bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gabriel Marcel – muzyka i odnajdywanie Boga
Authors: Noworolnik Czesław
Published: December 2014

Man, wondering for himself discovers the existence of the spiritual world. The source of this spiritual reality can only be the most perfect spiritual being, namely God. There are different routes to encounter with God. This article shows one of these human paths to God, which was crossed by the French philosopher Gabriel Marcel. For Gabriel Marcel his personal an experience of the beauty of music has become an important factor in the meeting with God, who is the source of all the beauty. The first part of the article presents some small outline of the Church’s teaching on beauty as an attribute of God. God is the highest (absolute) beauty and the source of all beauty. Each created beauty participates in this highest beauty and it is the image of the Creator and His beauty. In an art, and therefore also in music, as the Church teaches (recently John Paul II and Benedict XVI spoke about it), man can find a reflex of God’s beauty. Music can therefore be one of the way to God. In the next part of the article is presented an important impact that music has had on the life and philosophical thought of Marcel. Music was accompanied our author throughout all his life. Marcel often listened the music. He played the piano and composed his own pieces. Music was also a tool with which Marcel explored the deepest crannies of the human spirit. Music helped Marcel meet One who is the source of beauty. It is to this theme to which is dedicated the last part of the article. Marcel has sought and found the way to find the eternal and personal THOU. Music and theater were to the French thinker the „creative testimony” of the spiritual and transcendent world. In conclusion we can say that the meeting with the great, beautiful music opens man up to the spiritual world. Music opens man to God who is the source of what is beautiful in the world, so we can say that music is a trace of God. Gabriel Marcel, his life experiences and philosophical obserwation can serve the man as a guidepost in his searching of God.
Słowo wstępne biskupa tarnowskiego
Authors: Jeż Andrzej
Published: December 2014

Słowo wstępne biskupa tarnowskiego
Ksiądz profesor doktor habilitowany Andrzej Zając
Authors: Garnczarski Stanisław
Published: December 2014

Ksiądz profesor doktor habilitowany Andrzej Zając
Wskazania dla artystów w przesłaniu św. Jana Pawła II
Authors: Marcinkowska Barbara
Published: December 2014

Through music people can fully express their feelings and emotions, even the ones of religious nature. Therefore, music is an inseparable part of the liturgy in the Christian Church. The music used during religious ceremonies is aimed at praising God and blessing the faithful. This goal will be accomplished only when the rules referring to sacred music are followed. These rules are found in the documents formed by the Church legislation. The Letter to Artists by St. John Paul II plays the vital role among the regulations. It can be treated as a kind of invitation sent to all people of art, so music as well, to join in the dialogue with the Church. The following article presents the tasks given authors and performers of worship music by the Church, in the context of the message conveyed in the Letter to Artists. Pope writes about their responsibility. At the same time he expresses a wish as far as the beauty they create is concerned. Namely, he wants that beauty to evoke admiration among the next generations.
Akty strzeliste jako wyrazy wiary i pobożności chrześcijańskiej
Authors: Szczych Jan
Published: December 2014

Enchiridion indulgentiarum of Vatican treats, among others, of prayers of aspiration (aspirations), commonly called ejaculatory prayers (ejaculations), which are complements to individual indulgences. According to the document, an ejaculatory prayer is usually very short, expressed verbally or as a thought and as such externalizes a Christian’s internal attitude.Among pious invocations, it is possible to distinguish prayers which spontaneously flow from within a believer’s inside and those that have been confirmed by worshippers’ long practice or are customarily acknowledged. A collection of these prayer formulas as well as reflection on their content shows not only a believer’s individual piety but also portrays a praying person’s depth of consciousness of salvational occurrences. Thus, aspirations, whilst preserving their simplicity and expressiveness of significance, become a believer’s undisputed proof of faith and devotion.
Osoba i kultura – odkrywanie personalnego wymiaru ludzkiej kultury
Authors: Drożdż Michał
Published: December 2014

The present paper is an attempt at an analysis of the anthropological and ethical dimension and foundation of media culture. Culture is herein regarded as a space for a person’s manifestation and communication. While in search of the most deeply rooted foundations of the personalistic concept of culture, it seems worthwhile to recall a fundamental truth that genus humanum arte et ratione vivit. It is a truth which reveals a close connection and dependence between the human dimension of life and the rationality of culture. On the one hand, the personalistic deep-rootedness of media culture shows the human being in the large-scale character of culture; on the other hand, it emphasizes the fact that it is the human being that is the subject and creator of culture.
Wychowanie i formacja na przykładzie federacji Pueri Cantores
Authors: Tyrała Robert
Published: December 2014

