bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of dietary habits and nutritional content of food intake in overweight and obese patients
Authors: Posea Mihaela , Dragomir Andreea , Rusu Emilia , Nan Raluca , Draguţ Ramona , Popescu Horaţiu , Stoicescu Florentina , Teodoru Ileana , Hâncu Anca , Stoian Marilena , Radulian Gabriela
Published: May 2018

Background and Aims To document the nutritional content of food intake in overweight and obese people, in order to change dietary habits for acquiring the normal weight. Material and methods We assessed the nutritional content of food intake (kilocalories, vitamins and minerals) in a sample of 124 overweight and obese people and 33 subjects with normal weight. We also measured abdominal circumference, percent of body fat and resting metabolic rate. Results Overweight and obese patients, compared to normal weight, have a significant increased intake of vitamin A (p=0.002), vitamin B1 (p=0.037), vitamin B5 (p=0.047), vitamin C (p=0.029) and vitamin D (p=0.015), sodium (p=0.036), iron (p=0.032) and selenium (p=0.007). The percent of body fat in obese persons is increased (p=0.00001) and very close to abnormal in patients with no weight problems. An increased food intake, above the calculated resting metabolic rate, is associated with a slower metabolism and a rapid resting metabolic rate is often associated with food intake below resting metabolic rate (p=0.002). Conclusions All subjects had imbalanced intake of vitamins and minerals. The normal weight group didn’t achieve the dietary recommendations for vitamins and minerals and we found that these subjects had risk factors for cardiac diseases like increased abdominal circumference, body fat and sodium intake.
Peritoneal dialysis – risk factor for glycemic variability assessed by continuous glucose monitoring system
Authors: Popa Simona , Văduva Cristina , Moţa Maria , Moţa Eugen
Published: May 2018

Background and Aims. Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is accompanied by a multitude of factors that influence glycemic variability, and HbA1c does not detect dynamic glucose changes. In this study we wanted to assess glycemic variability, using a 72-hour continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS), in 31 patients stratified according to the presence of type 2 diabetes and PD. Materials and Methods. The study included 31 patients (11 type 2 diabetic PD patients, 9 non diabetic PD patients and 11 type 2 diabetic patients without PD). Glycemic variability was assessed on CGM readings by: Mean Amplitude of Glycemic Excursion (MAGE), Mean of Daily Differences (MODD), Fractal Dimensions (FD), Mean Interstitial Glucose (MIG), Area Under glycemia Curve (AUC), M100, % time with glucose >180/<70 mg/dl. Results. The PD diabetic patients presented AUC, MIG and inter-day glycemic variability (MODD) significantly higher than diabetic patients without PD. In PD patients, the type of dialysis fluid in the nocturnal exchange and peritoneal membrane status did not significantly influence glycemic variability. Conclusions. CGMS is more useful than HbA1c in quantifying the metabolic imbalance of PD patients. PD induces inter-day glycemic variability and poor glycemic control, thus being a potential risk factor for chronic complications progression in diabetic patients.
Endoscopic management of recurrent tracheoesophageal fistula induced by chronic use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: A case report and review of the literature
Authors: Voiosu Theodor Alexandru , Gheorghe Andrada Viorela , Bobeica Dan Adrian , Voiosu Andrei Mihai , Mateescu Radu Bogdan
Published: May 2018

Tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) is frequently congenital and requires surgical correction. TEF can also occur secondary to malignant esophageal tumors or benign diseases and these cases are managed by endoscopic means, such as closing the defect with metallic stents. Although esophageal injury can occur secondary to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), TEF secondary to chronic NSAIDs use has not been described in the literature.

We report the case of a male patient with refractory migraine and chronic use of NSAIDs, with a history of esophageal stenosis presenting with acute-onset total dysphagia. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and CT-scan revealed TEF located at 25 cm from the incisors. An esophageal stent was placed endoscopically, and 6 weeks a second stent was placed in a stent-in-stent manner to allow removal of both stents. Endoscopic control after the removal of the stents showed the persistence of the fistula, so a third stent was placed as a rescue therapy.

Against medical advice, the patient continued to use OTC painkillers and NSAIDs in large doses. Three months later, he was readmitted with total dysphagia and recent-onset dysphonia. CT scan revealed a new fistula above the already placed stent. A second metallic stent was endoscopically placed through the old stent to close the newly developed fistula. The patient was discharged on the third day with no complications and he remains well at 6 months follow-up.

