bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Financial optimisation of the scheduling for the multi-stage project
Authors: Klimek M. , Łebkowski P. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe paper analyses the problem of discounted cash flow maximising for the resource-constrained project scheduling from the project contractor’s perspective. Financial optimisation for the multi-stage project is considered. Cash outflows are the contactor’s expenses related to activity execution. Cash inflows are the client’s payments for the completed milestones. To solve the problem, the procedure of backward scheduling taking into account contractual milestones is proposed. The effectiveness of this procedure, as used to generate solutions for the simulated annealing algorithm, is verified with use of standard test instances with additionally defined cash flows and contractual milestones.
Surface modification of AZ91 magnesium alloy using GTAW technology
Authors: Iwaszko J. , Strzelecka M. , Kudła K. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractIn this study, surface remelting treatment of the AZ91 magnesium alloy by means of welding using a non-consumable electrode in an inert gas shield was carried out. Three variants of surface treatment were used, i.e. the single torch variant with a single heat source without cooling down the samples, the single torch variant with a single heat source and a cooling system with liquid nitrogen, and the double welding torch variant with a double heat source in the torches operating in a tandem configuration. Experimental verification of the applied apparatus solutions was based on both macro- and microstructural assessment of the obtained effects. Comparative analysis of the variants used and the obtained microstructural results allowed the authors to indicate the deficiencies and limitations of particular solutions and to single out the best solution that would be useful for modifying the surface layers of magnesium alloys, as well as other materials having a strong oxygen affinity.
Squeeze flow modeling with the use of micropolar fluid theory
Authors: Kucaba-Piętal A. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe aim of this paper is to study the applicability of micropolar fluid theory to modeling and to calculating tribological squeeze flow characteristics depending on the geometrical dimension of the flow field. Based on analytical solutions in the lubrication regime of squeeze flow between parallel plates, calculations of the load capacity and time required to squeeze the film are performed and compared – as a function of the distance between the plates – for both fluid models: the micropolar model and the Newtonian model. In particular, maximum distance between the plates for which the micropolar effects of the fluid become significant will be established. Values of rheological constants of the fluids, both those experimentally determined and predicted by means of using equilibrium molecular dynamics, have been used in the calculations. The same analysis was performed as a function of dimensionless microstructural parameters.
Natural transverse vibrations of helical springs in sections covered with elastic coatings
Authors: Michalczyk K. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractIt has been demonstrated in previous studies that local elastomer coatings covering the end coils of helical springs can efficiently reduce the amplitudes of circum-resonant vibrations in such springs. The analysis of the influence that elastic coatings have on the frequencies and modes of natural transverse vibrations of springs is presented in this paper. The concept of the equivalent beam of the Timoshenko type is utilized in calculations of the frequencies and modes of transverse vibrations. The model developed allows users to determine the frequencies and modes of symmetric as well as antisymmetric vibrations of axially loaded springs with elastic coatings of arbitrary length. A comparison of the results obtained using FEM analysis, in which the model represented the actual spring geometry, with the results obtained by means of the presented model indicates its high accuracy.
Phenolic compounds, bioactive content and antioxidant capacity of the fruits of mulberry (Morus spp.) germplasm in Turkey
Authors: Gundogdu Muttalip , Canan Ihsan , Gecer Mustafa K. , Kan Tuncay , Ercisli Sezai 
Published: December 2017

