections. The authors present innovative solution of transition zone and discuss the results, with emphasis put on the transition zone structural response in term of bending capacity, failure model and force distribution on the connection length. The article wider the already executed experimental test and presents its newest results.
Cylindrical Shells Made of Stainless Steel – Investigation of Postbuckling
Authors: Stehr Sebastian , Stranghöner Natalie
Published: June 2017

The relevant load case of open thin-walled shells is often wind loading during construction. Because of the missing stabilization effect of the roof they show a very high sensitivity to buckling which results into higher wall thicknesses. As part of the European RFCS research project BiogaSS the Institute for Metal and Lightweight Structures of the University of Duisburg-Essen carried out investigations on open thin-walled tanks made of austenitic and duplex stainless steels under wind load to study a possible economic advantage which might be gained from the consideration of the elastic postbuckling behaviour. This contribution presents not only experimental and numerical results but also first recommendations regarding the range of possible buckling reduction factors which might be incorporated in future revisions of EN 1993-1-6 and EN 1993-4-2.
A comparison of caspase 3 expression in the endocrine and exocrine parts of the pancreas after cladribine application according to the "leukemic" schema
Authors: Jasinski Ludwik , Chylinska-Wrzos Patrycja , Lis-Sochocka Marta , Wawryk-Gawda Ewelina , Jodlowska-Jedrych Barbara
Published: June 2017

The therapeutic effects of the immunosuppressive agent, cladribine, have been demonstrated by its toxicity to cells. However, its effects on healthy cells of the body is poorly understood. The aim of study was, hence, to, firstly, evaluate the morphology of the endocrine and exocrine pancreas after the administration of cladribine according to the "leukemic" schema, and, secondly, to assess its impact on the intensity of apoptosis. The experiment was carried out on female Wistar rats which were placed within the control group KA, and the experimental groups: A and A-bis. In the experimental groups, Cladribine was administered according to the cycle used to treat human hairy cell leukemia. In group A, the material was taken 24 hours after administration of the last dose of the drug, while in group A-bis, this was done after a 4 weeks break. The reaction was assessed to be average in 80% of all cells in group A, and in 64% of all acinar cells in group KA, while in group A-bis, the majority of the exocrine cells demonstrated a lack of immunohistochemical response (72%). Moreover, most endocrine cells (60%) in group A-bis revealed a strong reaction, while in Group A, the corresponding figure is a little over 34%. A comparison of the severity of the caspase 3 expression in both the exocrine and endocrine pancreas showed significant differentiation results between the group KA and group A-bis, and between group A and A-bis (p < 0.0001). In can be concluded that endocrine cells are more sensitive to cladribine than are exocrine cells.
Recent advances in corrosion resistant superhydrophobic coatings
Authors: Bahgat Radwan Ahmed , Abdullah Aboubakr M. , Alnuaimi Nasser A.
Published: June 2017

Extreme water-repellent (superhydrophobic) coatings with water contact angle higher than 150° have caught the attention of corrosion researchers in the last decade as they can be used to protect metals and alloys against corrosion. The latter is a serious problem, as it can threaten human lives in addition to its deleterious effects on the economy and environment. Superhydrophobic coatings (SHCs) can be achieved by lowering the surface energy of a certain coating through combining some of its surface features at the microscale and nanoscales. Although SHCs can be prepared using many different easy techniques, none, to the best of our knowledge, has been applied, so far, on an industrial scale for protection against corrosion of metals and alloys. The present work explains the different models of superhydrophobic surfaces (SHSs) and reviews their fabrication and processing methods with a focus on the recent advances in the corrosion protection of the SHC.
Modular algorithm for reducing matrices to the Smith normal form
Authors: Cherepnev Mikhail A.
Published: June 2017

The paper gives a complete justification of the modular algorithm for reducing matrices to the Hermitian normal form, which enables one to construct a new modular algorithm for reducing to the Smith normal form that may simultaneously calculate the left matrix of the transformations. The main term in the estimate of the number of operations is 2(n
3 log D), where n is the size and D is the determinant (or a multiple of it) of the matrix under consideration.
Moral and aesthetic considerations of humanity according to the Polish philosopher Mieczysław Wallis
Authors: Zegzuła-Nowak Joanna
Published: June 2017

In this article, the author presents an overview of the 20th century Polish humanist Mieczysław Wallis who searches for answers to the question of the essence of humanity. The philosopher saw it in human axiological activities building a world of specifically human creations thus giving Man a meaningful existence. An axiological perspective of human subjectivity – the search for the purpose and meaning of human existence in the implementation of aesthetical and ethical values can be seen as a methodological proposal worthy of deeper consideration which could facilitate solving modern ethical and bio-ethical problems.
Degree of Faulting of Hard Coal Deposits of Upper Silesian Coal Basin
Authors: Marcisz Marek
Published: June 2017

