bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dehydrogenase activity in topsoil at windthrow plots in Tatra National Park
Authors: Hanajík Peter , Gáfriková Jana , Zvarík Milan 
Published: September 2017

Abstract
The aim of the study was to compare the effect of windthrow treatments established after the windstorm in 2004 on the activity of enzyme dehydrogenase (DHA) in forest topsoils. We also focused on the effect of the recent windthrow (May 2014) on the DHA in topsoil. Soil samples were collected in July 2014 from four sites in the Tatra National Park: EXT - tree trunks and wood debris extracted after the windstorm in 2004, NEX - area left for self-regeneration after the windstorm in 2004, REX - tree trunks and wood debris extracted after the windstorm (May 2014), REN - Norway spruce stand set as a control plot. We measured pH, dry weight %, soil organic matter (SOM), carbon content in microbial biomass (Cblo) and DHA. Dehydrogenase activity at studied plots was the lowest at the EXT plot and the highest values were measured at the REN plot. DHA at NEX was similar to REN suggesting comparable ecological conditions at these plots comparing to EXT. Carbon content in microbial biomass at plots reflected intensity of dehydrogenase activity in sequence EXT < REX < NEX < REN.
Country and regional carbon stock in forest cover – estimates based on the first cycle of the Czech National Forest Inventory data (2001–2004)
Authors: Merganič Ján , Merganičová Katarína , Konôpka Bohdan , Kučera Miloš 
Published: September 2017

AbstractSince forests can play an efficient role in the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, objective information about the actual carbon stock is very important. Therefore, the presented paper analysed the carbon stock in the living merchantable trees (with diameter at breast height above 7 cm) of the Czech forests with regard to groups of tree species and tree compartments (wood under bark with diameter above 7 cm, wood under bark with diameter below 7 cm, bark, green twigs, foliage, stump and roots). We examined its regional distribution and relationship to the number of inhabitants and the gross domestic product. The data used for the analysis originated from 13,929 forest plots of the first Czech National Forest Inventory performed between 2001 and 2004. The total tree carbon stock was obtained as a sum of the carbon stock in the individual tree compartments estimated from the biomass amount in the compartments multiplied by the relative carbon content. Wood biomass amount was calculated by multiplying a particular part of tree volume with species-specific green wood density. The total amount of carbon stored in forest trees in the Czech Republic was over 327 mill. t, which is about 113 t of carbon per ha of forests. The highest carbon amount (160 mill. t, i.e. 49.0% of the total amount) was fixed in spruce. The minimum carbon amount fixed in the forest cover (14.35 mill. t) was calculated for Ústecký kraj (region), while the maximum carbon amount (51.51 mill. t) was found in Jihočeský kraj.
Challenges and Ideas to Achieve Wireless 100 Gb/s Transmission: An Overview of Challenges and Solutions within the German Research Foundation (DFG) Special Priority Program SPP1655
Authors: Kraemer Rolf 
Published: September 2017

Abstract
Wireless communications is one of the fastest growing technology fields, driving numerous other innovations in electronics. One challenging research area within the wireless field is to achieve much higher transmission rates. First products with up to 3 Gb/s are in the market. In the coming years we predict this speed growing quickly up to and beyond 100 Gb/s. Today it is an open question how we can realize a wireless system at this speed. If we intend to use such systems in a mobile environment, we can only afford to spend approximately 1–10 pW/b for the end-to-end communication. This includes RF-transmission and all processing and protocol steps. The SPP1655 of the DFG was set up to investigate new paradigms for achieving the 100 Gb/s wireless transmission goal. Within 11 coordinated projects researchers from all over Germany are addressing several relevant issues ranging from the antennas and RF-Frontend, baseband-processing and error correction to protocol processing. A number of limitations of current approaches have to be investigated and new algorithms must be found in order to achieve the intended goal. One of the big challenges is finding the correct balance between analog and digital signal processing to achieve an extremely high performance at very low energy consumption. Another challenge is to find a good balance between bandwidth and bandwidth efficiency to achieve the 100 Gbps goal. Finally, protocol processing will need new approaches to decouple the central processor of a computer from the high-end input/output operations. Within this editorial we will address the main challenges and briefly outline the approaches of the running projects. The rest of this special issue will be devoted to more detailed descriptions and achievements of the individual projects of SPP1655.
Fertilising Farms and Institutional Authorities:
Authors: Arapostathis Stathis 
Published: September 2017