Abstract
The study was carried out in 2014 and 2015, and aimed to determine some important biochemical and antioxidant characteristics of the fruits of mulberry (Morus spp.) cultivars and genotypes found in Malatya (Turkey). Phenolic compounds (protocatechuic acid, vanillic acid, ellagic acid, rutin, quercetin, gallic acid, catechin, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, syringic acid, p-coumaric acid, o-coumaric acid, phloridzin and ferulic acid), organic acids, sugars, vitamin C and antioxidant capacity were analyzed in sampled fruits. The results showed that most of the biochemical content and antioxidant capacities of the cultivars and genotypes were significantly different from one another (p < 0.05). Among the phenolic compounds, rutin (118.23 mg 100 g-1), gallic acid (36.85 mg 100 g-1), and chlorogenic acid (92.07 mg 100 g-1) were determined to have the highest values for most of the fruit samples. Malic acid and citric acid were dominant among the organic acids for all the cultivars and genotypes except 44-Nrk-05. Glucose was measured as a more abundant sugar than fructose and sucrose in all samples. Antioxidant capacity, on the other hand, varied between 6.17 and 21.13 μmol TE g-1 among the cultivars and genotypes analyzed.
Labour Contribution and Productivity in the European Union: A Cluster Analysis
Authors: Batóg Jacek 
Published: December 2017

Abstract
The paper deals with an analysis of dynamics and the differentiation of basic features that characterize employment in European Union countries. The conducted research considered characteristics of the labour force such as the share of total labour compensation in the GDP, the number of hours worked and labour productivity. According to economic theory, this last variable plays a crucial role in the formation of the long-term economic growth. Also examined in the paper was the influence of the economic crisis on the behaviour of the indicated variables. A main statistical data source was the Total Economy Database published by the Conference Board. It can be seen from the results of the research that there exists growing international differences between the basic characteristics of labour force utilization and productivity. The conclusions were drawn on the grounds of a cluster analysis, which allowed deriving homogenous groups of countries according to the specificity of labour utilization and efficiency.
Forecasting Euro Area Inflation Using Single-Equation and Multivariate VAR–Models
Authors: Gerdesmeier Dieter , Roffia Barbara , Reimers Hans-Eggert 
Published: December 2017

AbstractForecasting inflation is of key relevance for central banks, not least because the objective of low and stable inflation is embodied in most central banks’ mandates and the monetary policy transmission mechanism is well known to be subject to long and variable lags. To our best knowledge, central banks around the world use conditional as well as unconditional forecasts for such purposes. Turning to unconditional forecasts, these can be derived on the basis of structural and non-structural models. Among the latter, vector autoregressive (VAR)-models are among the most popular tools.This study aims at assessing and deriving a set of unconditional forecasts for euro area inflation based on several specifications which take into account the information content of, inter alia, monetary and credit variables. The models are ordered and based on their in-sample performance and the “best” model is selected accordingly. The results indicate that the inclusion of money and credit variables in the information set improves the quality of the forecasts over a horizon of one to eight quarters. This supports the view that central banks should regularly monitor developments in money and credit.
Monetary Policy and Industrial Output in the BRICS Countries: A Markov-Switching Model
Authors: Kutu Adebayo Augustine , Ngalawa Harold 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThis paper examines whether the five BRICS countries share similar business cycles and determines the probability of any of the countries moving from a contractionary regime to an expansionary regime. The study further examines the extent to which changes in monetary policy affect industrial output in expansions relative to contractions. Employing the Peersman and Smets (2001) Markov-Switching Model (MSM) and monthly data from 1994.01–2013.12, the study reveals that the five BRICS countries have similar business cycles. The results further demonstrate that the BRICS countries’ business cycles are characterized by two distinct growth rate phases: a contractionary regime and an expansionary regime. It can also be observed that the area-wide monetary policy has significantly large effects on industrial output in recessions as well as in booms. It has also been established that there is a high probability of moving from state one (recession) to state two (expansion) and that on average, the probabilities of staying in state 2 (expansion) are high for each of the five countries. It is, therefore, recommended that the BRICS countries should sustain uniform policy consistency (monetary policy), especially as they formulate and implement economic policies to stimulate industrial output.
Consumers’ Competences as a Stimulant of Sustainable Consumption
Authors: Kiełczewski Dariusz , Bylok Felicjan , Dąbrowska Anna , Janoś-Kresło Mirosława , Ozimek Irena 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe paper contains considerations on the issue of sustainable consumption whose stimulator may be consumer competences. The problem can be examined in the cognitive, emotional and behavioural dimensions. Besides the theoretical approach, the authors have presented findings of the research carried out for the purposes of the project “Consumer Competences as a Stimulant of Innovative Behaviours and Sustainable Consumption” (2011/03/B/HS4/04417) financed from resources provided by the National Science Centre. The research involved a research sample of 1,000 Poles meeting specific criteria established by the authors. The obtained empirical material allowed for the construction of the consumer competence index which took into account the following variables: Knowledge of the consumer’s rights and ways of use thereof (Knowledge), Planning measured with the following variables (Planning), Making rational consumption choices measured with the following variables (Rationality), Autonomy of choices measured with the following variables (Sovereignty). Three groups of consumers were singled out and characterised in the study, namely: highly competent consumers, consumers with a medium level of competences, and consumers with low competences.
Decision Support Methods for Supply Processes in the Floral Industry
Authors: Kutyba Agata , Mikulik Jerzy 
Published: December 2017