Education and formation are the two key words of tremendous importance in the activity of the International Federation of Pueri Cantores. Learning the Christian values and deepening faith both derive from the identity of and identification with the group which Pueri Cantores is. Creative education, commonly associated with musical formation of young people, is a peculiar quality characterizing this church movement. The Pueri Cantores actions performed in many countries of the world, counting today almost 40, prove the growing effectiveness and popularity of this Federation. And such is are the aims which were officially approved by its Presidents in the document ratified in Paris last year.The history of the Pueri Cantores community has featured a great number of excellent tutors and educators. Their remarkable activities are certified by their living pupils, acting and developing worldwide. Amongst these magnificent pillars of the Federation was Siegfried Koesler, deceased two years ago, a great friend of the Polish Federation of Pueri Cantores and of the main celebrator of today’s anniversary. The entire international community of Pueri Cantores Presidents, Correspondents and Guests shall meet on 24–26 October 2014 in Würzburg so as to commemorate this great and good teacher. At the funeral service of Siegfried Koesler at Würzburg cemetery on 5 December 2012 I said on behalf of the International Federation of Pueri Cantores: „Thank you fory your shiny example. You were for us a living sign of God’s presence amongst us. Your thoughts and deeds shall remain in us for they have stayed alive in our hearts. You will live in us. Your remarkably good manners, culture and life, permeated with God’s presence, will always be an inspiration and encouragement for us in our aiming at ideals, to which you were invariably faithful” (R. Tyrała, The 10th Letter of President of FIPC, Kraków 2014. Archives of the International Federation of Pueri Cantores in Rome). It is a matter of undeniable certainty that the modern world, the modern Church and we ourselves need such authentic educators and authorities.May the conclusion of these few thoughts on educating through music, as exemplified by the Federation of Pueri Cantores, be the words expressed by the man who, like anyone else, knows how to run a choir, and educate and form young people: „I believe, working with a choir in respect of human activity belongs to a hierarchy of values. Because man as such is a value himself. And this man, whether a child or an adult singing in our choir, whom God provided with abilities to sing and with musical sensitivity, and whom He entrusted to us, choirmasters so we would educate, tutor and form, is truly worth a trial” (A. Zając, Chór kościelny – środowiskiem edukacyjnym, wychowawczym i formacyjnym. Sacred Choir – An Educational, Tutorial and Formative Environment, w: Pro Musica Sacra, t. III, Kraków 2006, p. 80).
Parent, Dentist, and Orthodontist Satisfaction following Alveolar Cleft Repair Using Recombinant Human Bone Morphogenic Protein
Authors: Wudel Justin , Valdez Sondra , Perkins Jonathan N. , Liang Conan , Blanchard Ashley , Allen Gregory C.
Published: December 2014

Objective

Our aim was to evaluate dental/orthodontic outcomes for patients who underwent recombinant human bone morphogenic protein (rhBMP-2) alveolar cleft repair and to examine parental satisfaction following the procedure.

Design

Retrospective review.

Setting

Tertiary children's hospital.

Participants

Parents, dentists, and orthodontists completed satisfaction questionnaires.

Main Outcome Measures

Parent, dentist, and orthodontist satisfaction with the use of rhBMP-2 in alveolar cleft repair.

Results

Parent response rate was 71.4% (30/42). The dentist response rate was 60% (18/30). The orthodontist response rate was 53.3% (16/30). Parent and patient satisfaction was 93.3% and 83.3%, respectively. Of dentist respondents, 55.6% reported that the bone quality and alveolar ridge mucosal repair allowed for dental treatment. Of orthodontist respondents, 87.5% reported the graft enabled treatment, and 73.3% felt the graft prevented tooth root exposure and resorption.

Conclusions

Parents, dentists, and orthodontists are satisfied with outcomes when rhBMP-2 is used for alveolar cleft repair. The bone formed was reported as adequate to support dental and orthodontic treatment in most cases with few complications. Because of safety concerns over the use of this product in an off-label manner, further controlled studies are warranted.
Evaluation of the Reproducibility of Nonverbal Facial Expressions Using a 3D Motion Capture System
Authors: Ju Xiangyang , O'leary Emer , Peng Matthew , Al-Anezi Thamer , Ayoub Ashraf , Khambay Balvinder
Published: December 2014

Objective

To evaluate the reproducibility of three nonverbal facial expressions using a three-dimensional motion capture system.

Design

Prospective, cross-sectional, controlled study.

Setting

Glasgow Dental Hospital and School, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom.

Patients and Participants

Thirty-two subjects, 16 males and 16 females.

Methods

With a three-dimensional video passive stereophotogrammetry imaging system, maximal smile, cheek puff, and lip purse were captured for each subject. Anatomical facial landmarks were digitized on the first frame and then tracked automatically. The same facial expressions were captured 15 minutes later.

Main Outcome Measures

The magnitude of each expression and speed of landmark displacement were calculated. The landmark motion curves were spatially and temporally aligned to calculate the similarity of the dynamic movements of the same landmarks between the captures.

Results

There were no significant differences between individuals for magnitude ( P = .892) or for speed ( P = .456). There were significant differences in landmark movement similarity ( P = .011); similarity was more reproducible for maximal smile. There was no significant gender effect on the difference in magnitude. There was a significant gender effect on speed to reach maximal smile ( P = .044) and a pursed-lip expression ( P = .038). There was a significant gender effect on landmark movement similarities ( P = .031) for cheek puff expression.

