bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Analysis of a thermal cycle that surpass Carnot efficiency undergoing closed polytropic transformations
Authors: Ferreiro Garcia Ramon , Carbia Carril Dr. Jose 
Published: February 2019

This research work deals with a feasible non-regenerative thermal cycle, composed by two pairs of closed polytropic-isochoric transformations implemented by means of a double acting reciprocating cylinder which differs basically from the conventional Carnot based thermal cycles in that:
-it consists of a non condensing mode thermal cycle
-all cycle involves only closed transformations, instead of the conventional open processes of the Carnot based thermal cycles,
-in the active processes (polytropic path functions), as heat is being absorbed, mechanical work is simultaneously performed, avoiding the conventional quasi-adiabatic expansion or compression processes inherent to the Carnot based cycles and,
-during the closed polytropic processes, mechanical work is also performed by means of the working fluid contraction due to heat releasing.
An analysis of the proposed cycle is carried out for helium as working fluid and results are compared with those of a Carnot engine operating under the same ratio of temperatures. As a result of the cycle analysis, it follows that the ratio of top to the bottom cycle temperatures has very low dependence on the ideal thermal efficiency, but the specific work, and, furthermore, within the range of relative low operating temperatures, high thermal efficiency is achieved, surpassing the Carnot factor.
Regulation of Cough by Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels in Airway Sensory Nerves
Authors: Svajdova S , Brozmanova M. 
Published: February 2019

Abstract
Chronic cough is a significant clinical problem in many patients. Current cough suppressant therapies are largely ineffective and have many dangerous adverse effects. Therefore, the identification of novel therapeutic targets and strategies for chronic cough treatment may lead to development of novel effective antitussive therapies with fewer adverse effects. The experimental research in the area of airway sensory nerves suggests that there are two main vagal afferent nerve subtypes that can directly activate cough – extrapulmonary airway C-fibres and Aδ-fibres (described as cough receptors) innervating the trachea. There are different receptors on the vagal nerve terminals that can trigger coughing, such as TRP channels and P2X2/3 receptors. However, in many patients with chronic respiratory diseases multiple activation of these receptors could be involved and it is also difficult to target these receptors. For that reason, a strategy that would inhibit cough-triggering nerve afferents regardless of activated receptors would be of great benefit. In recent years huge progress in understanding of voltage-gated sodium channels (NaVs) leads to a hypothesis that selective targeting of NaVs in airways may represent an effective treatment of pathological cough. The NaVs (NaV1.1 – NaV1.9) are essential for initiation and conduction of action potentials in these nerve fibres. Effective blocking of NaVs will prevent communication between airways and central nervous system and that would inhibit provoked cough irrespective to stimuli. This review provides an overview of airway afferent nerve subtypes that have been described in respiratory tract of human and in animal models. Moreover, the review highlights the current knowledge about cough, the sensory nerves involved in cough, and the voltage-gated sodium channels as a novel neural target in regulation of cough.
Potential of Selected Trace Elements in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Ferencikova V , Osina O. 
Published: February 2019

Abstract
Based on the high prevalence, diabetes mellitus (DM) is considered as a worldwide problem. More than 8.3 % of the world population is suffering from this disease. One of the causing factors of this disease can be the absence or imbalance of trace, essential elements. It can cause collapses of antioxidant defence and glucose intolerance. It plays a role in the pathogenesis and progression to diabetes mellitus. This review focuses on chromium, copper, selenium, vanadium, and zinc. Many studies deal with these elements but there is variability in opinions. Insulin-mimetic activity and ability to control the concentrations of blood glucose were confirmed. However, these effects were of more importance in patients with prediabetes. In patients with prediabetes, due to the supplementation of selected trace elements, it is possible to normalize the blood glucose level and prevent the development of diabetes mellitus. The importance of supplementation was confirmed for chromium and zinc. The supplementation of vanadium has a positive effect on the normalization of glycaemia but it is necessary to control the level as it can have toxic effects during long-term treatment. Conversely, higher copper concentrations in the body adversely affect patients and chelation therapy is needed. Selenium must be kept in the standard concentration and regular control of the concentration in the body is necessary. For this reason it is necessary to continue with analysis and the creation of new methodologies that could unify the view on the issue.
Gender Differences in Kidney Transplantation – 10-Year Retrospective Study
Authors: Kovacikova L , Bena L , Lackova E , Zilinska Z , Granak K , Skalova P , Vnucak M , Laca L , Mokan M , Dedinska I. 
Published: February 2019

