bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Characterisation of electrochemical immunosensor for detection of viable not-culturable forms of Legionellla pneumophila in water samples
Authors: Sboui Dejla , Souiri Mina , Reynaud Stephanie , Palle Sabine , Ismail Manel Ben , Epalle Thibaut , Mzoughi Ridha , Girardot Françoise , Allegra Séverine , Riffard Serge , Othmane Ali 
Published: August 2015

AbstractLegionella pneumophila may cause a fatal pneumonia in humans known as Legionnaires’ disease (LD). The strategies of L. pneumophila to adapt to and resist stressful environmental conditions include the ability to enter into a VBNC (viable but not culturable) state. The detection of L. pneumophila in environmental samples benefits from the use of standardised methods: for detection and enumeration following membrane filtration (AFNOR T90-431, ISO 11731) and detection and quantification by polymerase chain reaction PCR (AFNOR T90-471, ISO 12869). Culture is hampered by its inability to detect VBNC forms and PCR is unable to discriminate between live and dead bacteria. The present immunosensor was obtained by the immobilisation of a monoclonal anti-L. pneumophila antibody (MAb) on an indium-tin oxide (ITO) electrode by the self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) method using an aminosilane. The immunosensor was characterised by wettability (contact angle measurement), atomic force microscopy (AFM), confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). A limit of detection of 10 bacteria per mL was observed on artificial samples.
Enlargement of hepatic hemangioma in successive pregnancies
Authors: Zozzaro-Smith Paula E. , Fountaine Elizabeth , Thornburg Loralei 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
Hemangiomas are the most common benign tumor of the liver and are commonly seen as incidental findings on abdominal imaging. Little is known regarding the natural course and pathogenesis of hepatic hemangiomas during pregnancy. It is believed estrogen may play a role in their growth; however, the precise mechanism remains undefined. Here we describe a patient with hepatic hemangioma enlargement in consecutive pregnancies suggesting a hormonal role in their growth.
Paleogeographic significance of Upper Triassic basinal succession of the Tamar Valley, northern Julian Alps (Slovenia)
Authors: Gale Luka , Celarc Bogomir , Caggiati Marcello , Kolar-Jurkovšek Tea , Jurkovšek Bogdan , Gianolla Piero 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThe Julian Alps (western Slovenia) structurally belong to the eastern Southern Alps. The Upper Triassic succession mostly consists of shallow water platform carbonates of the Dolomia Principale-Dachstein Limestone system and a deep water succession of the Slovenian Basin outcropping in the southern foothills of the Julian Alps. In addition to the Slovenian Basin, a few other intraplatform basins were present, but they remain poorly researched and virtually ignored in the existing paleogeographic reconstructions of the eastern Southern Alps. Herein, we describe a deepening-upward succession from the Tamar Valley (north-western Slovenia), belonging to the Upper Triassic Tarvisio Basin. The lower, Julian-Tuvalian part of the section comprises peritidal to shallow subtidal carbonates (Conzen Dolomite and Portella Dolomite), and an intermediate carbonate-siliciclastic unit, reflecting increased terrigenous input and storm-influenced deposition (Julian-lowermost Tuvalian shallow-water marlstone and marly limestone of the Tor Formation). Above the drowning unconformity at the top of the Portella Dolomite, Tuvalian well-bedded dolomite with claystone intercalations follows (Carnitza Formation). The latter gradually passes into the uppermost Tuvalian–lowermost Rhaetian bedded dolomite with chert and slump breccias, deposited on a slope and/or at the toe-of-slope (Bača Dolomite). Finally, basinal thin-bedded bituminous limestone and marlstone of Rhaetian age follow (Frauenkogel Formation). The upper part of the Frauenkogel Formation contains meter-scale platform-derived limestone blocks, which are signs of platform progradation. The Tarvisio Basin may have extended as far as the present Santo Stefano di Cadore area, representing a notable paleogeographic unit at the western Neotethys margin.
