bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The influence of ionizing radiation on the properties of starch-PVA films
Authors: Abramowska Anna , Cieśla Krystyna A. , Buczkowski Marek J. , Nowicki Andrzej , Głuszewski Wojciech 
Published: September 2015

Abstract
The cornstarch: poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) films characterized by the alternating ratio of starch:PVA (100:0, 80:20, 60:40, 40:60, 20:80, and 0:100) and containing 30% of glycerol were prepared by solution casting. The films were irradiated with an absorbed dose of 25 kGy with gamma rays in a vacuum and with fast electrons in the air. The films characterized by a high content of starch appeared stiff, while the films characterized by a high content of PVA were highly flexible. The tensile strength and flexibility, as well as swelling and hydrophilicity, increased with the increase in the PVA content in the films. However, the tensile strength and wetting angle values achieved a minimum at an intermediate composition. It was found that irradiation enables to reduce hydrophilicity of the films accompanied by a decrease in their flexibility. No general conclusion concerning the effect of irradiation on tensile strength and swelling behavior can be derived. An increase in the homogeneity of the films and an increase in the compatibility of their components was found by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Strong interactions of the starch and the PVA components were discovered by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. Degradation was found to be the prevailing process occurring in the films under the influence of irradiation. The possible accompanying crosslinking is discussed in terms of the gel content in the samples. Creation of various oxidation products in the films characterized by the modified composition was observed under the influence of irradiation carried out in the air. Basing on the obtained results it can be supposed that the selected starch-PVA compositions might appear useful as packagings of the products predicted for radiation decontamination.
The use of DRS and GC to study the effects of ionizing radiation on paper artifacts
Authors: Głuszewski Wojciech , Boruc Bartłomiej , Kubera Hieronim , Abbasowa Dinara 
Published: September 2015

Abstract
Radiation preservation of objects of historical significance is an interesting proposition for museums, archives, libraries and private collectors. In this paper, we have limited ourselves to studying the effects of ionizing radiation on the paper. The radiation resistance of various grades of paper was examined in INCT. Irradiations were done by electron beam (10 MeV, 10 kW) and by gamma radiation (7 kG/h), for the purpose of comparison. Yields of hydrogen and absorption of oxygen were determined by gas chromatography (GC). For this purpose, the first time in an original way was used diffuse reflection spectroscopy (DRS). Described as the dose, dose rate, and lignin were found to affect degradation processes of cellulose. Examined the protective effect of lignin in the process of radiation degradation of paper. Proposed research methodology can be successfully applied to study other materials relevant to the conservation of works of art.
E-beam irradiation for the control of Phytophthora nicotianae var. nicotianae in stonewool cubes
Authors: Ptaszek Magdalena , Orlikowski Leszek B. , Migdał Wojciech , Gryczka Urszula 
Published: September 2015

Abstract
Effectiveness of electron beam irradiation was evaluated against Phytophthora nicotianae var. nicotianae, the causal agent of stem base and root rot of tomato. In laboratory trials, irradiation of 7-day-old Phytophthora cultures growing on potato-dextrose-agar (PDA) medium with 1 kGy resulted in the disintegration of the pathogen’s hyphae. Increasing the irradiation dose to 3 kGy caused decay of the hyphae. Irradiation of infested stonewool with 5 kGy caused decrease of the pathogen population about 5 times. Application of 20 kGy completely eliminated the pathogen from stonewool. Irradiation of substratum resulted in significant increase of tomato seedlings healthiness, especially when the dose 20 kGy was applied.
Industrial diagnostics system using gamma radiation
Authors: Jakowiuk Adrian , Modzelewski Łukasz , Pieńkos Jan , Kowalska Ewa 
Published: September 2015

Abstract
During the operation of large industrial installations, a very important task is to maintain the proper technical state. In the event of an emergency, it is vital to locate the place of occurrence as soon as possible. In solving this type of problem, it often helps to apply the methods of measurement associated with ionizing radiation. One of these methods is the gamma scanning. The purpose of this type of measurement is the detection and localization of disturbance of technological processes which may result in incorrect decomposition the fl owing medium and workpiece (sediments, congestion) as well as damage to the internal constructions. A particularly: (i) preventive diagnosis - early detection of installation failure; (ii) rationalization of repairs and renovations - to determine the need to take or not to take remedial action; (iii) quick and precise installation inspections - to gain knowledge of the technical condition and technological installations; (iv) indication of worn parts and posing a threat - diagnostics of the technical condition installation; (v) forecasting the useful lifetime of equipment.
Assesment of advanced step models for steady state Monte Carlo burnup calculations in application to prismatic HTGR
Authors: Kępisty Grzegorz , Cetnar Jerzy 
Published: September 2015