Abstract
The aim of this paper was to show the application of the ABC and AHP (multi-criteria method for hierarchical analysis of decision processes) as an important part of decision making in supply processes which are realized in the floral industry. The ABC analysis was performed in order to classify the product mix from the perspective of the demand values. This in consequence enabled us to identify the most important products which were then used as a variant in the AHP method.
Capacity of Neural Networks and Discriminant Analysis in Classifying Potential Debtors
Authors: Piasecki Krzysztof , Wójcicka-Wójtowicz Aleksandra 
Published: December 2017

Abstract
Identifying potential healthy and unsound customers is an important task. The reduction of loans granted to companies of questionable credibility can influence banks’ performance. A prior identification of factors that affect the condition of companies is a vital element. Among the most commonly used methods we can enumerate discriminant analysis (DA), scoring methods, neural networks (NN), etc. This paper investigates the use of different structure NN and DA in the process of the classification of banks’ potential clients. The results of those different methods are juxtaposed and their performance compared.
A Kernel Probabilistic Model for Semi-supervised Co-clustering Ensemble
Authors: Zhang Yinghui 
Published: December 2017

Abstract
Co-clustering is used to analyze the row and column clusters of a dataset, and it is widely used in recommendation systems. In general, different co-clustering models often obtain very different results for a dataset because each algorithm has its own optimization criteria. It is an alternative way to combine different co-clustering results to produce a final one for improving the quality of co-clustering. In this paper, a semi-supervised co-clustering ensemble is illustrated in detail based on semi-supervised learning and ensemble learning. A semi-supervised co-clustering ensemble is a framework for combining multiple base co-clusterings and the side information of a dataset to obtain a stable and robust consensus co-clustering. First, the objective function of the semi-supervised co-clustering ensemble is formulated according to normalized mutual information. Then, a kernel probabilistic model for semi-supervised co-clustering ensemble (KPMSCE) is presented and the inference of KPMSCE is illustrated in detail. Furthermore, the corresponding algorithm is designed. Moreover, different algorithms and the proposed algorithm are used for experiments on real datasets. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm can significantly outperform the compared algorithms in terms of several indices.
Detection of fluoroquinolone residues in milk using Yersinia spp. strains: towards better sensitivity for flumequine determination
Authors: Navrátilová Pavlína , Vyhnálková Jana , Vorlová Lenka 
Published: December 2017

Abstract

Introduction: Plate diffusion methods play an important role in the monitoring system for antimicrobial agents in raw materials and foodstuffs of animal origin. The aim of this work was to select a Yersinia spp. strain for the plate diffusion method based on sensitivity to a fluoroquinolone, namely flumequine. Another aim was to determine the optimal conditions of the method with the selected strain of Yersinia ruckeri CCM 8467 and to determine the detection capability (CCβ) of this method for residues of selected fluoroquinolones in milk.

