bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Predicting Douglas-fir wood density by artificial neural networks (ANN) based on progeny testing information
Authors: Iliadis Lazaros , Mansfield Shawn D. , Avramidis Stavros , El-Kassaby Yousry A. 
Published: March 2013

Abstract
A heuristic wood density prediction model has been developed by means of artificial neural networks (ANNs). Four populations of 32-year-old coastal Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco var. menziesi) trees representing 20 full-sib families growing on comparable sites were in focus of this study. Tree height, diameter, volume, wood density, and acoustic velocity data from 632 trees were considered for the calculations. Two different ANN platforms were developed employing different classes and architectures, namely, the multilayer feed-forward (MLFF) and modular (MOD) models. After establishing the optimal configuration of the model, a MLFF network and a MOD neural network (with the obtained optimal structure) were developed and tested without cross-validation by employing a typical training and testing set methodology. To this purpose, the data set was divided in 480 trees for training and 152 trees for validation. A significant relationship between actual and predicted wood density was obtained with R2 values of 0.50 and 0.52 for the two networks, respectively, demonstrating their predictive potential for wood density estimation. A classic multiple regression analysis produced substantially lower predictive power with an R2 of 0.23. The application of ANNs as a viable predictive tool in determining wood density using growth and acoustic velocity data without additional intrusive sampling and laboratory work was demonstrated. An additional work including other species is required for these approaches.
Cytokines and their role in hyperthermia and heat stroke
Authors: Heled Yuval , Fleischmann Chen , Epstein Yoram 
Published: March 2013

Abstract
Cytokines are intracellular peptides that serve as immune mediators. The levels of both pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines have been demonstrated to rise in the event of heat stroke in both human and animal models. Different hyperthermic states, including both normal exercise-induced hyperthermia and classical and exertional heat stroke, result in unique characteristic profiles of plasma cytokines. The complexity of the interaction between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines is outlined in the vast number of experimental studies and clinical observations reported in the literature. However, there is no unanimous logic in studying the changes in cytokine levels, and therefore, it is difficult to compare the effects seen in the different reports. The strong inflammatory response to heat stroke increases after the cessation of heat stress and is intricately involved both in damage-generating processes and in repair mechanisms that are put into action during the recovery phase. In surviving individuals, this response diminishes in magnitude as time progresses and eventually subsides to allow return-to-normal homeostasis. A greater magnitude of the inflammatory response is often associated with poor prognosis and even fatalities, suggesting an imbalance of the immune system, which causes an unregulated inflammatory response. This review describes the common known processes relating to the predominant cytokines altered in the event of heat injury. The role of cytokines, specifically in the pathophysiology of heat stroke, is elaborated and depicted as part of a biaxial model pertaining to the physiological and cellular/biochemical aspects of heat stroke.
Comparison of chemical fractionation method and 1H-NMR spectroscopy in measuring the monomer block distribution of algal alginates
Authors: Moral Çiğdem Kıvılcımdan , Doğan Özdemir , Sanin Faika Dilek 
Published: March 2013