Due to small cases studies, recurrent TEF remains a therapeutic challenge. Endoscopic therapy is usually an effective solution, but complex cases might require multiple treatment sessions.
Endoscopic orbital decompression in Graves ophthalmopathy - Case report
Authors: Budu Vlad A. , Decuseara Tatiana , Bulescu Ioan , Panfiloiu Andrei , Sava Lavinia Georgiana , Tusaliu Mihai
Published: May 2018

Graves ophthalmopathy, an autoimmune disease, associated with hypermetabolism, enlargement of the thyroid gland and exophthalmia are the most frequent expressions of Graves’ disease, which often require surgical treatment. We present the case of a 41-year-old male with severe Graves ophthalmopathy for which we performed an endoscopic orbital decompression with good surgical outcome, the patient being discharged after 48 hours.
Do Natural Disasters Cause Economic Growth? An ARDL Bound Testing Approach
Authors: Baig Nida , Khan Shahbaz , Gilal Naeem Gul , Qayyum Abdul
Published: May 2018

This article strives to work out the causal relationship between natural disasters and economic growth in Pakistan. The study empirically tests the linkage using econometric techniques autoregressive distributed lag bound model by Pesaran (2001) and Granger causality test. We develop a proxy for the loss of natural disasters by a similar method as Noy (2009) and Bergholt et.al, (2012) did. The results of ARDL bounds testing approach evidence a negative long run relationship between the proxies of natural disasters and economic growth. The results of Granger Causality depict the uni-directional causality from natural disasters to economic growth both in short-run and long-run. Overall, the study determines that natural disasters deteriorate economic growth in Pakistan. This is the first study in Pakistan to assess the causal relationship among natural disasters and economic growth. So, further empirical evidence may link natural disasters to microeconomics and financial indicators. In future, researchers might control the impact of foreign development aid, remittances, political stability and country’s corruption rating. Natural disasters are an alarming issue and, addressing the questions related to their impacts on welfare of human being and economic growth of the countries contain significant importance in order to attract the attention of global development agencies and policymakers. As per INFORM (2015) risk index, Pakistan has the highest vulnerability towards natural disasters after Afghanistan. So, the study contains more significant value in context of Pakistan.
Resource Endowment and Export Diversification: Implications for Growth in Nigeria
Authors: Charles Ayobola , Mesagan Ekundayo , Saibu Muibi
Published: May 2018

This paper examined the relationship between resource endowment and export diversification and its implication for economic growth in Nigeria based on data from 1981 to 2015. The result of the Granger causality test suggests that unidirectional causality runs from oil production to economic growth, while export diversification does not granger cause economic growth. From the error correction result, it was established that export diversification positively impacts growth from the last two periods, while in the current period, it has negative effect on growth. This means that the key issue with Nigerian economy might not be structural but institutional. That is, even if the economy is diversified, the expected result may still be a ruse without appropriate economic institutional reform. The study concludes that specialisation is preferred to diversification for Nigeria in the current circumstance. Hence, the key issue to sustain growth in Nigeria is not in the number of productive sectors but in their efficiency.
Investigating the Impact of Commitment, Satisfaction, and Loyalty of Employees on Providing High-Quality Service to Customer
Authors: Esmaeilpour Majid , Ranjbar Mohammad
Published: May 2018

The aim of the research was to examine the effects of satisfaction and commitment of employees on the employees’ loyalty and to investigate the effect of employees’ loyalty on quality of services provided for customers. This research is applied in terms of objective and correlational type of descriptive-survey in terms of data collection. Population of the research includes two groups. The first group included employees providing service to customers of Ports and Maritime Organization of Bushehr (Iran) and the second group included customers receiving the services of the organization. From both groups, 250 people were selected using available sampling method to respond to questions of the research. To test the research conceptual model and research hypotheses, structural equation modeling was used. The results showed that job satisfaction of employees have significant positive effect on organizational commitment of employees. Also, job satisfaction and organizational commitment of employees have significant positive effect on their loyalty to organization. In addition, organizational loyalty of employees has positive and significant impact on improving the quality of customer service. Therefore, organizations should make their effort to recruit employees who are suitable for their activities.
An Assessment of Good Corporate Governance in State Owned Enterprises of Mauritius
Authors: Rughoobur Soujata
Published: May 2018

The study seeks to assess the impact good corporate governance in State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) of Mauritius by obtaining the general perspectives of employees in this particular sector. This study comprised of two stages. Firstly, a focus group discussion was conducted among few employees in SOEs of Mauritius. This exploratory phase was useful in identifying additional views on the impact, barriers, issues and challenges on the level of good corporate governance in SOEs of Mauritius. A survey was then being conducted as a second phase of the study among a sample of employees from SOEs in Mauritius. The analysis focused on the objectives of the study, which were to assess the practice of good governance in SOEs in Mauritius, its benefits and the barriers towards practicing good governance in these firms. The major findings of the study showed that most respondents acknowledge the positive impact of good corporate governance in the day to day of their organisations. However, they also reported that constant governmental intervention acts as a barrier for the proper functioning of SOEs in Mauritius.
Analysis of Trends in Gross Domestic and Household Savings and its Components in India
Authors: Suri Ashish , Hada Bhupendra Singh
Published: May 2018