Abstract
The article studies the politics of expertise and the co-production of sociotechnical imaginaries, expertise identities and public policies in agriculture and the use of fertilisers in Greece between the years 1945 and 2000. By applying the concept of the co-productionist idiom, the processes of appropriation will be studied and dynamic processes in postwar Greece are demonstrated. The study argues that experts functioned not only as mediators but as promoters and shapers of sociotechnical imaginaries in Greece, and that they directed specific policies in promoting or controlling the use of fertilisers: particularly nitrogen (N) fertilisers. Until 1990, experts had the power and the authority to politically and socially legitimise the use of intense fertilisation. In the years since 1990, the experts’ role was configured by transnational political pressures from the European Union that shaped the experts’ consensus on the harmful effects of agriculture malpractice and the overuse of nitrogen fertilisers. Yet still while an environmentally friendly agriculture paradigm was sought the dominant public discourse promoted by experts in Greece still prioritised accuracy and rational use.
Expert at a distance
Authors: Madruga Catarina 
Published: September 2017

Abstract
The career of José Vicente Barbosa du Bocage (1823‒1907) as director of the Zoological Section of the Museu Nacional de Lisboa (National Museum of Lisbon) followed by the presidency of the Society of Geography of Lisbon is presented in this paper as an example of transfer of expertise between scientific fields, specifically from zoology to geography. Additionally, it explores the connection between scientific credit and political recognition, in the sense of the conflation of Bocage’s taxonomical and zoogeographical work with the colonial agenda of his time. Although Bocage himself never visited Africa, he was part of a generation of Africanists who were members of the Portuguese elite dedicated to African matters and considered exemplary custodians of the political and diplomatic Portuguese international position regarding its African territories.
Scientific Families and the Shaping of an Expertise in Analytical Chemistry in Modern Spain.
Authors: Suay-Matallana Ignacio 
Published: September 2017

Abstract
This paper focuses on how two Spanish chemists—Antonio Casares Rodríguez (1812–1888), and his son José Casares Gil (1866–1961)—constructed their expertise in chemical analysis in modern Spain. It considers both their family connections and local networks as crucial elements in the consolidation of their scientific authority, as well as the importance of travels and textbook writing, in shaping expertise in places usually considered peripheral. Finally, this article shows how both experts were able to circulate between different spaces, notably the laboratory and the field, in this case natural springs and spas; the university and governmental committees and institutions, in this way forging new possibilities for the consolidation of analytical chemistry as a scientific discipline in Spain.
Physical activity level has a great influence on the nutritional status of adolescents: a review article
Authors: Paravlić Armin 
Published: September 2017

PurposeThe aim of the review was to investigate the relationship between physical activity level (PAL) and nutritional status (NS) in adolescents.MethodsSeven electronic databases were searched for research from the years 2005–2015. The studies must have mentioned the relationship between PAL and NS parameters in adolescents. After the review of abstracts and articles, 22 papers meeting the required criteria were further analysed in detail.ResultsThe studies included 31,045 subjects of both sexes. The results showed that smaller PAL led to an increase of NS parameters and vice versa. Comparing the total PAL, the total time spent in moderately vigorous physical activity, and the total time of vigorous PA (VPA), only VPA was a significant predictor of the responders’ percentage of fat mass. Reducing the activity by 10 MET on the weekly level was associated with an increase in BMI in girls for 0.11 kg/m<sup>2</sup>, while an increase of the activity by 1 hour per week resulted in a decline in BMI by 0.13 kg/m<sup>2</sup>.ConclusionsTotal PAL has a significant correlation with NS in adolescents. This relationship is inverse, which means that more active adolescents are less overweight than their less active and/or inactive counterparts and vice versa. In addition to PAL, the character or intensity of physical activity has a significant impact on BMI. Physical activity of higher intensity influenced the reduction of body weight and fat mass more than activity of the same duration but of moderate intensity.
Sex differences in frontal and transverse plane hip and knee kinematics during the modified Star Excursion Balance Test
Authors: Willis Brad W. , Razu Swithin , Baggett Kelli , Jahandar Amirhossein , Gray Aaron D. , Skubic Marjorie , Sherman Seth L. , Blecha Kyle , Guess Trent M. 
Published: September 2017