The paper presents the results of research on the degree of faulting of deposits/mining areas of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin having been carried out since the 1970s. The results of these works are comprised of an analysis of the density of faults and an of the faulting index for 26 deposits/mining areas in the borders of the USCB. The statistical presentation of the problem includes three main parameters that characterize the tectonic complication of hard coal deposits in the borders of mining areas: lineal density GUL, surface density GUP and synthetic faulting index WU. The comparison of values of these parameters for particular deposits/mining areas was used for drawing up maps of their changes, whereas the results of the obtained view of variability have been interpolated and extrapolated to the borders of the entire basin. The results of the research showed that the values of GUL vary between 0.2 and 9.4 of faults/ m·10-3 and for all four analyzed directions: W-E, N-W, NW-SE i NE-SW, indicate a significant growing tendency in the following directions: N and NW and in SW. According to an analysis of GUP, it was stated that the largest part of the study area is occupied by the area in which there are no faults and the percentage of surface with GUP > 300 m/m2·10-4 is insignificant and does not have an essential influence on the rate and value of the faulting index. WU varies between 1.4 and 131.4 m/m2·10-4 (average for USCB: WU = 52.1 m/m2·10-4) and indicates a significant increasing tendency in the directions: N and NW as well as in the direction of SW. This determines the occurrence of USCB deposits of extreme different grade of tectonic complication in the borders: from not complicated (I grade) to very strongly complicated (VI grade).
Reduction of biomass resilience by torrefaction: apparent stiffness during failure (ASF) and specific failure energy (SFE) assessed by a custom impact device
Authors: Pierre Floran , Almeida Giana , Colin Julien , Perré Patrick
Published: June 2017

The present work focusses on the loss of resilience of torrefied wood as an indicator of its grindability. An impact device was developed to evaluate the mechanical behaviour of wood at high compression rates with a particular emphasis on the surface area of the particles produced. It allows the energy determination needed to produce particles without a traditional grinding test. Pine (Pinus pinaster) and oak (Quercus robur) were tested in radial (R) and tangential (T) directions and for various torrefaction intensities. With increasing heat intensity, the material becomes more fragile and finally loses its fibrous character, which increases the number of peak events on the stress/strain curve and significantly reduces the deformation energy. Two indices were derived from the experimental results: the apparent stiffness during failure (ASF) and the specific failure energy (SFE). These criteria allow the quantification of the loss of mechanical strength due to torrefaction, as well as the surface area increment of particles for a given grinding energy.
Trunk Strength Characteristics of Elite Alpine Skiers - A Comparison with Physically Active Controls
Authors: Hildebrandt Carolin , Müller Lisa , Heisse Christian , Raschner Christian
Published: June 2017

Core muscle imbalances and weak trunk strength are relevant for injury prevention and performance. Information regarding core strength requirements and ideal flexion/extension ratios in alpine skiing is limited. We aimed to compare trunk strength capacities in elite alpine skiers with those of a matched control group. The concentric maximal trunk flexion and extension of 109 elite skiers and 47 active controls were measured at 150°/s in a ballistic mode using the CON-TREX® TP 1000 test system. The relative flexion peak torque was higher in male ski racers (p = 0.003; 2.44 ± 0.30 Nm/kg) than in the controls (2.32 ± 0.42 Nm/kg). The relative peak torque for extension was 4.53 ± 0.65 Nm/kg in ski racers and 4.11 ± 0.52 Nm/kg in the controls (p = 0.001). Female athletes were significantly stronger in both, relative flexion force (p = 0.006; skiers 2.05 ± 0.22 Nm/kg; controls 1.74 ± 0.28 Nm/kg) and relative extension force (p = 0.001; skiers 3.55 ± 0.53 Nm/kg; controls 3.14 ± 0.48 Nm/kg). No significant differences were found in the ratios of flexion to extension forces in females and males. Ski racers are engaged in extensive strength training for both leg and trunk muscles, which explains the higher peak values. Both groups indicated a low ratio from 0.54-0.59, which represents high trunk extensor muscles strength relative to flexor muscles.
Intra-Subject Variability of 5 Km Time Trial Performance Completed by Competitive Trained Runners
Authors: Fisher James , Clark Thomas , Newman-Judd Katherine , Arnold Josh , Steele James
Published: June 2017

Time-trials represent an ecologically valid approach to assessment of endurance performance. Such information is useful in the application of testing protocols and estimation of sample sizes required for research/magnitude based inference methods. The present study aimed to investigate the intra-subject variability of 5 km time-trial running performance in trained runners. Six competitive trained male runners (age = 33.8 ± 10.1 years; stature = 1.78 ± 0.01 m; body mass = 69.0 ± 10.4 kg,

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.