Conclusions

There were no differences in magnitude and speed for maximal smile, cheek puff, and lip purse between the two captures for all participants. For individual expressions, maximal smile expression had the highest similarity value for individual landmarks.
Heart Failure in an Infant with Pierre Robin Sequence: Is There a Diagnostic Test to Aid in Treatment Planning and Monitoring?
Authors: Biskup Nataliya , Francis Stacey H.
Published: December 2014

This case report describes an infant with Pierre Robin sequence who was managed conservatively until he presented at 4 months of age with right-sided heart failure. This rare clinical presentation displays the physiologic response to chronic respiratory obstruction and the acid-base disturbances, which become evident on metabolic panel and blood gas. We suggest that these tests can be added to the workup, especially in conservatively managed infants, to help predict which infants may fail conservative treatment and to avoid the rare complication of heart failure in infants with Pierre Robin sequence.
White‐Green Leaf Gene Encoding Protochlorophyllide Oxidoreductase B Is Involved in Chlorophyll Synthesis of Rice
Authors: Kang Shu‐Jing , Fang Yun‐Xia , Zou Guo‐Xing , Ruan Ban‐Pu , Zhao Juan , Dong Guo‐Jun , Yan Mei‐Xian , Gao Zhen‐Yu , Zhu Li
Published: December 2014

A white‐green leaf (wgl1) mutant, derived from Nipponbare (NIP) (Oryza sativa L. ssp. japonica) treated with ethyl methanesulfonate, exhibited white‐green leaf variegation and brown necrotic lesions during old leaf elongation. However, the wgl1 mutant gradually changed in color from white‐green to light green at the later stages of development in field‐grown plants. Pigment investigation showed that the change in leaf color in wgl1 mutant is associated with chlorophyll (Chl) and carotenoid content reduction. Electron microscopic analysis of wgl1 chloroplasts revealed a decrease in the number of chloroplasts and loss of grana stacks. In addition, the prolamellar bodies of wgl1etioplasts were smaller than that of NIP etioplasts with concentric‐rings stromal thylakoids in 7‐d‐old darkness‐grown seedlings. As a result, chloroplast development was impaired. Genetic analysis results showed that the wgl1 mutant phenotype was caused by recessive mutations in a single nuclear gene. Map‐based cloning and complementation tests revealed that WGL1, located on chromosome 10, encodes OsPORB (Os10 g35370), one of two isoforms of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide 2′‐phosphate reduced tetrasodium salt: protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase (POR). Real‐time polymerase chain reaction analysis and β‐Glucuronidase reporter results showed that the highest expression levels were observed in flag leaves, whereas expression in the root was almost undetected. These results indicate that WGL1 is involved in Chl biosynthesis and chloroplast development in rice.
Changes in Lutein and Tocopherol Concentrations in Soybean Cultivars Released Across Seven Decades in the Short‐Season Region
Authors: Morrison M.J. , Cober E.R. , Frégeau‐Reid J.A. , Seguin P.
Published: December 2014

Lutein and α‐tocopherol (α‐toc) are antioxidant compounds beneficial for human health. Soybean [Glycine max (L). Merr.] contains relatively high concentrations of these compounds, and increasing them through plant breeding may be beneficial to human nutrition as well as provide a marketable seed trait in food‐type soybean. Our objective was to determine if there have been changes in lutein and tocopherol concentrations in short‐season soybean cultivars. A historical series of 16 cultivars released from 1934 to 2000 were grown at Ottawa Canada over a 3 yr period in a randomized complete‐block design with four replications. Seed was harvested for yield and a sample taken to determine seed weight, and oil, protein, lutein, α‐toc, γ‐tocopherol (γ‐toc), δ‐tocopherol (δ‐toc), and total‐tocopherol concentrations. There were significant differences among cultivars for all traits examined. Seed yield, oil, lutein, α‐toc, and δ‐toc concentrations have increased significantly since 1934, while protein concentration has decreased. There were no changes in seed weight and γ‐toc over time. Lutein and α‐toc were positively correlated with oil concentration and negatively correlated with protein concentration, leading to the conclusion that, over time, these compounds have likely increased in short‐season cultivars due to the indirect selection for higher oil concentration by plant breeders. The maximum concentration of lutein and α‐toc were similar to those found in other studies from different soybean growing regions indicating that only modest increases in these compounds may be possible using standard breeding techniques.
Genotypic Variability in Calcium Concentration of Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Seeds
Authors: Thornton Steven T. , Gallo Maria , Tillman Barry L.
Published: December 2014

