bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Periparturient Period in Terms of Body Condition Score and Selected Parameters of Hormonal Profiles
Authors: Vargová M. , Kováč G. 
Published: April 2016

Abstract
The majority of all diseases in dairy cows occur during the period from three weeks before parturition to three weeks after parturition, in the periparturient or transitional period. The objective of this study was to evaluate the dynamics of selected parameters of: the hormonal profiles, the body condition score (BCS) and their interrelationships. The study was carried out on 15 dairy cows of the Slovak Pied Cattle, from three weeks before to nine weeks after parturition, which were divided into six groups. The concentrations of leptin during ante partum increased from 23.08 ± 10.58 ng.ml−1 to 26.80 ± 11.47 ng.ml−1, then gradually decreased (P > 0.05), and conversely, the concentrations of ghrelin before parturition were found to be decreasing and during the postpartal period, the concentrations increased, with the highest value of 35.94 ± 16.85 pg.ml−1. In the case of insulin, we found the opposite tendency of ghrelin. We observed significantly higher values of BCS in dry cows than in cows after parturition (P < 0.001). Comparing the BCS and the parameter of the hormonal profiles, we found both positive and negative correlations: leptin and ghrelin (r = −0.235, P < 0.05), and BCS and insulin (r = 0.232, P < 0.05), and BCS and leptin (r = 0.360, P < 0.001). The interrelationships between the hormones and the body condition score, provided evidence that the variations in concentrations of leptin, ghrelin and insulin were related to variations in the BCS.
Impact of Panax ginseng and Ginkgo biloba extracts on expression level of transcriptional factors and xenobiotic-metabolizing cytochrome P450 enzymes
Authors: Bogacz Anna , Karasiewicz Monika , Dziekan Karolina , Procyk Danuta , Górska-Paukszta Małgorzata , Kowalska Aleksandra , Mikołajczak Przemysław Ł. , Ożarowski Marcin , Czerny Bogusław 
Published: April 2016

Summary
Introduction: Despite widespread use of Panax ginseng and Ginkgo biloba, the data on the safety as well as herb-drug interactions are very limited. Therefore, we postulate that P. ginseng and G. biloba may modulate the activity and content of cytochrome P450 isozymes involved in the biotransformation of diverse xenobiotic substances. Objective: The aim of our study was to determine the influence of herbal remedies on the expression level of CYP enzymes and transcriptional factors. Methods: Male Wistar rats were given standardized Panax ginseng (30 mg/kg p.o.) or standardized Ginkgo biloba (200 mg/kg p.o.) for 3 and 10 days. The expression in liver tissue was analyzed by realtime PCR method. Results: Our results showed a decrease of CYP3A1 (homologue to human CYP3A4) mRNA level after P. ginseng extract treatment. The CYP2C6 (homologue to human CYP2C9) expression was also reduced. Additionally, after 10 days of the treatment with P. ginseng an increase of CYP1A1 (homologue to human CYP1A1) and CYP1A2 (homologue to human CYP1A2) expression was observed. Moreover, G. biloba extract also caused an increase of expression level for CYP1A1, CYP2C6, CYP3A1 and CYP3A2. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that herbal extracts can modulate the expression of transcriptional factors and CYP enzymes involved in xenobiotic metabolism and chemical carcinogenesis.
In Search of Excellence in E-Customer Logistics Service
Authors: Ocicka Barbara , Raźniewska Marta 
Published: April 2016

Abstract
The e-commerce market has been developing very rapidly and changing traditional distribution systems. The development of online channels is matched by a similar evolution of companies’ logistics systems. As a consequence, logistics processes management now significantly influences e-customer service quality, which has emerged as a competitive advantage. The main goal of this paper is to identify e-commerce business models, modern distribution channels and management tools that would facilitate a continuous improvement in e-customer logistics service. Based on the literature and interviews with e-commerce services providers, we provide a plethora of good and best practices useful for managers in the rapidly developing and highly competitive e-commerce business.
Minimal permutation representations of semidirect products of groups
Authors: Easdown David , Hendriksen Michael 
Published: April 2016

Abstract
We provide formulae for the minimal faithful permutation degree

μ
⁢

(
G
)

${\mu(G)}$

of a group G that is a semidirect product of an elementary abelian p-group by a group of prime order q not equal to p.
These formulae apply to the investigation of groups G with the property that there exists a nontrivial group H such that