$\it V^{.}$

O2max = 62.6 ± 11.0 ml·kg·min-1) completed an incremental exercise test to volitional exhaustion followed by 5 x 5 km time-trials (including a familiarisation trial), individually spaced by 48 hours. The time taken to complete each trial, heart rate, rating of perceived exertion and speed were all assessed. Intra-subject absolute standard error of measurement and the coefficient of variance were calculated for time-trial variables in addition to the intra-class correlation coefficient for time taken to complete the time-trial. For the primary measure time, results showed a coefficient of variation score across all participants of 1.5 ± 0.59% with an intra-class correlation coefficient score of 0.990. Heart rate, rating of perceived exertion and speed data showed a variance range between 0.8 and 3.05%. It was concluded that when compared with related research, there was observed low intra-subject variability in trained runners over a 5 km distance. This supports the use of this protocol for 5 km time-trial performance for assessment of nutritional strategies, ergogenic aids or training interventions on endurance running performance.
Quality Versus Quantity Debate in Swimming: Perceptions and Training Practices of Expert Swimming Coaches
Authors: Nugent Frank J. , Comyns Thomas M. , Warrington Giles D.
Published: June 2017

The debate over low-volume, high-intensity training versus high-volume, low-intensity training, commonly known as Quality versus Quantity, respectively, is a frequent topic of discussion among swimming coaches and academics. The aim of this study was to explore expert coaches’ perceptions of quality and quantity coaching philosophies in competitive swimming and to investigate their current training practices. A purposeful sample of 11 expert swimming coaches was recruited for this study. The study was a mixed methods design and involved each coach participating in 1 semi-structured interview and completing 1 closed-ended questionnaire. The main findings of this study were that coaches felt quality training programmes would lead to short term results for youth swimmers, but were in many cases more appropriate for senior swimmers. The coaches suggested that quantity training programmes built an aerobic base for youth swimmers, promoted technical development through a focus on slower swimming and helped to enhance recovery from training or competition. However, the coaches continuously suggested that quantity training programmes must be performed with good technique and they felt this was a misunderstood element. This study was a critical step towards gaining a richer and broader understanding on the debate over Quality versus Quantity training from an expert swimming coaches’ perspective which was not currently available in the research literature.
Perceived Hindrances Experienced by Sport Coaches in South Africa
Authors: Kubayi Alliance , Coopoo Yoga , Morris-Eyton Heather
Published: June 2017

The purpose of this study was to examine perceived hindrances encountered by sport coaches in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. A total of 224 sport coaches (122 males and 102 females) were purposively recruited to participate in this study. An exploratory factor analysis was used to assess the factor structure of the Perceived Hindrance Scale. The results of this study indicated the following as major hindrances encountered by sport coaches: “Lack of support systems for women players”, “Lack of support for women coaches from superiors”, “Low salary”, “Lack of opportunities for promotion”, “Difficulties with parents/spectators” and “Lack of job security”. Recommendations on strategies to overcome these perceived hindrances are discussed.
Comparison of health outcomes among children with different levels of motor competence
Authors: Chagas Daniel V. , Batista Luiz Alberto
Published: June 2017

Purpose

While evidence suggests that children with the developmental coordination disorder (DCD) have worse health outcomes than their typically developing peers, it remains unclear whether children with low motor competence but without DCD are also characterized by worse health outcomes than those with average motor competence. The main purpose of this study was to compare health outcomes between children with low motor competence without DCD and those with average motor competence.

Methods

The total of 127 children aged 12–14 years were recruited. Motor competence, physical activity, flexibility, and muscular strength/endurance were assessed with, respectively, the Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder, a validated self-administered questionnaire, sit-and-reach, and sit-up 60s tests. Skinfold thickness was measured to assess the children’s adiposity. Multivariate analysis of variance, Kruskal-Wallis, and Mann-Whitney tests were performed.