Abstract

Background: Chronic kidney disease represents a world-wide health problem affecting approximately 195 million women around the world. Risk of development of chronic kidney disease is greater in women; therefore, the World Kidney Day 2018 was dedicated to kidney disease, treatment options, and its specifics in female patients.

Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analysed a cohort of 1,457 patients after kidney transplantation from all transplant centres in Slovakia over a period of ten years from 2005 – 2015.The parameters taken into account were cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), outcome of transplantation in a context of differences between the genders.

Results: During the ten-year period there were 557 transplanted women vs. 900 men. Among female recipient the dominant cause of ESRD was tubulointerstitial nephritis (males 22.3% vs. females 32.1%, p < 0.0001), other causes of ESRD where females were significantly more represented than men included polycystic kidney disease (males 11.6% vs. females 17.6%, p = 0.0013) and systemic lupus erythematosus (males 0.2% vs. females 2.3 %, p = 0.0001). There was no significant difference in 12-month, 5-year, and 10-year both graft and patient survival rates between men and women. Female recipients wait for kidney transplantation significantly longer in spite of comparable time spent on dialysis (males 32.9 months vs. females 39.4 months, p < 0.0001).

Conclusion: Despite comparable patient and graft survival rates in male and female recipients in our study there are other studies showing that gender as well as gender mismatch significantly influence the outcomes of transplantation.
Jeavons Syndrome, Eyelid Myoclonus with Absences (EMA) with Epileptic Status and Hypoactive Delirium
Authors: Sobolova G , Drobny M , Tulejova L , Ucnova S , Saniova B. Drobna 
Published: February 2019

Abstract
The evaluation of electroencephalogram (EEG) and the clinical picture of eyelid myoclonus (EM) with absences (EMA) using classical EEG signal evaluation and power spectral analysis currently presents a major challenge to predict further improvement, unsteady status, neurological defect outcomes in patients, or lethal termination in septic encephalopathy and acid-base imbalance due to kidney failure. At the Clinic of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Medicine (CAIM) of University Hospital in Martin (UHM) we clinically examined a patient N.J., a 58-year-old male with EMA. We used the Neuron-Spectrum-AM specialized software to measure the EEG signal visually and by means of power spectral analysis methods to quantitatively analyse the EEG record.
The power spectral colour maps confirmed a disturbance of consciousness, approximating the depth of unconsciousness, affirmatively with a clinical disorder in absences, hypoactive delirium, and showed extinction of functional brain foci with the possibility of topical interpretation, and established an EEG correlate of impaired cognition, attention and lucidity of consciousness that were assessed by the clinical findings of the attending physician. The EMA syndrome was a final agonal condition with hypoactive delirium and was considered to be idiopathic epilepsy linked to severe metabolic-septic encephalopathy as an epileptic syndrome.
Severe Recurrent Epistaxis - The Main Symptom of Hereditary Haemorrhagic Teleangiectasia
Authors: Lucanska M , Hajtman A , Pecova R 
Published: February 2019