μ
⁢

(

G
×
H

)

=

μ
⁢

(
G
)

${\mu(G\times H)=\mu(G)}$

, in particular reproducing the seminal examples of Wright (1975) and Saunders (2010). Given an arbitrarily large group H that is a direct product of elementary abelian groups (with mixed primes), we construct a group G such that

μ
⁢

(

G
×
H

)

=

μ
⁢

(
G
)

${\mu(G\times H)=\mu(G)}$

, yet G does not decompose nontrivially as a direct product.
Equivalence limits of reference intervals for partitioning of population data. Relevant differences of reference limits
Authors: Haeckel Rainer , Wosniok Werner , Arzideh Farhad 
Published: April 2016

Abstract:
Reference limits need to be compared with each other for two main purposes: to evaluate the clinical relevance of a possible difference, if limits are obtained from the same population but at different time periods, or to check if limits derived from two different subpopulations can be considered as identical. The comparison of reference limits required for the periodic reviewing of applied reference limits and for checking the transferability of reference limits adopted from external sources according to international standards is an example for the first case. In the second case, a decision is intended whether the full population has to be partitioned (stratified) into the subpopulations under consideration (e.g. males and females). In both situations, differences may be due either to analytical errors, to biological differences or to both effects. The difference between reference limits may be acceptable if it is within permissible limits. For establishing permissible limits, the concept of equivalence limits was adopted to assess the relevance of differences between two reference limits. The concept bases on the permissible uncertainty at a particular reference limit. The permissible uncertainty is quantified by the permissible analytical standard deviation derived from the empirical biological variation as recently proposed. It is defined separately for lower and upper reference limits. The concept proposed can be condensed to simple equations.
Lithuania’s Foreign Policy Under the Eastern Partnership Programme in 2009–2014: From Small State Policy Tto Smart State Strategy
Authors: Milta Maksimas 
Published: April 2016

Abstract
The article addresses Lithuania’s foreign policy vis-à-vis the Eastern Partnership programme in 2009-2014 from the perspective of small states’ abilities to influence decision making processes within the European Union. The author aims at revealing the puzzle of Lithuania’s marginal capacities of absolute power being disproportional to the output of its foreign policy towards implementation of the Eastern Partnership programme and hence utilising “smart state strategy” conceptualised by Anders Wivel. The novelty of the study rests on expansion of applying the smart state strategy towards the post-negotiation stage of the policy implementation. The article contributes to the debate over the applicability of the “smart state strategy” approach towards the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union, by arguing that Lithuania’s foreign policy vis-à-vis the Eastern Partnership programme in 2009-2014 does indeed serve as an example of such behaviour, however recognising Lithuania’s initial shift from utilising “small state policy” to “smart state strategy”.
River response to climate and sea level changes during the Late Saalian/Early Eemian in northern Poland – a case study of meandering river deposits in the Chłapowo cliff section
Authors: Moskalewicz Damian , Sokołowski Robert J. , Fedorowicz Stanisław 
Published: April 2016

Abstract
Fluvial sediments in the Chłapowo cliff section were studied in order to reconstruct their palaeoflow conditions and stratigraphical position. Lithofacies, textural and palaeohydraulic analyses as well as luminescence dating were performed so as to achieve the aim of study. Sedimentary successions were identified as a record of point bar cycles. The fluvial environment probably functioned during the latest Saalian, shortly after the retreat of the Scandinavian Ice Sheet. Discharge outflow was directed to the northwest. The river used the older fluvioglacial valley and probably was directly connected to the Eem Sea. Good preservation and strong aggradation of point-bar cycles were related to a rapid relative base level rise. The meandering river sediments recognised showed responses to climate and sea level changes as illustrated by stratigraphical, morphological and sedimentological features of the strata described. The present study also revealed several insights into proper interpretation of meandering fluvial successions, in which the most important were: specific lithofacies assemblage of GSt (St, Sp) → Sl → SFrc → Fm (SFr) and related architectural elements: channel/sandy bedforms CH/SB → lateral accretion deposits LA → floodplain fines with crevasse splays FF (CS); upward-fining grain size and decreasing content of denser heavy minerals; estimated low-energy flow regime with a mean depth of 1.6–3.3 m, a Froude number of 0.2–0.4 and a sinuosity of 1.5.
Geochemistry of rare earth elements in the Baba Ali magnetite skarn deposit, western Iran – a key to determine conditions of mineralisation
Authors: Zamanian Hassan , Radmard Kaikosrov 
Published: April 2016

