bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis and crystal structural characterization of two new 3,5-disubstituted 4-amino-1,2,4-triazoles
Authors: He Xin , Li Bin , Chen Lang , Shen Xuan , Zhu Dun-Ru
Published: July 2014

Two new asymmetrical 3-(p-R-phenyl)-4-amino-5-(2-pyridyl)-1,2,4-triazoles (3a, R = CH3 and 3b, R = OCH3) were synthesized with a yield of 58% and 69%, respectively. The compounds 3a and 3b were characterized with FT-IR, 1H NMR, ESI-MS spectra, and elemental analysis. Additionally, their molecular and crystal structures were determined by single crystal X-ray analysis.
Enhancement of mechanical properties of composites made of calcium carbonate modified bamboo fibers and polypropylene
Authors: Cheng Haitao , Gao Jie , Wang Ge , Shi Sheldon Q. , Zhang Shuangbao , Cai Liping
Published: July 2014

The work aimed at the improvement of the mechanical properties of bamboo fiber-polypropylene composites (BaFPPC) by treatment of the fibers with CaCO3 at various concentrations of the solution (0.05, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 mol l-1). CaCO3 particles were successfully deposited in situ to bamboo fibers by means of ionic reaction of Na2 CO3 and CaCl2 aqueous solution at various temperatures. Then BaFPPC were produced, and various tests on single fibers and the composites were performed. The compatibility between BaF and PP matrix was improved by the treatments. The crystallinity of inorganic materials was significantly affected by the reagent’s concentration. A 10.4% increase in tensile strength and a 16.7% increase in tensile modulus were observed after fiber treatment with CaCO3 at a concentration of 0.2 mol l-1.
Novel hydrophobization of wood by epoxidized linseed oil. Part 1. Process description and anti-swelling efficiency of the treated wood
Authors: Jebrane Mohamed , Fernández-Cano Víctor , Panov Dmitri , Terziev Nasko , Daniel Geoffrey
Published: July 2014

The known method of wood modification by epoxidized linseed oil (ELO) has a limiting practical application due to the rapid polymerization of ELO in the presence of acetic acid (AA) needed as a catalyst. The present study was designed to develop an alternative method by means of a two-step process to avoid the rapid polymerization. The treatment options were tested on Scots pine sapwood, with the dimensional stability (DS) of the treated samples in focus. The new method provided an anti-swelling efficiency (ASE) in the range of 40–57%, which was even better than the thermally modified (TM) reference samples with 40% ASE. The developed two-step process is a feasible and practical approach for ELO treatment of wood.
Enzymatic intracrine regulation of white adipose tissue
Authors: DiSilvestro David , Petrosino Jennifer , Aldoori Ayat , Melgar-Bermudez Emiliano , Wells Alexandra , Ziouzenkova Ouliana
Published: July 2014

Abdominal fat formation has become a permanent risk factor for metabolic syndrome and various cancers in one-third of the world’s population of obese and even lean patients. Formation of abdominal fat involves additional mechanisms beyond an imbalance in energy intake and expenditure, which explains systemic obesity. In this review, we briefly summarized autonomous regulatory circuits that locally produce hormones from inactive precursors or nutrients for intra-/auto-/paracrine signaling in white adipose depots. Enzymatic pathways activating steroid and thyroid hormones in adipose depots were compared with enzymatic production of retinoic acid from vitamin A. We discussed the role of intracrine circuits in fat-depot functions and strategies to reduce abdominal adiposity through thermogenic adipocytes with interrupted generation of retinoic acid.
Improving Dietary Exposure Models by Imputing Biomonitoring Data through ABC Methods
Authors: Béchaux Camille , Crépet Amélie , Clémençon Stéphan
Published: July 2014

New data are available in the field of risk assessment: the biomonitoring data which is measurement of the chemical dose in a human tissue (e.g. blood or urine). These data are original because they represent direct measurements of the dose of chemical substances really taken up from the environment, whereas exposure is usually assessed from contamination levels of the different exposure media (e.g. food, air, water, etc.) and statistical models. However, considered alone, these data provide little help from the perspective of Public Health guidance. The objective of this paper is to propose a method to exploit the information provided by human biomonitoring in order to improve the modeling of exposure. This method is based on the Kinetic Dietary Exposure Model which takes into account the pharmacokinetic elimination and the accumulation phenomenon inside the human body. This model is corrected to account for any possible temporal evolution in exposure by adding a scaling function which describes this evolution. Approximate Bayesian Computation is used to fit this exposure model from the biomonitoring data available. Specific summary statistics and appropriate distances between simulated and observed statistical distributions are proposed and discussed in the light of risk assessment. The promoted method is then applied to measurements of blood concentration of dioxins in a group of French fishermen families. The outputs of the model are an estimation of the body burden distribution from observed dietary intakes and the evolution of dietary exposure to dioxins in France between 1930 and today. This model successfully fit to dioxins data can also be used with other biomonitoring data to improve the risk assessment to many other contaminants.
Levels of Fluoride in the Ethiopian and Imported Black Tea (Camellia sinensis) Infusions Prepared in Tap and Fluoride-Rich Natural Waters
Authors: Embiale Asamene , Chandravanshi Bhagwan Singh , Zewge Feleke
Published: July 2014