Results

Children with average motor competence had lower body fat percentage and higher levels of physical activity and muscular strength/endurance than the groups with low (p < 0.05) and very low (p < 0.01) motor competence. Further, children with low motor competence had lower body fat percentage (p < 0.01) and higher levels of muscular strength/endurance (p < 0.01) than their peers with very low motor competence.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that children with low motor competence without DCD have worse health outcomes than their peers with average motor competence. We suggest that both the development of motor competence and improvement of health outcomes should be targeted during childhood and adolescence by health professionals.
Enterprise Lecture Capture Technologies and Value to Student Learning
Authors: Daniel Ben K.
Published: June 2017

Enterprise Lecture Capture technologies have increasingly become pervasive in higher education. This article presents student views on the value of recorded lectures and their contribution to learning. The research examines how students engage with recorded lecture materials and the likely of this engaging impacting on lecture attendance. The results suggest that students found access to recorded lectures valuable to learning. They reported that recorded lectures offer alternative learning opportunities for missed lectures and are useful in revising for exams. Analysis of the data further revealed that provision of recorded lectures to students does not directly contribute to class absenteeism. The present study adds to growing research evidence in support of the value of recorded lectures in enhancing student engagement with learning materials.
Exploiting capabilities of modern processors in data intensive applications
Authors: Broneske David , Saake Gunter
Published: June 2017

In main-memory database systems, the time to process the data has become a limiting factor due to the missing access
gap. With changing processing capabilities (e.g., branch prediction, pipelining) in every new CPU architecture, code that
was optimal once will probably not stay the best code forever. In this article, we analyze processing capabilities of the
classical CPU and describe code optimizations to exploit the capabilities. Furthermore, we present state-of-the-art
compiler techniques that already implement code optimizations, while also showing gaps for further code optimization
integration.
The Evaluation of Trade Credit Insurance in Lithuanian Business Market as a Credit Risk Management Tool
Authors: Lezgovko Aleksandra , Jakovlev Andrej
Published: June 2017

In today’s trade, the vast majority of commercial transactions in both domestic and international trade are concluded by applying trade credit terms. The aim of this article is to analyse the trade credit insurance and, according to the methodology, to evaluate it as a credit risk management tool in the context of Lithuanian business market. The authors have proposed a methodology that combines theoretical and practical research methods. First of all, with assistance of qualitative analysis, the alternative external credit risk management tools were examined. Such analysis allows not only to identify the advantages, disadvantages and benefits of researched risk management tools but also to assess the efficiency and rationality of trade credit insurance in the context of alternative methods. In order to carry out an assessment in the practical aspect, considering the lack of statistical data, it was decided additionally to perform an expert evaluation. After performing an assessment of trade credit insurance, it was concluded that in international trade, with a large buyer portfolio and high sales volume, the trade credit insurance becomes the most effective and rational way to manage credit risk, which eliminates the losses because of the debtor’s insolvency or bankruptcy, manages countries and sector’s risks and helps to discipline the debtor, what determines the decline in overdue accounts frequencies, amounts and volumes.
Philosophy of the Profession and Professional Knowledge in the Structure of Professional Identity of Hei Teachers in Riga and Smolensk
Authors: Jermolajeva Jelena , Bogdanova Tatiana
Published: June 2017

Teacher is a key figure in the implementation of reforms in higher education. Pedagogical research of the professional identity (PI) of teacher, her/his priority values, self-evaluation of performances and professional knowledge and the way how she/he conceptualises the profession at an individual level can lead to the most appropriate strategies to manage the educational reforms successfully. This article presents some results of the Latvian-Russian project ‘Professional Identity of Contemporary Pedagogue’ implemented in 2014-2016 by researchers of Riga (Latvia) and Smolensk (Russia). In the realisation of project, a hypothetical model of the content of Higher Education Institution (HEI) teacher’s PI was created, and HEI teachers’ survey was carried out. In total, 198 teachers were surveyed in Riga and Smolensk. The aim of this article is to examine the relevance of the proposed model and analyse the indicators of the first two components of the model: Philosophy of the Profession and Professional Knowledge. The results show that, on the whole, the answers of the Russian and Latvian teachers in the questionnaire are fairly well agreed; however, some differences and peculiarities in the data of Riga and Smolensk were observed. The relevance of the proposed model has been confirmed, and some problems of PI of HEI teachers have been identified. To improve the educational process, executives of the reform and teachers should pay due attention to these problems.
Thermo-osmosis in Membrane Systems: A Review
Authors: Barragán V. María , Kjelstrup Signe
Published: June 2017

