bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Carbon sequestration potential of nitrogen-fixing tree stands
Authors: Sheikh Mehraj Ahamd , Kumar Munesh , Todaria Nagendra Prasad
Published: May 2018

We compared the C storage of two nitrogen-fixing trees in mixed and monospecific plantations to investigate the C sequestration potential after 10 years of their establishment. The study was carried out in three types of plantation, Dalbergia sissoo Roxb. ex DC. pure (P1DS), Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit pure (P2LL) and mixed plantation of D. sissoo and L. leucocephala (P3DS.LL). The results of the study indicated that, P3DS.LL sequestered 34.30 ± 0.24 t yr-1 ha-1 CO2 compared to 27.35 ± 0.19 t yr-1 ha-1 in P1DS and 19.81 ± 0.44 t yr-1 ha-1 in P2LL. Total carbon storage was also maximum in P3DS.LL (93.47 ± 0.67 t ha-1) followed by P1DS (74.54 ± 0.53 t ha-1) and P2LL (53.98 ± 1.21 t ha-1). This indicates that L. leucocephala has synergetic effect with D. sissoo to enhance the carbon sequestration potential when interplanted together. The study revealed that mixed plantation of N-fixer trees have potential to sequester more carbon than same species in monoculture. The study concluded that in reforestation or afforestation program the synergic effect of N-fixer trees can be helpful projects to offset more C emissions.
The influence of forest management and timber use options on carbon sequestration and the consequences on biodiversity
Authors: Rosenvald Raul , Rosenvald Katrin
Published: May 2018

The results of scientific studies dealing with the influence of forest management on carbon dynamics are often controversial. Substituting fossil fuels with wood is not always a climate-friendly solution, and besides, it has often a negative impact on biodiversity. The current paper reviews the literature about the influence of different forest management and timber use options on climate change and brings out the accompanying consequences on biodiversity in temperate and boreal climate zones. The forest’s ability to sequestrate and store carbon can be enlarged by appropriate forest management planning and practices. Generally, for mitigation of climate change, the moderate (not intensive) forest management is most favourable, but intensification of management enhances global warming, since forest carbon storage in tree biomass and soil decreases. The mitigation of climate change is just one of the many roles of forest, and climate policy actions cannot come at the expense of species diversity. The complex studies dealing with several forest goals conclude that high carbon store and biodiversity protection do not contradict each other, but the achievement of maximum economic profit at the same time is not possible. The mitigation of climate change and wildlife protection is most effective when it is first of all the forests with a high biodiversity that are managed less intensively. Concerning climate change, the most negative forest biomass use is wood combustion. It is reasonable to burn only such biomass (cut and industrial residues) which cannot be used for producing goods holding carbon for a long time.
Rat Spinal Cord Injury Experimental Model
Authors: Šulla I. , Balik V. , Petrovičová J. , Almášiová V. , Holovská K. , Oroszová Z.
Published: May 2018

Spinal cord injuries (SCI) with their tragic consequences belong to the most serious pathological conditions. That is why they have stimulated basic research workers, as well as health care practitioners, to search for an effective treatment for decades. Animal experimental models have been essential in these efforts. We have jointly decided to test and standardize one of the spinal cord injury compression models in rats. Twentythree adult female Wistar rats weighing 250-320 g were utilized. Employing general anaesthesia along with a mixture of sevoflurane with O2, 2 rats (sham controls) had their vertebral arch of either Th8 or Th9 vertebra removed (laminectomy). The other 21 experimental rats with similar laminectomies were divided into 3 subgroups (n = 7) which received compression impact forces of 30, 40 or 50 g (subgroups-1, -2, and -3, respectively) applied on their exposed spinal medulla for 15 minutes. All rats were observed for 28 days after the experimental procedure and their motor functions were assessed by the Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan (BBB) test 6 hours, 7, 21 and 28 days after the simulated SCI. All 23 rats survived the surgical procedures. The control rats were without any neurological deficits. There were, in every experimental subgroup, 1 or 2 rats with extreme BBB scores. So the rats with the maximum and minimum BBB values were excluded. Then, the results acquired in the residual 5 rats in each group were averaged and statistically analysed by the Tukey multiple comparisons test. Statistically significant intersubgroup differences were found at all survival times equal to or longer than 7 post SCI days. The goal of the SCI experiment was to generate a reproducible and reliable, submaximal spinal cord trauma model. The statistical analyses demonstrated that this objective was best achieved in the subgroup-2 with the 40 g compression.
Water quality in hard rocks of the Karkonosze National Park (Western Sudetes, SW Poland)
Authors: Marszałek Henryk , Rysiukiewicz Michał
Published: May 2018

