bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Newborn Screening in Slovakia – From 1985 Till Today / Novorodencký skríning na Slovensku – od roku 1985 doposiaľ
Authors: Dluholucký S. , Knapková M.
Published: April 2013

Regular newborn screening enables detection of severe disorders in their asymptomatic early phase and thus allows the start of early treatment and prevention of long-term sequelae. This concept is in full accordance with care for so called rare diseases. Recently, the national NBS in Europe are under the supervision of ISNS and EUNENBS to ensure the quality control and unified approach. NBS in Slovak Republic has been provided for the whole population as a governmentally guaranteed activity since 1985. The first screened disorder was congenital hypothyroidism (CH). Patients have been screened for phenylketonuria (PKU) since 1995, for congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) since 2003, and for cystic fibrosis (CF) since 2009. The organizational network of NBS ensures more than 98% coverage of the population of newborns. Between 1985 and 2011, the newborn screening centre (NSC SK) examined 3,239 068 newborn infants and confirmed 413 cases of CH (1: 4 128), 157 cases of PKU (1:5 908), 51 cases of CAH (1:8 677) and 26 CF cases (1:6 315). In 2012, the expanded NBS (ENBS) was introduced. It used tandem mass spectrometry (ms/ms) to detect other nine hereditary metabolic disorders (HMDs), defect of beta-oxidation of fatty acids, carnitine disorders, and organic acidurias. Four month pilot study revealed 12 positive cases in 25 000 screened newborns as well as other HMDs not included in the screening - in “peripheral view” of ms/ms. Since 1. January, ENBS has been performed as a regular NBS in the whole population. In January, fifteen new cases were detected (prevalence even 1:763).
Thermosolutal Instability in Compressible Viscoelastic Dusty Fluid through Porous Medium
Authors: Kumar P. , Mohan H.
Published: April 2013

Thermosolutal instability in a compressible Walters B’ viscoelastic fluid with suspended particles through a porous medium is considered. Following the linearized stability theory and normal mode analysis, the dispersion relation is obtained. For stationary convection, the Walters B’ viscoelastic fluid behaves like a Newtonian fluid and it is found that suspended particles and medium permeability have a destabilizing effect whereas the stable solute gradient and compressibility have a stabilizing effect on the system. Graphs have been plotted by giving numerical values to the parameters to depict the stability characteristics. The stable solute gradient and viscoelasticity are found to introduce oscillatory modes in the system which are non-existent in their absence.
Dual Solutions for Boundary Layer Flow of Moving Fluid over a Moving Surface with Power-Law Surface Temperature
Authors: Mukhopadhyay S. , Gorla R.S.R.
Published: April 2013

An analysis of heat transfer for boundary layer forced convective flow past a moving flat surface parallel to a moving stream is presented. The power-law surface temperature at the boundary is prescribed. The surface temperature varying directly (or inversely) with power-law exponent is considered. The similarity solutions for the problem are obtained and the reduced ordinary differential equations are solved numerically. To support the validity of the numerical results, a comparison is made with known results from the open literature for some particular cases of the present study. When the surface and the fluid move in the opposite directions, dual solutions exist.
Analysis of Mode I Conducting Crack in Piezo-Electro-Magneto-Elastic Layer
Authors: Rogowski B.
Published: April 2013

Within the theory of linear magnetoelectroelasticity, the fracture analysis of a magneto - electrically dielectric crack embedded in a magnetoelectroelastic layer is investigated. The prescribed displacement, electric potential and magnetic potential boundary conditions on the layer surfaces are adopted. Applying the Hankel transform technique, the boundary - value problem is reduced to solving three coupling Fredholm integral equations of second kind. These equations are solved exactly. The corresponding semi - permeable crack - face magnetoelectric boundary conditions are adopted and the electric displacement and magnetic induction of crack interior are obtained explicitly. This field inside the crack is dependent on the material properties, applied loadings, the dielectric permittivity and magnetic permeability of crack interior, and the ratio of the crack length and the layer thickness. Field intensity factors are obtained as explicit expressions.
The Two-Phase Hell-Shaw Flow: Construction of an Exact Solution
Authors: Malaikah K.R.
Published: April 2013

We consider a two-phase Hele-Shaw cell whether or not the gap thickness is time-dependent. We construct an exact solution in terms of the Schwarz function of the interface for the two-phase Hele-Shaw flow. The derivation is based upon the single-valued complex velocity potential instead of the multiple-valued complex potential. As a result, the construction is applicable to the case of the time-dependent gap. In addition, there is no need to introduce branch cuts in the computational domain. Furthermore, the interface evolution in a two-phase problem is closely linked to its counterpart in a one-phase problem
Optimized Placement of Connecting the Distributed Generationswork Stand Alone to Improve the Distribution Systems Reliability
Authors: Hashemi-Dezaki Hamed , Agheli Ali , Vahidi Behrooz , Askarian-Abyaneh Hossein
Published: April 2013