PurposeThe modified Star Excursion Balance Test (mSEBT) assesses dynamic neuromuscular control, with predictive ability regarding lower extremity injury risk. Previous kinematic mSEBT analyses are limited to sex differences between injured or fatigued populations or non-fatigued groups in the sagittal plane only. We hypothesize that sex differences exist in the frontal and transverse plane kinematics of the hip and knee in healthy, non-fatigued subjects during the mSEBT.MethodsThe descriptive laboratory study involved 38 healthy subjects: 20 males (aged 24.8 ± 2.7 years) and 18 females (24.1 ± 3.7 years). Peak kinematics, obtained by a VICONTM motion system, of the hip and knee in the sagittal, frontal, and transverse plane were compared during the anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral reach of the mSEBT. Wilcoxon rank test with significant differences at <i>p</i> < 0.05 was used.ResultsKinematic differences existed between the groups in the frontal and transverse plane of the hip and knee in all reach directions (<i>p</i> < 0.05). No differences were found in the sagittal plane of the hip or knee between the groups.ConclusionsSex differences exist in frontal and transverse plane kinematics of the hip and knee during the mSEBT. The mSEBT may be enhanced as an injury prediction tool, if frontal and transverse plane kinematics were included during risk assessment screening.
Influence of nutrition and genetics on performance: a pilot study in a group of gymnasts
Authors: Amato Alessandra , Sacco Alessia , Macchiarella Alessandra , Contrò Valentina , Sabatino Emilia , Galassi Claudia , Proia Patrizia 
Published: September 2017

PurposeEnergy requirements in sports performance are affected by numerous factors: physical characteristics, age, genetic basis, sports discipline. The Food and Nutrition Board recommended nutrition based on age, height, and body weight gain in relation to physical activity. Some genetic factors, such as the PPAR-encoding gene, play a key role in metabolism. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of specific snacks on performance.MethodsSeventeen girls aged 10–14 years practising artistic gymnastics were enrolled. A carb or protein/carb snack was provided before the training, and a questionnaire was administered at the end. In addition, saliva samples were collected for genetic analyses.ResultsMost girls represented the CC genotype (65%), while a small part had the GC (23%) and GG (12%). The average BMI equalled 20.05 ± 2.8 kg/m<sup>2</sup> in the group with the CC genotype, 19.6 ± 2.8 kg/m<sup>2</sup> with the GC genotype, and 20.2 ± 2.8 kg/m<sup>2</sup> with the GG genotype. The questionnaire showed that 59% of girls experienced a performance improvement after eating a carb snack; slightly different results were observed after the intake of a protein/carb snack: 47% felt more energy and 12% more fatigue.ConclusionsThis is a preliminary study that should be deepened by increasing the number of subjects, as well as diversifying the type of snacks administered and increasing the time of the study. It is important to be mindful of eating habits and lifestyle in order to prevent the onset of overweight.
Underwater dolphin kicks of young swimmers – evaluation of effectiveness based on kinematic analysis
Authors: Wądrzyk Łukasz , Nosiadek Leszek , Staszkiewicz Robert 
Published: September 2017

PurposeThe aim of the study was to distinguish the kinematic indicators influencing the average horizontal velocity of swimming (vCOM) with underwater dolphin kicks (UDK).MethodsThe study involved 15 boys and 20 girls (mean age, 11.5 ± 1.00 years; height, 1.57 ± 0.09 m; training experience, 2.5 ± 1.00 years) practicing swimming 7 times a week. We determined the body height (H), the length of the body with the arms lifted (L<sub>b</sub>), and the best result in the 50-m freestyle (pbt); characteristic anthropological points were marked on the body. The subjects performed UDK after a water-start for a distance of ca. 8 m (without a push-off from the wall). Movements were recorded with an underwater camera. The recordings were kinematically analysed with the SkillSpector program. On this basis, we calculated v<sub>COM</sub>, frequency of movement (f), amplitude of movement (A), horizontal displacement in one cycle (D<sub>pk</sub>), maximum flexion in the knee joints (KF<sub>max</sub>), the product of f and A (I<sub>Af</sub>), the Strouhal number (St), and relative amplitude of toe movement (A<sub>REL</sub>).ResultsThe movements of the subjects were characterized as follows: v<sub>COM </sub>= 1.08 ± 0.13 m/s, <i>f</i> = 2.00 ± 0.39 Hz, A = 0.46 ± 0.08 m, D<sub>pk</sub> = 0.58 ± 0.10 m, I<sub>Af</sub> = 0.90 ± 0.11, KF<sub>max</sub> = 71.37 ± 9.15°, St = 0.83 ± 0.08, A<sub>REL</sub> = 0.22 ± 0.04. A statistically significant correlation was found between v<sub>COM </sub>and: H (<i>r</i> = 0.35), pbt (<i>r</i> = –0.52), f (<i>r</i> = 0.47), I<sub>Af</sub> (<i>r</i> = 0.72), KF<sub>max</sub> (<i>r</i> = –0.53), and St (<i>r</i> = –0.36).ConclusionsUDK of young swimmers is characterized by low-speed swimming. This is effected by low swimming efficiency (low values of I<sub>Af</sub> and St, high value of KF<sub>max</sub>). The proper amplitude and frequency of movements should be a priority in improving UDK. The UDK technique should be particularly enhanced among short competitors.
Relationships between anthropometric features, body composition, and anaerobic alactic power in elite post-pubertal and mature male taekwondo athletes
Authors: Boraczyński Michał , Boraczyński Tomasz , Podstawski Robert , Laskin James , Choszcz Dariusz , Lipiński Adam 
Published: September 2017