Long-term regional emissions of air pollutants in the second half of the twentieth century led to strong changes in the quality of surface and groundwater in the Karkonosze Mts. As a result, in the most valuable natural parts of these mountains, protected in the area of the Karkonosze National Park, there was strong deforestation, which assumed the size of an ecological disaster. The various protective activities introduced at the beginning of the 1990s led to the improvement not only of the water quality, but also other ecosystems. Based on the chemical analyses of water sampled in 40 points located in the whole Park, the current state of water quality was assessed. Concentrations of some microelements were higher only in few points compared to the drinking water quality standards, which indicates a significant improvement in water quality.
Determination of Transmission Coefficient for the Filtration Deposit Made of Coal Grains
Authors: Piecuch Tadeusz , Piekarski Jacek , Gajewski Łukasz
Published: May 2018

The study presents the method of determining constant coefficient b2, occurring in general filtration equation (1), in the second part of the denominator, that is in the expression for deposit resistance

In the considerations, lack of the deposit’s compressibility was assumed, which means that the deposit porosity is constant. With such an assumption, constant coefficient b2 is equivalent with transmission coefficient, which occurs in commonly known and accepted equation – as the baseline equation – for fluid flow through a porous layer according to Darcy (Piecuch 2009, 2010).

This study is another publication in the cycle of basic tests of the filtration process which constitute next publications of the authors, published in Rocznik Ochrona Środowiska [Annual Set the Environmental Protection] as well as in the magazine Gospodarka Surowcami Mineralnymi [Mineral Resources Management], to which the reader interested in these problems can refer.

Another study will be the publication discussing the filtration process with the creation of sediment on the filtration deposit, hence in the general filtration equation (1) the value of sediment resistance RO will appear in the denominator.

Relevant cycle of publications will study the possibilities of use of gravitational deposit filters in which the porous deposit will be the set of coal grains, while the fed mixture will also be the post-production suspension of coal grains.
The association between values and performance in a mining corporation. Empirical study and insights for Managing by Values (MBV) model
Authors: Zbieg Anita , Kudełko Jan , Juzyk Agata , Zaremba Leszek
Published: May 2018

The paper presents result of an empirical study in which presence of values among workers of two mining squads characterized by different level of work performance has been compared. Values have been measured by two scales: Mining Values Scale (MVS) and Organizational Culture Assessment Instrument (OCAI). The squad with higher performance had significantly higher level of five out of nine values measured by (MVS); while none of the values measured by OCAI have been differentiating the squads with a statistical significance. The results suggest that Managing by Values (MBV) model for a mining corporation should rather be based on values specific for the mining industry rather than general management value set proposed by OCAI. Research results suggest also an association between presence of certain values and work satisfaction among workers.
Reclamation Of Plant Wastes (Straw) And Obtaining (Nano) Chips With Bactericidal Properties Based On Them
Authors: Leonidovna Voropaeva Nadezda , Mukhin Viktor Mikhailovich , Anatolyevna Revina Alexandra , Alekseevich Busev Sergey , Vladimirovich Karpachev Vladimir
Published: May 2018

Rape, camelina, wheat and Jerusalem artichoke vegetable wastes (straw) as annually renewable raw materials were processed into activated carbons, which were modified with silver nanoparticles for carbonaceous sorbents to acquire specific properties, since carbonaceous sorbents are usually widely used in the food industry, agriculture, medicine and other fields of human activity. The technology to obtain active carbons from agricultural crop residues has been developed, active carbon physico-chemical and adsorption properties, textural characteristics have been studied, new functional carbon (nano) materials with antibacterial activity containing (nano) particles of silver have been obtained, their influence within (nano) chip composition on rape crop growth, development and yield has been studied. In the conducted field tests, the highest activity was noted when using the (nano) chip whose structure included RAC - camelina and silver nanoparticles. Besides, when nano chips are used for seed treatment, the yield increase makes up 11.6 % for nanoparticles containing Ag, for plant active carbons (PAC) (rape) with Ag this index makes up 28.1 %, for RAC (Camelina) with Ag it makes up 55.8 % (compared to the control variant), which can be explained by the differences in the sorption characteristics of the studied radio activated carbons. Our results and the previous studies of other authors can prove the fact that silver nanoparticles (including those being a part of (nano) chips) “get” into the biochemical processes and have a pronounced phytostimulating effect on plants, which was especially obvious when suppressing the activity of plant pathogenic microflora by silver nanoparticles.
Occurrence of pathogenic and endophytic fungi and their influence on quality of medicinal plants applied in management of neurological diseases and mental disorders
Authors: Wielgusz Katarzyna , Irzykowska Lidia
Published: May 2018