Material and Methods: Optimum method conditions were set: cell concentration in the test agar at the level of 9.105–106 CFU/mL, discs with a diameter of 12.7 mm, Antimicrobial Inhibitor Test Agar with a pH of 6.0, and incubation at 30°C for at least 18 h and up to 24 h.

Results: With respect to the maximum residue limit (MRL), the Y. ruckeri plate method demonstrated the lowest sensitivity to flumequine. The CCβ of the method for flumequine was in the concentration of 100 μg/L−1 (twice the MRL). The study also confirmed that the method exhibits very good sensitivity to the other tested fluoroquinolones, which were marbofloxacin (30 μg/L, 0.4 MRL), ciprofloxacin (10 μg/L, 0.1 MRL), and enrofloxacin (20 μg/L, 0.2 MRL), but lower sensitivity to danofloxacin (42 μg/L, 1.4 MRL).

Conclusion: The method with the CCM 8467 strain of Y. ruckeri showed a higher sensitivity to flumequine than the method with the ATCC 11303 strain of E. coli.
Antiviral and immunoregulatory role against PCV2in vivoof Chinese herbal medicinal ingredients
Authors: Yang Haifeng , Chen Xiaolan , Jiang Chunmao , He Kongwang , Hu Yiyi 
Published: December 2017

AbstractIntroduction:The aim of the research was to investigate the antiviral and immunoregulatory effects of saikosaponin A, saikosaponin D, Panax notoginseng saponins, notoginsenoside R1, and anemoside B4 saponins commonly found in Chinese herbal medicines.Material and Methods:control mice were challenged intramuscularly (im) with 0.2 mL of porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) solution containing 107TCID50of the virus/mL. Mice of high-, middle-, and low-dose saponin groups were initially challenged im with 0.2 mL of PCV2 solution and three days later treated intraperitoneally (ip) with one of five saponins at one of three doses (10, 5, or 1 mg/kg b.w.). In the drug control group, mice were dosed ip with 10 mg/kg b.w. of a given saponin, and mice in a blank control group were administered the same volume of normal saline.Results:The results revealed that the saponins could reduce the incidence and severity of PCV2-induced immunopathological damage,e.g. body temperature elevation, weight loss, anaemia, and internal organ swelling. In addition, it was seen that the saponins could affect the immunoglobulin levels and protein absorption.Conclusion:The data suggested that the saponins might effectively regulate immune responses.
Effect of intrauterine infusion ofMomordica charantiaL. on oxidative stress and pregnancy rate in infertile cows
Authors: Emre Birten , Korkmaz Ömer , Temamoğulları Füsun , Zonturlu Abuzer Kafar , Koyuncu İsmail , Özkaraca Mustafa , Cengiz Mehmet 
Published: December 2017

AbstractIntroduction:The effect of intrauterine administration ofMomordica charantiaL. (MC) extract on oxidative changes and pregnancy rate in infertile cows was investigated.Material and Methods:Endometrial smear specimens were taken from 40 cows with fertility problems for cytological examination, and the cows were randomly divided into two groups: group I (n = 20) was subjected to intrauterine administration of 40 mL (0.25 g/mL) of MC extract, group II (n = 20) was subjected to intrauterine administration of 40 mL of pure olive oil. Blood samples were taken starting from the day of administration of MC extract or olive oil (day 0) and then for three weeks at weekly intervals (days 7, 14, 21). Blood serum samples were evaluated for total antioxidant capacity (TAS), total oxidant level (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI), lipid hydroperoxide (LOOH), and nitric oxide (NO) levels. In addition, on the 14thday following treatment, two doses of PGF2α were administrated to all cows at 14-day intervals. Following the second PGF2α administration, insemination and GnRH administration was performed at the 60thh after PGF2α treatment. Smear samples were stained with Giemsa and immunohistochemically to determine cytological changes and inflammatory status.Results:According to cytological findings, subclinical endometritis was a prevalent disorder in cows with infertility problem (82.5%; 33/40). Additionally, 60.6% (20/33) of the cows with subclinical endometritis had acute inflammation, whereas remaining 13 cows had chronic endometritis. Of the cows with subclinical endometritis, 50% (8/16) and 35% (6/17) became pregnant in group I and II, respectively (P > 0.05). Although the oxidative stress parameters showed similarities between both groups (P > 0.05), there was a significant difference (P < 0.001) between the groups in terms of mean NO and LOOH levels (NO – 31.20 ± 11.38vs44.53 ± 11.50 μmol/L and LOOH – 1.22 ± 0.37vs1.89 ± 0.36 μmol/L).Conclusion:The obtained results indicated that MC administration, especially in the presence of active inflammation, may improve the pregnancy rate by positive reduction of oxidative changes.
Effect of amifostine on sperm DNA fragmentation and testes after radioiodine treatment
Authors: Sen Cigdem Cebi , Yumusak Nihat , Atilgan Hasan Ikbal , Sadic Murat , Koca Gokhan , Korkmaz Meliha 
Published: December 2017