In this study, the possible effect of original fluoride (F) concentration in six natural waters on the fluoride release from nine brands of tea leaves (whose origin was from Ethiopia, Sri Lanka, and China) during the infusion has been investigated. The capacity of tea leaves (commercially available tea) to absorb F from high-fluoride ground waters which were collected from the Ethiopia Rift Valley has also been investigated in this study. Infused F content of black (either powder or bag form) and green (bag form) teas and water from different sources were assayed. The fluoride content of waters used in this study ranged from 0.254 to 30.2 mg/L, while the fluoride in tea infusion of nine brands of tea ranged from 0.51 to 20.57 mg/L. The F content in moderately F-rich water was reduced from 12.5 to <5 mg/L in tea infusion while F content in highly F-rich water was reduced from 30.2 to <10 mg/L in tea infusion of most of the tea brands even with 3 min infusion time. Thus one can reduce the daily intake of F level by drinking tea rather than F-rich water itself.
A sequential naïve Bayes classifier for DNA barcodes
Authors: Anderson Michael P. , Dubnicka Suzanne R.
Published: July 2014

DNA barcodes are short strands of 255–700 nucleotide bases taken from the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) region of the mitochondrial DNA. It has been proposed that these barcodes may be used as a method of differentiating between biological species. Current methods of species classification utilize distance measures that are heavily dependent on both evolutionary model assumptions as well as a clearly defined “gap” between intra- and interspecies variation. Such distance measures fail to measure classification uncertainty or to indicate how much of the barcode is necessary for classification. We propose a sequential naïve Bayes classifier for species classification to address these limitations. The proposed method is shown to provide accurate species-level classification on real and simulated data. The method proposed here quantifies the uncertainty of each classification and addresses how much of the barcode is necessary.
Heat transfer in a geothermal heat-pump system – an analytical assessment
Authors: Yang Y. , Datcheva M. , König D. , Schanz T.
Published: July 2014

A heat transfer model of a vertical borehole heat exchange system (open-loop) is introduced. Outside the borehole, a linearly increasing initial temperature for the ground is employed. Inside the borehole, the heat transfer procedure is divided into passive and active steps. An analytical solution of the heat transfer problem for a system of semi-infinite ground with a finite line source is derived and the open-loop case is discussed. The temperature distribution both inside and outside the borehole is obtained for a long operation time. A model parameter study is performed and the results are discussed. The analytical solutions and parameter study results are also compared with the respective U-tube model (closed-loop system). It is shown that, compared with the U-tube model, the open-loop system can improve the heat exchange system by increasing system effectiveness.
Thermohaline energy geo-storage: evaluation of fluid–fluid layers and fluid–rock salt interaction
Authors: Wuttke F. , Wagner N. , Khan M. , Thess A. , Scherzberg H.
Published: July 2014

The storage of power to cover the partial seasonal requirements of larger urban or industrial regions requires storage capacities in the GWh range. Current technologies are site-dependent and area-wide designable, as well as being cost-inefficient. An innovative concept for large-scale energy storage based on a thermohaline base is presented in this article. In particular, the fluid and solid interfaces are a focus of the geomechanical investigations. Besides the principal thermal application study and rock salt removal gradient, a high-frequency electromagnetic open-ended coaxial measurement was carried out to analyse temperature and concentration distribution and dependencies.
High-temperature heat storage in geological media: high-resolution simulation of near-borehole processes
Authors: Boockmeyer A. , Bauer S.
Published: July 2014

Subsurface energy storage of high-temperature heat in middle–deep formations below drinking water aquifers may offer a new possibility of hosting large amounts of energy in the subsurface. An adequate system and process understanding is required in order to predict and assess the complex and interacting induced effects. To this end, the near-field effects of high-temperature heat storage were studied through numerical simulations using a 100 m borehole heat exchanger placed at 500 m depth, accounting for the detailed geometry of U-pipes, grout, borehole and soil. Coupled thermo–hydraulic simulations showed that the simulated system may store up to 260 MWh of thermal energy using an injection temperature of 90°C and that the temperature evolution with time is strongly dependent on the radial distance from the borehole and the soil permeability and is strongly sensitive to the thermal conductivity of the grout material. At low soil permeability, heat transfer is controlled by conduction and the amount of heat stored is mainly influenced by the soil thermal conductivity. A higher soil permeability leads to convection in the soil with a doubling of the stored heat. In this case, the amount of heat stored is not sensitive to the soil thermal conductivity but to the grout thermal conductivity.
Shallow geothermal energy application with GSHPs at city scale: study on the City of Westminster
Authors: Zhang Y. , Soga K. , Choudhary R.
Published: July 2014