Due to increasing demand of medicinal plants (MPs), quality and safety more attention to the plant health should be paid. Among herb pathogens, especially fungi cause serious diseases in these plants decreasing yield and quality of herbal raw material. Some species, i.e. Fusarium sp., Alternaria sp., Penicillium sp. are known as mycotoxin producers. Paradoxically, self-treatment with herbal raw material can expose the patient to mycotoxin activity. In tissues of some MPs species, asymptomatically endophytic fungi residue. It is known that they are able to influence a biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in their host plant or produce biologically active compounds. Until recently these microorganisms have been neglected as a component of MPs, the reason why there have unexplored bioactivity and biodiversity. The paper presents an overview of herbal plants that are used in the treatment of nervous system diseases. Pathogenic fungi that infect these plants are described. It focused mainly on species producing harmful mycotoxins. The publication presents a list of these mycotoxins and a brief description of their effects on human health. The second part of this article provides information on the occurrence of endophytic fungi in herbal plants and their effects on human health. Coexistence of fungi and medicinal plants is not fully understood but can be crucial to ensure health and safety of patients with neurological diseases and mental disorders.
Scapula Kinematics of Youth Baseball Players
Authors: Oliver Gretchen , Weimar Wendi
Published: May 2018

Literature has revealed the importance of quantifying resting scapular posture in overhead athletes as well as quantifying scapular kinematics during dynamic movement. Prior to this project much of the attention in throwing research had been focused on the position of the humerus without description of the positioning of the scapula. Therefore, it was the purpose of this study to present scapular kinematics during pitching in youth baseball players. Twenty-five youth baseball players (age 11.3 + 1.0 years; body height 152.4 + 9.0 cm; body mass 47.5 + 11.3 kg), with no history of injury, participated in the study. Scapular kinematics at the events of maximum humeral external rotation (MER) and maximum humeral internal rotation (MIR) during the pitching motion were assessed three-dimensionally while pitching fastballs for strikes. Results revealed that at the event of MER, the scapula was in a position of retraction, upward rotation and a posterior tilt. While at the event of MIR, the scapula was protracted, upward rotated and tilted anteriorly.
Interaction Between Leg Muscle Performance and Sprint Acceleration Kinematics
Authors: Lockie Robert G. , Jalilvand Farzad , Callaghan Samuel J. , Jeffriess Matthew D. , Murphy Aron J.
Published: May 2018

This study investigated relationships between 10 m sprint acceleration, step kinematics (step length and frequency, contact and flight time), and leg muscle performance (power, stiffness, strength). Twenty-eight field sport athletes completed 10 m sprints that were timed and filmed. Velocity and step kinematics were measured for the 0-5, 5-10, and 0-10 m intervals to assess acceleration. Leg power was measured via countermovement jumps (CMJ), a fivebound test (5BT), and the reactive strength index (RSI) defined by 40 cm drop jumps. Leg stiffness was measured by bilateral and unilateral hopping. A three-repetition maximum squat determined strength. Pearson’s correlations and stepwise regression (p ≤ 0.05) determined velocity, step kinematics, and leg muscle performance relationships. CMJ height correlated with and predicted velocity in all intervals (r = 0.40-0.54). The 5BT (5-10 and 0-10 m intervals) and RSI (5-10 m interval) also related to velocity (r = 0.37-0.47). Leg stiffness did not correlate with acceleration kinematics. Greater leg strength related to and predicted lower 0-5 m flight times (r = -0.46 to -0.51), and a longer 0-10 m step length (r = 0.38). Although results supported research emphasizing the value of leg power and strength for acceleration, the correlations and predictive relationships (r2 = 0.14-0.29) tended to be low, which highlights the complex interaction between sprint technique and leg muscle performance. Nonetheless, given the established relationships between speed, leg power and strength, strength and conditioning coaches should ensure these qualities are expressed during acceleration in field sport athletes.
Acute Physiological and Thermoregulatory Responses to Extended Interval Training in Endurance Runners: Influence of Athletic Performance and Age
Authors: García-Pinillos Felipe , Soto-Hermoso Víctor Manuel , Latorre-Román Pedro Ángel
Published: May 2018

This study aimed to describe the acute impact of extended interval training (EIT) on physiological and thermoregulatory levels, as well as to determine the influence of athletic performance and age effect on the aforementioned response in endurance runners. Thirty-one experienced recreational male endurance runners voluntarily participated in this study. Subjects performed EIT on an outdoor running track, which consisted of 12 runs of 400 m. The rate of perceived exertion, physiological response through the peak and recovery heart rate, blood lactate, and thermoregulatory response through tympanic temperature, were controlled. A repeated measures analysis revealed significant differences throughout EIT in examined variables. Cluster analysis grouped according to the average performance in 400 m runs led to distinguish between athletes with a higher and lower sports level. Cluster analysis was also performed according to age, obtaining an older group and a younger group. The one-way analysis of variance between groups revealed no significant differences (p≥0.05) in the response to EIT. The results provide a detailed description of physiological and thermoregulatory responses to EIT in experienced endurance runners. This allows a better understanding of the impact of a common training stimulus on the physiological level inducing greater accuracy in the training prescription. Moreover, despite the differences in athletic performance or age, the acute physiological and thermoregulatory responses in endurance runners were similar, as long as EIT was performed at similar relative intensity.
The Effects of in-Season Repeated Sprint Training Compared to Regular Soccer Training
Authors: Solberg Nedrehagen Eirik , Hole Saeterbakken Atle
Published: May 2018