Leaf spots are devastating diseases of peanut worldwide. The University of Florida peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) breeding program has developed cultivars with superior resistance to leaf spot diseases, but their production was limited by poor field emergence. One factor that is believed to be related to emergence of resistant cultivars is reduced accumulation of seed Ca. The goal of this study was to compare the seed Ca concentrations of resistant genotypes to susceptible genotypes and to assess the genetic variability for seed Ca accumulation in commercial peanut germplasm. Seed Ca concentrations were measured for 51 genotypes that were diverse for market class, maturity, resistance to leaf spot, and genetic background. Genotypes were placed into categories based on seed size and maturity: Large seeded genotypes (“Virginias”), small seeded with medium maturity (“Medium”), and small seeded, late maturing (“Late”) which contained the resistant genotypes. For each of these groups, the seed Ca concentration was calculated and heritability of Ca concentration was determined for each group. Late maturing runners (those with the highest resistance to leaf spot) had the lowest seed Ca concentration followed by the medium maturing runners, and then the large seeded Virginias. The broad‐sense heritability estimate for seed Ca concentration was 0.33 and estimates were 0.26, 0.19, 0.41 for the Late, Medium, and Virginia groups, respectively. These results suggest that seed Ca concentration can be improved through breeding, which may allow for the development of cultivars with leaf spot resistance and commercially acceptable seed vigor.
Polycross Genetic Analysis of Forage Yield and Related Traits in Dactylis glomerata
Authors: Majidi Mohammad Mahdi , Araghi Bahram , Barati Mohammad , Mirlohi Aghafakhr
Published: December 2014

Orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) is a long‐lived perennial forage grass and one of the main perennial grasses that naturally grow in temperate pasture and rangelands in northern and western Iran. This study was conducted to increase knowledge about the genetic basis of agro‐morphological traits in orchardgrass, which may help further improvement of this species. Half‐sib families derived from a polycross of 25 parental genotypes were evaluated during 2 yr, and 11 agro‐morphological traits together with two quality traits were measured. Families were significantly different for all the traits measured. Significant differences were also observed between the 2 yr of evaluation for all the traits except for mean percent of dry matter and panicle length. Narrow‐sense heritability ranged from 0.12 (number of fertile shoot) to 0.79 (mean percent of dry matter). The estimate of narrow‐sense heritability for the most economically important trait (total dry matter yield) was relatively low (0.17 to 0.30), showing that both additive and non‐additive gene effects played a role in the genetic control of this trait. In addition to a weak phenotypic correlation, total dry matter yield had a high genetic correlation with plant height and number of fertile shoots. No significant phenotypic correlation was observed between forage yield and crude protein, though a negative genetic correlation was evident. According to the results of heritability estimations and correlation between the traits, indirect selection for dry matter yield would be possible through selection for plant height.
Iron Bioavailability in Low Phytate Pea
Authors: Liu Xiaofei , Glahn Raymond P. , Arganosa Gene C. , Warkentin Thomas D.
Published: December 2014

Field pea (Pisum sativum L.) seeds have high nutritional value but also contain potential antinutritional factors, such as phytate and polyphenols. Phytate can store up to 80% of the phosphorus in seeds. In the seed and during digestion it can complex minerals such as iron and zinc and make them unavailable for absorption. Also, it is not well digested by monogastrics. Polyphenols are known to reduce bioavailability of some nutrients. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effects of phytate and seed coat polyphenols on bioavailability of iron from field pea seeds. To increase the nutritional value of field pea seeds, two low‐phytate lines (1–150–81 and 1–2347–144) containing higher inorganic phosphorus concentration (IN‐P) and lower phytate‐phosphorus concentration (PA‐P) than the normal phytate varieties were developed from the cultivar CDC Bronco in previous research. Total iron concentration (FECON) did not differ significantly between normal and low phytate varieties. However, iron bioavailability (FEBIO) of the two low‐phytate lines was 1.4 to 1.9 times higher than that of the three normal phytate varieties as assessed using a cell culture bioassay. Environment also had a significant effect on FEBIO. Peas with pigmented seed coats had seven times lower FEBIO than peas with nonpigmented seed coats. Removal of the seed coat increased FEBIO in peas with pigmented seed coat five to six times.
Application of self-organising maps and multi-layer perceptron-artificial neural networks for streamflow and water level forecasting in data-poor catchments: the case of the Lower Shire floodplain, Malawi
Authors: Mwale F. D. , Adeloye A. J. , Rustum R.
Published: December 2014

With a paradigm shift from flood protection to flood risk management that emphasises learning to live with the floods, flood forecasting and warning have received more attention in recent times. However, for developing countries, the lack of adequate and good quality data to support traditional hydrological modelling for flood forecasting and warning poses a big challenge. While there has been increasing attention worldwide towards data-driven models, their application in developing countries has been limited. A combination of self-organising maps (SOM) and multi-layer perceptron artificial neural networks (MLP-ANN) is applied to the Lower Shire floodplain of Malawi for flow and water level forecasting. The SOM was used to extract features from the raw data, which then formed the basis of infilling the gap-riddled data to provide more complete and much longer records that enhanced predictions. The MLP-ANN was used for the forecasting, using alternately the SOM features and the infilled raw data. Very satisfactory forecasts were obtained with the latter for up to 2-day lead time, with both the Nash–Sutcliffe index and coefficient of correlation being in excess of 0.9. When SOM features were used, however, the lead time for very satisfactory forecasts increased to 5 days.
International and local benefit sharing in hydropower projects on shared rivers: the Ruzizi III and Rusumo Falls cases
Authors: Dombrowsky Ines , Bastian Julia , Däschle Daniel , Heisig Simon , Peters Johannes , Vosseler Christian
Published: December 2014