The use of distributed generations (DGs) in distribution systems has been common in recent years. Some DGs work stand alone and it is possible to improve the system reliability by connecting these DGs to system. The joint point of DGs is an important parameter in the system designing. In this paper, a novel methodology is proposed to find the optimum solution in order to make a proper decision about DGs connection. In the proposed method, a novel objective function is introduced which includes the cost of connector lines between DGs and network and the cost of energy not supplied (CENS) savings. Furthermore, an analytical approach is used to calculate the CENS decrement. To solve the introduced nonlinear optimization programming, the genetic algorithm (GA) is used. The proposed method is applied to a realistic 183-bus system of Tehran Regional Electrical Company (TREC). The results illustrate the effectiveness of the method to improve the system reliability by connecting the DGs work stand alone in proper placements.
Mobile Robot Navigation Based on Circle Recognition
Authors: Pásztó Peter , Hubinský Peter
Published: April 2013

This paper presents a navigation method for a mobile robot using a visual system. Circular marks with specific colors are used for marking the significant points of the mobile robot’s trajectory that it needs to pass. The colors of the used marks are signalizing the way of their bypassing with the mobile robot (from the left or right side). The mobile robot uses only one camera for the marks recognition task and it is able to determine its own relative position from the detected marks. The image processing and the mobile robot’s trajectory planning algorithm working in real-time are described in this paper.
Cluster Analysis – Data Mining Technique for Discovering Natural Groupings in the Data
Authors: Pastuchová Elena , Václavíková Štefánia
Published: April 2013

Amount of data stored in databases has been growing rapidly. With the technology of pattern recognition and statistical and mathematical techniques sieved across the stored information, data mining helps researchers recognize important facts, relationships, trends, patterns, derogations and anomalies that might otherwise go undetected. One of the major data mining techniques is clustering In this paper some of clustering methods, helpful in many applications, are compared. We assess the suitability of the software that we used for clustering.
Measurement Systemwith Hall and a Four Point Probes for Characterization of Semiconductors
Authors: Kinder Rudolf , Mikolášek Miroslav , Donoval Daniel , Kováč Jaroslav , Tlaczala Marek
Published: April 2013

One of the biggest challenges of communication networks is the video transmission in real time. It requires high demands on the available network capacity and transport mechanisms. Availability of smart mobile devices with batteries, which keep the terminal working for several hours, caused an increased interest in the research of the deployment of video transmission in wireless transmission systems. The presented paper deals with the transmission of video encoded with H.264/AVC (Advanced Video Coding) video coding standard through wireless local area network (WLAN) using the programming environment OPNET Modeller (OM). The test network studied in this work was prepared by combining real and simulated networks, which allows interesting possibilities when working with the OM tools. Such an approach to working with OM allows a detailed video streaming analysis, because the video output was noticeably not only in the form of statistics, but we can see the real impact of transmission failures. Using the OM simulation environment allows to design the transmission systems, which would be difficult to establish in laboratory conditions.
False Positive Troponin – A True Problem
Authors: Koraćević Goran , Ćosić Vladan , Stojanović Ivana
Published: April 2013

Cardiac troponins have a crucial role in diagnosing acute myocardial infarction, but have been considered by some authors to have a high false positive rate. Such opinions may decrease the confidence in troponin with important clinical consequences. The aim of the paper is to analyze three different meanings of the phrase »false positive troponin«: A) analytic (technical) false positive, with no real myocardial damage; B) false positive considering AMI: cardiac injury is present, but there is no AMI; C) false positive considering CAD: there is myocardial damage, but no CAD. The most frequent and the most important source of misunderstanding is the confusion between aspects A) and B). Namely, there has been a relatively small percentage of false positive troponin elevations due to analytic reasons. On the contrary, there has been a re - latively large percentage of »false positive« results in patients with myocardial necrosis due to causes other than AMI; for them - instead of »FP troponin elevation« - another phrase ought to be used, e.g., »non-AMI troponin elevation « until the etiopathogenesis in an individual patient is recognized. The phrase »false positive troponin« should be restricted to the artificial increase in troponin due to preanalytic and analytic reasons. By doing so, we may decrease the degree of confusion about troponin and increase the confidence in this highly specific marker of myocardial injury. The possibility of an analytic false positive result should always be kept in mind when one interprets elevated troponin.
SELENIUM AND SELENOPROTEIN P1 LEVELS ARE RELATED TO PRIMARY OPEN-ANGLE GLAUCOMA / NIVOI SELENA I SELENOPROTEINA P1 POVEZANI SU SA PRIMARNIM GLAUKOMOM OTVORENOG UGLA
Authors: Najafi Mohammad , Yeganeh Morteza Nouruzi , Miraftabi Arezoo , Zarei Reza , Noormohammadi Isa
Published: April 2013

Background Glaucoma is a highly prevalent eye disease related to optic nerve lesions and visual field defects. Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma (POAG) is a type of glaucoma that occurs frequently with unknown etiology. In this study, we investigated the serum levels of selenium, selenoprotein P1, glutathione, hemolysate glutathione peroxidase1 (GPx1) activity and aqueous humour selenium in POAG patients.

Methods Ninety sex- and age-matched subjects (POAG patients; n=45 and, controls; n=45) with the controlled confounders (smoking, hypertension and alcohol beverages) were recruited on clinical histories and exams. The serum and aqueous humour selenium levels were measured using GFAAS technique. The serum selenoprotein P1 level was assayed with the ELISA method. The hemolysate GPx1 activity and serum reduced glutathione level were also measured using known colorimetric techniques.