Abstract
Alginates are composed of β-D-mannuronic acid (M) and α-L-guluronic acid (G). In this study, block distributions of alginate samples were measured by a chemical fractionation method and 1H-NMR spectroscopy, to compare the usefulness of the two methods. Block distribution results obtained from the two methods were found to be statistically different from each other; the chemical fractionation method gave consistently lower estimates for the amount of homopolymeric blocks. The repeatability of the results was also lower in the chemical fractionation method. By contrast, 1H-NMR spectroscopy was found to be a reproducible and a faster method for determining the distribution of monomeric blocks in alginates.
Analysis of conditions for the preparation of BSA/MMT composites
Authors: Lv Yinghai , Su Xiaolu , Ren Fuli , Kan Hong-qiang , Kong Ying 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThis study describes a new method for protein fixation that has high, stable, and good repeatable fixation effect without deactivating protein. This method involves intercalating bovine serum albumin (BSA) into montmorillonite (MMT) under different experimental conditions, i.e., the concentration of coupling agent KH570, pH values, ionic strength, and the impact of buffers. The study showed the interaction of buffer systems with pH values had the most significant influence on adsorption quantity. The existence of the buffer increased the adsorption quantity and helped with slow protein releasing, while the phosphate buffer worked better than acetate buffer. More BSA was adsorbed on KH570 treated than untreated MMT, and among the treated samples the most protein released was on MMT treated with KH570 in 100% ethanol and in the acetate buffer solution. Adsorption quantity of the BSA initially increased and then decreased with the increase of the ionic strength. The research on the preparation of MMT/BSA materials provides further information on the study of protein composites.
Improved radioanalytical method for the simultaneous determination of Th, U, Np, Pu and Am(Cm) on a single TRU column by alpha spectrometry and ICP-MS
Authors: Macsik Z. , Groska J. , Vajda Nóra , Vogt S. , Kis-Benedek G. , Kim C. S. , Maddison A. , Donohue D. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractA radioanalytical method based on the use of a single TRU extraction chromatographic column and selective, on-column oxidation state adjustment of actinides was developed for the determination of Th, U, Np, Pu and Am(Cm) in environmental samples (such as sediment and swipe samples). The procedure of Vajdaet al.[1] was further investigated and optimized focusing on the separation of Th, U and Np. The improved method combines two measurement techniques — alpha spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) – which allows to obtain more reliable information on a wider range of isotopes:228Th,230Th,232Th,234U,235U, (236U),238U,237Np,238Pu,239Pu,240Pu,241Pu,241Am,242Cm,243Cm and244Cm from one sample.
Proton irradiation parameters and chemical separation procedure for the bulk production of high-specific-activity 186gRe using WO3 targets
Authors: Fassbender M. E. , Ballard B. , Birnbaum E.R. , Engle J.W. , John K.D. , Maassen J.R. , Nortier F. M. , Lenz J.W. , Cutler C. S. , Ketring A.R. , Jurisson Silvia S. , Wilbur D.S. 
Published: March 2013

Abstract
Rhenium-186g (T
1/2= 89.2 h) is a β
− emitter suitable for therapeutic applications. Current production methods rely on reactor production via
185Re(n,γ) which results in low specific activities, thereby limiting its use. Production by p,d activation of enriched 186W results in a 186gRe product with a higher specific activity, allowing it to be used for targeted therapy with limited receptors. A test target consisting of pressed, sintered natWO3 was proton irradiated at Los Alamos (LANL-IPF) to evaluate product yield and impurities, irradiation parameters and wet chemical Re recovery for proof-of-concept for bulk production of 186gRe. We demonstrated isolation of 186gRe in 97% yield from irradiated natWO3 targets within 12 h of end of bombardment (EOB) via an alkaline dissolution followed by anion exchange. The recovery process has potential for automation, and WO3 can be easily recycled for recurrent irradiations. A 186gRe batch yield of 42.7 ± 2.2 μCi/μAh or 439 ± 23 MBq/C was obtained after 24 h in an 18.5 μA proton beam. The target entrance energy was determined to be 15.6 MeV. The specific activity of 186gRe at EOB was measured to be 1.9 kCi (70.3 TBq) mmol−1, which agrees well with the result of a previous 185,186mRe co-production EMPIRE and TALYS modeling study assuming similar conditions. Utilizing enriched 186WO3, we anticipate that a proton beam of 250 μA for 24 h will provide batch yields of 256 mCi (9.5 GBq) of 186gRe at EOB with specific activities even higher than 1.9 kCi (70.3 TBq) mmol−1, suitable for therapy applications.
Preterm Birth and the Metabolic Syndrome in Adult Life: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Parkinson James R.C. , Hyde Matthew J. , Gale Chris , Santhakumaran Shalini , Modi Neena 
Published: March 2013

BACKGROUND:
Preterm birth is associated with features of the metabolic syndrome in later life. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies reporting markers of the metabolic syndrome in adults born preterm.

METHODS:
Reports of metabolic syndrome–associated features in adults (≥18 years of age) born at &lt;37-week gestational age and at term (37- to 42-week gestational age) were included. Outcomes assessed were BMI, waist-hip ratio, percentage fat mass, systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure, 24-hour ambulatory SBP and DBP, flow-mediated dilatation, intima-media thickness, and fasting glucose, insulin, and lipid profiles.

RESULTS:
Twenty-seven studies, comprising a combined total of 17 030 preterm and 295 261 term-born adults, were included. In adults, preterm birth was associated with significantly higher SBP (mean difference, 4.2 mm Hg; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.8 to 5.7; P &lt; .001), DBP (mean difference, 2.6 mm Hg; 95% CI, 1.2 to 4.0; P &lt; .001), 24-hour ambulatory SBP (mean difference, 3.1 mm Hg; 95% CI, 0.3 to 6.0; P = .03), and low-density lipoprotein (mean difference, 0.14 mmol/L; 95% CI, 0.05 to 0.21; P = .01). The preterm–term differences for women was greater than the preterm–term difference in men by 2.9 mm Hg for SBP (95% CI [1.1 to 4.6], P = .004) and 1.6 mm Hg for DBP (95% CI [0.3 to 2.9], P = .02).