Geothermal energy is an efficient low carbon solution for the heating and cooling of buildings. For many megacities such as London and Beijing, the amount of energy that can be stored in the urban local subsurface is greater than their annual heating and cooling demands. The ground source heat pump (GSHP) system – a shallow geothermal technology that provides heating and cooling for buildings by continuously replenishing the energy in the subsurface – has been used increasingly in recent years, but its application has been generally limited to single buildings. In this study, a geographic information system-based simulation model was developed to estimate how many GSHPs could be installed at the city scale without losing control of the ground thermal capacity and to evaluate the degree to which such a system could contribute to the energy demands of buildings in a city. The model was built by embedding a Python-based GSHP design code into ArcGIS software and was trialled on the City of Westminster, a borough in London, UK, as a case study under the two scenarios of boreholes placed under buildings and boreholes around buildings. Under both scenarios, the model produced borehole allocation maps and ratio of capacity to demand maps. The results show that a large proportion of buildings could support their own heating demands through GSHPs and, through a well-organised district heating system, GSHPs may be used efficiently to satisfy heating demands throughout an urban area.
Dissolved Organic Matter: Linking Soils and Aquatic Systems
Authors: Jansen Boris , Kalbitz Karsten , McDowell William H.
Published: July 2014

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) plays a crucial role in many important processes that take place in terrestrial and aquatic systems. These include carbon and nutrient cycling, pedogenesis, and microbial metabolism. Here we highlight the results of studies that demonstrate the role of DOM in linking terrestrial and aquatic systems. We emphasize three fundamental aspects of the research, which together show the importance of DOM in linking terrestrial and aquatic systems: First, tracing DOM properties during its transport through terrestrial and aquatic systems is a powerful tool for improving our conceptual understanding of the mechanistic drivers of DOM dynamics. Second, linking DOM dynamics to important physical processes such as hydrology provides important insights into the nature of terrestrial–aquatic links. Third, interrelations between DOM dynamics and human impacts on ecosystems highlight how the role of DOM in coupled terrestrial–aquatic systems may change in the future. New measurement and modeling approaches have enabled a more thorough assessment of all three aspects of DOM dynamics. They show that both natural and anthropogenic drivers not only greatly influence DOM dynamics in soils, but owing to the mobility of DOM, also have substantial influence on aquatic systems. This physical connection of soils and surface waters demonstrates the importance of understanding fundamental processes such as nutrient cycling, pedogenesis, and microbial metabolism at a whole‐landscape scale.
Occupational sex segregation and working time: Regional evidence from Germany
Authors: Humpert Stephan
Published: July 2014

This paper provides descriptive evidence for declining occupational sex
segregation on the German labor market, especially concerning the regional
differences between the former East and West Germany. I use segregation
measures and long-run social security data for the decade of 1992 to 2004.
While segregation has declined over time, it remains higher for the eastern
part of Germany. Although this finding is observable for full-time and
part-time work, segregation is always lower in part-time employment.
Should the space of basic personality traits be extended to include the disposition toward psychotic-like experiences?
Authors: Medjedovic Janko
Published: July 2014

Previous research has shown that there is a latent disposition toward
psychotic-like experiences in the general population, labeled schizotypy.
However, there is a dispute over the conceptual status of schizotypy: does it
represent merely psychosis proneness, or is it a broad and general
personality trait? If a disposition should be regarded even as a candidate
for a personality trait, its scores would probably be distributed normally in
the population and it must show irreducibility in regard to the previously
discovered personality traits. In this research, these questions are
addressed, using the construct of Disintegration as an operationalization of
schizotypy. The results show that although some modalities of Disintegration
have skewed distributions in the student sample (N=345, 65% female), the
global Disintegration scores have a normal distribution. Furthermore,
Disintegration modalities constitute a latent component which is distinct
from the personality traits that form HEXACO model of basic personality
structure. Nevertheless, Disintegration shares some variance with the HEXACO
traits, especially with the negative poles of Extraversion and
Conscientiousness. The results suggest that a conceptual view of a schizotypy
as a personality trait is at least plausible and they can be used as
guidelines for future empirical studies of this problem.
Word-based categorization in 14 to 16 month-old infants: Evidence from a Slavic language
Authors: Tutnjevic Slavica , Lakic Sinisa
Published: July 2014

We investigate early word-based categorization by testing one sample of
infants at the ages of 14 and 16 months using an object manipulation task.
Specifically, we investigate the facilitating effect of labeling on: a)
categorization of unknown objects with a shared label and a similar shape; b)
categorization of unknown objects with a shared label, but no perceptual
similarity. The results indicate that an average infant can categorize novel
objects with a similar shape and a shared label starting at 16 months of age.
Categorization of novel objects with a shared label but no perceptual
similarity is at chance level at both ages. These results confirm and extend
previous research findings to a new language.
Reliability, construct and criterion-related validity of the Serbian adaptation of the trait emotional intelligence questionnaire (TEIQue)
Authors: Jolic-Marjanovic Zorana , Altaras-Dimitrijevic Ana
Published: July 2014

This paper presents evidence on the reliability and validity of the Serbian
adaptation of the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (TEIQue), an
instrument designed to comprehensively assess emotional intelligence
conceived as a constellation of emotionrelated self-perceptions. Study
participants were 254 adults, who completed the Serbian TEIQue, NEO-FFI,
MSCEIT, EQ-short, and RSPWB. The results indicate that the adapted TEIQue is
a psychometrically sound assessment tool: internal consistencies were mostly
acceptable at facet, generally good at factor, and excellent at whole-scale
level; the fourfactor structure was confirmed by means of CFA;
convergent-discriminant validity was established through meaningful
associations with related constructs, indicating that trait EI is closely
aligned with affect and self-efficacy related constructs from the realm of
personality (i.e., E, N, C, and Empathy), but shows only moderate overlap
with ability EI; finally, incremental validity was demonstrated in the
prediction of psychological wellbeing, over and above the Big Five.
Dioxin emissions from coal combustion in domestic stove: Formation in the chimney and coal chlorine content influence
Authors: Paradiz Bostjan , Dilara Panagiota , Umlauf Gunther , Bajsic Ivan , Butala Vincenc
Published: July 2014