Abstract
In this paper, we compare the methodology of different time-step models in the context of Monte Carlo burnup calculations for nuclear reactors. We discuss the differences between staircase step model, slope model, bridge scheme and stochastic implicit Euler method proposed in literature. We focus on the spatial stability of depletion procedure and put additional emphasis on the problem of normalization of neutron source strength. Considered methodology has been implemented in our continuous energy Monte Carlo burnup code (MCB5). The burnup simulations have been performed using the simplified high temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) system with and without modeling of control rod withdrawal. Useful conclusions have been formulated on the basis of results.
Comparative analysis between measured and calculated concentrations of major actinides using destructive assay data from Ohi-2 PWR
Authors: Oettingen Mikołaj , Cetnar Jerzy 
Published: September 2015

Abstract
In the paper, we assess the accuracy of the Monte Carlo continuous energy burnup code (MCB) in predicting final concentrations of major actinides in the spent nuclear fuel from commercial PWR. The Ohi-2 PWR irradiation experiment was chosen for the numerical reconstruction due to the availability of the final concentrations for eleven major actinides including five uranium isotopes (U-232, U-234, U-235, U-236, U-238) and six plutonium isotopes (Pu-236, Pu-238, Pu-239, Pu-240, Pu-241, Pu-242). The main results were presented as a calculated-to-experimental ratio (C/E) for measured and calculated final actinide concentrations. The good agreement in the range of ±5% was obtained for 78% C/E factors (43 out of 55). The MCB modeling shows significant improvement compared with the results of previous studies conducted on the Ohi-2 experiment, which proves the reliability and accuracy of the developed methodology.
Studies of scintillator response to 60 MeV protons in a proton beam imaging system
Authors: Rydygier Marzena , Mierzwińska Gabriela , Czaderna Anna , Swakoń Jan , Waligórski Michael P. R. 
Published: September 2015

Abstract
A Proton Beam Imaging System (ProBImS) is under development at the Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences (IFJ PAN). The ProBImS will be used to optimize beam delivery at IFJ PAN proton therapy facilities, delivering two-dimensional distributions of beam profiles. The system consists of a scintillator, optical tract and a sensitive CCD camera which digitally records the light emitted from the proton-irradiated scintillator. The optical system, imaging data transfer and control software have already been developed. Here, we report preliminary results of an evaluation of the DuPont Hi-speed thick back screen EJ 000128 scintillator to determine its applicability in our imaging system. In order to optimize the light conversion with respect to the dose locally deposited by the proton beam in the scintillation detector, we have studied the response of the DuPont scintillator in terms of linearity of dose response, uniformity of light emission and decay rate of background light after deposition of a high dose in the scintillator. We found a linear dependence of scintillator light output vs. beam intensity by showing the intensity of the recorded images to be proportional to the dose deposited in the scintillator volume.
Application of X-ray fluorescence method for elemental analysis of PM2.5 fraction
Authors: Samek Lucyna , Furman Leszek , Kawik Tomasz , Welnogorska Kinga 
Published: September 2015

Abstract
The scientific interest in air pollution comes from its influence on human health, the condition of cultural heritage and climate. The PM2.5 fraction (particles of a diameter of 2.5 mm or below), indirectly, has a significant impact on health which is associated with respiratory tract and blood vessel related diseases. However, not only the size, but also the content of the particles has a significant meaning. To determine the particulate matter contents, elemental analysis can be performed using numerous techniques, the most important of which is X-ray fluorescence. In this study, samples of PM2.5 fraction collected in Krakow, Poland were analyzed. The X-ray fluorescence method was used to perform elemental analysis. The gravimetric method was applied to determine the concentration of the PM2.5 fraction. Low detection limits of individual elements and precision of the X-ray fluorescence method were determined. The concentrations of the following elements: Cl, K, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Br, Rb, Sr and Pb in the PM2.5 fraction samples collected in Krakow were evaluated. The homogeneity of the samples was also estimated. The concentrations of PM2.5 fraction collected in the summer of 2013 were in the range of 6-23 ng/m3. The concentrations of PM2.5 fraction collected in the winter of 2013 were in the range of 26-171 ng/m3. The precision of the method was found to be below 1% for elements with high concentration in the sample and 6-8 % for trace elements.
Measurement of anthropogenic radionuclides in post-Fukushima Pacific seawater samples
Authors: Lutter Guillaume , Tzika Faidra , Hult Mikael , Aoyama Michio , Hamajima Yasunori , Marissens Gerd , Stroh Heiko 
Published: September 2015