CONCLUSIONS:
For the majority of outcome measures associated with the metabolic syndrome, we found no difference between preterm and term-born adults. Increased plasma low-density lipoprotein in young adults born preterm may represent a greater risk for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease in later life. Preterm birth is associated with higher blood pressure in adult life, with women appearing to be at greater risk than men.
Reasons for Not Vaccinating Adolescents: National Immunization Survey of Teens, 2008–2010
Authors: Darden Paul M. , Thompson David M. , Roberts James R. , Hale Jessica J. , Pope Charlene , Naifeh Monique , Jacobson Robert M. 
Published: March 2013

OBJECTIVE:
To determine the reasons adolescents are not vaccinated for specific vaccines and how these reasons have changed over time.

METHODS:
We analyzed the 2008–2010 National Immunization Survey of Teens examining reasons parents do not have their teens immunized. Parents whose teens were not up to date (Not-UTD) for Tdap/Td and MCV4 were asked the main reason they were not vaccinated. Parents of female teens Not-UTD for human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV) were asked their intent to give HPV, and those unlikely to get HPV were asked the main reason why not.

RESULTS:
The most frequent reasons for not vaccinating were the same for Tdap/Td and MCV4, including “Not recommended” and “Not needed or not necessary.” For HPV, the most frequent reasons included those for the other vaccines as well as 4 others, including “Not sexually active” and “Safety concerns/Side effects.” “Safety concerns/Side effects” increased from 4.5% in 2008 to 7.7% in 2009 to 16.4% in 2010 and, in 2010, approaching the most common reason “Not Needed or Not Necessary” at 17.4% (95% CI: 15.7–19.1). Although parents report that health care professionals increasingly recommend all vaccines, including HPV, the intent to not vaccinate for HPV increased from 39.8% in 2008 to 43.9% in 2010 (OR for trend 1.08, 95% CI: 1.04–1.13).

CONCLUSIONS:
Despite doctors increasingly recommending adolescent vaccines, parents increasingly intend not to vaccinate female teens with HPV. The concern about safety of HPV grew with each year. Addressing specific and growing parental concerns about HPV will require different considerations than those for the other vaccines.
The ichnotaxonomy of vertically oriented, bivalve-generated equilibrichnia
Authors: Zonneveld John-Paul , Gingras Murray K. 
Published: March 2013

Bivalves have pursued an infaunal lifestyle since early in their history. Trace fossils that have been attributed to the infaunal activity of bivalves includeHillichnus, Lockeia(=Pelecypodichnus),Lophoctenium, Protovirgularia, Ptychoplasma,SiphonichnusandScalichnus. Re-evaluation of the ichnogeneraSiphonichnusandScalichnussupports consolidation into a single ichnogenus,Siphonichnus, which has taxonomic precedence.Siphonichnus, as redefined herein, presently includes four ichnospecies.Siphonichnus eccaensisStanistreet et al. is an unlined vertical tube characterized by concave downward laminae penetrated by a single central shaft and is interpreted to reflect downward burrowing in response to net erosion during the life span of the animal.Siphonichnus phiale(Hanken et al., 2001) is characterized by concave upwards laminae and reflects equilibrichnial behavior by the tracemaker.Siphonichnus lepusauresn. isp. is characterized by concave upwards laminae with a pair of vertically oriented, unlined tubes at the top and is interpreted as the dwelling trace of a bivalve with paired siphons responding to sediment aggradation.Siphonichnus sursumdeorsumn. isp. is characterized by concave upwards laminae in its basal third and convex upwards laminae in its upper third and is interpreted as the dwelling trace of a bivalve exhibiting equilibrichnial behavior in a dynamic depositional setting. Consolidation of these ichnotaxa into a single ichnogenus simplifies the ichnotaxonomy and provides a means of assessing the sedimentological significance of bivalve-generated dwelling/equilibrium/escape structures.
Secured Multi-Cloud Virtual Infrastructure with Improved Performance
Authors: Thandeeswaran R. , Subhashini S. , Jeyanthi N. , Saleem Durai M. A. 
Published: March 2013