The Middle Jurassic succession in the central sector of the Pieniny Klippen Belt (Sprzycne Creek): implications for the timing of the Czorsztyn Ridge development
Authors: Segit Tomasz , Matyja Bronisław A. , Wierzbowski Andrzej 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
In this study, we revisit the stratigraphic age and discuss sedimentary characteristics of the lower Middle Jurassic turbidite deposits (“black flysch”) of the Szlachtowa Formation, as well as the under- and overlying members of the Sprzycne Creek section situated in the central sector of the Pieniny Klippen Belt (Poland). We show that the succession captures the lower Middle Jurassic marine sediments of the pre-Late Albian Magura Basin, located to the north of an ancient submarine swell (Czorsztyn Ridge). The turbidite deposits of the Szlachtowa Formation and marly shales of the Opaleniec Formation yield dinoflagellate cysts indicative of the latest Aalenian or learliest Bajocian to Early Bathonian. The character of these deposits, and their location below the overthrusted Subpieniny Nappe show that this succession does not belong to the successions of the Oravicum domain, located on the southern side of the Czorsztyn Ridge. The Szlachtowa Formation is underlain by the Skrzypny Formation, which is reported for the first time outside the Oravicum domain. It suggests that the pre-Late Albian Magura Basin came into existence not earlier than during the latest Aalenian, following the rising of the Czorsztyn Ridge. The marly shales assigned here to the Opaleniec Formation of Late Bajocian-Bathonian age and younger marly deposits of Cretaceous age were distinguished in the past as the so-called “Sprzycne beds” of Cretaceous age. However, the combination of these two rock units into a single lithostratigraphic unit is unsuitable because they represent two separated stratigraphical intervals and their contact is tectonic.
Assessing provenance of Upper Cretaceous siliciclastics using spectral γ-ray record
Authors: Šimíček Daniel , Bábek Ondřej 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThe relationship between contents of clay minerals/grain size and spectral γ-ray record (concentrations of K, U and Th) in sediments is used for interpretation of sedimentary facies in wire-line logs. However, this approach is often complicated by the multi-component nature of mineralogically immature siliciclastics. As mineralogy of the source material and grain-size sorting during transport both contribute to the detrital composition of the final sediment, a joint study of facies and outcrop γ-ray spectra can potentially make the latter an effective tool in provenance studies. This paper provides comparison of outcrop γ-ray data and detailed facies mapping with mineral and chemical composition of the rocks (modal composition; transparent heavy mineral assemblages; WDX SEM chemistry of minerals) and interprets them in terms of provenance changes. We studied the Upper Cretaceous, synorogenic siliciclastic sediments of the Mazák and Godula Formations (Silesian Unit of the Western Carpathians flysch belt). Decreasing mineral maturity of the studied sandstones is consistent with provenance change from craton interior – (Mazák Formation) to transitional continental and recycled orogen sources (Godula Formation). Two major phases of K, U and Th concentration shifts, which occurred close to the Mazák/Godula Formation and Middle/Upper Godula Members boundaries, are consistent with changes in main detrital modes. These trends indicate gradually accelerated influx of material derived from high-grade metamorphic and plutonic rocks during deposition of the Mazák and Godula Formations. These changes are interpreted as reflecting a gradual exhumation and erosion of deeper crustal levels of the source area, the Silesian ridge.
Phytosociological Description of Ostrya Carpinifolia and Fraxinus Ornus Communities in the Julian Alps and in the Northern Part of the Dinaric Alps (NW and W Slovenia, NE Italy)
Authors: Dakskobler Igor 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
Based on comparisons between similar communities in northeastern Italy, southern Austria, central and southeastern Slovenia, and western Croatia, we classified black hornbeam and flowering ash phytocoenoses on steep rocky sites in the beech forest belt in northwestern and western Slovenia into the association Fraxinio orni-Ostryetum Aichinger 1933 and described its new subassociation -phyteumatetosum columnae in the foothills of the Julian Alps and in the northern part of the Dinaric Alps. Black hornbeam and flowering ash stands on steep shady slopes with a higher proportion of diagnostic species of beech and spruce forests are classified into the new association Rhododendro hirsuti-Ostryetum Franz ex Dakskobler, ass. nov. hoc loco, new subassociation -mercurialietosum perennis and the provisional variant var. Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus whose stands are floristically rather similar to the stands of the association Hemerocallido-Ostryetum.