India is having a long-term oriented culture where people are more focused on their future rather than present. Due to this the savings rate in India has always remain at a significant level. India’s savings performance has been quite impressive in a cross-country context. India’s gross domestic savings rate in the recent period is comparable to Indonesia, Thailand and Korea, much lower than that of China, Malaysia and Singapore but much higher than that of many other emerging and advanced economies. India ranked 2nd in terms of gross domestic savings among top 10 economies of the world in the year 2015, just below that of China. The gross domestic savings which stood at around 23 per cent in 1990 has reached around 35 per cent in 2015, well above the world average of 23.5 per cent. Various factors which resulted in an increase in gross domestic savings rate are rapid economic growth, large scale migration of rural population to urban area, Rise in income of government employees after 6th pay commission, persistence of saving habits among households, awareness programs by government and financial institutions etc. Household savings has always remained a major component of gross domestic savings followed by private corporate savings and public sector savings. It was the result of high savings rate that the Indian economy stand strong during the global recession of 2008. During the tenth five year plan i.e. from 2002-2007 the increasing in gross domestic savings was maximum among all. Bank deposits have always remain the most preferred avenue for savings for households. Total deposits in Indian banks crossed Rs100 billion mark in 2017.
The effect of sewage sludge on the growth and species composition of the sward and the content of heavy metals in plants and urban soil
Authors: Wołejko Elżbieta , Pawluśkiewicz Bogumiła , Wydro Urszula , Łoboda Tadeusz , Butarewicz Andrzej
Published: May 2018

The effect of sewage sludge on the growth and species composition of the sward and the content of heavy metals in plants and urban soil. The determination of the sludge fertilising infl uence for the growth and composition of the urban grasslands’ swards and heavy metals concentration in above-ground parts of the plants was the aim of the study. The study was conducted on four research plots along the main roads in Białystok. The plots were seeded with two mixtures of lawn grasses (Eko and Roadside) and three doses of sludge were applied: 0 (control), 7.5 and 15 kg/m2. The study also included the determination of concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn in soil and in the above-ground parts of lawn grasses and selected physical and chemical properties of soils fertilized with different doses of sludge. The dose of 7.5 kg/m2 increased the plant dry matter on average by 53%, the dose of 15 kg/m2 - on average by 90%. The largest effect of fertilization was found for lightest soil. Under these conditions, grass dry matter fertilized with 7.5 kg/m2 sludge was almost doubled, and fertilized with the dose of 15 kg/m2 was almost three times larger than in not fertilized areas. Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) was the dominant species in the sward. Perennial ryegrass constituted on average 71% of all grass species in the areas fertilized with sewage sludge in the dose of 7.5 kg/m2, while on the areas fertilized with 15 kg/m2 - about 81%, and on not fertilized ones - 50% on average. Bioconcentration factor in the study allowed for estimating the plants ability to collect heavy metals present in the soil. Based on these results, it was found that the rate of bioconcentration of Cd, Cr, Cu and Pb was the highest in August, which may indicate the ease of downloading these metals by plants, particularly high mobility of metals during this period, and lower in October and June
Using the River Habitat Survey method in forecasting effects of river restoration
Authors: Kiraga Marta , Popek Zbigniew
Published: May 2018

Using the River Habitat Survey method in forecasting effects of river restoration. Research presents usability of the River Habitat Survey (RHS) evaluation method in forecasting effects of the Zielawa River restoration, performed in selected section between 18 + 960 km and 19 + 460 km. The EU so-called Water Framework Directive signalizes necessity of achieving a good ecological status of European rivers in the immediate future. Accordingly, river restoration is the main tool for already technically regulated rivers’ quality upgrading. Present research contains a collation of four proposed restoration works variants and the ecological evaluation of chosen river reach before and after initiating restoration works in accordance to various variants, using the RHS method. The conclusion is fact, that in dependence of established variant it is possible to receive improvement of ecological class from present Class V to Class IV (variants 1 and 2) or Class III (variants 3 and 4)
Impact of the stabilization of compacted cohesive soil – sandy clay on yield criterion improvement
Authors: Sas Wojciech , Głuchowski Andrzej , Szymański Alojzy
Published: May 2018

Impact of the stabilization of compacted cohesive soil - sandy clay on yield criterion improvement. Soft soils, exhibiting low strength properties in the case of external load, require improvement. Chemical stabilization is easy in preparing and presents very good results in improving mechanical properties. In this paper, results of CBR and unconfined compressive strength test are presented for cohesive soil - sandy clay. Stabilization medium was Reymix, which is a cement derivative. Conducted tests define the characteristics of mechanical properties improvement and estimate yield criterion for stabilized soil during the time of stabilization, which is different for non-stabilized soils
Qualification of Concepts and its Problems in Cases with Foreign Element in Poland and the United Kingdom
Authors: Bagan-Kurluta Katarzyna
Published: May 2018

Qualification is the basic instrument used in the process of application of the law. It is impossible to apply the law without conducting it. The main internal source of collision law in Poland, Act of private international law dated February 4th, 2011, does not specify how to carry on the process of the qualification, and doctrine is of the opinion that the Polish court applying foreign law should interpret the foreign concepts according to the rules of this law and give them such meanings as this law assigns to them. But also there are four doctrinal proposals concerning methods of qualification. The first one (with various modifications) is relatively popular in a number of countries, while the Polish doctrine has the greatest respect for the latter: 1) lex fori approach, 2) lex causae approach, 3) autonomous method and 4) functional method (or collision lex fori approach).