Abstract
Cloud computing is a model where software applications and computing resources are accessed over Internet with minimal cost and effort by interacting with the service provider. Along with these benefits there are also some significant security concerns that need to be addressed for handling sensitive data and critical applications.
The simultaneous use of multiple clouds can provide several potential benefits, such as high availability, fault tolerance and reduced infrastructural cost. The model proposed which is the implementation of a secured multi-cloud virtual infrastructure consists of a grid engine on top of the multi-cloud infrastructure to distribute the task among the worker nodes that are supplied with various resources from different clouds to enhance cost efficiency of the infrastructure set up and also to implement high availability feature. The Oracle grid engine is used to schedule the jobs to the worker nodes (in-house and cloud). Worker nodes will be acting like listeners to receive the job from the oracle grid engine master node. High security is provided at this point for data using AES algorithm and also a password protection key for privileged user’s access. Performance analysis, cost analysis and cost-performance ratio analysis are done by comparing different cluster configurations.
Prediction of e-Learning Efficiency by Neural Networks
Authors: Halachev Petar 
Published: March 2013

Abstract
A model for prediction of the outcome indicators of e-Learning, based on Balanced ScoreCard (BSC) by Neural Networks (NN) is proposed. In the development of NN models the problem of a small sample size of the data arises. In order to reduce the number of variables and increase the examples of the training sample, preprocessing of the data with the help of the methods Interpolation and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is performed. A method for optimizing the structure of the neural network is applied over linear and nonlinear neural network architectures. The highest accuracy of prognosis is obtained applying the method of Optimal Brain Damage (OBD) over the nonlinear neural network. The efficiency and applicability of the method suggested is proved by numerical experiments on the basis of real data.
The influence of harvest maturity and basic macroelement content in fruit on the incidence of diseases and disorders after storage of the ‘Ligol’ apple cultivar
Authors: Łysiak Grzegorz 
Published: March 2013

ABSTRACT
Research was carried out during the 1999-2007 growing and storage season using ‘Ligol’ apples from trees grafted on M.26, and fertilised in accordance with recommendations for commercial orchards. The approximate optimum harvest date was determined mainly on the basis of starch index measurements and Streif index calculations, evaluated 7-8 times every 4-5 days each year. In addition to samples collected to determine OHD each year, there were four harvests of fruit intended for storage. The apples were stored in a cold storage room at 1-2°C and RH of around 90% for about five months. Following a storage period lasting the same number of days for each harvest, the quality of fruits was examined and the correlation between the concentration of minerals in apples and all fungal diseases and physiological disorders was calculated. In years with high precipitation in the period preceding the harvest, the share of fruits affected by fungal diseases and physiological disorders after storage depended more on weather conditions prevailing in the growing season than on the harvest date. The incidence of bitter pit increased with the number of days preceding OHD. Other recorded losses were caused by internal breakdown and superficial scald, but they were small and did not seem significant for ‘Ligol’ apples. Each characteristic mineral concentration in the fruit at harvest (N, P, K, Ca and Mg) was correlated with the incidence of physiological disorders and/or fungal diseases. The incidence of bitter pit and lenticel blotch pit and the sum of physiological disorders increased along with the increase in nitrogen concentration. The feature that best predicted the storability of ‘Ligol’ was the K/Ca ratio.
The influence of rock raw materials comminution in various crushers and crushing stages on the quality of mineral aggregates
Authors: Gawenda Tomasz 
Published: March 2013

