bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Geophysical constraints and model of the “Saxothuringian and Rhenohercynian subductions – magmatic arc system” in NE France and SW Germany
Authors: Edel Jean-Bernard , Schulmann Karel
Published: December 2009

Correlation of geophysical and geological data with the western margin of the Bohemian massif, re-interpretation of the ECORS-DEKORP deep seismic sections, transformations and 3 D modelling of gravimetric and magnetic maps allow to define sequentional Saxothuringian and Rhenohercynian Paleozoic subduction systems in NE France and SW Germany where only 10% of the Early Paleozoic basement is outcropping. Two 35 km spaced and NE-SW trending gravity highs associated with SE dipping reflectors are interpreted as the western continuation of the Teplá Devonian paleo-subduction zone of the Saxothuringian ocean and Early Carboniferous underthrusting of the Saxothuringian passive margin, thereby defining the Saxothuringian subduction system in west Europe. South-eastwards dipping reflectors beneath the Moho are interpreted as witnesses of the Early Carboniferous subduction of the Rhenohercynian ocean. The suture is marked by the gravity high in the phyllite zone of the southern Rhenish Massif. Gravity lows in the SE of gravity highs and weak ondulating reflectors are interpreted in terms of crystalline bulges in the hangingwalls of sutures. The numerous highly magnetic anomalies correspond to magmatic bodies emplaced in the time-range 335–330 Ma, along NW dipping and sinistral normal faults. Located in the hangingwall of the Rhenohercynian subduction zone, this wide magmatic arc trends obliquely with respect to the Saxothuringian subduction system, which is almost obliterated by the wide front of magmatic bodies.
Color Based Identification and Classification of Boiled Food Grain Images
Authors: Anami Basvaraj S , Burkpalli Vishwanath C
Published: December 2009

Texture and color are the important features used in identifying objects or regions of interest (ROI) in any image, be it a photomicrograph, an aerial photograph, or a satellite image. We propose a methodology for identification and classification of boiled food grains based on the level of boiling using two color models HSV and L*a*b*, in Indian context. These color models provide good texture definition for any image. The classification is performed at two levels: Level 1 determines the type of grain image and Level 2 estimates the amount of boiling, as full boiled, medium boiled and half boiled. Results show average accuracies of 80% and 96% for first level and 70% and 96% accuracies for second level classifications for HSV and L*a*b*, respectively. The work is applicable to automatic inspection of food preparations in food industry and monitoring, cooking, and serving food in restaurants, hotels and malls by service robots.
Editorial: Special Issue of 8th World Congress of Chemical Engineering (WCCE 8) Symposium on Process Design
Authors: Mostoufi Navid , Sotudeh-Gharebagh Rahmat , Loney Norman W
Published: December 2009

The 8th World Congress of Chemical Engineering (WCCE 8) Symposium on Process Design, held on August 23-27, 2009 in Montreal, Canada, offered a unique opportunity to focus on a comprehensive participation and learning experience over the full range and diversity of methods in the broad fields of process modeling and their use for design, simulation, optimization and control of chemical processes. The major themes of the symposium are categorized into the following themes of the congress: Energy  Green Processing  New Materials  BiotechnologyAuthors of selected papers accepted for presentation in the Process Design symposium were invited to submit the full papers to be considered for publication in the journal of Chemical Product and Process Modeling (http://www.bepress.com/cppm). The papers that successfully passed the reviewing process of the journal are now published in the WCCE8 special issue of the journal.
Debtors and debtor's detention in medieval Serbia
Authors: Cirkovic Sima
Published: December 2009

This paper deals with destinies and legal status of debtors in medieval Serbia. Lots of people owed money to Dubrovnik merchants. This kind of loan was widespread during Despot reign, and it culminates during Despot Djuradj's reign. Among Serbian towns Novo Brdo had the largest number of debtors, of whom majority were miners who needed loans so as to invest in their business until they found ore. Due to the fact that the payments were often much delayed, the Serbian authorities were frequently involved in solving that problem so as to satisfy both parties, and usually took the side of the debtor. There was some kind of house detention which forced the debtors to pay what they owed. All of this indicates the difficult position of miners in medieval Serbia.
Epika i etika: poljski prevodi Visnjicevih ustanickih pesama
Authors: Topic Miroslav , Bunjak Petar
Published: December 2009

U radu se razmatraju poljski prevodi Visnjiceve ustanicke epike iz pera pesnika: predromanticara K. Brodjinjskog (O smerti Kulin-Kapetana, starija varijanta pesme o Misarskom boju) i pesnika XX veka C. Jastsembjec-Kozlovskog (Pocetak bune protiv dahija, Knez Ivan Knezevic i Boj na Misaru).
Hyperglycemia During Total Parenteral Nutrition
Authors: Pasquel Francisco J. , Spiegelman Ronnie , McCauley Megan , Smiley Dawn , Umpierrez Denise , Johnson Rachel , Rhee Mary , Gatcliffe Chelsea , Lin Erica , Umpierrez Erica , Peng Limin , Umpierrez Guillermo E.
Published: December 2009

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effect of total parenteral nutrition (TPN)-induced hyperglycemia on hospital outcome.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

The study determined whether blood glucose values before, within 24 h, and during days 2–10 of TPN are predictive of hospital complications and mortality.