Combustion experiments conducted in domestic stove burning hard coal
demonstrated a predominant influence of the coal chlorine content on the
PCDD/F emissions, together with a pronounced effect of the flue gas
temperature. PCDD/F concentrations of over 100 ng TEQ/m3, three orders of
magnitude higher than in a modern waste incinerator, were measured in the
flue gases of a domestic stove when combusting high chlorine coal (0.31 %).
The PCDD/F concentrations in the flue gases dropped below 0,5 ng TEQ/m3, when
low chlorine coal (0.07 %) was used. When low chlorine coal was impregnated
with NaCl to obtain 0.38 % chlorine content, the emission of the PCDD/Fs
increased by two orders of magnitude. Pronounced nonlinearity of the PCDD/F
concentrations related to chlorine content in the coal was observed. The
combustion of the high chlorine coal yielded PCDD/F concentrations in flue
gases one order of magnitude lower in a fan cooled chimney when compared to
an insulated one, thus indicating formation in the chimney. The influence of
flue gas temperature on the PCDD/F emissions was less pronounced when burning
low chlorine coal. The predominant pathway of the PCDD/F emissions is via
flue gases, 99 % of the TEQ in the case of the high chlorine coal for
insulated chimney.
Non-Executive Employee Ownership and Corporate Risk
Authors: Bova Francesco , Kolev Kalin , Thomas Jacob K. , Zhang X. Frank
Published: July 2014

Prior research documents a negative link between risk and executive holding of stock, but a corresponding positive link for options. We find a similar negative relation for non-executive holding of stock. Our finding is consistent with the view that non-executives not only face significant incentives to reduce risk when they hold stock, but they are also able to affect corporate risk. While endogeneity cannot be ruled out fully, the results of a battery of tests suggest that it plays a limited role. A second robust result is that the documented relation becomes more negative as option-based executive compensation increases. Overall, corporate risk is related to the incentives created by stock and options held by both executives and non-executives, as well as interactions among those incentives.

JEL Classifications: G30.
Substitution between Real and Accruals-Based Earnings Management after Voluntary Adoption of Compensation Clawback Provisions
Authors: Chan Lilian H. , Chen Kevin C. W. , Chen Tai Yuan , Yu Yangxin
Published: July 2014

To deter financial misstatements, many companies have recently adopted compensation recovery policies—commonly known as “clawbacks”—that authorize the board to recoup compensation paid to executives based on misstated financial reports. Clawbacks have been shown to reduce financial misstatements and increase investors' confidence on earnings information. We show that the benefits come with an unintended consequence of certain firms substituting for accruals management with real transactions management (e.g., reduce research and development [R&D] expenditures), especially firms with strong incentives to achieve short-term earnings targets, such as firms with high growth or high transient institutional ownership. As such, the total amount of earnings management does not decrease subsequent to clawback adoption. We further show that although real transactions management temporarily boosts those clawback adopters' short-term profitability and stock performance, this trend reverses after three years. In summary, clawbacks may have unexpected effects for a subset of firms whose managers are under greater pressure to meet earnings goals.

Data Availability: All data used in the study are publicly available from the sources cited in the text.
The Effect of Vacuum Assistance on the Quality of Castings Produced by High Pressure Die Casting Method
Authors: Łągiewka M. , Konopka Z. , Nadolski M. , Zyska A.
Published: July 2014

The presented work is aimed to deal with the influence of changes in the value of negative (relative) pressure maintained in the die cavity of pressure die casting machine on the surface quality of pressure castings. The examinations were held by means of the modified Vertacast pressure die casting machine equipped with a vacuum system. Castings were produced for the parameters selected on the basis of previous experiments, i.e. for the plunger velocity in the second stage of injection at the level of 4 m/s, the pouring temperature of the alloy equal to 640°C, and the die temperature of 150°C. The examinations were carried on for three selected values of negative gauge pressure: - 0.03, - 0.05, and - 0.07 MPa. The quality of casting was evaluated by comparing the results of the surface roughness measurements performed for randomly selected castings. The surface roughness was measured by means of Hommel Tester T1000. After a series of measurements it was found that the smoothest surface is exhibited by castings produced at negative gauge pressure value of - 0.07 MPa.
Effect of Shortened Heat Treatment on the Hardness and Microstructure of 320.0 Aluminium Alloy
Authors: Pezda J.
Published: July 2014