Streszczenie
Artykuł porusza problematykę optymalnego wykorzystania różnych kruszarek udarowych i szczękowych w różnych stadiach rozdrabniania układów technologicznych w celu uzyskania właściwej jakości kruszyw. We wstępie omówiono występujące w kruszarkach elementarne działania sił kruszących i ich związek z efektami rozdrabniania. Zwrócono uwagę, że celem artykułu jest zarysowanie metodyki badañ przy różnych kombinacjach układów technologicznych (rys. 1) oraz rezultatów rozdrabniania (rys. 5-9, tab. 1, 2).
Objaśniono przyjęty plan badañ, który składał się z trzech etapów. Pierwsza część badañ dotyczyła warunków przemysłowego procesu produkcji kruszyw w austriackiej żwirowni Viecht, czyli pobrania prób z kruszarek udarowych listwowych, ich analizę i przygotowanie do dalszych badañ. Druga część obejmowała kruszenie surowca oraz analizy produktów z kruszarki szczękowej oraz unikatowej kruszarki udarowej (laboratoria firmy SBM Mineral Processing w Laakirchen), natomiast trzecia część obejmowała kruszenie w kruszarce szczękowej oraz mielenie w młynku kulowym Bonda (laboratoria AGH w Krakowie). Trójczęściowy plan badañ dał możliwość realizacji układów trój- i czerostadialnych (rozdz. 2, rys. 1).
Do oceny efektów rozdrabniania w kolejnych stadiach kruszenia wykorzystano wskaźniki zawartości ziaren nieforemnych (wskaśnik płaskości), udział pyłów <1 mm w produktach, stopnie rozdrobnienia oraz zużycie energii, natomiast do oceny efektów rozdrabniania w ostatnim stadium rozdrabniania zastosowano wskaźnik udziału pyłu < 1 mm uzyskanego w mieleniu kruszywa w młynku Bonda przy 100 obrotach (rozdz. 3, rys. 5-9, tab. 1, 2).
W podsumowującym rozdziale czwartym zwrócono uwagę na zalety oraz wady stosowania różnych kruszarek w różnych stadiach rozdrabniania. Stwierdzono, że dla produkcji kruszyw żwirowych gruboziarnistych wykorzystywanych w budownictwie czy drogownictwie najkorzystniejsze byłyby układy wielostadialne z kruszarkami udarowymi, ponieważ w nich uzyskuje się ziarna o wysokiej kubiczności i zwiększonej odporności na rozdrabnianie, natomiast kruszarki szczękowe w takim układzie można byłoby spożytkować w celu przygotowywania półproduktów do procesu mielenia przy produkcji kruszyw drobnoziarnistych (mączek).
Study of physico-chemical and mechanical characteristics of consolidated and unconsolidated cemented paste backfills
Authors: Yilmaz Erol , Belem Tikou , Benzaazoua Mostafa 
Published: March 2013

Streszczenie
W ostatnich latach obserwuje się, że wydajność i jakość próbek zawiesin nasyconych cementem (CPB - Cement Paste Backfill) in situ są stale niższe niż tych samych próbek przygotowanych w plastikowych formach w laboratorium. Może to wynikać z braku w laboratorium skutecznego narzędzia mogącego naśladować zawiesiny in situ, warunki ich utwardzania jak również rozmiary i geometrię próbek. W celu wypełnienia tej luki, w la­boratorium opracowano nowe narzędzie o nazwie CUAPS (Curing Under Applied Pressure System), wytworzone i wykorzystane do zbadania wpływu ciśnienia na podstawie skutecznego nacisku na właściwości fizykochemiczne i mechaniczne CPB, jak również próbek otrzymanych z plastikowych form. Badania porównawcze przeprowa­dzono zarówno dla próbek CUAPS jak i próbek otrzymanych w laboratorium, zawierających lepiszcza (cementu) 3,45 i 7% wag. po 7, 14 i 28 dniach utwardzania. Wyniki wskazują, że wydajność próbek konsolidowanych CUAPS są zawsze bardziej prawdziwe (realistyczne) niż próbek otrzymanych w laboratorium, głównie z powodu odprowadzania wody w wyniku konsolidacji. Ostatecznie metoda CUAPS powoduje korzystny wpływ na utwar­dzenie CPB dzięki zawartości wody (separacja wody od świeżej zawiesiny odpadów z cementu) i połączeniu części wody zasobowej z zawiesiną w zrobach.
Thermal synthesis of black coal fly ash and gibbsite
Authors: Kusnierova Maria , Prascakova Maria , Matysek Dalibor , Cablik Vladimir , Fecko Peter , Jarosiñski Andrzej 
Published: March 2013

Streszczenie
Mulit jest minerałem glinokrzemianowym o wyjątkowych właściwościach i odgrywa istotną rolę w wytwa­rzaniu ogniotrwałych wyrobów. W przyrodzie występuje bardzo rzadko i z tych też względów jest otrzymywany na drodze syntezy z naturalnych pierwotnych surowców (silmanit, andaluzyt, cyjanit), ale jego głównym źródłem jest kaolinit.
Proces mulityzacji jest związany z przemianą minerałów glinu w mulit. Efektywność przemiany związków glinu w mulit jest zawsze mniejsza w stosunku do teoretycznej zawartości Al2O3 w tworzywie. Proces przemiany zależy od obecności mineralizatorów, temperatury, czasu wypału itp.
Celem tej pracy była ocena możliwości wykorzystania odpadów energetycznych zawierających takie skład­niki jak Al i Si. Do skorygowania składu stosowano glin w postaci gibbsytu. Przebadano wpływ różnych stosunków popiołu lotnego i gibbsytu jak i wpływ temperatury przemiany na skład mineralny (fazowy) przygo­towanych kompozytów typu mulitu.