Results The serum selenium (P=0.01) and selenoprotein P1 (P<0.001) levels were significantly high in POAG patients. Furthermore, the aqueous humour selenium level was significantly high among patients as compared to controls (64.68±13.07 vs. 58.36±13.76 ng/mL, P=0.02). The results did not show a significant difference (P=0.36) in the hemolysate GPx1 activity between the groups. The cutoff points for intraocular pressure (IOP) and serum selenoprotein P1 parameters were estimated to be 39 mmHg (sensitivity 97.5%; 1-specificity 6.5%) and 188 mg/mL (sensitivity 93.5%; 1-specificity 14%), respectively.
THE CLINICAL IMPORTANCE OF BIOCHEMICAL BONE MARKERS IN PATIENTS WITH ALCOHOLIC AND VIRAL LIVER CIRRHOSIS / KLINIČKI ZNAČAJ BIOHEMIJSKIH KOŠTANIH MARKERA KOD PACIJENATA SA ALKOHOLNOM I VIRUSNOM CIROZOM JETRE
Authors: Ćulafić-Vojinović Violeta , Ćulafić Đorđe , Ignjatović Svetlana , Petakov Milan , Nikolić Marina Đurović , Vasić Jelena , Mirković Duško , Mijač Dragana , Štulić Miloš
Published: April 2013

Background Metabolic bone disease in patients with chronic liver disease is called hepatic osteodystrophy and is primarily a sequel to osteopenia/osteoporosis, and rarely secondary to osteomalacia. The aim of this work was to define the influence of vitamin D3 and parathyroid hormone (PTH) in the pathogenesis of hepatic osteodystrophy, as well as the predictive significance of biochemical bone markers.

MethodsThis prospective study included 58 male patients with alcoholic (49) and viral (9) cirrhosis. The concentrations of serum vitamin D3, PTH, osteocalcin and b-carboxy-ter - minal cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen (b-CTX) were determined. Bone density was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry in the L1-L4 spinal segment and the femoral neck.

Results Lower bone mineral density (BMD) was measured in 41 patients (70.7%). There was no significant correlation between PTH and vitamin D3 values and T score in the femoral neck (p=0.51; p=0.063) and lumbar spine (p=0.49; 0.064). Also, no significant correlation was found between the osteocalcin values in lumbar spine BMD (p=0.944) and femoral neck (p=0.161), or with b-CTX values and BMD in the lumbar spine (p=0.347) and femoral neck (p=0.73). Statistically significant difference was confirmed between the stage A osteocalcin (p=0.000) and b- CTX (p=0.008) values in relation to advanced stages B and C.
To What Extent are Stock Returns Driven by Mean and Volatility Spillover Effects? – Evidence from Eight European Stock Markets
Authors: Alikhanov Abdulla
Published: April 2013

The paper investigates mean and volatility spillover effects from the U.S and EU stock markets as well as oil price market into national stock markets of eight European countries. The study finds strong indication of volatility spillover effects from the US-global, EU-regional, and the world factor oil towards individual stock markets. While both mean and volatility spillover transmissions from the US are found to be significant, EU mean spillover effects are negligible. To evaluate the magnitude of volatility spillovers, the variance ratios are also computed and the results draw to attention that the individual emerging countries’ stock returns are mostly influenced by the U.S volatility spillovers rather than EU or oil markets. Additionally, examination of only global and regional stock markets spillover transmissions into European stock markets also confirms the dominating presence of the U.S spillover transmissions. Furthermore, I also implement asymmetric tests on stock returns of eight markets. The stock market returns of Hungary, Poland, Russia and the Ukraine are found to respond asymmetrically to negative and positive shocks in the US stock returns. The weak evidence of asymmetric effects with respect to oil market shocks is found only in the case of Russia and the quantified variance ratios indicate that presence of oil market shocks are relatively higher for Russia. Moreover, a model with dummy variable confirms the effect of European Union enlargement on stock returns only for Romania. Finally, a conditional model suggests that the spillover effects are partially explained by instrumental macroeconomic variables, out of which exchange rate fluctuations play the key role in explaining the spillover parameters rather than total trade to GDP ratios in most investigated countries.
Transparency in the Allocation of Municipal Grants for Sports and Voucher Systems in the Czech Republic
Authors: Pavlík Marek
Published: April 2013

This paper will assess transparency in the decision-making process in sports grants allocation. In comparison with other parts of the public sector, surprisingly little is known about transparency in the sports sector. An increasing portion of public funds is spent on sport grants; this establishes the necessity for research. Can any positive effects of sports grants be expected to appear without transparency in the decisionmaking process? An examination of the process in reality is crucial for future public resources allocation. Based on the general assumption that NGOs are important actors in economic and political development, we address the Czech Republic at the municipal level.

The main goals of this paper are to assess the transparency of the allocation of public grants for sport organizations on the municipal level in the Czech Republic and to discuss one possible method for improving system transparency and efficiency: vouchers.