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of repeated sprints (RSA) training and regular soccer training on Yo-Yo IR-1 and RSA performance (6 × 40 m shuttle sprints). Thirteen semi-professional female soccer players and nine amateur male soccer players were randomised into a repeated sprint group (RSG; n = 12) or a regular soccer training group (STG; n = 10). The RSG soccer players executed 3-4 sets of 4-6 repeated sprints (30 m with 180° directional changes) weekly during the last eight weeks of the in-season. In parallel, the STG soccer players performed low- to moderate intensity soccer training in form of technical or tactical skills. The RSG showed 15% improvement in Yo-Yo IR-1 (p = 0.04; ES = 1.83) and their mean RSA times were reduced by 1.5% (p = 0.02; ES = 0.89). No significant changes were found for the STG (Yo-Yo IR-1, p = 0.13; RSA, p = 0.49). Comparing the groups, greater improvements were observed in Yo-Yo IR-1 for the RSG (p = 0.02; ES = 1.15), but not for the RSA (p = 0.23; ES = -0.33). Similar training volumes and intensities (% of HFmax) were observed between the groups (p = 0.22 and p = 0.79). In conclusion, a weekly RSA session integrated into a regular soccer regime improved in-season RSA and Yo-Yo IR-1 performance compared to regular soccer training.
Personality Traits and Susceptibility to Behavioral Biases among a Sample of Polish Stock Market Investors
Authors: Rzeszutek Marcin
Published: May 2018

The aim of this paper is to investigate whether susceptibility to selected behavioral biases (overconfidence, mental accounting and sunk-cost fallacy) is correlated with the Eysenck’s [1978] personality traits (impulsivity, venturesomeness, and empathy). This study was conducted on a sample of 90 retail investors frequently investing on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. Participants filled out a survey made up of two parts: 1) three situational exercises, which assessed susceptibility to behavioral biases and 2) an Impulsiveness Questionnaire, which measures impulsivity, venturesomeness, and empathy. The results demonstrated the relationship between venturesomeness and susceptibility to all behavioral biases explored in this study. We find that higher level of venturesomeness was linked with a lower probability of all behavioral biases included in this study.
Generation Gap Management in Restructured Metallurgical Enterprises in Poland
Authors: Gajdzik Bożena , Szymszal Jan
Published: May 2018

This paper concerns the problem of generation gap management resulting from personnel restructuring in foundries in Poland. Structural changes to steelworks led to a sharp decline in employment caused by decreased steelworks production. New hiring was limited as a part of employment rationalisation in the steelworks sector. Such personnel policy eventually led to a generation gap. Ratios between individual age groups of employees are imbalanced at steelworks: the numbers of young personnel are low and of those aged 50+ are high. This research forecasts changes in employment levels for the 2013-2019 period, aimed at closing the generation gap. The paper consists of three parts: (1) a descriptive analysis of labor market demographics in Poland’s steel industry; (2) proposed methodology for HR management model, and (3) econometric models forecasting labor demographics in Poland’s steel industry.
How can the process of postnatal adaptation be changed by the presence of congenital abnormalities of lip and palate
Authors: Brucknerová Ingrid , Dubovický Michal , Ujházy Eduard
Published: May 2018

Despite modern approaches in molecular biology and genetics, we are still not able to identify the actual cause in more than 50% of all congenital defects. One-half of the unidentified cases is referred to as “multifactorial”. Detailed prenatal investigation of the fetus can discover the presence of congenital abnormality, which can worsen the process of postnatal adaptation. Retrospective analysis of newborns admitted to the Neonatal Department of Intensive Medicine (NDIM) in 2012-2016 with the aim to analyze how the process of postnatal adaptation can be changed by the presence of congenital abnormalities of lip and palate. During a five-year period, 13 newborns were admitted to NDIM (2 premature; 11 term newborns). Chromosomal abnormality was confirmed in one patient (Down syndrome) and in one patient suspicion of Patau syndrome was found. Twelve newborns had complete cheilognathopalatoschisis. Two premature newborns and two term newborns had perinatal asphyxia. In this group of patients, 33% had respiratory insufficiency without the presence of congenital heart abnormality, 66% had congenital heart abnormality with respiratory insufficiency, and 2 patients had feeding problems. Only one patient had a positive family history. The diagnosis of complete cheilognathopalatoschisis was confirmed prenatally only in 9 patients. We confirmed that clinical consequences of congenital abnormalities of lip and palate depend on the nature, localization and range of abnormalities, as well as on the genetic background and accompanying congenital abnormalities. Prenatal confirmation of the presence of congenital abnormalities has an important influence on the postnatal management of a patient.
Processing Astronomical Image Mosaic Workflows With An Expert Broker In Cloud Computing
Authors: De Prado Rocío Pérez , García-Galán Sebastián , Expósito José Enrique Munoz , López Luis Ramón López , Reche Rafael Rodríguez
Published: May 2018