Abstract

Introduction: Radioactive iodine (RAI) is commonly used for the treatment of hyperthyroidism caused by Graves’ disease or thyroid nodules. However, information available on the impact of RAI therapy on male gonadal function is scarce. This study aimed to determine any possible damage to testicular tissue and sperm quality caused by RAI therapy, and the radioprotective effect of amifostine against such damage.

Material and Methods: In total, 36 rats were randomly allocated to three groups, including a control group, RAI group (111 MBq Iodine-131), and RAI + amifostine group (111 MBq Iodine-131 and a single dose of 200 mg/kg amifostine). Blood and epididymal sperm samples were taken for hormone analyses and the evaluation of spermatological parameters. The TUNEL assay and haematoxylin-eosin were used to stain testicular tissue samples to detect histological changes and apoptosis.

Results: The groups differed insignificantly for the testicular mass index and spermatozoa concentration. However, spermatozoa motility and percentage of viable spermatozoa were higher in the RAI + amifostine group, compared to the RAI group. Sperm DNA fragmentation and the index of apoptotic germ cells significantly decreased in the amifostine group, in comparison to the radioiodine group. While the testosterone levels showed no significant change, the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels significantly decreased in the RAI + amifostine group.

Conclusion: All histopathological parameters and some spermatological parameters showed that RAI therapy caused statistically significant damage of testicular tissue and this damage was reduced by amifostine.
Diagnostic reliability of different RT-PCR protocols for the detection of bluetongue virus serotype 14 (BTV-14)
Authors: Orłowska Anna , Żmudziński Jan F. , Smreczak Marcin , Trębas Paweł , Marzec Anna 
Published: December 2017

Abstract

Introduction: The reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is one of the most extensively used methods for identification of animals infected with bluetongue virus (BTV). There are several RT-PCR protocols published and several real-time RT-PCR (rtRT-PCR) commercial kits available on the market. Because Poland faced BTV-14 infection in 2012, different protocols were implemented in the country to confirm the RT-PCR results positive for this virus. The article presents a comparative study of several RT-PCR protocols and discusses their diagnostic reliability and applicability.

Material and Methods: Six rtRT-PCR/RT-PCR protocols were compared for the laboratory diagnostic of fourteen BTV-14 isolates circulating in Poland in 2012–2014.

Results: All 14 isolates were positive in the protocols of Shaw et al. (18), a commercial LSI NS3 kit, and Eschbaumer et al. (5). Four out of fourteen BTV-14 isolates gave positive results in Hoffmann’s 2 and 6 protocols and none of the 14 isolates yielded positive results in Maan et al. (8) method. Phylogenetic study of a short fragment of 450 nt of BTV segment 2 (258–696 positions) revealed 100% identity within Polish variants and with Russian and Spanish isolates.

Conclusion: The paper points to the possible false negative results in the diagnosis of BTV infections depending on the protocol used.