Abstract
Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), also known as Rendu-Osler-Weber syndrome, is of dominant autosomal inheritance. Pathologic changes of vascular walls cause recurrent episodes of bleeding from many organ systems. Recurrent epistaxis is the first and the most frequent symptom of HHT. The causal therapy is not known but there are many therapeutic procedures improving the overall condition.
We present a case of a 76-year-old man suffering from HHT, frequently hospitalized and treated for massive nose bleeding. In past a selective arterial embolization was performed thrice; nonetheless, the intensity and frequency of epistaxis remained unchanged. Anterior nasal package and electrocoagulation were performed repeatedly as the “first aid” treatment. In the article we also mention other therapeutic modalities for this diagnosis; unfortunately, their efficacy remains inadequate.
Analysis of the Agricultural Land Market Transactions in Selected Regions of Slovakia in the Years 2007–2016
Authors: Buday Štefan , Roháčiková Oľga , Rumanovská Ľubica 
Published: February 2019

Abstract
Despite the fact that the agricultural land market in Slovakia has developed in recent years, the overwhelming part of agricultural land in Slovakia is utilized in the form of rent. Only a small part is managed by the landowners themselves. It is therefore necessary to create mechanisms that would make it easier for both beginners and experienced farmers to acquire land as a basic factor of production. It is also important to create conditions enabling agricultural land to continue to serve its purposes and be acquired by persons who are competent for the management of the land and will manage it in compliance with the criteria of good agricultural and environmental practice. Research and analysis of factors affecting the land market and the rental market with agricultural land will also play an important role in these directions. During the evaluated period 2007–2016, we analyzed 244,374 land plots of agricultural land in twelve districts of the Slovak Republic (hereinafter referred also as SR). In the twelve districts of Slovakia, from 2007 to 2016, the average market price agricultural land without a distinction of size categories showed a fluctuating trend. Higher values of the average market price of agricultural land were recorded in the first years of the reviewed period. The highest value of the average market price was recorded in 2008 and amounted to 2.76 €.m−2. During the monitored period, from 2007 to 2011, the average market price had always values exceeding 1 €.m−2. In the reviewed twelve districts of Slovakia during the monitored period, the sold area of agricultural land represented acreage of 100,574 ha. From this acreage, the largest share (58.41%) scored arable land followed by permanent grassland with a share of 40.92%. Orchards marked the 0.43% share of the total acreage and the smallest share (only 0.23%) of the total sales was represented by vineyards.
The Development of Chosen Social and Economic Indicators in Rural Areas of the Slovak Republic
Authors: Kováčik Marián , Žuffová Eva 
Published: February 2019

Abstract
The focus of the following article was to study development of certain social and economic indicators in Slovakia. We focused this paper on two types of regions in Slovakia, urban and rural. For this purpose we decided to measure the development of inhabitants in rural and urban areas as well as median age of the population. We also partially focused on the sector of agriculture since it used to play an important role in rural areas as a key employer. We found that there is a trend of moving people from urban to rural areas and that agriculture is losing its key role because of decreasing employment trend. This can be caused by low attractiveness of this sector and low income which, nowadays, plays an important role in finding a job.
Structure of Household Expenditures in Slovakia and Relations Between its Categories
Authors: Lazíková Zuzana 
Published: February 2019

Abstract
Household income is one of the basic indicators of the living standard of population in countries or regions. The income indicator is inextricably linked to the household expenditure indicator, whose structure also indicates the living standards of households. The development of income and expenditures of Slovak households has been affected by many events over the last decades (fulfilment of the Maastricht criteria, accession of the Slovak Republic to the EU, adoption of the euro currency, economic crisis). The category of gross cash expenditures, net cash expenditures or consumption expenditures may be used to assess household expenditures. Based on the classification by individual consumption by purpose (COICOP), the expenditures are divided into 12 basic categories. The development of individual categories of expenditures, however, should be analysed separately as there is no long-term balanced relationship between them.
Third Sector Institutions at the Local Level and their Impact on Human Development
Authors: Varecha Lukáš 
Published: February 2019