We discuss sport vouchers as a possible tool for improving transparency. Vouchers solve the problem of transparency in the decision-making process by transferring the purchasing power to the client. Although using sports vouchers as a tool for allocating public resources is quite rare, there are a few examples of this practice in the Czech Republic. We established two research questions: (1) Do sport clubs perceive the allocation of sport grants at the municipality level as transparent? (2) Do sport clubs consider a voucher system as helpful for the transparency? To answer these questions, we discuss the theory and specific conditions in the Czech Republic; we perform a survey among sport clubs and we examine examples of voucher implementation; and we discuss the general consequences of our results.
Analysis of Crystallite Size and Lattice Deformations Changes in an Oxide Layer on P91 Steel / Analiza Zmian Wielkosci Krystalitów I Odkształcen Sieciowych W Warstwie Tlenków Na Stali P91
Authors: Gwozdzik M. , Nitkiewicz Z.
Published: April 2013

The paper contains results of studies on X-ray diffraction analysis XRD (studying the phase composition, crystallite sizes and lattice deformations) of oxide layers on P91 steel, operated for a long time at an elevated temperature (T = 535°C, t = 70,000 h). X-ray studies were carried out on the inner surface of a tube, and then the layer surface was polished down to 3.5 μm and the diffraction measurements were performed again to determine individual oxide layers. It has been found that a three-zone oxide layer is formed as a result of long-term operation of P91 steel at the temperature of 535°C. Hematite occurs on the inner surface of the tube. Then magnetite appears below hematite. Going deeper into the layer there is a spinel, i.e. a mixture of magnetite and chromite. A visible decay of total intensity for Fe2O3 is observed already at the polishing depth of 3.5 μm. In the case of Fe3O4 and FeCr2O4 an increase in total intensity is observed already from 7 μm, what manifests in narrowing the diffraction line and hence in increasing the crystallites size and in the relaxation of stresses in this oxide layer. The broadening of a diffraction line caused by a small size of crystallites is expressed by the Scherrer relationship. Instead, the β2 broadening resulting from lattice distortions (relaxation of stresses) was determined from the Taylor relationship.
Modelling of Texture Evolution in Kobo Extrusion Process / Modelowanie Rozwoju Tekstury W Procesie Wyciskania Metoda Kobo
Authors: Kowalczyk-Gajewska K. , Stupkiewicz S.
Published: April 2013

The paper is aimed at modelling of evolution of crystallographic texture in KOBO extrusion which is an unconventional process of extrusion assisted by cyclic torsion. The analysis comprises two steps. In the first step, the kinematics of the KOBO extrusion process is determined using the finite element method. A simplifying assumption is adopted that the material flow is not significantly affected by plastic hardening, and thus a rigid-viscoplastic material model with no hardening is used. In the second step, evolution of crystallographic texture is modelled along the trajectories obtained in the first step. A micromechanical model of texture evolution is used that combines the crystal plasticity model with a self-consistent grain-to-polycrystal scale transition scheme, and the VPSC code is used for that purpose. Since each trajectory corresponds to a different deformation path, the resulting pole figures depend on the position along the radius of the extruded rod.
Application of Dic Technique for Monitoring of Deformation Process of Spr Hybrid Joints / Zastosowanie Techniki Dic Do Obserwacji Procesu Deformacji Hybrydowych Połaczen Typu Spr
Authors: Sadowski T. , Knec M.
Published: April 2013

Digital Image Correlation (DIC) technique gives possibility to observe deformation process in many applications including self-piercing riveting (SPR) hybrid joint. The hybrid SPR joint consists of simple SPR joint made of two adherends, steel tubular rivet (total length of 5 mm) and an adhesive. The adhesive was applied before piercing process. For specimen preparation two different aluminum alloys were used: 2024 and 5005 (2mm thickness both) with tensile strength 400 and 160MPa, respectively.

For better understanding of joint forming process and to allow DIC strains observation during the joint creation, a special holder was designed with precisely polished die. The tests were performed by application of the 100kN servo-hydraulic machine, which recorded time, load, displacement and was synchronized with the DIC system.

The joint forming process was carried out with 2 mm/min constant speed. During piercing process rivet and upper surface of the adherend were observed and the major strain states were estimated. The uniaxial tensile tests of single lap joints (SLJ) up to the final failure were performed and the displacements and the strains were recorded. In particular the rivet deformation was observed also during the whole loading process.

The hybrid SPR joints are very effective, because the load capacity and energy absorption increase more than 1.5 times in comparison to the simple SPR joints.
Development, Modelling and Analysis of the new Combined Bottomless Sleeve Extrusion Process / Opracowanie, Modelowanie I Analiza Parametrów Nowego Procesu Złozonego Wyciskania Tulei Bez Dna
Authors: Michalczyk J.
Published: April 2013

An intensive industry development assuring high production quality should take place with the rational use of production machinery and equipment, low material and energy consumption per production unit, and at the maximum efficiency of processes. High quality of relatively cheap of semi-finished and finished products is achieved as a result of using non-waste manufacturing methods, which include e.g. the rolling, drawing and extrusion processes. The effective enhancement of production quality may be achieved by employing contemporary modelling and optimization methods in the design of new technological processes. In plastic working processes, during the design and optimization of new technologies, numerical modelling plays a crucial role. It brings about considerable time and material savings. It enables the determination of the basic parameters of processes and prediction of any possible gains or losses associated with the implementation of new technological solutions. The article reports the results of numerical modelling studies on the processes of combined extrusion of sleeves, where solutions were implemented, which allowed bottomless sleeves to be manufactured by these methods, without having to use the operation of mechanical cutting off the bottom formed after the extrusion process. In one of the cases, by using working tools of the appropriate design, a process of non-waste extrusion of a through sleeves was even achieved. The basic advantage of the proposed solutions is the single-operation nature of processes with a simultaneous reduction of the energy-force parameters compared to the traditional methods of manufacturing these types of products.
An Sem/Ebsd Study of Shear Bands Formation in Al-0.23%wt.Zr Alloy Deformed in Plane Strain Compression / Krystalograficzne Aspekty Formowania Sie Pasm Scinania W Stopie Al-0.23%Wag.Zr Odkształcanym W Próbie Nieswobodnego Sciskania
Authors: Paul H. , Uliasz P. , Miszczyk M. , Skuza W. , Knych T.
Published: April 2013