RESULTS

Subjects included a total of 276 patients receiving TPN for a mean duration of 15 ± 24 days (±SD). In multiple regression models adjusted for age, sex, and diabetes status, mortality was independently predicted by pre-TPN blood glucose of 121–150 mg/dl (odds ratio [OR] 2.2, 95% CI 1.1–4.4, P = 0.030), 151–180 mg/dl (3.41, 1.3–8.7, P = 0.01), and >180 mg/dl (2.2, 0.9–5.2, P = 0.077) and by blood glucose within 24 h of >180 mg/dl (2.8, 1.2–6.8, P = 0.020). A blood glucose within 24 h of >180 mg/dl was associated with increased risk of pneumonia (OR 3.1, 95% CI 1.4–7.1) and acute renal failure (2.3, 1.1–5.0).

CONCLUSIONS

Hyperglycemia is associated with increased hospital complications and mortality in patients receiving TPN.
Cardiovascular Autonomic Neuropathy, HDL Cholesterol, and Smoking Correlate With Arterial Stiffness Markers Determined 18 Years Later in Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Prince Catherine T. , Secrest Aaron M. , Mackey Rachel H. , Arena Vincent C. , Kingsley Lawrence A. , Orchard Trevor J.
Published: December 2009

OBJECTIVE

To examine the relationship between cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy and pulse waveform analysis (PWA) measures of arterial stiffness in a childhood-onset type 1 diabetes population.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Cardiac autonomic nerve function was measured in the baseline examination of the Pittsburgh Epidemiology of Diabetes Complications Study of childhood-onset type 1 diabetes by heart rate variability (R-R interval) during deep breathing and expressed as expiration-to-inspiration (E/I) ratio. Other cardiovascular and diabetes factors were also assessed. PWA was performed using SphgymoCor Px on 144 participants at the 18-year follow-up examination. Univariate and multivariate analyses for associations between baseline nerve function and other cardiovascular and diabetes-related factors were performed for augmentation index (AIx), augmentation pressure (AP), and subendocardial viability ratio (SEVR), a surrogate marker of myocardial perfusion.

RESULTS

E/I ratio correlated negatively with both AIx (r = −0.18, P = 0.03) and AP (r = −0.32, P < 0.001) and positively with SEVR (r = 0.47, P < 0.001) univariately. Lower baseline E/I ratio, HDL cholesterol, and a history of smoking were associated with higher follow-up (18 years later) AIx and AP and lower SEVR in multivariate analyses. Higher baseline HbA1 was also associated with higher AP and lower SEVR multivariately.

CONCLUSIONS

Cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy is associated with increased arterial stiffness measures and decreased estimated myocardial perfusion in those with type 1 diabetes some 18 years later. This association persists after adjustment for potential confounders as well as for baseline HbA1, HDL cholesterol, and smoking history, which were also associated with these PWA measures.
Prevalence and Timing of Postpartum Glucose Testing and Sustained Glucose Dysregulation After Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Lawrence Jean M. , Black Mary Helen , Hsu Jin-Wen , Chen Wansu , Sacks David A.
Published: December 2009

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the prevalence of postpartum glucose testing within 6 months of pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), assess factors associated with testing and timing of testing after delivery, and report the test results among tested women.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This was a retrospective study of 11,825 women who were identified as having GDM using the 100-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) from 1999 to 2006. Postpartum testing (75-g 2-h OGTT or fasting plasma glucose [FPG]) within 6 months of delivery and test results from laboratory databases are reported. Postpartum test results are categorized as normal, impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and/or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and provisionally diabetic.

RESULTS

About half (n = 5,939) the women were tested with either a FPG or 75-g OGTT from 7 days to 6 months postpartum. Of these women, 46% were tested during the 6- to 12-week postpartum period. Odds of testing were independently associated with age, race/ethnicity, household income, education, foreign-born status, parity, mode of delivery, having a postpartum visit, having GDM coded at discharge, and pharmacotherapy for GDM. Of the 5,857 women with test results, 16.3% (n = 956) had IFG/IGT and 1.1% (n = 66) had provisional diabetes. After adjustment for demographic and clinical factors, abnormal postpartum test results was associated with having required insulin, glyburide, or metformin during pregnancy and with longer period from delivery to postpartum testing.