Abstract
The Baba Ali skarn deposit, situated 39 km to the northwest of Hamadan (Iran), is the result of a syenitic pluton that intruded and metamorphosed the diorite host rock. Rare earth element (REE) values in the quartz syenite and diorite range between 35.4 and 560 ppm. Although the distribution pattern of REEs is more and less flat and smooth, light REEs (LREEs) in general show higher concentrations than heavy REEs (HREEs) in different lithounits. The skarn zone reveals the highest REE-enriched pattern, while the ore zone shows the maximum depletion pattern. A comparison of the concentration variations of LREEs (La–Nd), middle REEs (MREEs; Sm–Ho) and HREEs (Er–Lu) of the ore zone samples to the other zones elucidates two important points for the distribution of REEs: 1) the distribution patterns of LREEs and MREEs show a distinct depletion in the ore zone while representing a great enrichment in the skarn facies neighbouring the ore body border and decreasing towards the altered diorite host rock; 2) HREEs show the same pattern, but in the exoskarn do not reveal any distinct increase as observed for LREEs and MREEs. The ratio of La/Y in the Baba Ali skarn ranges from 0.37 to 2.89. The ore zone has the highest La/Y ratio. In this regard the skarn zones exhibit two distinctive portions: 1) one that has La/Y >1 beingadjacent to the ore body and; 2) another one with La/Y < 1 neighbouring altered diorite. Accordingly, the Baba Ali profile, from the quartz syenite to the middle part of the exoskarn, demonstrates chiefly alkaline conditions of formation, with a gradual change to acidic towards the altered diorite host rocks. Utilising three parameters, Ce/Ce*, Eu/Eu* and (Pr/Yb)n, in different minerals implies that the hydrothermal fluids responsible for epidote and garnet were mostly of magmatic origin and for magnetite, actinolite and phlogopite these were of magmatic origin with low REE concentration or meteoric water involved.
Influence of Meat Type, Sex and Storage Time on Fatty Acid Profile of Free Range Dalmatian Turkey
Authors: Mauric Maja , Starcevic Kristina , Mencik Sven , Ostovic Mario , Kabalin Anamaria Ekert 
Published: April 2016

Abstract
Dalmatian turkey is a slow growing breed kept in free range systems. It is a type of “old fashioned poultry” whose meat is present on the market and accepted by consumers. However, no information about its meat quality and fatty acid profile is available. The chemical composition of the meat was influenced by gender and meat type and these differences could be important from the consumer’s point of view. Fatty acid composition was characterized by the predominance of n6 fatty acids, especially C18:2n6 and a high n6/n3 ratio. Increased time of storage strongly reduced the long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC PUFA) and increased atherogenicity and thrombogenicity indices (AI and TI) in thigh tissue. The content of beneficial n3 PUFA was influenced by meat type, with lower values of C18:3n3 and higher values of LC PUFA in the breast compared to the thighs. The potential intake of LC PUFA of comercial turkey in the human diet was lower in comparison to poultry fed with complete feed mixtures. An interesting fact was the higher DHA values in comparison with DPA values in breast tissue, which is characteristic of old poultry breeds. The Dalmatian turkey is a highly valued traditional product and an important archaic breed for gene preservation and biodiversity. Nevertheless, Dalmatian turkey meat could be even further improved by minimal dietary manipulation to become a product with additional health promoting effects.
Seasonal variation in the diet of the grey goral (Naemorhedus goral) in Machiara National Park (MNP), Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan
Authors: Ashraf Nasra , Anwar Maqsood , Oli Madan K. , Pine William E. , Sarwar Misbah , Hussain Iftikhar , Awan Muhammad Siddique 
Published: April 2016