Validations and Typifications of Some South Europe an Syntaxa
Authors: Čarni Andraž , Mucina Ladislav 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
In the course of the compilation of a list of high-rank syntaxa of Europe, it appeared that some of syntaxa from south Europe were not validly described. In this paper, the following syntaxa have been either described or validated, such as the Potentillo montenegrinae-Festucion paniculatae (Festucetalia spadiceae, Juncetea trifidi), the Aquilegio nigricantis-Rhododendrion hirsuti (Rhododendro hirsuti-Ericetalia carneae, Rhododendro hirsuti-Ericetea carneae), the Hyperico grisebachii-Pinion mugo (Junipero-Pinetalia mugo, Roso pendulinae-Pinetea mugo), the Lathyro veneti-Taxion baccatae, Quercion petraeo-cerridis (both Quercetalia pubescentis, Quercetea pubescentis) and the Buxo- Syringion vulgaris (Paliuretalia, Rhamno-Prunetea).
Wall Vegetation in Old Royal Mining Towns in Central Slovakia
Authors: Kolbek Jiří , Valachovič Milan , Mišíková Katarína 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
During May, 2013, the vegetation on city walls has been studied in five old royal mining towns of Central Slovakia (Banská Belá, Banská Štiavnica, Kremnica, Nová Baňa, and Pukanec). In the four last-named towns, phytocoenological material was recorded according to the Braun-Blanquet method, providing 41 relevés. Analysis of data (Twinspan , DCA) grouped the relevés into four clusters: ass. Cymbalarietum muralis, Corydalidetum luteae, Asplenietum rutae-murarie-trichomanis, and the most hemerobic community dominated by Chelidonium majus. All communities are generally rather heterogeneous, with a large range of number of species and with frequent participation of accessory plants. In the observed localities, 22 epilithic mosses and 2 liverworts were recorded: the most common species appears Encalypta streptocarpa, Homalothecium sericeum, Tortula muralis, Hypnum cupressiforme, Schistidium apocarpum agg., and Bryum caespiticium.
Recovery of Spider Communities After a Spontaneous Summer Fire in the Forb-Bunchgrass Steppe of Eastern Ukraine
Authors: Polchaninova Nina 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
Recently, anthropogenic fires in protected areas have become more frequent. I studied the response of the spider community after an extensive summer fire in the ‘Striltsivskyi Steppe’ Reserve in eastern Ukraine. A total of 117 spider species was found in the pre-fire period, 40 species were registered in the first and 89 species in the third post-fire year. Herb-dwelling spiders began to colonize burnt plots in July, when juveniles of the new generation began dispersing. In September, their abundance was similar to that of undisturbed steppe and within three years, the spider assemblages recovered almost completely. Cursorial ground-dwellers in the first post-fire year decreased in species richness and increased in activity density. In the third year, their species diversity and activity density became much higher than in control plots. Some xerophilous species benefited from the fire. Litter dwellers are extremely vulnerable. During the three post-fire years, their numbers and diversity did not recover. Some rare species with a patchy geographical distribution disappeared from the local fauna. Such a reaction of endangered species is the main restriction on the use of fire as a conservation management. The prerequisite for its implementation is maintaining relevant refuges for threatened species.
Conservation Value, Management and Restoration of Europe’S Semi‑Natural Open Landscapes
Authors: Carboni Marta , Dengler Jürgen , Mantilla-Contreras Jasmin , Venn Stephen , Török Péter 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
Most semi-natural open habitats in Europe have been traditionally maintained by anthropogenic activities, such as grazing or mowing, preventing the establishment of woody vegetation. These habitats harbour a remarkably rich biodiversity in terms of both plant and animal species, but are also highly threatened, mainly by agricultural intensification and land abandonment. With this Editorial we introduce a Special Issue initiated by the European Dry Grassland Group (EDGG) at the Open Landscapes Conference (Hildesheim, 2013) and the 11th European Dry Grassland Meeting (Kulikovo Pole, 2014). We aim to give a short introduction to the current conservation status, significance and research of semi-natural open habitats in Europe and present the collected articles of the Special Issue. These papers cover a wide range of different semi-natural open habitats, including wood-pastures, heathlands, steppes, semi-dry and dry grasslands across the Palearctic region and address issues related to the assessment methods, threats, management and restoration of these habitats. We conclude that, in order to ensure their conservation and to monitor the changes in open habitats, integrative approaches are needed that take into account not only vegetation records, but also multiple animal taxa, abiotic factors, management practices, ecosystem services and modelling simulations for anticipating possible future scenarios. We also recommend that decision-makers should support actions to conserve open habitats in Europe by addressing such major challenges as the encroachment of woody vegetation. We are convinced that the present Special Issue will contribute to a better understanding of ecosystem functions and support the biodiversity conservation and management of semi-natural open habitats.