CONCLUSIONS

After a pregnancy complicated by GDM, automated orders for postpartum testing with notification to physicians and electronically generated telephone and e-mail reminder messages to patients may improve the rates of postpartum testing for persistence of glucose intolerance.
Duodenal and jejunal varices due to superior mesenteric vein thrombosis presenting as a massive gastrointestinal tract bleeding: a case report
Authors: Ozcinar Beyza , Dolay Kemal , Yanar Hakan , Taviloglu Korhan , Ertekin Cemalettin , Ucar Adem , Guloglu Recep , Plevin Rebecca , Kurtoglu Mehmet
Published: December 2009

Duodenal and jejunal varices usually occur due to portal hypertension and are rare causes of gastrointestinal tract bleeding. We report the case of a patient with no clinically significant history of a coagulopathy disorder, cirrhosis, or portal hypertension who presented with duodenal and jejunal varices that resulted in lower gastrointestinal bleeding with superior mesenteric vein thrombosis. Mesenteric angiography revealed superior mesenteric vein thrombosis and varices at the fourth part of the duodenum and the proximal jejunum draining into the main portal vein, but no active bleeding source was recognized. The patient was hemodynamically unstable. Emergency laparotomy was performed and revealed duodenal and jejunal varices, with occlusion of the superior mesenteric vein. Partial resection of the duodenum and jejunum and end-to-end anastomosis were performed. After surgery, the patient was hemodynamically stable with no recurrence of bleeding.
The Queensland Mental Health Clinical Collaborative and the Management of Schizophrenia
Authors: Plever Sally , Emmerson Brett , Chapple Benjamin , Kennedy Craig , Groves Aaron
Published: December 2009

Objective: This paper describes the development of a collaborative group of mental health clinicians who have come together to improve practice in adult acute mental health settings for the inpatient management of schizophrenia.

Method: Sixteen acute adult mental health inpatient services across Queensland worked together to develop clinical indicators related to the inpatient treatment of schizophrenia. Data collection was conducted by using information available on existing databases and through statewide chart audits using scannable form technology. Through a secure intranet site, and statewide forums, clinicians were able to access information on clinical indicators enabling them to compare their site data to peer and state data.

Results: Available data from 15 of the 16 sites provided information on clinical indicators including average length of stay, 28-day readmission rates, antipsychotic prescribing, medication dose and the use of multiple antipsychotic medications at discharge.

Conclusions: The formation of the Mental Health Clinical Collaborative has brought together clinicians across the State to develop clinical indicators and openly discuss ideas to inform and improve clinical practice. This process has been effective in improving the quality of routinely collected information across the State and in engaging clinicians in using health information to drive clinical practice.
The Eating Disorders Outreach Service: Enabling Clinicians Statewide to Treat Eating Disorders
Authors: Painter Elaine , Ward Warren , Gibbon Peter , Emmerson Brett
Published: December 2009

Objective: The aim of this paper is to describe the Eating Disorders Outreach Service (EDOS), which supports clinicians in the treatment and management of eating disorder patients across Queensland. EDOS's mandate is to facilitate intake to the specialist inpatient and outpatient services at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (RBWH) and to provide eating disorders education and consultation liaison to clinicians statewide.

Method: EDOS provides services in four key areas: intake facilitation, service development, education and training, and consultation liaison. Each area is described in detail.

Results: EDOS has grown since its inception to currently comprise a full-time team manager and a number of specialist clinician positions in psychiatry, nursing, dietetics, social work and psychology. The Service has become an integral part of the RBWH Adult Eating Disorders Service, providing statewide assessment and treatment recommendations, consultation liaison services and specialist intervention programs.

Conclusions: EDOS has been successful in facilitating patient access to local general medical and psychiatric facilities. EDOS also plays a significant leadership role in the development of effective statewide networking forums for clinicians and key stakeholders, in inservice delivery and in the provision of evidence-based educational opportunities, each of which has contributed to improved access to services for eating disorder patients.
Die Auswirkungen des globalen Wandels auf Schweizer Wälder aus ökophysiologischer Sicht | Effects of global change on Swiss forests from an ecophysiological point of view
Authors: Leuzinger Sebastian
Published: December 2009