Montage image engine is an astronomical tool created by NASA’s Earth Sciences Technology Office to obtain mosaics of the sky by the processing of multiple images from diverse regions. The associated computational processes involve the recalculation of the images geometry, the re-projection of the rotation and scale, the homogenization of the background emission and the combination of all images in a standardized format to show a final mosaic. These processes are highly computing demanding and structured in the form of workflows. A workflow is a set of individual jobs that allow the parallelization of the workload to be executed in distributed systems and thus, to reduce its finish time. Cloud computing is a distributed computing platform based on the provision of computing resources in the form of services becoming more and more required to perform large scale simulations in many science applications. Nevertheless, a computational cloud is a dynamic environment where resources capabilities can change on the fly depending on the networks demands. Therefore, flexible strategies to distribute workload among the different resources are necessary. In this work, the consideration of fuzzy rule-based systems as local brokers in cloud computing is proposed to speed up the execution of the Montage workflows. Simulations of the expert broker using synthetic workflows obtained from real systems considering diverse sets of jobs are conducted. Results show that the proposal is able to significantly reduce makespan in comparison to well-known scheduling strategies in distributed systems and in this way, to offer an efficient solution to accelerate the processing of astronomical image mosaic workflows.
E-Braille Documents: Novel Method For Error Free Generation
Authors: Wajid Mohd , Kumar Vinay
Published: May 2018

Present manuscript proposes a technique for estimating the angle of rotation for a Braille document image which in turn will be used for aiding its automatic character recognition. The technique is based on maximizing number of null projection of the derived image vector. Results show that any amount of rotation transformed distortion can be nullified and thus leading to proper reading of imprinted Braille character pattern. The proposed methods have been successfully tested on manually written as well as computer generated Braille with rotation distortion.
Land Map Image Dataset: Ground-Truth And Classification Using Visual And Textural Features
Authors: Mandal Sayan , Biswas Samit , Das Amit Kumar , Chanda Bhabatosh
Published: May 2018

Research on document image analysis is actively pursued in the last few decades and services like OCR, vectorization of drawings/graphics and various types of form processing are very common. Handwritten documents, old historical documents and documents captured through camera are now being the subjects of active research. However, another very important type of paper document, namely the map document image processing research suffers due to the inherent complexities of the map document and also for nonavailability of benchmark public data-sets. This paper presents a new data-set, namely, the Land Map Image Database (LMIDb) that consists of a variety of land maps images (446 images at present and growing; scanned at 200/300 dpi in TIF format) and the corresponding ground-truth. Using semiautomatic tools non-text part of the images are deleted and the text-only ground-truth is also kept in the database. This paper also presents a classification strategy for map images using which the maps in the database are automatically classified into Political (Po), Physical (Ph), Resource (R) and Topographic (T) maps. The automatic classification of maps help indexing of the images in LMIDb for archival and easy retrieval of the right maps to get the appropriate geographical information. Classification accuracy is also tested on the proposed data-set and the result is encouraging.
Erratum
Authors: Mares Miroslav
Published: May 2018

Erratum to Strategies of Islamist Extremism in Europe Miroslav Mares  Vol. 17 No. 1 (2015): Varieties of Contemporary Radical Politics
ISO 9126 Based Quality Assessment Approach for e-Learning System
Authors: Trichkova Elisaveta
Published: May 2018

The aim of this paper is improving the information processes in a software system based on the solutions of optimization problems satisfying the requirements of the established world standard for quality assessment. Potential for improvement is based on real e-learning system in the field of medicine. Quantitative evaluation of system parameters and processes by using quality assessment approach based on ISO 9126 standard is illustrated. Results of solution of two optimization problems about quality standard criteria and their comparison is presented. Obtained solutions are given graphically and by radar diagram.
Numerical solution of nonlinear system of integro-differential equations using Chebyshev wavelets
Authors: Aminikhah H. , Hosseini S.
Published: May 2018

This paper introduces an approach for obtaining the numerical solution of the linear and nonlinear integro-differential equations using Chebyshev wavelets approximations. Illustrative examples have been discussed to demonstrate the validity and applicability of the technique and the results have been compared with the exact solution. Comparison of the approximate solution with exact solution shows that the used method is effectiveness and practical for classes of linear and nonlinear system of integro-differential equations.
The Global Crisis of the Late 2000s and Currency Substitution: A Study of Three Eastern European Economies Russia, Turkey and Ukraine
Authors: Akalin Gurkan I. , Prater Edmund L.
Published: May 2018