Reproducibility of an assay to measure serum progesterone metabolites that may be related to breast cancer risk using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Trabert Britton , Falk Roni T. , Stanczyk Frank Z. , McGlynn Katherine A. , Brinton Louise A. , Xu Xia 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
Recent data suggest a novel role of progesterone in breast cancer etiology involving the progesterone metabolites 3α-dihydroprogesterone (3αHP), 5α-dihydroprogesterone (5αP), and 20α-dihydroprogesterone (20αHP). Accurate and precise measures of progesterone metabolites are needed for etiologic studies of hormonally related cancers. We have developed a high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) method to measure five hormones, including progesterone, its precursor pregnenolone, and three progesterone metabolites, 5αP, 3αHP, and 20αHP. Hormone levels were measured in serum from 20 healthy volunteers (7 men, 5 premenopausal women, and 8 postmenopausal women). Two blinded, randomized aliquots per individual were assayed in each of four batches. The coefficients of variation (CV) and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated from the individual components of variance. The overall laboratory CVs were <3% and ICCs were uniformly high (>98%) for all hormones measured across sex/menopausal status groups. Our HPLC-MS/MS assay of progesterone metabolites demonstrated excellent sensitivity, laboratory reproducibility, and interindividual variation, suggesting that this serum assay is suitable for epidemiologic research. The high sensitivity of the assay, and thus the ability to quantify concentrations among postmenopausal women and men, further supports that this novel assay is suitable for studies of serum progesterone metabolite concentrations and risk of breast cancer or other hormonally related cancer.
Performance diagnostic in cross-country skiing
Authors: Gasser Benedikt A. , Hoppeler Hans H. 
Published: August 2015

PurposeRecreational cross-country skiers can benefit from a performance diagnostic when planning a training program. The aim of this study was to establish a simple test protocol to measure endurance capacity and provide training recommendations.MethodsThe relationship between endurance performance and cross-country skiing technique was assessed using two tests. First, a lactate threshold test whereby running speed was determined on a treadmill at 4 mmol/l blood lactate concentration. Second, participants completed a variation of the Cooper test using skating technique on flat terrain to determine the distance covered in 12 min and maximum heart rate.ResultsThere was a correlative (<i>r</i> = 0.18 respectivelly <i>R</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.43) relationship of between the distance covered in the Cooper test and treadmill running speed at 4 mmol/l blood lactate concentration.ConclusionsThe two tests allow recreational athletes to rank themselves with regards to their endurance capacity within a population. The relationship between distance covered and maximum heart rate can indicate whether future training should focus on technical or physical improvement.
Power Quality Improvement Using an Enhanced Network-Side-Shunt-Connected Dynamic Voltage Restorer
Authors: Fereidouni Alireza , Masoum Mohammad A. S. , Moghbel Moayed 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
Among the four basic dynamic voltage restorer (DVR) topologies, the network-side shunt-connected DVR (NSSC-DVR) has a relatively poor performance and is investigated in this paper. A new configuration is proposed and implemented for NSSC-DVR to enhance its performance in compensating (un)symmetrical deep and long voltage sags and mitigate voltage harmonics. The enhanced NSSC-DVR model includes a three-phase half-bridge semi-controlled network-side-shunt-connected rectifier and a three-phase full-bridge series-connected inverter implemented with a back-to-back configuration through a bidirectional buck-boost converter. The network-side-shunt-connected rectifier is employed to inject/draw the required energy by NSSC-DVR to restore the load voltage to its pre-fault value under sag/swell conditions. The buck-boost converter is responsible for maintaining the DC-link voltage of the series-connected inverter at its designated value in order to improve the NSSC-DVR capability in compensating deep and long voltage sags/swells. The full-bridge series-connected inverter permits to compensate unbalance voltage sags containing zero-sequence component. The harmonic compensation of the load voltage is achieved by extracting harmonics from the distorted network voltage using an artificial neural network (ANN) method called adaptive linear neuron (Adaline) strategy. Detailed simulations are performed by SIMULINK/MATLAB software for six case studies to verify the highly robustness of the proposed NSSC-DVR model under various conditions.