AbstractUnderstanding food habits of wild ungulates is of paramount importance to ecology and wildlife management. We studied the food habits of grey gorals (Naemorhedus goral) using microhistological techniques at two sites (Machiara and Serli Sacha) that differed in livestock grazing pressure in the Machiara National Park (MNP), Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan during 2012–2013. Serli Sacha had 53 livestock units/km2while Machiara had 27 livestock units/km2in the habitat of grey gorals. Dietary diversity was higher in Machiara (21 plant species) than at Serli Sacha (15 plant species) but the frequency of plant species consumed by grey goral varied seasonally (p<0.05). Grey gorals consumed mostly forbs (75.57%) during summer (dominated byPoa annua,Geranium wallichianumandRheum australe) and mostly browse (38.19%) during winter (dominated byBerberis vulgaris, Skimmia laureolaandViburnum nervosum). Grey gorals strongly preferredG. wallichianumin both sites during summer season. Wildlife managers at MNP should focus on increasing diversity of plant species and on reducing livestock grazing as it generally reduces plant diversity and also directly compete withN. goralfor limited forage.
Dynamic Response Control of Three-Layered Annular Plate Due to Various Parametres of Electrorheological Core
Authors: Pawlus Dorota 
Published: April 2016

Abstract
The paper presents dynamic responses of annular plate composed of three layers. The middle layer of the plate has electrorheological properties expressed by the Bingham body model. The plate is loaded in the plane of facings with time-dependent forces. The electrorheological effect is observed in the area of supercritical plate behaviour. The influence of both material properties and geometrical dimensions of the core on plate behaviour is examined. The problem is solved analytically and numerically using the orthogonalization method and the finite difference method. Comparison of the results obtained using the finite difference and the finite element methods for a plate in critical state is shown. The numerical calculations are carried out for axisymmetric and asymmetric plate modes. The presented diagrams show the plate reaction to the changes in values of plate parameters and indicate that the supercritical control of plate work is possible.
Comparison of Selected Formulations for Multibody System Dynamics with Redundant Constraints
Authors: Pękal Marcin , Fraczek Janusz 
Published: April 2016

Abstract
This paper compares selected optimization-based methods for the analysis of multibody systems with redundant constraints. The following numerical schemes are examined: direct integration method, Udwadia-Kalaba formulation, two types of least-squares block solution method and Udwadia-Phohomsiri formulation. In order to compare efficiency of the algorithms, a series of simulations is performed on two exemplary McPherson struts. In the first variant, the mechanism has no redundant constraints whereas the other is overconstrained. Three constraint stabilization schemes are also compared in terms of integration errors.
Investigation of Friction and Wear Mechanisms of TiAlV Coated Carbide Against Ti6Al4V Titanium Alloy Using Pin-On-Disc Tribometer
Authors: Grzesik Wit , Małecka Joanna , Zalisz Zbigniew , Zak Krzysztof , Niesłony Piotr 
Published: April 2016

Abstract
The tribological behavior of the PVD-TiAlN coated carbide inserts in dry sliding against two-phase (α-β) titanium alloy,Ti6Al4V grade, was investigated. A modified pin-on-disc device was used to conduct experiments under variable normal load and sliding speed. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray micro-analyses by EDS were applied for observations of wear scars and wear products. It was revealed that the increase of sliding speed contributes to decreasing the friction coefficient under a low normal force, whereas the increase of the normal loading causes the friction coefficient is less sensitive to changes in the sliding speed and its values are equal to μ = 0.26-0.34. The adhesive nature of wear along with severe abrasive action of the Ti alloy were documented.
Influence of Suspended Equipment on the Carbody Vertical Vibration Behaviour of High-Speed Railway Vehicles
Authors: Dumitriu Mădălina 
Published: April 2016

Abstract
The equipment mounted on the carbody chassis of the railway vehicles is a critical component of the vehicle in terms of ride comfort. The reason for that is their large mass, able to visibly influence the vibrations mode of the carbody. The paper examines the influence of the equipment upon the mode of vertical vibrations of the carbody in the high-speed vehicles, reached on the basis of the frequency response functions of the acceleration in three carbody reference points - at the centre and above the bogies. These functions are derived from the numerical simulations developed on a rigid-flexible coupled model, with seven degrees of freedom. As a rule, the results herein prove the influence of the equipment mounting mode (rigid or elastic), along with the speed regime, upon the level of vibrations in the carbody reference points, at the resonance frequency of the symmetrical bending mode. Similarly, it is also demonstrated how the equipment mass and the damping degree of the suspension system affect the level of the vibrations in the carbody.
Implant materials modified by colloids
Authors: Zboromirska-Wnukiewicz Beata , Wnukiewicz Witold , Kogut Krzysztof , Wnukiewicz Jan , Rutowski Roman , Gosk Jerzy , Kasprzyk Krzysztof 
Published: April 2016