For the last two decades, most of Eastern European countries moved towards open economies, including Baltic Countries, Ukraine and Russia. Some of these countries adopted the euro such as the case of Montenegro in 2002, Slovakia in 2009, Estonia in 2011, and finally Latvia in 2014. Adoption of the new currency helped these countries further integrate into a larger market, the Eurozone, and stabilize their economies against heavily fluctuating exchange rates. The governments of Ukraine and Russia, on the other hand, did not show interest to join the Eurozone and followed more independent currency policies along with the limited economic liberalization during the period of the 90s and the early 2000s. Similarly, Turkey, not a former Eastern Bloc country, but located geographically very close to these two countries did not peg its currency to the euro or the US dollar. All of these three economies in Eastern Europe had multiple deep financial crises, inflation, devaluations, and weak governments in the last two decades of the 90s and the 2000s (Lissovolik, 2003). For instance, Turkish lira depreciated from 13 TL/$ in 1973 to 1.5 million TL/$ in 2004 (Bahmani-Oskooee, 1996). As a result, of these negative experiences, local people of these countries developed a tendency to keep at least a portion of their savings in a foreign currency (Civcir, 2003). In the case of Turkey, the ratio of reserves held in the foreign currency over the local currency, which is a de facto measure of US dollarization, showed a steady rise during the period from 1983 to 1993, remained steady high around 50% until 2001 and decreased afterwards (Metin-Özcan, 2009). In short, these countries are examples of highly US dollarized countries (Havrylyshyn & Beddies, 2003; Kaplan, 2008).

This paper is to investigate the changes in the currency substitution during and after the global financial crisis between 2007 and 2010 in Russia, Turkey and Ukraine. These three countries with large economies, recent strong US dollarization experience in the last two decades, and relatively open markets, provide good cases for understanding the global trend in the currency substitution and the status of the US dollar as a reserve currency
General considerations on the enforcement (application) of law
Authors: Berlingher Remus Daniel , Sabau Georgeta Valeria
Published: May 2018

Law is a system of norms developed and/or recognized by the state as norms guiding human behaviour according to the values of that particular society, establishing rights and obligations, principles and definitions, structures and relationships of social organization and activity that must be obeyed and which, when necessary, are insured by the coercive force of the state. Thus, the development of this system of norms is not an end in itself, but is intended to regulate all social relations, guide human behaviours and achieve the aims of the law. The enforcement of law is the process of translating legal rules into practice, through which the subjects of law obey and execute legal norms, and state authorities apply them, depending on their competence. The enforcement of law depends on a number of factors that shape law, such as its natural framework of existence, the historical context and the ethnic and national particularities of that community’s development, the economic factor or framework, the framework and particularities of the political system, the cultural-ideological framework or factor, the international framework or factor, etc.
Performance Level Validation of the Machinery Control System / Walidacja Poziomu Zapewnienia Bezpieczeństwa Przez Systemy Sterowania Maszynami
Authors: Dźwiarek Marek
Published: May 2018

An important role among protective means play the elements of control systems performing safety functions. When the validation process of a safety performance level(PL) achieved by those systems is conducted properly one can draw the conclusion that any defect appearing in those systems would not cause the loss of safety functions. The paper presents formalized validation of the PL procedures for different categories and PL’s for introducing into the computer program which makes more efficient all the operations involved into the validation and documentation processes of safety performance level achieved by machine control systems.
Analysis of Network Traffic Filtering / Analiza Filtracji Ruchu Sieciowego
Authors: Kabala Piotr , Laskowski Dariusz
Published: May 2018

The article consist of study on concept of Network Obstacle (firewall, FW) using PLD-Linux platform and available tools, implementation selected mechanism of security, also analysis the effectiveness of prepared Network Obstacle. Study on concept of Network Obstacle is based on Screened Subnet architecture. Testing effectiveness of network Obstacle was found in two fundamental parts. In the first part was examining the security of network obstacle, testing the resistance attempts of scanning port and the most common attacks. The second part of the research meant to show the influence of the Network Obstacle on time and delay of the realization of transaction for HTTP movement depending on level of the security and movement intensity generated by internal network users. Testing the effectiveness of FW was verify by testing the resistance in an attempt of scanning ports and attacks refusal of service (ICMP, SYN Flood), providing base of dispersed attacks DDoS. This part of the research had one aim, to show the influence FW on time and on delay of the realization the transaction for motion HTTP, depending on the security level and intensity of movement generated by the users of the internal network.
A System to Measure Service Loads that Affect the SU-22UM3k Structure / System Do Pomiaru Obciążeń Eksploatacyjnych w Elementach Struktury Samolotu SU-22UM3k
Authors: Nowakowski Mirosław , Jakielaszek Zbigniew
Published: May 2018

Instytut Techniczny Wojsk Lotniczych has for years been engaged in research and development (R&D) aimed at the determination of wear-and-tear level that particular aircraft suffer from. The paper has been intended to present an innovative measuring-and-recording system to collect information on service loads that arise in structural components of the Su-22UM3K aircraft. Research work into loads in some selected structural components of the Su-22UM3K has been carried out with the KAM-500 measuring system applied. Modular design has been used to develop the system. This, in turn, allows of changes in the system’s configuration, according to what a measuring task requires. The flight testing of loads has covered items of tasks included in the flying training program for the Su- 22UM3K to collect/deliver data on an actual service profile and to determine representative strain-gauge measuring channels to be utilized in further aircraft’s service.
The Method of Evaluation Degree of Changes Confidentiality Attribute of Information Asset Inside ICT System / Metoda Oceny Stopnia Zmian Atrybutu Poufności Zasobu Informacyjnego w Systemie Teleinformatycznym
Authors: Szleszyński Artur
Published: May 2018