PurposeThe paper describes the relationships between anthropometric features, body composition, and anaerobic alactic power (AAP) in elite post-pubertal and mature male taekwondo athletes.MethodsThe sample of 41 taekwondo athletes was divided into two groups: post-pubertal (P-P, <i>n</i> = 19, M<sub>age</sub> = 15.6 ± 1.1 years) and mature (M, <i>n</i> = 22, M<sub>age</sub> = 20.7 ± 2.8 years). Anthropometric features (WB-150, ZPU Tryb-Wag, Poland), body composition (BC-418 MA, Tanita, Japan), maturational status (Pubertal Maturational Observational Scale), and AAP (10-s version of the Wingate Anaerobic Test) were assessed.ResultsPost-hoc testing revealed significant between-group differences (3.2–20.4%, <i>p</i> < 0.01) in all anthropometric and body composition measures, with effect sizes (ES) between −0.79 and −1.25 (<i>p</i> < 0.001), except for fat content and percentage of skeletal muscle mass (SMM) (<i>p</i> 0.05). In group M, the maximal power output (P<sub>max</sub>) was greater (ES = −1.15, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and the time of its attainment shorter (ES = 0.59, <i>p</i> < 0.001) than in group P-P. Correlation analyses indicated notably strong associations between body mass (BM) and P<sub>max</sub> in group P-P (<i>r</i> = 0.950 [95% CI, 0.85–0.98], <i>p</i> < 0.001) and M (<i>r</i> = 0.926 [95% CI, 0.81–0.97], <i>p</i> < 0.001), and similar-sized strong correlations between fat-free mass (FFM) and P<sub>max</sub> in group P-P (<i>r</i> = 0.955 [95% CI, 0.86–0.99], <i>p</i> < 0.001) and M (<i>r</i> = 0.924 [95% CI, 0.82–0.96], <i>p</i> < 0.001). Additionally, a strong correlation was found between body height and P<sub>max</sub> in groups P-P and M (<i>r</i> = 0.805 [95% CI, 0.54–0.92], <i>p</i> < 0.001 and <i>r</i> = 0.819 [95% CI, 0.58–0.93], <i>p</i> < 0.001, respectively). Linear regression analyses demonstrated that FFM, BM, and absolute SMM best explained the variance in P<sub>max</sub> in both groups (<i>r</i>, 0.939–0.951; <i>r</i><sup>2</sup>, 0.882–0.909).ConclusionsThe strong correlations observed in both groups between BM, FFM, SMM, and P<sub>max</sub> demonstrate the significant effects of body size and composition on AAP. By determining the current levels of these measures for individual athletes and via regressive modelling, one can anticipate the individual developmental dynamics of AAP. On the basis of anthropometric profiling, we recommend the recruitment and selection of tall and lean individuals with high anaerobic predisposition in taekwondo. Such a profile may enable coaches to better predict future athlete development, particularly in AAP.
Bubble Force Balance Formula for Low Reynolds Number Bubbly Flows in Pipes and Channels: Comparison of Wall Force Models
Authors: Marfaing O. , Laviéville J. 
Published: September 2017