Abstract
Following the accident at the Daiichi Fukushima nuclear power plant in 2011, a vast number of Pacific seawater samples from many locations far from Fukushima have been collected by Japanese investigators. Due to dilution, the activities of radionuclides from North Pacific seawater samples are very low, which calls for extraordinary measures when being measured. This study focuses on the metrological aspects of the gamma-ray spectrometry measurements performed on such samples in two underground laboratories; at HADES (by JRC-IRMM in Belgium), and at Ogoya (by Kanazawa University in Japan). Due to many samples and long measurement times, all available HPGe detectors needed to be employed. In addition to single coaxial detectors, this involved multidetector systems and well detectors. Optimization of detection limits for different radionuclides and detectors was performed using Monte Carlo simulations.
Trade And Environment: A Historical Perspective
Authors: Burnete Sorin , Pilasluck Choomta 
Published: September 2015

Abstract
The relation between international trade and environmental and social issues has deep historical roots, having been manifest ever since the first industrial revolution. Ironically, the expansion of industrial activities marked, besides the exit from economic backwardness, the commencement of an inexorable war of men against nature. Concomitantly industrialization laid the groundwork for an explosive increase in international trade, which made the latter responsible for increasing environment degradation and social rights infringement. The removal of trade barriers in the first decades after the Second World War as well as the subsequent regulation induced by globalization rendered the bad effects of man’s activity upon nature even more conspicuous. Yet somewhat paradoxically, for all the harm inflicted upon the environment so far, international trade now seems to be an efficient vehicle by which dirty production still prevailing in many countries of the world could be curtailed. The paper is intended to explore, from historical perspective, how environmental issues have come to be entangled with international trade and how serious the problem is.
Bank Finance For Small And Medium-Sized Enterprises In Sri Lanka: Issues And Policy Reforms
Authors: Gamage Pandula 
Published: September 2015

Abstract
Access to bank finance is necessary to create an economic environment that enables Small and Medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to grow and prosper. The SMEs in Sri Lanka, however, face significant constraints to access bank finance. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the access to bank finance and related issues in the SME sector of Sri Lanka. The paper is exploratory in nature and reviews the bank financing situation for SMEs in Sri Lanka, as well as provides an overview of constraints faced by the banks (supply-side) and SMEs (demand-side). The paper also highlights some good practices in SME lending from international experience and outlines some recommendations to help overcome the constraints faced by the banks and SMEs. The recommendations discussed in this paper may be of importance to policymakers, not only in Sri Lanka, but in many other developing countries in a similar stage of economic growth.
EMNCS– Lessons On The Way To An Innovation-based Development. Setting The Backgrounds
Authors: Ogrean Claudia 
Published: September 2015

Abstract
The main focus of (the two parts of) this article is on the emerging countries and their development paths. Particularly, it emphasizes on the role and contribution of innovation (of all kinds, in all its forms) for multinational companies from emerging economies (EMNC); the entire research endeavor is placed under the auspices of the knowledge-based society - the one that makes knowledge the ultimate source of power, enabling entities to use and potentially multiply it at the same time at global scale. Analyzing the situation of some emerging economies (starting from their best ranked multinationals), the article draws some empirical and theoretical conclusions on the ways knowledge and innovation could become determinants of progress beyond national boundaries.
Do CSR Practices Of Banks In Mauritius Lead To Satisfaction And Loyalty?
Authors: Ramlugun Vidisha Gunesh , Raboute Wendy Geraldine 
Published: September 2015

Abstract
This study aims to determine how CSR activities of banks in Mauritius impact on customers’ satisfaction and loyalty towards banks. A stakeholder approach to CSR and Carroll’s (1991) four part definition was adopted, which included economic, legal, ethical and philanthropic corporate social responsibilities. A three- section questionnaire was used for data collection. 384 questionnaires were distributed, out of which 352 were returned. The results indicate that philanthropic CSR, economic CSR and ethical CSR, in their order of descending importance, are significant predictors of customer satisfaction and loyalty. The study shows that legal responsibilities however did not influence customer satisfaction and loyalty. The study concludes that philanthropic, economic and ethical CSR could be areas to further investigate with a view to benefit from competitive advantage in the banking sector. The study purports to contribute to existing literature by providing evidence that Carroll’s model may not be applicable in non-western context, more particularly so, in small economies. The study also advocates future research avenues.
The Existence Of Revenue Gap In South Africa
Authors: Thamae Retselisitsoe , Ntoi Neo 
Published: September 2015

Abstract
The paper provides an empirical analysis of the macroeconomic factors that enhance revenue gap in South Africa using the multivariate cointegration techniques for the period 1965 to 2012. The results from the cointegration analysis indicate that the revenue gap in South Africa is negatively associated with the level of imports while positively related to external debt and underground economy. The former finding is consistent with the notion that imports are subjected to more taxation than domestic activities because of certain features of international trade that tend to make tax evasion difficult. On the other hand, the positive relationship between external debt and tax gap shows that the South African government relies upon external debt to finance its budget deficit resulting from missing revenues. Furthermore, the observed negative effect of the post-apartheid dummy confirms that the tax policy reforms that South Africa introduced following the liberation in 1994 have led to a reduction in missing revenues. The results from the Granger causality test also show that there is a unidirectional causality running from imports and underground economy to revenue gap, while revenue gap on the other hand is found to Granger-cause national income and external debt in South Africa.
Density topology involving microscopic sets and category
Authors: Wagner-Bojakowska Elżbieta , Wilczyński Władysław , Wojdowski Wojciech 
Published: September 2015