The work presents the proposition of inference system that evaluates the possibility of information confidentiality attribute violation. Crisp and fuzzy variables have been defined. Values of output variables from fuzzy logic system have been presented. The way of counting the modified value of information confidentiality attribute has been described.
Issues Regarding Information Safety in Digital Network of Railway Radio Communications / Zagadnienia Bezpieczeństwa Informacyjnego w Sieci Cyfrowej Radiołączności Kolejowej
Authors: Siergiejczyk Mirosław
Published: May 2018

In this paper there are presented both architecture and more important functions and range of services of GSM-R (Global System for Mobile Communication - Rail). GSM-R is used for management and signaling support in railway transport. Particular attention was drawn to selected issues of IT and mobile security of services provided by GSM-R.
Analysis of a Selected Transport System Opertion Efficiency With the Use of Semi-Markov Model / Efektywnościowa Analiza Jakości Działania Wybranego Systemu Transportowego Z Zastosowaniem Modelu Semi-Markowa
Authors: Muślewski Łukasz , Lewalski Michał , Migawa Klaudiusz
Published: May 2018

This study deals with the problems connected with quality assurance for transport systems operation. The research was performed using data from a real transport system. The concept of a system operation quality was defined on the basis of which a schematic assessment model was developed and a random process was described to be used for its evaluation. Qualitative states of a system operation reflecting value ranges of the obtained evaluations in given times were identified in result of the experimental tests performed as part of the research. A model of a system operation efficiency evaluation was developed for the analyzed technical objects with the use of semi-Markov theory.
Possibilities Concerning Diagnosis of the SSP-FK Aircraft Fire Suppression System in Terms of Determination of Reasons for False Fire Alarms / Możliwości Diagnozowania Lotniczego Systemu Przeciwpożarowego SSP-FK w Aspekcie Określania Przyczyn Fałszywego Sygnalizowania Pożaru
Authors: Szelmanowski Andrzej , Borowski Jerzy , Głyda Krzysztof
Published: May 2018

The paper presents selected results of work at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) in the scope of testing of the SSP-FK fire suppression system used on many types of military aircraft operating in the Polish Armed Forces. For the purpose of determining conditions for false fire alarms, SSP-FK simulation models have been developed. The study was carried out on simulation models in Matlab-Simulink and Circuit-Maker packages. Results of this work have been used for diagnosis of the SSP-FK system during a test of real cases of false activation of these devices.
Unmanned Surface And Undersea Vehicles: Capabilities And Potential
Authors: Dobref Vasile , Tărăbuţă Octavian , Clinci Cătălin-Paul
Published: May 2018

This paper proposes a new technological solution for the sea observation using an Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) or Unmanned Undersea Vehicles (UUV). The term USV refers to any vehicle that operates on the surface of the water without a crew. USVs have the potential, and in some cases the demonstrated ability, to reduce risk to manned forces, provide the necessary force multiplication to accomplish military missions, perform tasks which manned vehicles cannot, and do so in a way that is affordable for the navy. In this paper we examine the use of unmanned vehicles (USV and UUV) which can replace the manned sea patrol system with additional sensors and high performance communication systems in future.
Romanian Public-Funded Research And Development Activities In The Space Sector
Authors: Toncea Nicolae-Mihail , Stan Andrei , Cristea Octavian
Published: May 2018

Romania achieved full membership within ESA (European Space Agency) in 2011 and is actually involved in several European flagship space programmes. The “National Strategy for Space and Related Fields” is a strategic project funded through the Romanian Space Technology and Advanced Research Program (STAR), which is implemented by a consortium coordinated by IAROM S.A. One of the project goals is to identify national space- related technological capabilities and possible niches for Romania within the European space industry, as well as to identify cooperation opportunities within the mandatory and optional ESA programs. This paper presents an overview of the areas of expertise covered by projects contracted in 2012 and 2013 in the framework of the national space research and development programme. The paper does not cover industrial space contracts since they contain sensitive information.
Assessment Of Maintenance Needs Required To Preserve The Operational Status Of Combat Vehicles Participating In Military Operations
Authors: Căruţaşu Vasile , Căruţaşu Daniela
Published: May 2018

An important step in preparing a military operation is the planning one where resource requirements and related costs are assessed needed to conduct it under optimal conditions. One of the most important issues to be considered at this stage is that concerning the means of warfare which are necessary for fulfilling the tasks of the military operation. In this regard both the types of combat capabilities that are required and the number of each type of combat capabilities should be established. After evaluating the necessary means of combat, an important aspect to be considered is that of ensuring the maintenance service for the means of combat planned to participate in military operations. In this study, based on technical specifications related to maintenance operations to be carried out to maintain the operational state of combat means is shown, depending on the tasks to be fulfilled within the military operation, a way of assessing maintenance needs in order to design a plan to ensure optimal maintenance service.
The Optimal Organization Of The Maintenance Service In Order To Maintain The Perational State Of Combat Vehicles Participating In The Conduct Of Military Operations
Authors: Căruţaşu Vasile , Căruţaşu Daniela
Published: May 2018