Abstract
In recent work, we investigated analytically low Reynolds number bubbly flows in pipes. We showed that the distribution of bubbles results from a balance between lift, dispersion and wall forces, and exhibited an analytical expression for this void fraction profile. We then performed a comparison of this analytical Bubble Force Balance Formula (BFBF) with an experiment from the literature. Antal’s model was used for the wall force. The objective of the present work is to compare and assess the three main wall force models in the literature: Antal’s, Tomiyama’s and Frank’s models. We begin by deriving two new BFBF, respectively with Tomiyama’s and Frank’s forces. We can see that the choice of the model impacts the velocity with which the analytical void fraction profile goes to zero at the wall. We then compare our three analytical profiles with experimental measurements and DNS simulations of laminar flows from the literature. We restrict ourselves to the near-wall region. The choice of Antal’s wall force model yields the best agreement. The data is also used to estimate the dispersion coefficient at the wall. Interestingly, we obtain the same order of magnitude with the three wall force models.
Pharmacological and phytochemical screening of Palestinian traditional medicinal plants Erodium laciniatum and Lactuca orientalis
Authors: Jaradat Nidal , AlMasri Motasem , Zaid Abdel Naser , Othman Dua’a Ghazi 
Published: September 2017

Abstract

Background: Various epidemiological studies showed that herbal remedies containing polyphenols may protect against various diseases such as cancers, vascular diseases and inflammatory pathologies. Currently, such groups of bioactive compounds have become a subject of many antimicrobials and antioxidant investigations. Accordingly, the current study aimed to conduct biological and phytochemical screening for two Palestinian traditional medicinal plants, Erodium laciniatum and Lactuca orientalis.

Methods: Current plants phytoconstituents and their antioxidant activities were evaluated by using standard phytochemical methods; meanwhile, antimicrobial activities were estimated by using several types of American Type Culture Collection and multidrug resistant clinical isolates by using agar diffusion well-variant, agar diffusion disc-variant and broth microdilution methods.

Results: Phytochemical screenings showed that L. orientalis and E. laciniatum contain mixtures of secondary and primary metabolites Moreover, total flavonoid, tannins and phenols content in E. laciniatum extract were higher than the L. orientalis extracts with almost the same antioxidant potentials. Additionally, both plants organic and aqueous extracts showed various potentials of antimicrobial activity

Conclusions: Overall, the studied species have a mixture of phytochemicals, flavonoids, phenols and tannins also have antioxidant and antimicrobial activities which approved their folk uses in treatments of infectious and Alzheimer diseases and simultaneously can be used as therapeutic agents in the pharmaceutical industries.
Perfect Tunable All-Optical Diode based on Periodic Photonic Crystal Grand Graded Structures
Authors: Zohrabi Ramin , Namdar Abdolrahman 
Published: September 2017

Abstract
We have investigated nonlinear properties and optically diode action capability in graded nonlinear one-dimensional photonic crystals-made up of graded index and thickness layers using transfer matrix method (TMM). We have considered the efficacy of index and thickness gradient parameters on the nonlinear properties in right to left and left to right optical pumping. It is found that the difference between the up-switch threshold input intensities of the left to right and right to left impinging lights and optical bistability (OBS) threshold can be tunable with thickness gradation parameter and index gradation parameter, respectively. Proposed structure can be useful in designing low threshold and high speed optical diode, switches and rectifiers.
A Novel Scheme for UDWDM-PON Broadband Access Network Using Injection-Locked Phase-to-Intensity Modulation Converter
Authors: Chakraborty Meenakshi , Chattopadhyay Taraprasad 
Published: September 2017

Abstract
In this paper, we have proposed and analyzed a novel cost-effective ultradense wavelength division multiplexed (UDWDM) passive optical network (PON) which uses phase modulation (PM) of the optical carriers in the optical line terminal (OLT) in order to achieve inherent noise immunity in the network. In the demodulation of the optical PM signal at the optical network unit (ONU), we have proposed to use a simple injection–locked Fabry–Perot (FP) laser diode (LD) for achieving PM to intensity modulation (IM) converter which is followed by a photodiode to recover the specific channel information. A detailed analysis of PM–IM conversion in an injection–locked FPLD has been carried out and the viability of the proposed scheme has been established. The proposed UDWDM–PON which is a broadband access network is cost-effective and long reach.