Improvement of Al-Si alloys properties in scope of classic method is connected with change of Si precipitations morphology through: using modification of the alloy, maintaining suitable temperature of overheating and pouring process, as well as perfection of heat treatment methods. Growing requirements of the market make it necessary to search after such procedures, which would quickly deliver positive results with simultaneous consideration of economic aspects. Presented in the paper shortened heat treatment with soaking of the alloy at temperature near temperature of solidus could be assumed as the method in the above mentioned understanding of the problem. Such treatment consists in soaking of the alloy to temperature of solutioning, keeping in such temperature, and next, quick quenching in water (20 °C) followed by artificial ageing. Temperature ranges of solutioning and ageing treatments implemented in the adopted testing plan were based on analysis of recorded curves from the ATD method. Obtained results relate to dependencies and spatial diagrams describing effect of parameters of the solutioning and ageing treatments on HB hardness of the investigated alloy and change of its microstructure. Performed shortened heat treatment results in precipitation hardening of the investigated 320.0 alloy, what according to expectations produces increased hardness of the material.
The Mechanism of Solid State Joining THA with AlMg3Mn Alloy
Authors: Kaczorowski M. , Goroch O. , Krzyńska A.
Published: July 2014

The results of experimental study of solid state joining of tungsten heavy alloy (THA) with AlMg3Mn alloy are presented. The aim of these investigations was to study the mechanism of joining two extremely different materials used for military applications. The continuous rotary friction welding method was used in the experiment. The parameters of friction welding process i.e. friction load and friction time in whole studies were changed in the range 10 to 30kN and 0,5 to 10s respectively while forging load and time were constant and equals 50kN and 5s. The results presented here concerns only a small part whole studies which were described elsewhere. These are focused on the mechanism of joining which can be adhesive or diffusion controlled. The experiment included macro- and microstructure observations which were supplemented with SEM investigations. The goal of the last one was to reveal the character of fracture surface after tensile test and to looking for anticipated diffusion of aluminum into THA matrix. The results showed that joining of THA with AlMg2Mn alloy has mainly adhesive character, although the diffusion cannot be excluded.
Mg-Al-RE Magnesium Alloys for High-Pressure Die-Casting
Authors: Braszczyńska-Malik K.N.
Published: July 2014

Experimental Mg-Al-RE type magnesium alloys for high-pressure die-casting are presented. Alloys based on the commercial AM50 magnesium alloy with 1, 3 and 5 mass % of rare earth elements were fabricated in a foundry and cast in cold chamber die-casting machines. The obtained experimental casts have good quality surfaces and microstructure consisting of an α(Mg)-phase, Al11RE3, Al10RE2Mn7 intermetallic compound and small amount of α+γ eutectic and Al2RE phases.
The Crystal Segregation During Casting of the Alloy AlZn5.5Mg2.5Cu1.5
Authors: Weiss V. , Svobodova J. , Cais J.
Published: July 2014

In the course of homogenizing annealing of aluminium alloys being cast continually or semi-continually it appears that chemical inhomogenity takes off within separate dendritic cells (crystal segregation). It is about a diffusion process that takes place at the temperature which approaches the liquid temperature of the material. In that process the transition of soluble intermetallic compounds and eutectic to solid solution occurs and it suppresses crystal segregation significantly [1]. The temperature, homogenization time, the size of dendritic cells and diffusion length influences homogenizing process. The article explores the optimization of homogenizing process in terms of its time and homogenizing annealing temperature which influence mechanical properties of AlZn5,5Mg2,5Cu1,5 alloy.
Research on Technology of Alloyed Copper Casting
Authors: Rzadkosz St. , Kranc M. , Garbacz-Klempka A. , Piękoś M. , Kozana J. , Cieślak W.
Published: July 2014

The work presents experiment results from the area of copper casting technology and chosen examples of alloyed copper. At present, copper casting technology is applied in many branches of industrial manufacturing, especially in the sector of construction, communications, arms and power engineering. Alloyed copper, containing slight additions of different elements and having special physio-chemical properties, is used in a special range of applications. Copper technology and alloyed copper analyses have been presented, these materials being used for cast manufacturing for power engineering. The quality of casts has been assessed, based on their microstructure analysis, chemical content and the cast properties. During the research, special deoxidizing and modifying agents were applied for copper and chosen examples of alloyed copper; also exemplary samples were tested with the help of metallographic analysis, electrical conductivity and gaseous impurities research.
Research on Reclamation and Activation of Moulding Sands Containing Water-Glass Hardened with Microwaves
Authors: Stachowicz M. , Granat K.
Published: July 2014

Presented are results of a research on usability of an innovative reclamation process of microwave-hardened moulding sands containing water-glass, combined with activation of binder. After each subsequent stage of reclamation, quality of the reclaimed material was determined on the grounds of measurements of permeability and results of screen analysis. The reclaimed material was next used again to prepare new moulding sand. The sandmix based on high-silica sand prepared with water-glass grade 145, was subject to the following cyclical treatment operations: mixing components, consolidation, microwave hardening, cooling, heating the mould up to 800 °C, cooling to ambient temperature, mechanical reclamation dry and wet. It was found that the used-up and reclaimed sandmix containing water-glass is susceptible to the applied activation process of thermally reacted film of binder and, in addition, it maintains good quality and technological properties of high-silica base. Observations of surfaces of reclaimed high-silica grains with activated film of reacted inorganic binder were carried-out using a scanning microscope. Thanks to properly selected reclamation parameters, the high-silica base can be reused even five times, thus reducing demand for fresh aggregate and inorganic binder.
Badenian (Middle Miocene) echinoids and starfish from western Ukraine, and their biogeographic and stratigraphic significance
Authors: Radwański Andrzej , Górka Marcin , Wysocka Anna
Published: July 2014