Conducting military operations in optimal conditions must take into account the organization of the maintenance service as well. This study presents a computer application intended to design The Optimal Plan for the Organization of the Maintenance Service. This application has as theoretical support [5], but also intends to complete the module on the supply of spare parts shown in [4]. It is a useful application in the process of planning a military operation, the two modules, the one presented in [4] and the one presented in in this study, covering the logistic support in terms of the military equipment which includes the combat means, supply and storage of spare parts, supply and storage of fuel, maintenance facilities, as well as the human resource necessary to ensure this service.
An Overview Of The OPCW’s Programme For Biomedical Samples Analysis
Authors: Grigoriu Nicoleta , Epure Gabriel , Ginghina Raluca , Mosteanu Danut
Published: May 2018

Since 2009 the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has been organizing and conducting confidence-building exercises for biomedical samples analysis. The purpose of the exercises was to begin and continue building expertise in the analysis of biomedical samples relevant to the investigation of incidents of alleged use of chemical weapons. The exercise consists of a number of samples for which the laboratory will be request to identify and determine the approximate concentration of a specified set of metabolic products of Chemical Weapons Convention scheduled chemicals.

The paper provides an overview of the current status of the confidence-building exercises and the implication of the Scientific Research Centre for CBRN Defence and Ecology to the OPCW’s programme for biomedical samples analysis.
The New Protractor For Military Use
Authors: Moro Nicolae
Published: May 2018

The working tool on the map is a device conceived and realized by the members of the research team on the project entitled “M.U.D.C.-01 Protractor of Angles, Distances and Coordinates”, an element of novelty which aims to solve a problem identified in the daily activity of the military and is ultimately an effective and modern way of working on military topographic maps as well as an easy way for implementing an expeditious procedures of topographic work in field measurement, for required land distances and angles of orientation and navigation. This military protractor can also be used, eventhough it is less user-friendly and is designed primarily to measure the azimuth, angle slopes, distances and rectangular coordinates with two grid scales and standard army military symbols, by military personnel which work on maps in terrain or in military headquarters.
Polymer Composite Materials And Applications For Chemical Protection Equipments
Authors: Petre Răzvan , Petrea Nicoleta , Epure Gabriel , Zecheru Teodora
Published: May 2018

The polymer composite materials properties are clearly determined by their constituent properties and by the micro-structural configuration.

Additives and modifiers ingredients can expand the usefulness of the polymeric matrix, enhance the processability or extend composite durability. The fibres are mainly responsible for the performance changing (strength and stiffness properties). The least structurally demanding cases is the arrangement of fibres randomly in polymeric matrix, when equal strength is achieved in all directions.

Fibre reinforced polymer materials can be successfully used in a wide range of applications and can significantly improve the characteristics of chemical protection equipments and foster the development of new ones with superior features.
The Impact Of Legal Regulations On The Protection Of Population From CBRN Terrorism In The Czech Republic
Authors: Skoruša Leopold
Published: May 2018

This contribution deals with the topics of impacts of the regulating mechanisms on the protection of population against a specific form of terrorism. As a reference element for exploring the subjected intent, a regulating mechanism of legal character was selected by the author. As the assessment of the regulation of all CBRN components would be out of the framework of this type of work, the author limited his survey to the area of the combat chemical agents and industrially dangerous agents provided the survey model applied can be utilised to other means as well.
The study on corrosion of Pb–Sn–Sb alloys in soil
Authors: Rapouch K. , Selucká A. , Mazík M. Mazík M. , Příhoda J. , Trnková L. , Storme P.
Published: May 2018

The paper studies corrosion of selected Pb-Sn-Sb alloys
in soil. Corrosion tests were proposed and performed based
on the survey of the mechanism of corrosion of archaeological
objects – letter types. The composition of tested lead alloys
corresponds to the phases in structures of alloys the original
types were made from. Three types of soil with different pH
were selected as the corrosion environment and one of the set
of specimens was exposed additionally to acetic acid vapours
to monitor the impact of volatile organic compounds. The results
were compared with similar corrosion tests performed at
the University of Antwerp. The results implied that it was predominantly
the character of the microstructure the lead alloys
form that affects corrosion of Pb–Sn–Sb alloys. Intermetallic
phases SnSb are formed within the lead matrix, the average
composition of which corresponds to 55 % of Sn and 45 %
of Sb. The SnSb phase is very hard and resistant; a corrosion
microcell is formed when in contact with the matrix, with the
lead matrix being preferentially susceptible to corrosion. The
content of antimony and tin in the alloy affects formation and
the quantity of the SnSb phase.