The crystal lattice rotations induced by shear bands formation have been examined in order to investigate the influence of grain boundaries on slip propagation and the resulting texture evolution. The issue was analysed on Al-0.23wt.%Zr alloy as a representative of face centered cubic metals with medium-to-high stacking fault energy. After solidification, the microstructure of the alloy was composed of flat, twin-oriented, large grains. The samples were cut-off from the as-cast ingot in such a way that the twinning planes were situated almost parallel to the compression plane. The samples were then deformed at 77K in channel-die up to strains of 0.69. To correlate the substructure with the slip patterns, the deformed specimens were examined by SEM equipped with a field emission gun and electron backscattered diffraction facilities.

Microtexture measurements showed that strictly defined crystal lattice re-orientations occurred in the sample volumes situated within the area of the broad macroscopic shear bands (MSB), although the grains initially had quite different crystallographic orientations. Independently of the grain orientation, their crystal lattice rotated in such a way that one of the f111g slip planes became nearly parallel to the plane of maximum shear. This facilitates the slip propagation across the grain boundaries along the shear direction without any visible variation in the slip plane. A natural consequence of this rotation is the formation of specific MSB microtextures which facilitates slip propagation across grain boundaries.
Structural Analysis of Sinter with Titanium Addition / Analiza Strukturalna Spieku Z Dodatkiem Tytanu
Authors: Fröhlichová M. , Findorák R. , Legemza J.
Published: April 2013

Paper presents the results from the study of the effect of materials with titanium addition on the strength properties of the iron ore sinter.

The sinters with TiO2 addition or without TiO2 addition prepared in laboratory were applied in this research and were compared based on the structural and phase composition. Exploited was the method of the X-ray diffraction and method of elemental EDX analysis applying the electron raster microscope with the energo-dispersion analyser. Confirmed was the relationship between the sinter structure and its strength. Higher strength of the sinter without TiO2 addition is the result of the different phase composition of the compared sinters. In the sinter production considered should be not only the chemical composition of the entry components of the charge and the chemical composition of the final product but also its structural and phase composition.
Novel, Microwave Assisted Route of Synthesis of Binary Oxide Semiconducting Phases – PbMoO4 And PbWo4 / Nowa Metoda Syntezy Binarnych Faz Tlenkowych O Charakterze Półprzewodnikowym W Polu Mikrofalowym – PbMoO4 I PbWo4
Authors: Kwolek P. , Tokarski T. , Łokcik T. , Szaciłowski K.
Published: April 2013

Highly crystalline powders of lead molybdate and tungstate were synthesized by a microwave assisted hydrothermal process in a microwave heated high pressure autoclave. Application of this novel and environmentally friendly technique in the synthesis of these compounds has never been reported before. The influence of a time of synthesis on a crystal structure, morphology and a value of a band gap for both PbMoO4 and PbWO4 was examined. The value of the band gap was determined using diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. For lead molybdate the medium value of the band gap equals to ca. 3.2 eV whereas for lead tungstate it oscillates around 4 eV and does not depend on the duration time of the synthesis.
Hydrides Formed in ZrCo2 – Based Intermetallic Compounds Under High Hydrogen Pressure / Wodorki Wytwarzane Pod Wysokimi Cisnieniami Wodoru Ze Zwiazków Miedzymetalicznych Na Osnowie ZrCo2
Authors: Filipek S.M. , Liu Ru-Shi , Kuriyama N. , Takeichi N. , Tanaka H. , Bulyk I.I. , Kuo H.-T. , Tu M.-H. , Kochman M.
Published: April 2013

The hydrides of zirconium based pseudobinary alloys Zr(Co1-xTx)2, (T = Fe, V or Cr) and Zr1-xRxCo2 (R = Y, La, Pr) were synthesized under 1.2 GPa of hydrogen pressure. It was revealed that partial substitution of cobalt by V, Cr or Fe increases hydrogen absorption capacity and stability of derived hydrides. Especially, it was found that ZrCo1:8V0:2 alloy exposed to high hydrogen pressure can absorb 50% more hydrogen than pure ZrCo2 and the hydride ZrCo1:8V0:2Hy has surprisingly high stability. Substitution of zirconium by Y, La or Pr in ZrCo2 alloys improved hydrogen absorption but hydrides derived from La and Pr substituted alloys were less stable than ZrCo2H2. Only for Zr0:7Y0:3Co0:2Hy the hydrogen absorption was higher and desorption rate markedly smaller comparing ZrCo2H2.
Electrodeposition of Catalytically Active Ni-Mo Alloys / Elektroosadzanie Aktywnych Katalitycznie Stopów Ni-Mo
Authors: Mech K. , Zabinski P. , Mucha M. , Kowalik R.
Published: April 2013