Echinoderms from the Badenian (Middle Miocene) of the Fore-Carpathian Basin of western Ukraine are facies restricted. The Mykolaiv Beds, stratigraphically older, yielded the starfish Astropecten forbesi (complete skeletons), two genera of sand dollars (Parascutella, Parmulechinus), and numerous other echinoids of the genera Psammechinus , Echinocyamus, Spatangus, Hemipatagus, Echinocardium, Clypeaster, Echinolampas, and Conolampas. The stratigraphically younger, calcareous Ternopil Beds yielded Eucidaris (complete coronae, isolated spines), Arbacina , Brissus, and Rhabdobrissus. Sixteen species of echinoids are distinguished and/or commented. A new brissid, Rhabdobrissus tarnopolensis sp. nov., is established. A mass occurrence of some species (Psammechinus dubius and Hemipatagus ocellatus) contrasts with that of mass aggregations (sand dollars and Echinocardium leopolitanum) by dynamic events in selected layers of proximal tempestites. Of special note is the occurrence of very small specimens, interpreted as juveniles (‘babies’) having been swept out of their restricted biotopes (‘nurseries’). Some species hitherto regarded as of Early Miocene age, and the problem of their persistence beyond the Fore-Carpathian Basin and/or migration into that basin during the Middle Miocene transgression are discussed.
Environmental changes of the Mazovian (Holsteinian /~MIS 11) palaeolake near Szymanowo (eastern Poland) in the light of malacological analysis
Authors: Szymanek Marcin
Published: July 2014

The malacofauna of the palaeolake deposits at Szymanowo (eastern Poland) was investigated. It represents the younger part of the climatic optimum of the Mazovian (Holsteinian) Interglacial (~MIS 11) and possibly the postoptimal period. The mollusc assemblage is composed of both standing and running water species, mostly connected with temperate climate. The presence of biostratigraphical indicators of the Mazovian, Viviparus diluvianus (Kunth, 1865), Lithoglyphus jahni Urbański, 1975 and Pisidium clessini Neumayr, 1875, is noteworthy. Variability in the structure and composition of the assemblage enables palaeoecological reconstruction. Changes in the water-level, vegetation and energy conditions are inferred from the malacological succession. Three stages of the lake development were distinguished. The first one is connected with deeper conditions and predominance of V. diluvianus and L. jahni. The second one, dominated by Bithynia tentaculata (Linnaeus, 1758), records a fall of the water-level and the growth of aquatic plants, evidenced by high frequencies of Valvata cristata Muller, 1774 and Acroloxus lacustris (Linnaeus, 1758). The third stage corresponds to another rise of the water-level and an increase in V. diluvianus, L. jahni, Valvata piscinalis Muller, 1774 and Pisidium henslowanum (Sheppard, 1823), which evidence some higher energy conditions.
Methodology of Designing the Geometry of the Bevel Gear Using Numerical Simulation to Generate the Teeth Flank Surfaces
Authors: Pisula Jadwiga , Płocica Mieczysław
Published: July 2014

The present paper describes modern methodology of the bevel gear design with a particular focus on issues concerning the theoretical basis and the preparation of the numerical simulation of the machining. The assumptions used in developing the mathematical model of cutting teeth are given and an example of the teeth flank surfaces of a gear and a pinion resulting from the virtual processing is shown. The correctness of the mathematical model of cutting teeth was verified by comparing the resulting based on the model grid points, the side of the tooth surface, resulting from the simulation cutting teeth in CAD. A high convergence of the two surface geometry was demonstrated, which allows for the use of the analysis for each of the models independently.
Influence of Different Random Pattern Creation Forms on the Results of Experimental Modal Analysis Performed by High-Speed Digital Image Correlation
Authors: Hagara Martin , Schrötter Martin , Lengvarský Pavol
Published: July 2014

In this contribution an influence of random contrast patterns creation on the quality of the obtained results of experimental modal analysis performed by high-speed digital image correlation is described. Three common forms of random pattern creation were investigated. While the first form was presented by the black speckles printed on white matt vinyl foil and bonded on the sample surface, in the second and the third case, respectively, the black speckles were sprayed on white sprayed sample surface or on paint white one. For the purposes of modal parameters estimation in the form of natural frequencies, mode shapes and damping ratios the program called Modan3D, developed in the authors department, was used. The results obtained by Modan3D were compared with the results achieved by system Pulse specialized for vibration analysis.
Stresses in Coating with Gradient Interlayer caused by Contact Loading
Authors: Kulchytsky-Zhyhailo Roman , Bajkowski Adam Stanisław
Published: July 2014

The three-dimensional problem of elasticity concerning inhomogeneous half-space under normal and tangential loading applied in circular region was considered. The half-space is composed of the homogeneous body and double-layer coating which includes a homogeneous top coat and a gradient interlayer. The solution method is based on the two-dimensional integral Fourier transform. The influence of mechanical properties of coatings component and coefficient of friction on the first principal stress distribution was considered.
The Study of Stab Resistance of Dry Aramid Fabrics
Authors: Barnat Wiesław , Sokołowski Dariusz
Published: July 2014