We give a first review of experimental results for a phenomenon little explored in the literature, namely thermal osmosis or thermo-osmosis. Such systems are now getting increased attention because of their ability to use waste heat for separation purposes. We show that this volume transport of a solution or a pure liquid caused by a temperature difference across a membrane can be understood as a property of the membrane system, i. e. the membrane with its adjacent solutions. We present experimental values found in the literature of thermo-osmotic coefficients of neutral and hydrophobic as well as charged and hydrophilic membranes, with water and other permeant fluids as well as electrolyte solutions. We propose that the coefficient can be qualitatively explained by a formula that contains the entropy of adsorption of permeant into the membrane, the hydraulic permeability, and a factor that depends on the interface resistance to heat transfer. A variation in the entropy of adsorption with hydrophobic/hydrophilic membranes and structure breaking/structure making cations could then explain the sign of the permeant flux. Systematic experiments in the field are lacking and we propose an experimental program to mend this situation.
Clinical evaluation and mutational analysis of GALK and GALE genes in patients with galactosemia in Greece: one novel mutation and two rare cases
Authors: Schulpis Kleopatra H. , Thodi Georgia , Iakovou Konstantinos , Chatzidaki Maria , Dotsikas Yannis , Molou Elina , Triantafylli Olga , Loukas Yannis L.
Published: June 2017

Background:

Deficiencies of galactokinase (GALK) and UDP-epimerase (GALE) are implicated with galactose metabolic disorders. The aim of the study was the identification of mutations in

Methods:

Five patients with GALK and five with GALE deficiency were picked up via the Neonatal Screening Program. Additionally, two females, 4 years old, were referred with late diagnosed galactosemia, as rare cases. Mutational analysis was conducted via Sanger sequencing, while in silico analysis tools were utilized for the novel mutation. Psychomotor and speech development tests were performed, as well.

Results:

The mutation p.Pro28Thr was identified in both alleles in GALK-deficient patients of Roma (gypsy) origin, whereas the novel p.Asn39Ser was detected in two non-Roma patients. In GALE-deficient patients benign and/or likely benign mutations were found. Psychomotor and speech delay were determined in the Roma GALK patients. In each of the late diagnosed females, four mutations were identified in all galactosemia-related genes.

Conclusions:

The mutational spectrums of GALE- and GALK-deficient patients in Greece are presented for the first time along with a clinical evaluation. Mutational analysis in all galactosemia-related genes of symptomatic patients is highly recommended for future cases.
One sided strong laws for random variables with infinite mean
Authors: Adler André
Published: June 2017

This paper establishes conditions that secure the almost sure upper and lower bounds for a particular normalized weighted sum of independent nonnegative random variables. These random variables do not possess a finite first moment so these results are not typical. These mild conditions allow us to show that the almost sure upper limit is infinity while the almost sure lower bound is one.
Physico-chemical trends in the sediments of Agbede Wetlands, Nigeria
Authors: Dirisu Abdul-Rahman , Olomukoro John Ovie , Ezenwa Ifeanyi Maxwell
Published: June 2017

This study assessed the physico-chemical status of sediments in the Agbede Wetlands with the aim to create a reference archive for the Edo North catchment and to further identify the characteristics mostly influenced by the natural and anthropogenic activities going on at the watershed. Nutrients, zinc, nickel and lead were identified to be mostly of anthropogenic origin, while alkali metals and alkaline earth metals were from both anthropogenic and natural sources. The clustering of stations 1 and 4 indicates that the sediment quality in the lentic systems was not completely excluded from the lotic system, suggesting that principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA) techniques are invaluable tools for identifying factors influencing the sediment quality. The mean values of the particle size distribution were in the following order across the ecosystems: sand (61.86–80.53%) > silt (9.75–30.34%) > clay (7.83–13.89%). The contamination of the water bodies was primarily derived from agricultural run-offs and through geochemical weathering of the top soils. Therefore, our analysis indicates that the concentrations of cations, anions and nutrients in the sediments of the lotic and lentic ecosystems in Agbede Wetlands are not at an alarming level.
Did Shy Trump Supporters Bias the 2016 Polls? Evidence from a Nationally-representative List Experiment
Authors: Coppock Alexander
Published: June 2017

Explanations for the failure to predict Donald Trump’s win in the 2016 Presidential election sometimes include the “Shy Trump Supporter” hypothesis, according to which some Trump supporters succumb to social desirability bias and hide their vote preference from pollsters. I evaluate this hypothesis by comparing direct question and list experimental estimates of Trump support in a nationally representative survey of 5290 American adults fielded from September 2 to September 13, 2016. Of these, 32.5% report supporting Trump’s candidacy. A list experiment conducted on the same respondents yields an estimate 29.6%, suggesting that Trump’s poll numbers were not artificially deflated by social desirability bias as the list experiment estimate is actually lower than direct question estimate. I further investigate differences across measurement modes for relevant demographic and political subgroups and find no evidence in support of the “Shy Trump Supporter” hypothesis.