It has been argued that dam projects on shared rivers may provide opportunities for cooperation and the sharing of benefits among co-riparian states (discourse on international benefit sharing). In parallel, a discourse on local benefit sharing emphasizes that the population affected by dams should benefit from the projects in the long term. This raises the question of how international and local benefit sharing can be combined and whether these concepts are taken up in recent hydropower projects (HPPs) on shared rivers. This question was studied using the cases of the Ruzizi III and Rusumo Falls border river HPPs in Africa's Great Lakes region. The paper finds that the two projects indeed foresee both international and local benefit-sharing mechanisms, even if the actors involved hardly refer to international and local benefit sharing as concepts or link the two. At international level, the infrastructure will be jointly owned and electricity equally shared by the countries involved which can be considered good practice for border river projects. At local level, compensation processes are planned according to World Bank policies and various benefit-sharing mechanisms are envisioned. However, so far no revenue-based benefit sharing is foreseen that would ensure that the project-affected population will benefit in the long term.
From policy design to implementation: an institutional analysis of the new Nicaraguan Water Law
Authors: Novo Paula , Garrido Alberto
Published: December 2014

The objective of this paper is to identify the type of barriers related to the implementation of a new Water Law in Nicaragua. By exploring the perceptions of 40 actors involved in the drafting process of the Law, this paper finds that major barriers are related to the power configuration of the water administration set-up, which creates conflicts of competences within government and at local and national levels. Our research suggests that decision-making is highly centralized, whereas local governments remain unpowered despite their relevant role in water management. One of the particular novel aspects of this paper is the linking of interview data to grammar-coded institutional statements along the social–ecological systems' variables. The institutional grammar tool is used to identify the institutional statements of the Nicaraguan Water Law and to connect the interview results to the institutional configuration of the Water Law. This allows us to understand to what extent the Water Law modifies both the formal and informal institutions that are in place.
Late Neogene leaf assemblage from Bełchatów Lignite Mine (central Poland)
Authors: Worobiec Grzegorz
Published: December 2014

Leaf macroremains collected in the Bełchatów Lignite Mine (central Poland) were investigated. The fossil assemblage consists of leaves of Acer, Betula, Carpinus, Dicotylophyllum, Fagus, ?Magnolia, “Parrotia”, Pinus, Quercus, and Zelkova. Mesophytic (zonal) elements dominate, with admixture of riparian (azonal) leaf taxa. The floristic composition points to late Neogene (late Miocene to late Pliocene) age and suggests favourable temperate climate with mild winters.
Microfossils With Suggested Affinities To The Pyramimonadales (Pyramimonadophyceae, Chlorophyta) From The Lower Devonian Rhynie Chert
Authors: Kustatscher Evelyn , Dotzler Nora , Taylor Thomas N. , Krings Michael
Published: December 2014

An assemblage of unusual microfossils occurs within an accumulation of plant debris, hyphae, and various types of propagules in the Early Devonian Rhynie chert. Specimens consist of a vesicle with one or more prominent wings (alae) arising from the surface; one wing forms a rim around the equator of the vesicle. The microfossils are interpreted as phycomata of a prasinophycean green alga based on morphological similarities to Pterospermella, a microfossil similar to phycoma stages of the extant Pterosperma (Pyramimonadales). This report represents the third record of phycomata in the Rhynie chert, suggesting that this Early Devonian ecosystem served as habitat to a variety of prasinophyte algae. Moreover, the new microfossils add to the inventory of fossil freshwater representatives of this predominantly marine group of algae.
European Jurassic floras: statistics and palaeoenvironmental proxies
Authors: Barbacka Maria , Bodor Emese , Jarzynka Agata , Kustatscher Evelyn , Pacyna Grzegorz , Popa Mihai E. , Scanu Giovanni G. , Thévenard Frédéric , Ziaja Jadwiga
Published: December 2014

The Jurassic floras of Europe show considerable diversity. To examine the extent of this diversity and its possible causes we used multivariate statistical methods (cluster analysis, PCA, NMDS) to compare all significant Jurassic floras in Europe. Data were based on 770 taxa from 46 fossiliferous occurrences (25 units) from France, Germany, Greenland, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Poland, Romania, Scotland, Serbia, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Statistical analyses were applied at species level and genus level, and also performed for the major plant groups. The genus cladograms show affinities between different localities based on environmental factors, while the cladograms based on species affinities indicate only taxonomical correlations. The study shows that locality age does not seem to be of paramount importance for floral composition.
Evaluation of anti-Bothrops asper venom activity of ethanolic extract of Brownea rosademonte leaves
Authors: Salazar Marcos , Chérigo Lilia , Acosta Hildaura , Otero Rafael , Martínez-Luis Sergio
Published: December 2014