The work presents results of researches over the deposition of Ni-Mo alloys through the electrolysis conducted in galvanostatic conditions. In order to improve adhesion and aesthetic properties of the deposited alloys, SLS was added to the bath as a surface active agent. The influence of electrolyte pH was tested as well as concentrations of particular components on the composition, structure, cathodic current efficiency of the electrolysis process and catalytic activity of alloys in the process of hydrogen evolution. A positive influence of addition of molybdenum on catalytic activity was observed occurring in lowering the Tafel’s slope within the activation control range from 122 mV/dec (Ni) to 21 mV/dec (Ni-28.5Mo) for a reaction of water molecules reduction in 8 M NaOH at 90°C.
Influence of the Cathodic Pulse on the Formation and Morphology of Oxide Coatings on Aluminium Produced by Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation / Wpływ Impulsu Katodowego Na Tworzenie I Morfologie Warstw Tlenkowych Na Aluminium Otrzymywanych Na Drodze Plazmowego Utleniania Elektrolitycznego
Authors: Gebarowski W. , Pietrzyk S.
Published: April 2013

Plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) is an effective method to obtain hard ceramic coatings on Al, Mg and Ti alloys. Micro-discharges occurring on the electrode surface during process promote the creation of crystalline oxides phases which improve mechanical properties of the coating. By using alternate current (AC) at some current conditions the process can be conducted in ‘soft’ spark regime. This allows producing thicker layers, increasing growth rate and uniformity of layer, decreasing amount of pores and defects. These facts proof the importance of cathodic pulse in the PEO mechanism; however its role is not well defined. In this work, influence of anodic to cathodic current density ratio on kinetics of coating growth, its morphology and composition were investigated. The PEO process of pure was conducted in potassium hydroxide with sodium metasilicate addition. The different anodic to cathodic average currents densities ratios of pulses were applied. The phase composition of coatings was determined by XRD analysis. Morphology of obtained oxide layers was investigated by SEM observations.
Electrodeposition and Properties of Nanocrystalline Ni-Based Alloys with Refractory Metal from Citrate Baths / Elektroosadzanie I Własciwosci Nanokrystalicznych Stopów Na Osnowie Niklu Z Trudnotopliwym Metalem Z Kapieli Cytrynianowych
Authors: Bigos A. , Bełtowska-Lehman E. , Indyka P. , Szczerba M. J. , Kot M. , Grobelny M.
Published: April 2013

The main aim of the present work was to determine the optimal conditions for electrodeposition of metallic Ni-Mo coatings of enhanced micromechanical properties. These alloys were electrodeposited on the ferritic steel substrate, under galvanostatic regime in a system with a rotating disk electrode (RDE), from an aqueous citrate complex solution containing nickel and molybdenum salts. The effect of the electrolyte solution pH (adjusted by sulphuric acid or ammonia) on the molybdenum content and on deposit quality as well as on the current efficiency of the electrodeposition process, has been studied. It was established that increase of bath pH is correlated with gradual increase of molybdenum content in deposits up to pH 7, where the maximum concentration of Mo(VI) electroactive citrate complex ions [MoO4(Cit)H]4- (Cit= C6H5O7-3 ) in plating bath was observed. In the selected bath of the optimum pH value, the effect of cathodic current density, as a crucial operating parameter which strongly controls the chemical composition and microstructure parameters (e.g. phase compositions, crystallite size), on the mechanical and tribological properties of the resulting coatings has been determined. It has been shown that - under all investigated current density range - crack-free, well adherent Ni-Mo coatings, characterized by microhardness of 6.5-7.8

GPa, were obtained. Alloys deposited at higher tested current densities (above 3.5 A/dm2) were characterized by compact and uniform microstructure, and thus had the highest wear and friction resistance.
Silicon Solar Cells Efficiency Improvement by the Wet Chemical Texturization in the HF/HNO3/Diluent Solution / Poprawa Sprawnosci Krzemowych Ogniw Słonecznych Poprzez Chemiczna Tekturyzacje W Roztworach HF/HNO3/Rozpuszczalnik
Authors: Kulesza G. , Panek P. , Zieba P.
Published: April 2013

The paper presents the results of the texturization process of the multicrystalline silicon wafers carried out in ternary HF/HNO3/diluent solution, where the diluent was either CH3COOH or H2O, at varying HF/HNO3 volume ratio and different time of texturization process. The technique of scanning electron microscopy was used to characterize the morphology of the obtained multicrystalline silicon surfaces, with subsequent surface reflectivity measurements. The appropriate selection of mixture components lead to a significant reduction in the reflectivity of the incident solar radiation in the relatively short time of 60 seconds. The resultant electric parameters were nearly the same as those for the commercial samples but obtained after 3 minutes.
The Influence of a 7-Week Preparatory Period on Hormonal and Metabolic Responses in Soccer Players / Metabolic and Hormonal Response to Training
Authors: Opaszowski Benedykt H. , Tyc Zbigniew , Obmiński Zbigniew , Danielik Tomasz , Korkuć Marcin , Długołȩcka Barbara
Published: April 2013