The paper presents the issue of a knife proof ballistic package. This issue was emphasized since most of modern vests are designed to match the threat posed to them only by firearms. There was observed negligence of protection against melee attacks. There is, thus, a need to develop a research methodology in this matter, because it is a valid and necessary problem in a modern developed society. The aim of this study was to perform a numerical model which simulated the phenomenon of penetration of a ballistic package by an engineering blade. Specification of an engineering blade was taken from standard NIJ Standard-0115.00. Commercial software LSDYNA was used to carry out the analysis.
The UV and IR Comparative Spectrophotometric Study of Some Saturated and Lacunary Polyoxometalates
Authors: Grama Lavinia , Boda F. , Gaz Florea A.S. , Curticăpean A. , Muntean Daniela-Lucia
Published: July 2014

Objectives: The polyoxometalates are a class of inorganic compounds with controllable shapes and sizes, and with excellent properties that make them attractive for various applications. This study is aimed at the comparative UV and IR spectra of Keggin type polyoxometalates.

Methods: Compounds under (UV and IR) investigations were divided into several groups to highlight similarities between compounds or classes of compounds for the same category. There are four types of saturated Keggin structures and six lacunar compounds included in this study. The study begins with the UV investigations on aqueous solutions with 10-5 M concentration for these compounds. IR spectra were recorded as KBr pressed pellets.

Results: The UV spectras presents large strong peaks between 185-195 nm corresponding to W = Od bonds, between 251-268 nm for W-O-W bridge bonds, depending on heteroatom types (As, Sb). The unsaturated cryptand ligand having Co2+ coordinated presents the most intense peak, due to the involvement of oxygen atoms from terminal W = Od coordinative bonds with high electronic densities in coordination of W-O-Co bond. The IR spectra present many peaks that are associated as follows: for terminal bonds W = Od, 955-970 cm-1; for W-OW bridging bonds, 790-910 cm-1; for W-O-As/Sb bonds to heteroatom, 690-760 cm-1. Vibrations of the bonds between heteroatoms and oxygen (As/Sb-O) appear around 620-660 cm-1.

Conclusions: Similarities appear from the recorded spectra, between compounds of the same class, by category association. Very fine displacements of peaks that occur explain the influence of heteroatoms, addenda atoms or coordinated cations.
The Loss of Correction in Thoracolumbar Burst Fracture Treated by Surgery. Can We Predict It?
Authors: Anghel S. , Márton D.
Published: July 2014

Objective: This paper aims to differentially depict potential patterns of the loss of correction in surgically treated thoraco-lumbar burst fractures. These may eventually serve to foreseeing and even forestalling loss of correction.

Methods: The study focused on 253 patients with surgically treated thoraco-lumbar fractures. This cohort of patients was clustered in four subgroups according to the fracture spine segment (T11-L1 or L1-L2) and surgery type (short segment fi xation or anterior approach). Relevant recorded and processed data were the fracture level, post-operative (Kpo) and last follow-up (Kf) kyphosis angle values. Correlation, regression and determination testing were performed for the last follow-up kyphosis angle and post-operative kyphosis angle, and regression equations were determined for each subgroup of patients.

Results: The patterns of loss of correction were described through the following equations: Kf = 0.95*Kpo + 3.2° for the T11-L1 level fractured vertebrae treated by posterior short segment fixation; Kf = 0.98*Kpo + 3.4° for the L1-L2 level fractured vertebrae treated by posterior short segment fixation; Kf = 1.1*Kpo + 1.6° for the T11-L1 level fractured vertebrae treated by anterior approach; and Kf = 0.7*Kpo + 2.8° for the L1-L2 level fracture vertebrae treated by anterior approach.

Conclusions: The loss of correction may be predicted, to a certain extent, for thoraco-lumbar fractured vertebrae treated surgically. The bestfit equations depicted for both type of surgery (short segment fixation and anterior approach) and both spinal segments (T11-L1 and L2-L3) are significantly different than the equations delineated for the collapse of non-surgically treated fractures.
Correlation of Serum and Synovial Osteocalcin, Osteoprotegerin and Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha with the Disease Severity Score in Knee Osteoarthritis
Authors: Csifo Enikő , Katona Tímea , Arseni Juliánna , Nagy E. , Gergely I. , Nagy Ö.
Published: July 2014

Objectives: Study of circulating and synovial levels of osteocalcin, osteoprotegerin and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in patients with different stages of knee osteoarthritis and correlation analysis of these parameters with disease severity.

Methods: We enrolled 20 patients with different stages of knee osteoarthritis. The IKDC score (International Knee Documentation Comittee, 2000) was determined for each patient. Based on these data patients were divided into two groups: group I (advanced osteoarthritis) and group II (early osteoarthritis). Serum and synovial fluid levels of osteocalcin, osteoprotegerin, TNF-α were determined.