Significant inhibition of the coagulant and hemorrhagic effects of Bothrops asper venom was demonstrated by ethanolic extract prepared from the leaves of Brownea rosademonte. In vitro experiments preincubating 5.5 mg of extract kg-1 b.m. for 30 min with a minimum hemorrhagic dose of venom (273.8 ± 16.1 μg of venom kg-1 b.m.) lowered the hemorrhagic activity of the venom alone in CD-1 mice by 51.5 ± 2.6 %. Additionally, 1.7 mg extract L-1 plasma prolonged 5.1 times the plasma coagulation time. Fractionation of the extract led to the isolation of two compounds: ononitol (1) and quercetrin (2). The structure of compounds 1 and 2 was established by spectroscopic analyses, including APCI-HRMS and NMR (1H, 13C, HSQC, HMBC and COSY). A quercetrin concentration of 0.11 μmol L-1 prolonged the plasma coagulation time 2.6 times demonstrating that this compound was one of the active constituents of the Brownea rosademonte extract.
Finite nucleus effects, relativistic effects and picture change error in the IOTC/DKH2 contact spin densities of Cu, Ag, Au atoms
Authors: Malček Michal , Bučinský Lukáš , Biskupič Stanislav
Published: December 2014

Sensitivity of contact spin density as well as electron density to the size of nucleus is investigated using the Gaussian model of nucleus and the point charge nucleus model. Scalar Infinite Order Two Component and scalar second order Douglas-Kroll-Hess quasirelativistic contact spin densities (spin densities at the nucleus) of Cu, Ag and Au atoms are considered. The non-relativistic contact spin densities and the valence s-orbital contact densities of Kramers restricted orbitals (Cu, Ag, Au atoms) are presented as well. The picture change error in the quasirelativistic calculations of spin densities is corrected by analytic means. Uncontracted triple-zeta UTZ+Ns basis sets are employed, where N is the number of additional tight s Gaussians. In addition, the impact of tight p and d Gaussians is briefly discussed.
New inhibitors of glucosylceramide synthase and their effect on cell fate
Authors: Turáková Katarína , Lakatoš Boris , Ďuriš Andrej , Moravčíková Daniela , Berkeš Dušan
Published: December 2014

Glucosylceramide (GlcCer) is an essential glycosylated lipid found in organisms ranging from fungi to mammals. It is composed of a hydrophilic β-linked glucose and a hydrophobic ceramide, with a predominant content of sphingosine in mammals (d18:1). GlcCer is the precursor of a large scale of different glycosphingolipids. This cerebrozide is synthesized from uridine diphosphate-glucose and ceramide by a GlcCer synthase (UDP-glucose:ceramide glucosyltransferase; UGCG, EC 2.4.1.80). GlcCer-based sphingolipids have been identified as important mediators of a variety of cellular functions and their disequilibrium leads to pathological process development and may induce several diseases progression. Therefore, design of UGCG inhibitor represents an important topic for pharmaceutical research. In this paper, we aimed to study effects of newly synthesized derivatives of (±)-threo-1-phenyl-2-palmitoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol (PPMP, known UGCG inhibitor) on: i) activity of UGCG in vitro; ii) thymocytes viability; iii) calcium transport through plasma membrane of thymocytes; iv) induction of apoptosis and autophagy in thymocytes. Thymocytes were isolated from thymus of three to seven weeks old mice (ICR strain). The key factors influencing the effect of PPMP analogues were their concentration, chemical structure and incubation time. Derivatives were able to change Ca2+ transport already after 15 min of cultivation, but their effects on cell viability were manifested at least after 12 h of cultivation. Four from fifteen studied compounds affected UGCG activity after four hour lasting cultivation, - but without correlation with data relating to effects on calcium transport and/or cell viability. Most potent UGCG inhibitor was chosen and applied for induction of apoptosis and autophagy in thymocytes. This inhibitor induced typical DNA fragmentation and upregulation of LC3B protein as autophagy marker, after 2 h and 4 h cultivation, respectively.
Analytical methods in herpesvirus genomics
Authors: Blaškovičová Jana , Labuda Ján
Published: December 2014

Genomics is a branch of bioanalytical chemistry characterized as the study of the genome structure and function. Genome represents the complete set of chromosomal and extrachromosomal genes of an organism, a cell, an organelle or a virus. There are at least five from eight species of herpesviruses commonly widespread among humans, Herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2, Varicella zoster virus, Epstein-Barr virus and Cytomegalovirus. Human gammaherpesviruses can cause serious diseases including B-cell lymphoma and Kaposi’s sarcoma. Diagnostics and study of the herpesviruses is directly dependent on the development of modern analytical methods able to detect and determine the presence and evolution of herpesviral particles/ genomes. Diagnostics and genomic characterization of human herpesvirus species is based on bioanalytical methods such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), DNA sequencing, gel electrophoresis, blotting and others. The progress in analytical approaches in the herpesvirus genomics is reviewed in this article.
Evaluation of the Fertilizer Granules Strength Obtained from Plate Granulation with Different Angle of Granulation Blade
Authors: Leszczuk Tomasz
Published: December 2014

The goal of the paper was to assess the strength of the fertilizer granules obtained by non-pressure granulation method. The granulation process was carried out in plate granulator, according to the three-level experiment plan. A mixture of raw materials prepared in a Polish factory of agrochemicals for agriculture and horticulture was used as a study material and water was used as a wetting liquid. Granulator design parameters and process parameters were treated as entrance sizes of the experiment. Three different angles of granulation blade were used in experiments. This paper presents: the results of study of equivalent diameter size and the impact of changes in the angle of granulating blade on the strength of obtained granulate. Pfost apparatus and a set of sieves used in granulometric sieve were utilized in this study. A relation was suggested P∞ = f(α, ϰ, n, ww, t). The results were presented in the form of graphs and tables. Conclusions were presented.
Doubly Periodic Cracks in the Anisotropic Medium with the Account of Contact of Their Faces
Authors: Maksymovych Olesya , Pasternak Iaroslav , Sulym Heorhiy , Kutsyk Serhiy
Published: December 2014