Introduction. The aim of the study is to evaluate the metabolic and hormonal response of soccer players to maximum effort (test for determining anaerobic threshold changes - PPA) carried out under field conditions within a training cycle, which included a preparation period of about 7 weeks. Materials and methods. In blood samples of the 20 subjects the concentrations of lactate was determined, (LA) in whole blood, also including cortisol (C), testosterone (T) and growth hormone (GH) in blood plasma, during a running exercise performed according to the formula for determination of PPA. The heart rate (HR) was recorded during the running exercise. Threshold speed was determined based on OBLA. The tests were carried out twice: at the beginning and at the end of the seventh week preparatory period. Results. The training increased the threshold speed by an average of 0.4 m/s, lower concentrations of LA during the second test and less severe changes in HR. Endurance of the tested athletes increased at more favourable hormonal response with respect to cortisol nd and GH. The endurance component in the training, in the 2nd test resulted in lower resting testosterone levels, which did not affect the metabolic balance. The ratio of testosterone to cortisol (T/C), its growth after the period of training, showed a more stable anabolic-catabolic balance, which justifies the validity of the training assumptions in this period. Conclusions. The study confirmed the usefulness of metabolic-endocrine indicators in the monitoring the physiological response of athletes to exercise, as well as beneficial changes in the process of adaptation of bodies of athletes subjected to training.
Selected Cognitive And Emotional Resources Of Untrained Youth And Young Wrestlers
Authors: Rutkowska Katarzyna , Gierczuk Dariusz
Published: April 2013

Introduction. Wrestling is a sport that requires proper physical and mental preparation. The authors present selected psychological resources, emotional intelligence and creative attitude, as factors influencing the broadly defined mastery, both in the area of sport and out of it. These variables guarantee better adaptation to changing conditions and they are also connected with the effectiveness of handling different situations and optimal problem solving. The aim of the study was to diagnose emotional intelligence and creative attitude among young female and male wrestlers. Material and methods. The study included 20 females from the regional team of cadets and juniors and 19 male wrestlers from the sports school. The control group consisted of two deliberately selected groups of untrained students - 20 girls and 19 boys. KANH and INTE questionnaires were used in the study. Results. In the three groups under investigation medium levels of emotional intelligence and creative vs. reproductive attitude were observed. It was only female wrestlers who manifested low levels of emotional intelligence which, similar to the levels of nonconformity, heuristic thinking and creative attitude, were lower than in female students from the control group. The female wrestlers demonstrated higher levels of conformity and reproductive attitude. Female students demonstrated higher levels of emotional intelligence and conformity than male students. No differences between male and female wrestlers were observed. Conclusions. The findings show that it is necessary to conduct longitudinal research on athletes and untrained individuals. Bearing in mind that learning a motoric task depends, inter alia, on intellectual and emotional factors, the authors also recommend another course of research, i.e. the verification of how these variables are related to the effectiveness of learning motoric tasks. The authors' own research results as well as further (planned) investigations will make it possible to profile various educational effects and deliberately strengthen the potential of young wrestlers.
Selected Coordination Motor Abilities in Elite Wrestlers and Taekwon-Do Competitors
Authors: Gierczuk Dariusz , Bujak Zbigniew , Rowiński Jan , Dmitriyev Aleksey
Published: April 2013

Introduction. The aim of the study was to compare CMAs in elite wrestlers and taekwon-do competitors. Material and methods. Forty-nine Greco-Roman wrestlers and ITF taekwon-do competitors were included in the study. The wrestlers were 21.9±2.74 years old, while the taekwon-do competitors were 22.7±5.78 years old. The former group had between 7 and 14 years' training experience and the latter group had from 6 to 16 years' experience. All subjects were elite sportspeople (between first class and international master class levels). Five CMAs were assessed using 14 indices. Computer tests from the Vienna Test System were employed in the study. Results. It was shown that there were no significant differences in CMA levels between wrestlers and taekwon-do competitors. Wrestlers from higher sports classes outperformed competitors who possessed lower sports classes in the majority of CMA indices. Statistically significant differences were observed for simple reaction, movement coupling and high frequency of movements. Taekwon-do competitors at the international master sports class (IM) level scored better than athletes who were at national master class (NM) and first class (I) levels in spatial orientation, reaction time, movement coupling and high frequency of movements. Regardless of the type of combat sport, competitors demonstrated high individual differences in CMAs, which may indicate that a focus on coordination improvement could increase training effectiveness. Conclusions. Further research on identifying predominant CMAs in sportspeople at different levels of competition, particularly in those achieving significant sports successes may be conducted. Tests to thoroughly diagnose coordination should be employed in such investigations.
Stethorus pusillus (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) as a host of the ectoparasitic fungus Hesperomyces coccinelloides (Ascomycota: Laboulbeniales: Laboulbeniaceae) in Poland
Authors: Ceryngier Piotr
Published: April 2013

The laboulbenialean fungus Hesperomyces coccinelloides (THAXTER) THAXTER is known to be an obligate ectoparasite of beetles belonging to the coccinellid subfamily Scymninae. It has been reported from several regions in the world, mostly tropical and subtropical localities. This paper reports the first records of H. coccinelloides from Poland. The parasitic thalli were found growing on the elytra of Stethorus pusillus (HERBST) specimens collected in two adjacent localities in the vicinity of Warsaw.
New faunistic and host records of Lepidoptera from Poland, with Stigmella naturnella (KLIMESCH, 1936) reported for the first time
Authors: Baran Tomasz
Published: April 2013