As a consequence of global change, our forests experience abruptly changing environmental conditions. Atmospheric CO2, temperature, water availability and nutrient (particularly nitrogen) deposition are the key drivers of environmental change. The present contribution summarizes the current state of knowledge from an ecophysiological point of view and provides some guidelines for research and forest management. Rising mean temperatures hardly affect photosynthesis and carbon stocks, but rather cause changes in species composition. In summer, they lead to increased evapotranspiration, which exacerbates the danger of summer droughts likely to become more frequent until the middle of this century. Increasing nitrogen deposition has probably contributed to increased tree growth during the past century. However, deposition rates often occur at such high levels that negative effects (immobilization and leaching of other essential nutrients, soil acidification) dominate. Increased atmospheric CO2 concentration may promote tree growth in Switzerland in young individuals, but overall, its effect on tree water relations is probably more important. Species-specific water savings and consequences for soil moisture and runoff could affect catchment hydrology. Interactions between factors such as the one between water availability and CO2 concentration are of prime interest. However, there are only few long-term ecophysiological experiments testing interactive effects on forest trees. Many open questions could be answered by such experiments, which are an important basis for model parametrization and eventually decision-making in forest management.
Schutzwälder der Nördlichen Kalkalpen: Verjüngung, Mikroklima, Schneedecke und Schalenwild | Protection forests in the Northern Limestone Alps: stand regeneration, microclimate, snow cover and ungulates
Authors: Prietzel Jörg
Published: December 2009

Relationships among ungulate pressure, stand regeneration, microclimate, and snowpack dynamics were investigated at three protection forest sites in the mixed mountain forest zone of the Bavarian Limestone Alps. The study was conducted at plots located inside and outside ungulate exclosures which had been established about 35 years ago. Air and topsoil temperatures were recorded for one year in hourly intervals. In winter 2005/2006, the thickness, constitution, and mobility of the snowpack were investigated. Inside the exclosures, which were stocked with dense regeneration of mixed mountain forest, mean air and topsoil temperatures were up to 0.9 °C (air) and 1.9 °C (soils) lower than outside. Maximum daily values of air and topsoil temperatures were up to 1.4 °C (air) and 5.2 °C (soils) lower inside the exclosures compared to the respective outside plots. The temperature differences were dependent on the aspect (NW < ESE < S). Snowpack thickness during winter increased more slowly inside the exclosures than outside due to snow interception by the young trees which had developed during stand regeneration; in late winter, snowpack melting was retarded. Inside the exclosures the snowpack was more heterogeneous (“column structure”) than outside (laminated structure). Consequently, inside the exclosures a large portion of the melting water drained vertically to the bottom of the snowpack and infiltrated into the soil, and the snow gliding activity was significantly smaller than outside. In summary, particularly at S-exposed sites, exclosure of ungulates resulted in a cooler, less extreme microclimate, a more heterogeneous and stable snowpack, and reduced snow gliding. Therefore, an adequate regulation of ungulate density by appropriate hunting activity is a key factor for a sustainable provision of important protection services of the mixed mountain forest in the Northern Limestone Alps.
The elastic-plastic buckling failure load of structures made of nonlinear elastic-plastic material
Authors: Dulácska Endre
Published: December 2009

The approximate determination of the elastic-plastic buckling load parameter of structures was discussed. For the critical failure load parameter a lower and an upper bound has been established, with the aid of which the results of computer calculations can be checked.
Role of geothermal energy in district heat supply in Hungary
Authors: Kontra Jenő
Published: December 2009

The proportion of geothermal energy in Hungarian district-heating is very low. In the next century the usage of renewables must be at least tripled regarding the heating of buildings, which can be achieved mainly by using thermal water. By this method a large amount of natural gas can be replaced, and the increasing rate of district-heating costs can be slowed. The basic heat will be provided by geothermal energy and the gas boilers will be peak heat suppliers. Our Department has taken part in the construction of the largest geothermal district-heating system in Szentes, Hungary, where already four districts are supplied with thermal water. In this project 32000 GJ/a heat usage is accomplished.
Restricted freedom of choice
Authors: Szabó Julianna
Published: December 2009

The different development strategies of habitation areas are becoming more important in the midst of suburbanization processes in the Budapest agglomeration. In the following article three different development strategies are discussed based on their goals, ideological backgrounds, tools and effects on regional development.
After describing these developmental models attempt will be made to arrange them in the region and evaluate them in the context of regulatory, economic, political and social effects. Further assessment follows in terms of forming a coherent regional development policy.
In areas around the world´s major cities, towns that are part of the suburbanization explosion are going through changes that are just as dramatic as those of the city centres. Their strategies have a strong influence on the forms of suburbanization, on the spatial structure of the changes, and on the success of central (regional, city centre) experiments in controlling globalization processes.
In the years since the political transition that began in 1989, the towns of the greater Budapest agglomeration have come up against frequent and often fundamental changes in the legal, regulatory, and economic environments. At the same time, they needed to - and still do need to - weigh the options and risks that accompany accelerated suburbanization, and balance between them. These options and risks regularly exceed the towns´ normal capacities to deal with them. Because of the liberal municipal government system, the success of a chosen strategy certainly cannot be judged by whether it furthers the interests of the capital or of a region, but rather by the continuance of the town´s viability, the satisfaction of the local residents with the uncontrolled or regulated processes, and the political impact of all the above on the local government election results.
Selected passages from the history of the Armenian Architecture I. - Prehistoric Era, Antiquity
Authors: Guzsik Tamás
Published: December 2009