The English judge applying the rules derived from his own internal law remembers about the function of private international law - and therefore takes into account the rules and institutions adopted in the foreign laws. That is application of lex fori approach modified because of the function of collision law, indeed reminiscent of a functional method. However, due to the lack of a uniform approach to qualification and identification of the only way to proceed by the doctrine and case law, it is permissible to move away from the use of this method. For instance it is possible to use the lex causae approach, if it leads to an equitable solution.

Lack of regulation of qualification gives a person applying the law a freedom, but at the same time leads to uncertainty about the effects.
Interpretation of Administrative Legal Norms Demonstrating Strong Relations with Civil Law Which Aim Environmental Protection
Authors: Katarzyna Ewa , Pietrzyk Marta
Published: May 2018

The penetration process of structures traditionally assigned to civil law into administrative law, especially administrative law aiming environmental protection, has been more noticeable through recent years. This process resulted in deepening the absence of a clear separation of private law norms from public law norms. It led to the existence of so-called quasi civil solutions, which can be found for example in the Act on prevention from damages in environment and its repair. Their specificity consists in the fact that they cannot be regarded as civil law structures due to the differences between them and the civil law structures. This legal status sets new challenges for legal theorists as well as practition- ers. They concentrate on interpretation of administrative law provisions which were penetrated by civil law structures, taking into account differences between interpretation of administrative and civil law provisions. We should not reject specific character of the civil law provisions’ interpretation and interpret these provisions only by taking into account specificity of administrative law inter- pretation. Civil law institutions are characterized by a larger field for action, which is left for parties or performers, in comparison to the institutions of ad- ministrative law. This specificity of civil law structures should be considered as its advantage that should not be removed in the activities of public authorities.
Direct Coercion in Psychiatrics – Interpretation of Legal Regulations as Amended in June 2012
Authors: Huzarska Joanna
Published: May 2018

The issues connected with direct coercion are of vital importance due to the fact that the application of coercive measures leads to restriction of personal freedom and limiting individual autonomy. It may even result in violating bodily integrity. Thus, it is an interference with the sphere of fundamental rights guaranteed to every human by the Constitution of the Republic of Poland.

The article includes an interpretation of the legal provisions concerning the application of direct coercion in psychiatrics. It comprises the changes which are in force as of June 2012. There is a comprehensive analysis of the meaning of the term “direct coercion”, as well as a detailed study of the prerequisites of its application. The legal regulations related to the forms of exerting direct coercion are thoroughly scrutinized. Next, the analysis of current regulations is carried out in order to evaluate their coherence, clarity and accuracy. It is also examined whether the currently applicable legal regulations are sufficient and if the rights of persons against whom direct coercion is applied are appropriately secured and protected.
Hamlet Ex Machina
Authors: Petcu Ioana
Published: May 2018

Art movements don’t end up at a precise moment, but they can survive over the decades in different ways, even if they could be considered out of date. Today, we live in the post-human or the post-digitalized era, but here and now we also recognize marks or processes derived from the art of the ‘80s. What are postmodernism’s shadows that have been shaping recent years’ performances and how does Romanian theatre directing look like, seen against the bigger drama background in or within our European continent – those are the two main questions to which our study tries to find potential answers. Given that we don’t want to lose ourselves into various theatre productions, we have chosen to verify this with an ageless play – Hamlet. How do they (still) look like and what do they hide again, the new profiles of the prince who speaks to us about the death of sleep’s dreams – those are the questions depicted from the hyper-technological identities of Hamlet ex machina.
Towards a Hybrid Theatre
Authors: Rădulescu Cristina
Published: May 2018

A trans-historic feature, the hybridity of theatre finds in postmodernity a territory on which it develops functional associative matrices. Whether it operates at formal level, or it isolates and autonomizes essential elements, or takes on ideological hues, hybridity is the most valuable mark of interdisciplinarity. The topology of performance arts, discontinuous and changeable as it is, eliminates the univocal relation to deconstruction and technophilia, offering the composite discourse of a syncretic theatricality.
Contemporary Dance Between Modern and Postmodern
Authors: Volbea Beatrice
Published: May 2018

As human beings and artists, what we produce, as well as our own selves, are visibly influenced by a complex ensemble of processes that take place around us and, in time, we can actually be regarded as their result. This evolutionary principle also applies to the role that body expression has in the wide specter of arts, including in dramatic dance and dramatic theatre. All along the XXth century and up until the first decade of the XXIst century, new performative genres have developed, for example, under the influence of political, social and cultural theories and philosophies. The result was the evolution of numerous alternative forms, supported by revolutionary theories in the dramatic field and by new approaches towards performance. Among these, we can find concepts like physical theatre, total theatre and dance theatre, all of them focusing on body expression. A notable aspect of these changes is the fact that they share the recurrent idea of a fusion between different artistic forms, incorporating dance, dramatic play and other theatrical elements in the creative processes and their outputs.
Improved Stability Estimates for Impulsive Delay Reaction-Diffusion Cohen-Grossberg Neural Networks Via Hardy-Poincaré Inequality
Authors: Akça Haydar , Covachev Valéry , Covacheva Zlatinka
Published: May 2018