Abstract
In the paper, we analyse the relationship between third sector local institutions, which represent a component of social capital, and human development at the level of Slovak municipalities. In order to measure human development we use modified human development index, reflecting unemployment, level of education and gross mortality rate. We hypothesize that third sector institutions acting at the local level have a positive impact on human development. We utilize regression analysis in order to reveal this relationship, using cross-sectional data. Statistical results confirm our hypothesis. There is a positive and statistically significant relationship between the number of civic associations and the level of the human development index, even when filtering out other impacts, including self-government organizations per 1,000 inhabitants and net assets of the municipality per inhabitant. This result may be explained by the concept of social capital, meaning the network of interest-group relationships has a positive impact on providing services, governance and better access to less accessible forms of capital.
Empirical Study on Women Safety Concerns at Public Places: Case Study of Lahore City
Authors: Bajwa Muhammad Usman , Khan Aisha , Nadeem Muhammad 
Published: February 2019

Abstract
Changing trends of human settlements and urbanization have a significant impact on all segments of society. Lahore is the most crowded and urbanized district of Punjab. Women participate in the development of the city, they are required to visit workplaces, and experience public places. Subsequently, these public places are grounds of ferocity and discomfort. The study examines the female’s perception regarding safety at public places and the consequent factors contributing towards the insecurity of females. Regression analysis is carried out to interpret the causal relationship between public places and safety elements. In conclusion, it was established that safety elements should be kept in mind to achieve safer environment. The research necessitates urban planners and designers to introduce features for women safety, privacy and comfort in the design of public places.
Conditions for a Dialogue of Local Community and Genius Loci
Authors: Petrušonis Vytautas 
Published: February 2019

Abstract
The research focuses on local community dialogue with genius loci as certain subjectivity of urbanized environment. The following research methods were used: abstraction, analogy, generalization, synthesis, and semantic analysis. Sets of informational units as system of genius loci symptoms, offered in this article, can be used for the presentation of genius loci. Such data figure as network of knowledge highlighted from a cultural-ecological point of view. Some traits of genius loci of Lentvaris manor park are presented.
Contemporary Challenges in Planning for Shrinkage of Historic Places: A Review
Authors: Barvika Sarmīte , Bondars Edgars , Bondare Santa 
Published: February 2019

Abstract
Urban shrinkage is among of the most dangerous current risks for the preservation of liveability (e.g. residential function) in formerly prosperous historical residential and industrial districts. The planning for shrinkage emerged only in the 21st century in order to manage and prevent growing urban decay, depopulation and housing crisis through the application of smart structural adjustment policies and planning instruments for formerly heavily industrialised North American and Asian cities. Both shrinkage and liveability planning are still very “fuzzy” concepts and have been applied in ways that are not always consistent (e.g. for measuring decline, migration, demographics). However, remains the question of what (methods or approaches) would prevent (control) this well-known but evidently “wicked” and still less explored phenomenon of “loss of liveability” in a historical built environment. This paper aims to review the urban shrinkage and liveability problematic and prevention solutions (methods) based on studies of theory and practice of urban planning.
Prime numbers with a certain extremal type property
Authors: Tutaj Edward 
Published: February 2019

Abstract
The convex hull of the subgraph of the prime counting function x → π(x) is a convex set, bounded from above by a graph of some piecewise affine function x → (x). The vertices of this function form an infinite sequence of points

(

e

k

,
π
(

e

k

)
)

1
∞

$({e_k},\pi ({e_k}))_1^\infty $

. The elements of the sequence (ek)1
∞ shall be called the extremal prime numbers. In this paper we present some observations about the sequence (ek)1
∞ and we formulate a number of questions inspired by the numerical data. We prove also two – it seems – interesting results. First states that if the Riemann Hypothesis is true, then

e

k

+
1

e

k

=
1

${{{e_k} + 1} \over {{e_k}}} = 1$

. The second, also depending on Riemann Hypothesis, describes the order of magnitude of the differences between consecutive extremal prime numbers.
The efficacy of essential oils against Venturia inaequalis (Cooke) G. Winter and Podosphaera leucotricha (Ellis & Everh.) E. S. Salmon in vivo
Authors: Hochbaum Tamás , Petróczy Marietta , Ladányi Márta , Nagy Géza 
Published: February 2019