This posthumously published article was the beginnig of a comprehensive summary of the history of the Armenian architecture. Unfortunately the work could not be completed.
Natural conditions in the Carpathian Basin of the middle ages
Authors: Rabb Péter
Published: December 2009

The analysis of natural conditions is a new field in Hungarian medieval research. This field could only come into existence with the spread of new sources of research, and with the need of drawing the most realistic picture of medieval living conditions with the help of more - previously ignored - data and facts. This field of research may have a special meaning as according to sources of the age, the Carpathian Basin was one of the natural Paradises of Medieval Europe.
The morphology of the glass roof
Authors: Becker Gábor
Published: December 2009

This article reviews a possible classification of glass roofs. The discussed classifications and enumerations try to contribute to a practically complete survey, the opportunities for glass roofs and the applicable structural solutions.
The basic principles of sustainable architecture
Authors: Lányi Erzsébet
Published: December 2009

Contemporary architecture works according to a linear model, meaning that it takes in fresh air, energy generated from fossil fuels, drinking water, various building and other materials necessary for life and having squandered them inefficiently, it releases stale-air, smoke, fumes, sewage, noise and refuse that will chemically pollute the environment.
In 1994 at the CIB conference held in Tampa, Florida, C. Kibert clearly voiced what needs to be done. Accordingly sustainable architecture is: creating and responsibly sustaining a healthy built environment, responding to the ecological needs and making optimal use of energy without over-exploitation of natural resources. This means that the burden on nature must be reduced with the help of sensible compromise, legal-financial regulation, technologically clean building materials and products and at least a partial abnegation of consumer mentality.
Geometrical qualities in the harmony of colours - the colour harmony system “Immocolour”
Authors: Tari Gábor
Published: December 2009

A report on the development of the
`
Immanent colour harmony system
`
modelling optical effects perceptible in nature outlining number and saturation of the different hues applied, functioning mainly by intermingling the colours.
Impact of minimum surface temperature on air change rate
Authors: Csoknyai Tamás
Published: December 2009

This recent work demonstrates through the application of monitoring results, that the surface conductance value along the edges and at thermal bridges differs from the overall standard design value. This fact modifies the characteristics of the building behaviour from the perspective of moisture. The lower h_i value has an impact on the required air change rate: in order to prevent the structure from mould growth, a higher air change rate is needed than previously supposed.
In the first part of the paper the monitoring is presented and the second part of the work illustrates the determination method of the required air change rate. The method is presented through a case study. A possible solution to decrease the air change rate is also examined: the impact of additional thermal insulation.
The orthogonal grid as the planned urban fabric
Authors: Fonyódi Mariann
Published: December 2009

Its background is the article The orthogonal urban grid as an urban attribute \cite 1 which reviews the historical and geographical appearance of this most frequently used urban pattern. This essay wants to organise and define the main structural characteristics of the orthogonal grids, paying special attention to those, which can be used in the description of the changes of the urban fabrics. Finally it analyses briefly the orthogonal patterns of a town - Turin - laid on various eras by various reasons.
Mimesis and abstraction - the paradigmatic principles and traditions of fine art representation in the training of architects
Authors: Üveges Gábor
Published: December 2009

The notion of mimesis and abstraction. Mimesis and abstraction in the training of architects.
Art in the training of architects. The analogy that exists in conceptual, intellectual and compositional areas between fine art and architecture offers tremendous new opportunities to make the work carried out in the spirit of geometrical abstraction and other closely related movements to be the (modern) school of architectonic thinking, organization of structure and space and visual and spatial order.
The requirement system of the Hungarian directive on the energy performance of buildings
Authors: Szalay Zsuzsa
Published: December 2009

The Energy Performance Building Directive 2002/91/EC (EPBD), issued by the European Commission, gave a general framework for the calculation of the integrated energy performance of buildings. The Directive was adapted and implemented by the EU´s Member States in 2006.
The Hungarian regulation was worked out in the Department of Building Energetics, Budapest University of Technology and Economics and the author was a member of the team. In the regulation, the requirements have three levels: requirements are set for the maximum allowable thermal transmittance of the building elements, the specific heat loss coefficient of the building and the integrated energy performance of the building service systems. This paper describes the background calculations and diagrams. When formulating the requirements, the aim was that compact buildings with good orientation and appropriate glazing ratio should fulfil the requirements on the specific heat loss coefficient once the requirement on the thermal transmittance of the elements was fulfilled. The requirements were verified on a large, randomly generated building sample for 2,600 technically feasible geometries. The role of glazing - the window ratio, orientation, thermal properties and solar energy transmittance - in the energy bala
nce of the heating season was analysed in more detail. The calculations showed that South facing walls with a large window ratio and good insulation (Uwall
<
0.45 W/m2K ; Uwindow
<
1.6 W/m2K) resulted in a heat gain over the heating season in Hungary.
The Erdõdy Castle in Vörösvár
Authors: Marótzy Katalin
Published: December 2009