An impulsive Cohen-Grossberg neural network with time-varying and S-type distributed delays and reaction-diffusion terms is considered. By using Hardy-Poincaré inequality instead of Hardy-Sobolev inequality or just the nonpositivity of the reaction-diffusion operators, under suitable conditions in terms of M-matrices which involve the reaction-diffusion coefficients and the dimension and size of the spatial domain, improved stability estimates for the system with zero Dirichlet boundary conditions are obtained. Examples are given.
Asymptotic Integration of Some Classes of Fractional Differential Equations
Authors: Medveď Milan
Published: May 2018

In this paper we deal with the problem of asymptotic integration of nonlinear higher order fractional differential equations of the Caputo’s type. We give some conditions under which all global solutions of these equations behave like linear functions as t -> ∞.
Asymptotic Properties of Third-Order Nonlinear Differential Equations
Authors: Baculíková Blanka , Džurina Jozef
Published: May 2018

We present new criteria guaranteeing that all nonoscillatory solutions of the third-order functional differential equation

tend to zero. Our results are based on the suitable comparison theorems. We consider both delay and advanced case of studied equation. The results obtained essentially improve and complement earlier ones.
Model of Stabilizing of the Interest Rate on Deposits Banking System Using by Moment Equations
Authors: Dzhalladova Irada , Michalková Mária , Růžičková Miroslava
Published: May 2018

The paper deals with a system of difference equations, where coefficients depend on Markov chains. The functional equations for particular density and the moment equations for the system are derived and used in the investigation of solvability and stability. An application of the results is shown how to solve various economic problems.
Weakly Perturbed Boundary-Value Problems for Systems of Integro-Differential Equations
Authors: Goiovatska Ivanna
Published: May 2018

We obtain bifurcation conditions of solutions of boundary-value problems for weakly perturbed systems of linear integro-differential equations from t ho point ε = 0.
Conditions for Factorization of Linear Differential-Difference Equations
Authors: Janglajew Klara R. , Valeev Kim G.
Published: May 2018

The paper deals with a linear system of differential equations of the form

with constant coefficients, a small parameter and complex deviating argument. Sufficient conditions for factorizing of this system are presented. These conditions are obtained by construction of an integral manifold of solutions to the considered system.
In the shadow of the urban regeneration megaproject: Urban transitions in downtown Łódź, Poland
Authors: Kazimierczak Jarosław , Kosmowski Piotr
Published: May 2018

The Nowe Centrum Łodzi project that was completed in 2007 in Łódź, Poland is one of the biggest contemporary large-scale urban (re)development projects in Europe and the largest project of this type in Central Europe. The principal goals of the mega-project in question include the regeneration of degraded post-industrial and post-railway land in the city centre of Łódź and the enhancement of competitiveness and the metropolitan position of the city. The authors seek to identify spatial and functional changes at a mezo-scale, i.e. in the so-called immediate neighbourhood of the urban regeneration megaproject (URMP), which have accompanied the implementation of the Nowe Centrum Łodzi project over the years 2013–2016. The other aim was to classify urban areas neighbouring the URMP based on features of spatial and functional transformation identified in these areas. The studies allowed the researchers to identify three categories of urban area in the immediate neighbourhood of the URMP which revealed differences in spatial and functional transformations. We indicated that the transformation of the immediate neighbourhood of the URMP involved not only the local authorities responsible for the overall improvement of the quality of public space but also other users, inter alia, residents, local urban activists, the business community, public institutions, and NGOs, that in most cases complemented efforts initiated by the Municipality. From the methodological point of view the authors use a case study including desk research, an urban planning inventory, and direct observation.
Simple method of copper analysis using monosodium glutamate and its application in ore analysis
Authors: Prasetyo Erik
Published: May 2018

A simple photometric method for copper (II) analysis using monosodium glutamate (MSG) is presented. The method is technically simple, inexpensive, quantitative, and makes use of readily available reagents. The rapid reaction of copper (II) with glutamate in aqueous solution at pH 10 to form a blue complex serves as a basis for the determination of copper (II) in the range of 10-500 μg/ml. Copper recovery is > 82%. The method could be used to determine copper (II) concentrations in iron ore samples.
Polymetallic mineralization in Ediacaran sediments in the Żarki-Kotowice area, Poland
Authors: Karwowski Łukasz , Markowiak Marek
Published: May 2018