The paper presents complex variable integral formulae and singular boundary integral equations for doubly periodic cracks in anisotropic elastic medium. It utilizes the numerical solution procedure, which accounts for the contact of crack faces and produce accurate results for SIF evaluation. It is shown that the account of contact effects significantly influence the SIF of doubly periodic curvilinear cracks both for isotropic and anisotropic materials.
Minimum Energy Control of 2D Positive Continuous-Discrete Linear Systems
Authors: Kaczorek Tadeusz
Published: December 2014

The minimum energy control problem for the 2D positive continuous-discrete linear systems is formulated and solved. Necessary and sufficient conditions for the reachability at the point of the systems are given. Sufficient conditions for the existence of solution to the problem are established. It is shown that if the system is reachable then there exists an optimal input that steers the state from zero boundary conditions to given final state and minimizing the performance index for only one step (q = 1). A procedure for solving of the problem is proposed and illustrated by a numerical example.
Self-perceived sociosexuality and mate value asymmetry in heterosexual romantic relationships
Authors: Gomula Aleksandra , Nowak-Szczepanska Natalia , Danel Dariusz P.
Published: December 2014

Previous works have shown that sociosexuality may affect mate choice and correspond to partners’ mate value (MV). However, there is a lack of studies that directly show how a difference between both partners’ mate values (MVD) relates to reproductive strategies. In this study we investigated a possible link between self-reported measures of individual differences in human mating strategies (SOI-R) and self-perceived mate value asymmetry (difference between partners’ MV) in heterosexual romantic relationships. Two hundred forty-nine heterosexual participants (all in romantic relationships) completed an online questionnaire. Their sociosexuality was measured using Revised Sociosexual Orientation Inventory (SOI-R) (Penke and Asendorpf 2008). The assessment of the participant’s and his/her partner’s MVs were obtained using the MV measure by Graham-Kevan and Archer (2009). MVD was calculated by deducting the assessment of partner’s MV and MV self-assessment. Our results revealed that in men, with the increase of the discrepancy in mate value in favor of their female partners, male global sociosexuality and sociosexual desire decreased. In contrast, in women no significant correlations were found. We propose several possible explanations, based on evolutionary psychology, discussing our results within the context of potential benefits for reproductive success in both sexes due to the lower male sociosexuality.
When men appear smaller or larger than they really are: preliminary evidence that women are fooled by size illusions in attractiveness judgment tasks
Authors: Ludwig Yannick S. , Pollet Thomas V.
Published: December 2014

In humans, studies have shown that contrast illusions can affect perceptions of facial attractiveness and dominance. In non-human animals, recent research found that contrast illusions of size positively affected male mate value. In humans, male height is a potentially important indicator of mate value, with women preferring men taller than themselves. We tested in two studies whether height contrast illusions could affect women’s perceptions of male height and mate value, particularly attractiveness, dominance, and muscularity. Using computer-generated images of men of different heights standing in groups of three, 104 female participants rated targets either surrounded by shorter, same height, or taller distractors in a within-subject design. The second experiment (N=80) replicated and extended the first by making the images more realistic and adding natural backgrounds, suggesting that when participants are given a visual anchor, in order to get a better sense of the absolute height of the targets, the effects remain. In both studies, results showed that, compared with same height distractors, male targets were rated as taller when surrounded by shorter distractors, and as shorter when surrounded by taller distractors. Additionally, attractiveness, dominance, and muscularity perceptions were affected in a similar manner, with most of the differences in these appraisals being mediated by the perceived height differences. Therefore, differently sized distractors affected the perceived height and mate value of the targets, which were in effect all of the same constant size. These findings indicate that context dependent effects could potentially influence attractiveness judgments. The same man might thus be perceived as more attractive when surrounded by men of similar or smaller height, as opposed to when surrounded by men who are taller.
Temperature Relations of Selected Engine Oils Dynamic Viscosity
Authors: Hlaváč Peter , Božiková Monika , Presová Radmila
Published: December 2014

This article focuses on temperature relations of dynamic viscosity for selected engine oils. The effect of temperature on new and used oil dynamic viscosity was investigated. Measurements were performed on three different motor oil samples. All the three motor oil samples were synthetic. The first oil sample was new, the second sample was used for 15,000 km, and the third sample was used for 30,000 km. There were made two measurements of samples in one week. Dynamic viscosity was measured using a digital rotational viscometer Anton Paar DV-3P. The principle of measurement is based on the dependence of sample resistance to probe rotation. The results of measurements are shown as graphical relationships between dynamic viscosity and temperature. Decreasing exponential functions in temperature relationships were used for all the samples. The highest difference between the first and second measurement was observed in the new oil, and very small differences were found in other oils. Due to different types of oils and different stage of usage, the results could not be compared.
Study on toxic metal levels in commercial marine organisms from Romanian market
Authors: Amariei Sonia , Gutt Gheorghe , Oroian Mircea , Bodnar Alexandra
Published: December 2014