Results: For the entire group the level of osteocalcin in the serum showed higher values than in the synovial fluid. We found statistically significant differences in the serum levels of osteocalcin between the two groups (group I: 2.18 ± 0.54 ng/ml, group II: 6.07 ± 1.98 ng/ml, p = 0.019). Serum and synovial osteocalcin in the whole study lot could not be correlated with the disease score, however we observed a tendency towards significant negative correlation between the serum osteocalcin and IKDC score for group I and between synovial osteocalcin and IKDC score in group II. In the entire group, synovial osteoprotegerin concentration was six times higher than the serum osteoprotegerin level (p <0.0001) and TNF-α showed higher circulating levels than local concentrations.

Conclusions: In the advanced osteoarthritis group the serum and synovial osteocalcin show lower values than in the early osteoarthritis group, which means that as the disease progresses, bone anabolism decreases. In the case of osteoprotegerin, no significant difference between the two groups was detected.
Treatment Evaluation with Mometasone Furoate, Alone or in Combination with Desloratadine/ Montelukast in Moderate Severe Allergic Rhinitis
Authors: Florincescu-Gheorghe Nona-Aura , Popescu Florica , Alexandru D.O.
Published: July 2014

Introduction: Allergic rhinitis is one of the most common allergic diseases, characterized by the inflammation of the nasal mucosa. Eosinophils play a predominant pro-inflammatory role in allergic inflammation. This study assesses the effect of mometasone furoate alone or in combination with desloratadine/montelukast in patients with moderate-severe allergic rhinitis.

Material and method: This is a prospective study that took place over 8 weeks on 70 patients diagnosed with moderate-severe allergic rhinitis with sensitization to the pollen of Ambrosia elatior. The patients were evaluated on the basis of their symptoms using the total score of nasal symptoms, the score of individual nasal symptoms and the number of eosinophils in the nasal secretion.

Results: All 3 groups of patients had an improvement on the total nasal symptoms score. However, the combination of mometasone furoate with desloratadine provided statistically significant benefits on the total score of symptoms and on nasal itching as compared with mometasone furoate alone.

Conclusions: The association of mometasone furoate with desloratadine should be considered first-line treatment of moderate-severe allergic rhinitis due to the benefit both on the total symptom score and on of nasal itching.
Fanconi Anemia — Case Report of Rare Aplastic Anemia at Child
Authors: Deaconu Alina , Vodă Daniela , Bulucea D.
Published: July 2014

Introduction: Fanconi anemia is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by congenital abnormalities, defective haematopoiesis, and a high risk of developing acute myeloid leukaemia, myelodysplastic syndrome and cancers. FA was first described in 1927 by the Swiss pediatrician Guido Fanconi. The diagnosis is based on morphological abnormalities, hematologic abnormalities (pancytopenia, macrocytic anemia and progressive bone marrow failure) and genetic tests (cariograma).

Case report: We present the case of a child with Fanconi anemia. Although skin and bone morphological abnormalities were present from birth, diagnosis was suspected at 11 years old.

Conclusions: Fanconi anemia is a heterogeneous condition that can present a variety of congenital defects but invariably results in defective haemopoiesis, which is the major cause of morbidity and mortality.
Novel Factors Affecting Shoot Culture of Chrysanthemum (Dendranthema × Grandiflora)
Authors: Teixeira Da Silva Jaime A.
Published: July 2014

Teixeira da Silva J.A., 2014: Novel factors affecting shoot culture of chrysanthemum (Dendranthema × grandiflora) [Alternatyvių standiklių, skystų terpės priedų, CO2 sodrinimo ir kitų faktorių įtaka chrizantemų (Dendranthema × grandiflora (Ramat.) Kitamura) ūglių kultūrų auginimui]. - Bot. Lith., 20(1): 27-40.

Chrysanthemum (Dendranthema × grandiflora (Ramat.) Kitamura) continues to be one of the most important ornamental plants in the world. Although the tissue culture of chrysanthemum has been widely explored, several unexplored topics remain, and, in developing countries, there is always the constant search for reducing the cost of raising tissue cultured plants. In this study, by focusing on a leading market cultivar in Japan, ‘Shuhouno- chikara’, alternatives to agar (as the gelling agent) and sucrose (as the carbon source) for chrysanthemum tissue culture were sought. Both Gellan gum and agar resulted in greater shoot and root production than all other gelling agents tested, including Bacto agar, phytagel, oatmeal agar, potato dextrose agar, barley starch and corn starch. All of the alternative liquid-based medium additives tested (low and full fat milk, Coca-cola ®, coffee, Japanese green, Oolong and Darjeeling teas) negatively impacted plant growth, stunted roots and decreased chlorophyll content (SPAD value) of leaves. There was no difference between plants grown on medium with refined sucrose or table sugar, although poor growth was observed when stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) extract was used. Photoautotrophic micropropagation increased significantly the shoot mass relative to control plants, even when the density of plants was doubled. Aeration improved plantlet growth. The tetrazolium test was a simple, but effective essay to see the intensity and strength of root growth in different basal media. MDH activity decreased in the root+shoot extract of plants grown on most alternative media, but remained high on TCSGM (Teixeira’s chrysanthemum shoot growth medium), Gellan gum, aerated and CO2-enriched cultures. A similar trend was observed for deaminating GDH, while an opposite trend was observed for aminating GDH activity. These experiments indicate that tissue culture research for chrysanthemum still provides a rich field for exploration with interesting and valuable results