In one small mineral vein in core from borehole 144-Ż in the Żarki-Kotowice area, almost all of the ore minerals known from related deposits in the vicinity occur. Some of the minerals in the vein described in this paper, namely, nickeline, hessite, native silver and minerals of the cobaltite-gersdorffite group, have not previously been reported from elsewhere in the Kraków-Lubliniec tectonic zone. The identified minerals are chalcopyrite, pyrite, marcasite, sphalerite, Co-rich pyrite, tennantite, tetrahedrite, bornite, galena, magnetite, hematite, cassiterite, pyrrhotite, wolframite (ferberite), scheelite, molybdenite, nickeline, minerals of the cobaltitegersdorffite group, carrollite, hessite and native silver. Moreover, native bismuth, bismuthinite, a Cu- and Ag-rich sulfosalt of Bi (cuprobismutite) and Ni-rich pyrite also occur in the vein. We suggest that, the ore mineralization from the borehole probably reflects post-magmatic hydrothermal activity related to an unseen granitic intrusion located under the Mesozoic sediments in the Żarki-Pilica area.
Decision support system for collision avoidance at sea
Authors: Lazarowska Agnieszka
Published: May 2018

The paper presents design and realization of computer decision support system in collision
situations of passage with greater quantity of met objects. The system was implemented
into the real ship electro-navigational system onboard research and training ship m/v
HORYZONT II. The radar system with Automatic Radar Plotting Aid constitutes a source
of input data for algorithm determining safe trajectory of a ship. The article introduces
radar data transmission details. The dynamic programming algorithm is used for the
determination of safe optimal trajectory of own ship. The system enables navigational
data transmission from radar system and automatic determining of safe manoeuvre or safe
trajectory of a ship. Further development of navigator’s decision support system is also presented. Path
Planning Subsystem is proposed for the determination of global optimal route between harbours with the
use of Ant Colony Optimization algorithms.
Control system for trials on material ship model
Authors: Pomirski Janusz , Rak Andrzej , Gierusz Witold
Published: May 2018

The paper presents software environement for fast
prototyping and verification of motion control systems for
ship. The environement is prepared for isomorphic reduced
ship model which is used for training and in research in
a area of ship motion control. The control system is build
using Matlab-Simulink-xPC package which simplifies
and accellerates design and verification of new control
algorithms. The systems was prepared also for Hardwarein-
the-loop trials when a designed control system is tested inside a virtual environment instead of real
actuators, disturbances, communication and measurement devices.
Linear Matrix Inequalities in multivariable ship’s steering
Authors: Rybczak Monika
Published: May 2018

This paper explains the basics of the Linear Matrix Inequalities (LMI), with examples of
simulations and calculations created in Matlab/Simulink programming environment where
the controlled plant is the “Blue Lady” ship model. First chapter of this paper gives a short
overview of publications describing the use of Linear Matrix Inequalities method. Second
chapter contains basic definitions and equations for the LMI method. Chapter three presents
the use of LMI method for ship control by describing controller synthesis for the “Blue
Lady”. Chapter four compares the operation of two controllers, the first one consisting of
three independent proper adjusted PID controllers and the second one being a multivariable LMI controller.
Finally conclusions from the above comparison are drawn.
The branch-and-bound method and genetic algorithm in avoidance of ships collisions in fuzzy environment
Authors: Mohamed-Seghir Mostefa
Published: May 2018

Marine navigation consists in continuous observation of the situation at sea, determination
the anti-collision manoeuvre. So it necessary to determine ship safe trajectory as a sequence
of ship course changing manoeuvres. Each manoeuvre is undertaken on the basis of
information obtained from the anti-collision system ARPA. This paper describes a method
of safe ship control in the collision situation in a fuzzy environment based on a branch
and bound method and a genetic algorithm. The optimal safe ship trajectory in a collision
situation is presented as multistage decision-making process
Nonlinear observers design for multivariable ship motion control
Authors: Tomera Mirosław
Published: May 2018

This paper presents the designs of two observers, which are: the extended Kalman filter
and the nonlinear passive observer. Based on the measured values of ship position and
heading, the observers estimate the surge, sway and yaw velocities of the ship motion.
The observers make use of the simplified nonlinear mathematical model of ship motion in
which the neglected ship dynamics and disturbances are modelled using bias. The designed
observers firstly have been simulated on a computer model where their parameters were
calibrated, and then were implemented on the physical model of the training ship “Blue
Lady” in the ship handling centre in Ilawa-Kamionka. The comparative analysis was
done with respect to the estimated variables describing the ship motion in three directions: surge, sway
and yaw
Computational model for simulation of lifeboat motions during its launching from ship in rough seas
Authors: Dymarski Paweł , Dymarski Czesław
Published: May 2018

This paper presents a computational model which describes motion of an object of six degrees of freedom
(DoF), intended for simulation of spatial motion of one- or two- rope-sling lifeboat or rescue boat during
its launching from ship in rough sea. This is a complex model which accounts for sea conditions as well
as elasticity and damping properties of davit’s elements and mechanisms, rope and boat hull. Also, are
presented results of example calculations for an assumed set of technical parameters of davit and boat as
well as sea conditions.
Research on hydrodynamic properties of annular cavitator with water injection
Authors: Jiang Zhenyu , Xiang Min , Lin Mingdong , Zhang Weihua , Zhang Shuai
Published: May 2018