AbstractRecent advances in general medicine led to the development of biomaterials. Implant material should be characterized by a high biocompatibility to the tissue and appropriate functionality, i.e. to have high mechanical and electrical strength and be stable in an electrolyte environment – these are the most important properties of bioceramic materials. Considerations of biomaterials design embrace also electrical properties occurring on the implant-body fluid interface and consequently the electrokinetic potential, which can be altered by modifying the surface of the implant. In this work, the surface of the implants was modified to decrease the risk of infection by using metal colloids. Nanocolloids were obtained using different chemical and electrical methods. It was found that the colloids obtained by physical and electrical methods are more stable than colloids obtained by chemical route. In this work the surface of modified corundum implants was investigated. The implant modified by nanosilver, obtained by electrical method was selected. The in vivo research on animals was carried out. Clinical observations showed that the implants with modified surface could be applied to wounds caused by atherosclerotic skeleton, for curing the chronic and bacterial inflammations as well as for skeletal reconstruction surgery.
Structural stability, electronic structure and magnetic properties of the new hypothetical half-metallic ferromagnetic full-Heusler alloy CoNiMnSi
Authors: Elahmar M.H. , Rached H. , Rached D. , Benalia S. , Khenata R. , Biskri Z.E. , Bin Omran S. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractWe investigated the structural stability as well as the mechanical, electronic and magnetic properties of the Full-Heusler alloy CoNiMnSi using the full-potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method. Two generalized gradient approximations (GGA and GGA + U) were used to treat the exchange-correlation energy functional. The ground state properties of CoNiMnSi including the lattice parameter and bulk modulus were calculated. The elastic constants (Cij) and their related elastic moduli as well as the thermodynamic properties for CoNiMnSi have been calculated for the first time. The existence of half-metallic ferromagnetism (HM-FM) in this material is apparent from its band structure. Our results classify CoNiMnSi as a new HM-FM material with high spin polarization suitable for spintronic applications.
Nonlinear optical interactions in silicon waveguides
Authors: Kuyken B. , Leo F. , Clemmen S. , Dave U. , Van Laer R. , Ideguchi T. , Zhao H. , Liu X. , Safioui J. , Coen S. , Gorza S.P. , Selvaraja S. K. , Massar S. , Osgood R. M. , Verheyen P. , Van Campenhout J. , Baets R. , Green W.M. J. , Roelkens G. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractThe strong nonlinear response of silicon photonic nanowire waveguides allows for the integration of nonlinear optical functions on a chip. However, the detrimental nonlinear optical absorption in silicon at telecom wavelengths limits the efficiency of many such experiments. In this review, several approaches are proposed and demonstrated to overcome this fundamental issue. By using the proposed methods, we demonstrate amongst others supercontinuum generation, frequency comb generation, a parametric optical amplifier, and a parametric optical oscillator.
Progress in ultrafast laser processing and future prospects
Authors: Sugioka Koji 
Published: April 2016

AbstractThe unique characteristics of ultrafast lasers have rapidly revolutionized materials processing after their first demonstration in 1987. The ultrashort pulse width of the laser suppresses heat diffusion to the surroundings of the processed region, which minimizes the formation of a heat-affected zone and thereby enables ultrahigh precision micro- and nanofabrication of various materials. In addition, the extremely high peak intensity can induce nonlinear multiphoton absorption, which extends the diversity of materials that can be processed to transparent materials such as glass. Nonlinear multiphoton absorption enables three-dimensional (3D) micro- and nanofabrication by irradiation with tightly focused femtosecond laser pulses inside transparent materials. Thus, ultrafast lasers are currently widely used for both fundamental research and practical applications. This review presents progress in ultrafast laser processing, including micromachining, surface micro- and nanostructuring, nanoablation, and 3D and volume processing. Advanced technologies that promise to enhance the performance of ultrafast laser processing, such as hybrid additive and subtractive processing, and shaped beam processing are discussed. Commercial and industrial applications of ultrafast laser processing are also introduced. Finally, future prospects of the technology are given with a summary.