New records of eleven rare species of Lepidoptera are given from Poland. Stigmella naturnella (KLIMESCH, 1936) (Nepticulidae) has been recorded in Poland for the first time. Surprisingly, this nepticulid was found in an artificial ecosystem - a city park. The occurrence of Scrobipalpula tussilaginis (FREY, 1867) and Ephysteris inustella (ZELLER, 1847) in Poland has been confirmed after over a century. Salix caprea L. is given as the first reliable record of a host plant for the larva of Teleiodes flavimaculella, and Betula pubescens EHRH. is found to be a new host plant of Stigmella naturnella.
Taxonomy and food plants of Bombus simillimus SMITH (Hymenoptera: Apidae) from the Indian Himalaya
Authors: Raina Rifat H. , Saini Malkiat S. , Khan Zakir H.
Published: April 2013

Bombus simillimus SMITH is a west Himalayan species, known only from Pakistan and India. In the Indian Himalaya this species is restricted to Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. So far, it has never been recorded from other regions. Its females (workers) can be recognized by the chocolate brown pubescence of the metasomal terga 1 and 2. The colour pattern of the queen is very distinct, with the whole body coloured black except for the last two metasomal terga, which are brick-red. In Kashmir Himalaya it is widespread around the lower mountain coniferous forest and was found foraging heavily on Trifolium pratense, Lavatera cashmeriana, Carduus spp. and Cirsium spp. Being very common and having a very wide distributional range, it is associated with a sizeable number of host plants. Due emphasis has been laid on its detailed taxonomic descriptions, synonymy, host plants, distribution pattern and illustration. Thirty-five food plants of this species have been recorded from the study areas.
A new species of Forcipomyia from Paleocene Sakhalin amber (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)
Authors: Szadziewski Ryszard , Sontag Elżbieta
Published: April 2013

Forcipomyia nadicola sp. n. from Paleocene Sakhalin amber (60 mya) is described and illustrated. This is the oldest named fossil species reported in the extant genus Forcipomyia and the tribe Forcipomyiini.
Theatre Reviews
Authors: Georgopoulou Xenia , Heijes Coen , Oggiano Eleonora
Published: April 2013

Macbeth. Dir. Thomas Moschopoulos. Onassis Cultural Centre, Main Stage, Athens, Greece.

The Merchant of Venice. Dir. Rupert Goold. The Royal Shakespeare Company, The Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon.

La Tempesta. Pre-testi. Dir. Yana Balkan and Isabella Caserta, Teatro Scientifico Company, Camploy Theatre, Verona.
Efficiency of the European Social Fund Contribution to the Regions of Latvia
Authors: Latviete Ilze
Published: April 2013

From 2004 till mid-2007, the economics of Latvia experienced fast development, which to some extent was influenced by accessing the European Union (EU), which in its turn provided access to the EU funds and subsequently to significant investment in the country’s development, thus also affecting the topicalities of social security and employment. Because of the world recession, the EU has experienced an economic downfall which hit Latvia and its regions very hard, causing a significant reduction in the economic activity, increase in the unemployment level, and the risk of social stratification. To facilitate the socio-economic development of the regions, to increase the level of welfare in the regions with lower socio-economic development indicators, as well as to prevent the possibility of appearance of unfavourable situations in the future, it is necessary to use correctly the EU funds available in Latvia, including the financing of the European Social Fund (ESF). In the period from 2004 till 2010, the Riga region has acquired 33% of the total ESF financing in the welfare sector, Latgale has the second largest financing - 25%, but the other resources have been acquired in a more or less equal amounts in the other regions: Kurzeme (16%), Zemgale (14%), and Vidzeme (12%). The ESF financing in the welfare sector has influenced the socio-economic indicators of the regions. Functional correlations are observed among the ESF financing in the welfare sector and the value changes in the number of registered unemployed persons, job seekers and the territory development index.
The Role of Agribusiness in Maintenance of Future Rural Employment in Latvia
Authors: Krievina Agnese , Leimane Ieva , Miglavs Andris
Published: April 2013

Agriculture and manufacture of food products is important source of employment in Latvia. The number of people engaged in agribusiness has considerably decreased over the past years in Latvia. Therefore the paper seeks to analyze the existing situation in utilization of agricultural potential, as well as to evaluate the role of agribusiness potential in maintenance of rural employment in Latvia. The potential is analyzed in the context of the productivity of the persons employed in agribusiness, land use and the self-sufficiency level with the main food products in Latvia. The value added in Latvian agribusiness is very low in comparison with other EU countries, indicating low labour productivity in Latvia. The potential of agricultural land is also not fully utilized in Latvia, which gives basis to consider obtaining of higher agribusiness output in Latvia at the expense of inclusion of additional land resources. The development of the potential of Latvian agribusiness is to be associated with the satisfying of demand for meat in local market and increase in the supply of dairy products on export market. Considering the necessity to reach at least the EU average labour productivity, even the full utilization of agricultural potential is not sufficient for the maintenance of rural employment in Latvia at the level close to current. The decrease in employment in the agribusiness of Latvia cannot be stopped, even more - it is possible that it will continue provoke the decrease also in other sectors of economic activity, namely - sectors of public and private services provided to people in rural space.