Annular cavitator with water injection is one of the key parts of the long-range supercavitating vehiclepowered by water ramjet. In this paper, hydrodynamic properties of annular cavitator are studiednumerically. The standard k ~ ε turbulence model is coupled with the Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes(RANS) equations to model the natural supercavitation process. The multiphase flow is considered asa mixture of varying density and modeled by the mass exchange equations. To fully understand this process,numerical simulations were performed for different annular cavitators. Computational Fluid Dynamics(CFD) results, including the pressure distribution and forces acting on the cavitator surface, mass flowand pressure loss of water injection, various supercavity sizes, were obtained and analyzed. The pressuredistribution on the cavitator surface was significantly changed which resulted in 4 ~ 6% increase of thetotal drag of the vehicle. The results show that the mass flow and velocity of the injection water is mainlydependent on the tube size, while the total pressure loss of the water injection is mostly related to the outletpressure. Supercavity generated by annular cavitator is smaller than that of the discal one. Based on thecorrelation analysis of the supercavity size and other factors, it could be concluded that the contraction ofthe cavity size is mainly caused by the diffluent mass flow of the water injection.
Assessment of possible application of waterlubricated sintered brass slide bearing for marine propeller shaft
Authors: Litwin Wojciech , Olszewski Artur
Published: May 2018

Water-lubricated bearings have been applied to support ship screw shafts for over a hundered years.
Development of plastic materials has caused that novel sliding polymers appeared available on the market
and being approved by classification institutions, possible to be applied in shipbuilding. However in the
subject - matter literature there is no reference to application of bearings fitted with metal or ceramic
bushes in shipbuilding. Nevertheless they have important merits such as low resistance to motion, long
service life or stability of form. But some doubts are evoked by their large value of shape elasticity module
which can lead to local stress concentration at the bush edges in the case of non-axiality of bush and shaft
axes. Hence this work has been aimed at the testing of a bearing made of bronze-graphite silter. In the
work is presented a comparison of measurement results of resistance to motion , hydrodynamic pressure
distributions in lubricating film as well as shaft axis trajectories of the bearing, with those made for a typical
elastic polymer bearing. The measurement results have showed high quality of the tested material. In the
opinion of these authors it could be applicable to bearing ship propeller shafts.
The effect of liquid temperature and viscosity on the amplitude-frequency characteristics of a viscotic torsion damper
Authors: Homik Wojciech
Published: May 2018

The article discusses causes of the appearance of transverse, longitudinal and torsional
crankshaft vibrations in multi-cylinder internal combustion engines. Particular attention
is paid to the torsional vibration which is the most severe threat to engine crankshafts.
Damping methods making use of torsion dampers are presented. With the reference to
viscotic dampers, problems with their damping efficiency are discussed in the context of
viscosity changes of the damping liquid. The article also presents the amplitude-frequency
characteristics of a series of viscotic dampers, which were recorded experimentally on the
research rig and on a real object. An idea of vibration damper metric is given.
Data fusion in a navigational decision support system on a sea-going vessel
Authors: Borkowski Piotr
Published: May 2018

The problem of data fusion in a navigational decision support system on a sea-going vessel
has been analyzed. The computing algorithm herein applied for solving the formulated
problem is based on a multi-sensor Kalman filter. On the practical side, results of the
tests done in real conditions are shown. The tests conducted onboard m/s Nawigator XXI,
have been aimed at the verification of the proposed computing algorithm implemented in
a prototype navigational decision support system.
Genetics of non Syndromic Hearing Loss in the Republic of Macedonia
Authors: Sukarova Stefanovska Emilija , Plaseska Karanfilska D , Cakar M , Filipce I
Published: May 2018

Hearing impairment is the most common sensory deficit in humans affecting 1 in 1000 newborns. When present in an infant, deafness may have dramatic effects on language acquisition, seriously compromising the quality of their life. Deafness is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors, with inherited causes as the most prominent etiological factor in deafness in developed countries. The genetic basis of hearing loss is complex with numerous loci and genes underlying hereditary sensoryneural non syndromic hearing loss (NSHL) in humans. Despite the wide functional heterogeneity of the genes, mutations in the GJB2 gene are found to be the most common cause of sporadic and recessive NSHL in many populations worldwide. Molecular characterization of deafness in the Republic of Macedonia was performed in 130 NSHL profoundly deaf children from different ethnic origins. Molecular studies included direct sequencing of the GJB2 gene and specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses for the del(GJB6- D13S1830) mutation. Five common mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations [A1555G, 961delT+ C(n), T1095C, C1494T and A827G] were also analyzed using the SNaPShot method. In preliminary studies, GJB2 gene mutations were found in 36.4% of analyzed patients, with predominance of 35delG in Macedonian and Albanian patients and W24X in Gypsy patients, respectively. No del(GJB6- D13S1830) mutation was found. None of the analyzed deafness-associated mutations in mtDNA were identified in the studied patients
Molecular Diagnostics of ß-Thalassemia
Authors: Plaseska-Karanfilska Dijana , Atanasovska B , Bozhinovski G , Chakalova L , Kocheva S , Karanfilski O
Published: May 2018