Density and complexity of oral production in interaction: The interactionist approach and an alternative
Authors: Sato Masatoshi 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThis study examined conversational interaction between second language (L2) learners and native speakers (NSs). While L2 interaction research has traditionally quantified interactional moves – the interactionist approach, the present study examined various surface linguistic indices (e.g., MLUs, number of verb and noun types, and TTRs) and compared learner-learner vs. learner-NS interaction. The results indicated that learners and NSs were comparable in terms of the amount of production but the NSs’ speech contained more grammatical and lexical variability with a larger mean proportion of copula omissions. This foreigner talk was found to be correlated with learners’ errors. When learners’ output in the two conditions was compared, it was found that learners produced more verb (but not noun) types with larger MLUs and TTRs in the peer interaction context.
Recognition of Acoustic Signals of Synchronous Motors with the Use of MoFS and Selected Classifiers
Authors: Glowacz Adam 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
This paper proposes an approach based on acoustic signals for detecting faults appearing in synchronous motors. Acoustic signals of a machine were used for fault detection. These faults contained: broken coils and shorted stator coils. Acoustic signals were used to assess the usefulness of early fault diagnostic of synchronous motors. The acoustic signal recognition system was based on methods of data processing: normalization of the amplitude, Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), method of frequency selection (MoFS), backpropagation neural network, classifier based on words coding, and Nearest Neighbor classifier. A plan of study of acoustic signals of synchronous motors was proposed. Software of acoustic signal recognition of synchronous motors was implemented. Four states of a synchronous motor were used in analysis. A pattern creation process was carried out for 28 training samples of noise. An identification process was carried out for 60 test samples. This system can be used to diagnose synchronous motors and other electrical machines.
Can Decoupling Punitive Damages Deter an Injurer’s Harmful Activity?
Authors: Ikeda Yasuhiro , Mori Daisuke 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThis study theoretically analyzes the effect of decoupling punitive damages under the adversarial system. Decoupling means taking punitive award windfalls away from plaintiffs and placing them into state-administered funds. In particular, it aims to reveal the incentive structure of decoupling and examine how this affects human behaviors. Although some commentators argue that decoupling punitive damages effectively disgorges plaintiffs of any potential windfall without diminishing the deterrent effect of punitive damages, we demonstrate that decoupling actually reduces the deterrence effect under the adversarial system.
The Evaluation of the Initial Shear Modulus of Selected Cohesive Soils
Authors: Gabryś Katarzyna , Szymański Alojzy 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
The paper concerns the evaluation of the initial stiffness of selected cohesive soils based on laboratory tests. The research materials used in this study were clayey soils taken from the area of the road embankment No. WD-18, on the 464th km of the S2 express-way, Konotopa-Airport route, Warsaw. The initial stiffness is represented here by the shear modulus (Gmax) determined during resonant column tests. In the article, a number of literature empirical formulas for defining initial value of the shear modulus of soils being examined were adopted from the literature in order to analyze the data set. However, a large discrepancy between laboratory test results and the values of Gmax calculated from empirical relationships resulted in the rejection of these proposals. They are inaccurate and do not allow for an exact evaluation of soil stiffness for selected cohesive soils. Hence, the authors proposed their own empirical formula that enables the evaluation of the test soils’ Gmax in an easy and uncomplicated way. This unique formula describes mathematically the effect of certain soil parameters, namely mean effective stress ( p′) and void ratio (e), on the initial soil stiffness.