The township of Rotenturm an der Pinka - ci-devant Vörösvár - lies along the Pinka in Burgenland, just 20 kilometres from Szombathely. In the middle of the village, in a deserted park stands an especially beautiful architectural creature of the Hungarian Romanticism, the Erdõdy Castle as a masterpiece of Antal Wéber.
The building is historicising by mixing the styles from some architectural elements like the column of the carriage passage shown above to the composition itself. However, the building is basically differentiated from the style-mixing historicism of the close of the 19^th century by the fact that every architectural unit is still part of a suite with the traditional formal logic, with traditional proportions.
Application of the techniques of traditional and modern fine arts in the architectural graphics
Authors: Nemes Gábor
Published: December 2009

The fundamental devices of the artistic representation. Possibilities of light / tone handling: xylographs, chiaroscuro, low tone differences, impressionistic tone handling. The use of colours in architectural graphics: emotional suggestivity, space suggestive role of the colours.
Pen/ink techniques: line drawings, brush and wash technique. The coloured drawings. Aquarelle. Pastel techniques. Coloured prints. Abstract plan compositions - the collage. Relation of architectural representation to modern abstract art.
Spherical segment approximation of sexpartite vaults
Authors: Strommer László
Published: December 2009

As a continuation and generalization of an article dealing with quadripartite vaults using the same approach, this paper proposes spherical segment approximations of some medieval sexpartite vaults having pointed arches, with the idea of finding simple, yet representative geometric models for them. On the supposition that the bounding curves of every vault cell can be reckoned as vertical sections of spherical surfaces, it results in severe, yet expressive models of a wide range of vault shapes, revealing feasible computer representations of several vault types appearing in the books of architectural history either in textual or non-textual forms.
Countinuous and discrete models for abrasion processes
Authors: Domokos Gábor , Á Sipos András , L. Várkonyi Péter
Published: December 2009

The origin of the shapes of stones and other particles formed by water or wind has always attracted the attention of geologists and mathematicians. A classical model of abrasion due to W. J. Firey leads to a geometric partial differential equation representing the continuum limit of the process. This model predicts convergence to spheres from an arbitrary initial form; analogously, the two-dimensional version of the model predicts convergence to circles. The shapes of real stones are, however, not always round. Most notably, coastal pebbles tend to be smooth but somewhat flat, and ventifacts (e.g. pyramidal dreikanters) often have completely different shapes with sharp edges. Inspired by Firey´s results, a new PDE is derived in this paper, which not only appears to be a natural mathematical generalization of Firey´s PDE, but also represents the continuum limit of a genezalized abrasion model based on recurrent loss of material due to collisions of nearby pebbles. We also introduce a related, mezo-scale discre
te random model which is ideally suited for analyzing wear processes in specific geometric scenarios. Preliminary results suggest that our model is capable to predict a broad range of limit shapes: polygonal shapes with sharp edges develop due to sand blasting (big stone surrounded by infinitesimally small particles), round stones emerge due to collisions with relatively big stones, and flat shapes are the typical outcome in the intermediate case. The results show nice agreement with real data despite the model´s simplicity.
Shear tests evaluation and numerical modelling of shear behaviour of reinforced concrete beams
Authors: Draskóczy András
Published: December 2009

A series of 24 reinforced concrete beams - amongst them six prestressed - were tested in the laboratory of the Department of Mechanics, Materials and Structures, TUB in 2005. The principal aim of the research program was to develop the variable strut inclination method used for shear design of reinforced concrete beams by Eurocode 2. Based on numerical evaluation of a substitutive vaulted lattice model with compressed-sheared top chord and some experiences of the test results, the author proposes to increase the fraction of the shear force attributed to the concrete in simple supported reinforced concrete beams loaded by a uniformly distributed load. Attention is drawn to the importance of adequate anchorage of the horizontal component of the diagonal concrete compression force at the supports.
Sustainable renovation of housing in the urban environment
Authors: Ertsey Attila
Published: December 2009

The global climate change and the growing ecological crisis forces us to address both the questions of ecology and sustainability that step over from the exotic world of eco-villages into the everyday practice of urban design and renovation.
To fulfil this aim it has become necessary to define the criteria of sustainability more precisely. After the experiences of two case studies and research in smaller regions in the countryside our working team chose two urban areas in Budapest to examine the opportunities and barriers to sustainability.
The characteristic building types of the chosen areas were either typical houses for rent, built 100-150 years ago and giving the well-known architectural character of old Budapest, or the prefabricated housing estates that were built during the communist era by the ``panel-factories´´ and imported from the Soviet Union. This kind of housing is inhabited by 20% of Hungarian citizens.
The energetic reconstruction of these buildings is of the highest importance.
The medieval social topography of Szeged
Authors: Máté Zsolt
Published: December 2009