The goal of this study was to analyze the content of heavy metals in fish, shellfish, molluscs cephalopods on the Romanian market. We have analyzed heavy metals traces in sixteen marine organisms species. Analyses of heavy metal traces were done with mass spectrometer with inductively coupled plasma- ICP-MS, Agilent Technologies 7500 Series. Among the elements identified it was analyzed the content of Cd, Hg, Pb, metals with high toxicity to the human body, and the obtained values were interpreted in accordance with Commission Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 concerning the maximum allowable quantity per kg wet product and Provisional Tolerated Weekly Intake (PTWI) established by the Joint Committee experts WHO / FAO. The risk assessment performed indicated that marine organisms were safe for the consumer except the four species that cadmium content may be exceeded for a regular or excessive consumption.
Prediction of products yield at the thermal cracking of vegetable oil
Authors: Cioroiu Doinita Roxana , Koncsag Claudia Irina
Published: December 2014

According to previous studies on the pyrolysis of vegetable oils, it resulted that the thermal cracking process is prone to produce large yields of ethylene, propylene, hydrogen and methane, comparable with the gas proceeding from the steam cracking of naphtha, but at much lower process temperature, this ensuring important energy savings. The studies are performed on very different raw materials and different reaction conditions, that being why at this moment it is very difficult to predict the products yield. This paper uses an analytical semiempirical model (ASEM) developed at the University of Florida, by applying it to a different raw material. The ASEM model fits very well to our experimental data, obtained at higher temperature but some parameters have to be adjusted. In the end we confirm a set of systemic parameters to be used for the prediction of main products yield proceeding from vegetable oil in an extended range of temperatures.
Functional Textiles – From Research and Development to Innovations and Industrial Uptake
Authors: Kiekens Paul , Van der Burght Els , Kny Erich , Uyar Tamer , Milašius Rimvydas
Published: December 2014

Functional textiles are one of the most important fields in textile industry and textile materials science. They include breathable, heat and cold-resistant materials, ultra-strong fabrics (e.g. as reinforcement for composites), new flameretardant fabrics (e.g. intumescent materials), optimisation of textile fabrics for acoustic properties, etc. Functional textiles became more and more important materials for various applications and interest in them grew year by year; and more and more conferences are focused on functional textiles, as well as the events which are not only textile conferences but encompass various fields of Material Science. This paper presents a short overview about the European Materials Research Society 2014 Fall meeting conference Symposium M “Functional textiles - from research and development to innovations and industrial uptake” and the projects which participated as symposium co-organisers: the European Coordination Action 2BFUNTEX funded by the EC 7th Framework Programme NMP, the COST Action MP1105 on “Sustainable flame retardancy for textiles and related materials based on nanoparticles substituting conventional chemicals (FLARETEX)” and the COST Action MP1206 on “Electrospun Nano-fibres for bio inspired composite materials and innovative industrial applications”.
An alternative methodology for imputing missing data in trials with genotype-by-environment interaction: some new aspects
Authors: Arciniegas-Alarcón Sergio , García-Peña Marisol , Krzanowski Wojtek Janusz , Santos Dias Carlos Tadeu dos
Published: December 2014

A common problem in multi-environment trials arises when some genotypeby- environment combinations are missing. In Arciniegas-Alarcón et al. (2010) we outlined a method of data imputation to estimate the missing values, the computational algorithm for which was a mixture of regression and lower-rank approximation of a matrix based on its singular value decomposition (SVD). In the present paper we provide two extensions to this methodology, by including weights chosen by cross-validation and allowing multiple as well as simple imputation. The three methods are assessed and compared in a simulation study, using a complete set of real data in which values are deleted randomly at different rates. The quality of the imputations is evaluated using three measures: the Procrustes statistic, the squared correlation between matrices and the normalised root mean squared error between these estimates and the true observed values. None of the methods makes any distributional or structural assumptions, and all of them can be used for any pattern or mechanism of the missing values.
Presence of specific antibodies and proviral DNA of small ruminant lentiviruses in lambs in their first weeks of life
Authors: Olech Monika , Kubiś Piotr , Lipecka Czesława , Junkuszew Andrzej , Gruszecki Tomasz M. , Kuźmak Jacek
Published: December 2014

The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of proviral DNA and colostral antibodies in lambs born to and fed by ewes infected with small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLV). It was demonstrated that all 20 lambs tested 24 h after colostrum ingestion were serologically positive with high antibody titres. These gradually decreased with time, and at week 12 all lambs were seronegative. Twenty percent of lambs tested at the 2nd week postpartum were provirus positive by qPCR as a result of consumption of infected colostrum or in utero infection. When tested at three months of life, 95% of the lambs were provirus positive, probably as a result of horizontal transmission of the virus. Since these animals could play an important role in the early propagation of SRLV to susceptible herdmates, early removal of provirus-positive animals could help to prevent new infections.