Abstract
Though profitable crop production can be more simply achieved by using synthetic pesticides, the research of alternative plant protection solutions is necessary. The effect of the volatile oils of cinnamon, thyme, and a copper ingredient fertilizer were tested for their activity against apple scab and powdery mildew in apple orchards in 2014 and 2017. Oils applied alone or in combination were effective against apple scab in 2014 and in 2017 and against powdery mildew on leaves in 2017. The copper ingredient fertilizer product improved the efficacy of the oils. The results of these trials show that the tested volatile oils are suitable candidates for further research and for the development of organic fungicides against the diseases of apple.
Automated evaluation of agricultural damage using UAV survey
Authors: Stojcsics Daniel , Domozi Zsolt , Molnár András 
Published: February 2019

Abstract
In the last decade, the rate of the industrial usage of fixed-wing and blended wing aircraft has increased. A 1–2-km2 area can be surveyed by such a drone within 30 to 60 minutes, without any special infrastructure, and this can be repeated at any time. This provides an opportunity to conduct automatized surveys and time series data testing, which can be used as a basis to decide specific processes. The state and the development of the plants can be monitored as well as the spread of pests and the efficiency of the procedures that protect against them. During the surveys, thousands of images are taken of the area, which can be converted to a georeferenced large-sized map within 20 to 40 hours, including post-production and a resolution varying from 0.01 to 0.1 cm/pixel. The paper provides a solution to the industrial post-production of these high-quantity data, in which a deep learning-based automated process using Matlab is presented, including a comparison of the results to the GIS data.
Soil loss susceptibility model of the Baraolt Depression
Authors: Csiszér Levente , Bilaşco Ştefan 
Published: February 2019

Abstract
The soil loss susceptibility model, made for the Baraolt Depression, offers useful information for the farmers regarding the areas that should be used in a certain way and for a certain purpose, with farming methods which aim at the protection of their most important means of production – soil.
Awareness of the environmental implications of the unsustainable use of biomass energy sources among rural households in Jigawa State, Nigeria
Authors: Orifah Olusegun Martins , Ijeoma Messiah Chijioke , Omokhudu Gloria Isi , Ahungwa Gabriel T. , Muktar Bashir Garba 
Published: February 2019

Abstract
Use of biomass energy is on the increase in rural areas of Nigeria, and its use poses serious environmental challenges. The study assessed the awareness of the environmental implications associated with the unsustainable use of biomass energy sources among rural households in Jigawa State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select 120 respondents for the study using structured questionnaire. Collected data were analysed using descriptive (frequency counts, percentage, mean, and rank) and inferential statistics (chi-squared test). The result revealed that the majority of the respondents were male (94.2%), married (90.8%), and between 31 to 40 years, with a mean age of 39.8 years. Results further revealed that the majority of the respondents were farmers (56.7%), had Qur’anic education (71.7%), and earned a monthly income of N10,000–N20,999 (52.5%), with a mean monthly income of ₦13,816.67. Use of fuel wood (100%) and charcoal (100%) were the dominant biomass energy sources used. Results at the level of awareness revealed that the majority of the respondents (80.8%) had low awareness of the environmental implications associated with the unsustainable use of biomass energy sources. The respondents’ main source of information on the environmental implications associated with the unsustainable use of biomass energy sources were radio (64.17%) and extension agents (54.2%). The high cost of other alternatives, scarcity of refilling stations, scarcity of the alternatives, and lack of funds to purchase other alternatives are some of the major constraint bedevilling the use of non-solid energy sources. Level of education (χ2 = 6.584; p < 0.1) and average monthly income (χ2 = 8.277; p < 0.1) were significantly related to awareness of the environmental implication of the unsustainable use of biomass energy. It is therefore recommended that people should be enlightened on the environmental implications associated with the unsustainable use of biomass energy sources. Furthermore, policies favouring a switch of energy source should be considered.