As the name historical social topography implies it comprehends the ancient location and distribution of particular groups and layers of inhabitants in a settlement. It is important since ethnic, religious and occupational groups are able either to impose particular characters of settlement structure, or significantly influence their location and ground use. Several social data of a Christian tithe list made for the diocese of Bács in the year 1522, and a defter (i.e. a Turkish tax list) from 1546 were placed on the medieval map of Szeged previously reconstructed by the author - resulting in an extremely rich social topographic picture of a large medieval peasant market town. It can be observed that the well-heeled intelligentsia and the wealthy burgesses, - priests, judges, schoolmasters etc, and the craftsmen of privileged trades such as goldsmiths, and the vineyard owners - lived near the centres, mainly in the fortified Palánk or around the churches in Felsõváros and Alsóváros. It is obvious
that those, whose trades were connected with agriculture or animal husbandry, lived on the outskirts, making use of good transportation and storage possibilities there. The fine manufacturers and the ones working with great value were clustering in certain areas, probably as a consequence of the guild system. The processed and mapped 411 data of 403 tax payers cover more than a quarter of the 1574 listed households.
Authenticity and didactics: theory and practice in the preservation of our medieval monuments
Authors: Zsembery Ákos
Published: December 2009

Nowadays one of the much discussed pivotal points in the preservation of monuments, especially in the case of ruins, are about the charters, i.e. can such theoretical and subjective concepts like authenticity, monument value or restoration be used uniformly and what these phrases exactly stand for? In my analysis I observed and analysed the historical state of the medieval type churches and monasteries around my home area, in Komárom-Esztergom County. Since most of the visited architectural monuments are left as remains, throughout their monumental preservations we could analyse, from a practical point of view, our theories on the restoration of historic buildings. A special viewpoint and method is required for the analysis and restoration of ruins. The tools of architecture differ in the case of the restored buildings and ruins, since in the former case a thoroughly new architectural creation is established during the restoration process, by using only the material and the imagined form of the original mon
ument. On this basis, we can state, that the basic needs of restoration are credibility and representation, so simply, these should be analysed within the framework of authenticity and didactics.
Estimation of Seismic Wavelets Based on the Multivariate Scale Mixture of Gaussians Model
Authors: Gao Jing-Huai , Zhang Bing
Published: December 2009

This paper proposes a new method for estimating seismic wavelets. Suppose a seismic wavelet can be modeled by a formula with three free parameters (scale, frequency and phase). We can transform the estimation of the wavelet into determining these three parameters. The phase of the wavelet is estimated by constant-phase rotation to the seismic signal, while the other two parameters are obtained by the Higher-order Statistics (HOS) (fourth-order cumulant) matching method. In order to derive the estimator of the Higher-order Statistics (HOS), the multivariate scale mixture of Gaussians (MSMG) model is applied to formulating the multivariate joint probability density function (PDF) of the seismic signal. By this way, we can represent HOS as a polynomial function of second-order statistics to improve the anti-noise performance and accuracy. In addition, the proposed method can work well for short time series.
Textural and Compositional Characterization of Wadi Feiran Deposits, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, Using Radarsat-1, PALSAR, SRTM and ETM+ Data
Authors: Gaber Ahmed , Koch Magaly , El-Baz Farouk
Published: December 2009

The present work aims at identifying favorable locations for groundwater resources harvesting and extraction along the Wadi Feiran basin, SW Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, in an effort to facilitate new development projects in this area. Landsat ETM+, Radarsat-1 and PALSAR images of Wadi Feiran basin were used in this work to perform multisource data fusion and texture analysis, in order to classify the wadi deposits based on grain size distribution and predominant rock composition as this information may lead to the location of new groundwater resources. An unsupervised classification was first performed on two sets of fused images (i.e., ETM+/Radarsat-1 and ETM+/PALSAR) resulting in five classes (hybrid classes) describing the main alluvial sediments in the wadi system. Some variations in the spatial distribution of individual classes were observed, due to the different spectral and spatial resolutions of Radarsat-1 (C-band, 12.5 m) and PALSAR (L-band, 6.25 m) data. Alluvial deposits are mixtures of parent rocks located further upstream often at a great distance. In order to classify the alluvial deposits in terms of individual rock types (endmembers), a spectral linear unmixing of the optical ETM+ image was performed. Subsequently, each class of the fused (hybrid) images was correlated with (1) individual rock type fractions (endmembers) obtained from spectrally unmixing the ETM+ image, (2) the geocoded and calibrated radar images (Radarsat-1 and PALSAR) and, (3) the slope map generated from the SRTM data. The goal was to determine predominant rock composition, mean backscatter and slope values for each of the five hybrid classes. Backscatter coefficient values extracted from both radar data (C- and L-band) were correlated and checked in the field, confirming that both wavelengths produced more or less similar textural classes that correspond to specific grain or fragment sizes of alluvial deposits. However, comparison of the spatial distribution of matching hybrid classes showed some variations due to the greater discrimination power of surface texture by Radarsat-1 C-band despite its lower spatial resolution. Furthermore, both hybrid classification results showed that regardless of elevation, areas that are covered by fine and moderate grains (fine sand to pebble) and are located along gentle terrains are favorable for groundwater recharge; while areas that are covered by very coarse grains (cobble to boulder) and are located along steep terrains are more likely to be affected by flash floods.
Sustainable Agriculture in the United States: A Critical Examination of a Contested Process
Authors: Constance Douglas H.
Published: December 2009