A high-quality hemoglobinopathy diagnosis is based on the results of a number of tests including assays for molecular identification of causative mutations. We describe the current diagnostic strategy for the identification of b-thalassemias and hemoglobin (Hb) variants at the International Reference Laboratory for Haemoglobinopathies, Research Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (RCGEB) “Georgi D. Efremov,” Skopje, Republic of Macedonia. Our overall approach and most of the methods we use for detection of mutations are designed for the specific target population. We discuss new technical improvements that have allowed us to substantially reduce the average time necessary for reaching a conclusive diagnosis.
Investigation of atmospheric corrosion with use of permanent corrosion stations
Authors: Barszcz Piotr
Published: May 2018

Field tests of atmospheric corrosion [7, 14, 15] are understood as investigation that are
carried out in the Earth atmosphere at the ambient temperature in order to determine corrosion
resistance of metals and pollution of environment by corrosion products, efficiency
of corrosion protection or corrosion aggressiveness of environment [9, 11]. The investigation
dedicated to prolongation of the technical service time of aircrafts as well implementation
of their operation according to their actual technical condition are closely connected to
investigation of corrosion processes under natural atmospheric conditions where specimens
of materials are exposed to the impact of ambient factors and periodically subjected
to tests that assume visual inspection, scheduled determination of weight and volume loss
due to corrosion, appearance of specimens and alteration of their physical parameters [4].
Investigation results are obtained as measurements of weight and thickness of corroded
specimens, photographs of specimen surfaces after withdrawing them back from the corrosion
stations and removing corrosion products. On the basis of information acquired from
investigations on corrosion it is possible to calculate parameters that are specific for the
corrosion process that takes place within the region where a permanent corrosion station is
located. The calculated parameters have been sourced from standards that are effective in
Poland and worldwide [5, 6, 8, 10] but own specifications have also been developed based
on the gained experience (Table 3). The research process involves also monitoring of
atmospheric conditions that exist on the area where corrosion specimens are exposed [4].
Information related to atmospheric conditions is sourced from the Hydrometeorological
Centre of Polish Army along with information that is published on the Internet by the Inspectorate
of Environmental Protection. These information that reflect the atmospheric
conditions make it possible to seek for the correlation between the parameters that are
specific for the corrosion process and meteorological conditions.
Choice of the Optimum Cross-Sections for 20–110–330 kV Overhead Lines Under Market Conditions / 20–110–330 Kv Gaisvadu Līniju Optimālo Šķērsgriezumu Izvēle Tirgus Apstākļos
Authors: Guseva S. , Petrichenko L.
Published: May 2018

Approach is proposed to the choice of overhead line cross-sections that would be optimal under market conditions. For this purpose, in the design practice and at network reconstruction two methods exist: of the economic current density, and of the economic intervals. As of now, none of them works properly, since the cost of electrical materials, of building and construction as well as the total investments in a line are determined by the market prices. Therefore, a modified economic intervals’ method has been developed that can work under market conditions. The method allows also considering the discrete character of standard cross-sections for the lines and concrete technical and technically-economic parameters. For practical application of the proposed method, universal economic nomograms for 20-110-330 kV overhead lines have been calculated and constructed. In the paper, a user interface is proposed for realization of the modified method in Matlab environment.
The interplay between post–critical beliefs and self–consciousness
Authors: Śliwak Jacek , Zarzycka Beata
Published: May 2018

D. Wulff (1991) developed a notion of post-critical beliefs as a proposal for the description of religion in the light of the
progress of secularization and socio-cultural changes. According to his theory, we can situate(place) potential attitudes
toward religion in a two-dimensional space. The vertical dimension stands for Inclusion vs. Exclusion of Transcendence,
and the horizontal one-for the way an individual interprets religious content: Literal vs. Symbolic. In this way, the two
dimensions determine four quadrants, each reflecting a potential attitude towards religion, operationalized by D. Hutsebaut
(1996) in the Post-Critical Belief Scale (PCBS) as: Orthodoxy, External Critique, Relativism and Second Naiveté.

The research presented in this paper is our attempt at fi n ding an answer to the question whether the religious attitudes
determined by Wulff are related to self-consciousness types. We tested 159 adult individuals by means of the PCBS scale
by D. Hutsebaut and the Self-consciousness scale (O-Z scale) by Z. Zaborowski and Z. Oleszkiewicz. The results of
these tests are that the refl ective type of self-consciousness correlated positively with Orthodoxy and Second Naiveté and
negatively with External Critique and Relativism