Abstract
Analogously to the method used for c-density point, we introduce the notion of cμ-density point for arbitrary set A having the Baire property, replacing the convergence in measure with the convergence with respect to the σ-ideal of microscopic sets. Then, we consider the density type topology Tcμ generated by cμ-density operator and study basic properties of Tcμ in comparison with the classical density, I-density and c-density topologies
A vibrating thermoelastic plate in a contact with an obstacle
Authors: Bock Igor , Jarušek Jiří 
Published: September 2015

Abstract
We deal with a dynamic contact problem for a thermoelastic plate vibrating against a rigid obstacle. Dynamics is described by a hyperbolic variational inequality for deflections. The plate is subjected to a perpendicular force and to a heat source. The parabolic equation for the thermal strain resultant contains the time derivative of the deflection. We formulate a weak solution of the system and verify its existence using the penalization method.
Weakly perturbed boundary-value problems for systems of integro-differential equations with impulsive action
Authors: Bondar Ivanna 
Published: September 2015

Abstract
The weakly perturbed BVP's for impulsive integro-differential systems are considered. Under the assumption that the generating problem (for ε = 0) does not have solutions on the space W12[a,b] for some inhomogeneity and using the Vishik-Lyusternik method, we establish conditions for the existence of solutions of these problems on the space D2([a,b]{τi}I) in the form of a Laurent series in powers of small parameter ε with finitely many terms with negative powers of ε, and we suggest an algorithm of construction of these solutions.
On stability sets for numerical discretizations of neutral delay differential equations
Authors: Čermák Jan , Dražková Jana 
Published: September 2015

Abstract
The paper discusses the -method discretization of the neutral delay differential equation
y'(t) = ay (t) + by (t - τ) + cy' (t - τ), t > 0,
where a, b, c are real constant coefficients and is a positive real lag. Using recent developments on stability of appropriate delay difference equations we give a complete description of stability sets for this discretization. Some of their properties and related comparisons with the stability set for the underlying neutral differential equation are discussed as well.
On the estimates of eigenvalues of the boundary value problem with large parameter
Authors: Filinovskiy Alexey V. 
Published: September 2015

Abstract
We consider the eigenvalue problem Δu + λu = 0 in Ω with Robin condition + αu = 0 on ∂Ω , where Ω ⊂ Rn , n ≥ 2 is a bounded domain and α is a real parameter. We obtain the estimates to the difference between λDk - λk(α) eigenvalue of the Laplace operator in with Dirichlet condition and the corresponding Robin eigenvalue for large positive values of for all k = 1,2,… We also show sharpness of these estimates in the power of α.
On a three term linear difference equation with complex coefficients
Authors: Jánský Jiří 
Published: September 2015

Abstract
The paper discusses some known asymptotic stability conditions for the difference equation
xn = αxn-1 + βxn-k, n = 0, 1, 2...
with complex numbers As the main result, we show that the system of necessary and sufficient stability conditions, derived in a previous work, can be significantly simplified.
On preservation of an exponentially stable invariant torus
Authors: Perestyuk Mykola , Feketa Petro 
Published: September 2015

Abstract
New conditions of the preservation of an exponentially stable invariant toroidal manifold of linear extension of one-dimensional dynamical system on torus under small perturbations in ω-limit set are established. This approach is applied to the investigation of the qualitative behaviour of solutions of linear extensions of dynamical systems with simple structure of limit sets.
Further results on the investigation of solutions of integral boundary value problems
Authors: Rontó Miklós , Varha Yana , Marynets Kateryna 
Published: September 2015

Abstract
We give a new approach for the investigation of existence and construction of an approximate solutions of nonlinear non-autonomous systems of ordinary differential equations under nonlinear integral boundary conditions depending on the derivative. The constructivity of a suggested technique is shown on the example of non-linear integral boundary value problem with two solutions.
Eigenvalue problem for the weighted p-Laplacian
Authors: Szlachtowska Ewa , Mielczarek Dominik 
Published: September 2015

Abstract
In this paper we are concerned with the nonlinear eigenvalue problem for the weighted p-Laplacian. The main result of the work is the existence of the eigenpair for the Dirichlet problem provided that the weights are bounded. Furthermore, under this assumption the eigenvector belongs to the Sobolev space W1,p0 (Ω).