This paper investigates the political economy of the development of sustainable agriculture programs and initiatives in the United States. Sustainable agriculture emerged as part of a growing critique of the negative environmental consequences of unquestioned modern farming methods. The USDA/Sustainable Agriculture Research Education Program created in 1990 and the National Organics Program created in 2002 are the current government-sponsored programs in support of sustainable agriculture. Recently, private approaches to develop a national sustainable agriculture standard for the U.S. have emerged. The events of the cases developed in the paper reveal that because the concept of sustainability is deeply contested, agribusiness is able to exploit the ambiguity surrounding the definition of sustainable and exercise power in attempts to frame sustainable agriculture in their favor. Most recently, this contested process has focused on whether genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) will be included as part of the national sustainable agriculture standard.
Symmetry, Optical Properties and Thermodynamics of Neptunium(V) Complexes
Authors: Rao Linfeng , Tian Guoxin
Published: December 2009

Recent results on the optical absorption and symmetry of the Np(V) complexes with dicarboxylate and diamide ligands are reviewed. The importance of recognizing the “silent” feature of centrosymmetric Np(V) species in analyzing the absorption spectra and calculating the thermodynamic constants of Np(V) complexes is emphasized.
Transplantation of Endothelial Progenitor Cells as Therapeutics for Cardiovascular Diseases
Authors: Hung Huey-Shan , Shyu Woei-Cherng , Tsai Chang-Hai , Hsu Shan-Hui , Lin Shinn-Zong
Published: December 2009

With better understanding of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), many therapeutic approaches to cardiovascular diseases have been developed. This article will review novel research of EPCs in promoting angiogenesis, vasculogenesis, and endothelialization, as a design for future clinical treatment. Cell therapy has the potential to supply stem/progenitor cells and multiple angiogenic factors to the region of ischemia. The efficacy of EPC transplantation may be impaired by low survival rate, insufficient cell number, and impaired function in aging and diseases. Combination of EPCs or cells primed with growth factors or genetic modification may improve the therapeutic efficacy. The molecular mechanism involved in EPC repairing processes is essential. Thus, we have also addressed the molecular mechanism of mobilization, homing, and differentiation of EPCs. The potential of therapeutic neovascularization, angiogenic factor therapy, and cell transplantation have been elucidated. Based on past experience and actual knowledge, future strategies for EPC therapy will be proposed in order to fully exploit the potential of EPC transplantation with clinical relevance for cardiovascular disease applications.
Gene and Stem Cell Therapy in Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Yamashita Toru , Deguchi Kentaro , Nagotani Shoko , Kamiya Tatsushi , Abe Koji
Published: December 2009

Possible strategies for treating ischemic stroke include neuroprotection (preventing injured neurons from undergoing apoptosis in the acute phase of cerebral ischemia) and stem cell therapy (the repair of disrupted neuronal networks with newly born neurons in the chronic phase of cerebral ischemia). First, we estimated the neuroprotective effect of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) by administration of GFNF protein. GDNF protein showed a direct protective effect against ischemic brain damage. Pretreatment of animals with adenoviral vector containing GDNF gene (Ad-GDNF) 24 h before the subsequent transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) effectively reduced infarcted volume. Secondly, we studied the neuroprotective effect of a calcium channel blocker, azelnidipine, or a by-product of heme degradation, biliverdin. Both azelnidipine and biliverdin had a neuroprotective effect in the ischemic brain through their antioxidative property. Lastly, we developed a restorative stroke therapy with a bioaffinitive scaffold, which is able to provide an appropriate platform for newly born neurons. In the future, we will combine these strategies to develop more effective therapies for treatment of strokes.
Ring-alkyl connecting group effect on mesogenic properties of p-carborane derivatives and their hydrocarbon analogues
Authors: Jankowiak Aleksandra , Kaszynski Piotr , Tilford William R , Ohta Kiminori , Januszko Adam , Nagamine Takashi , Endo Yasuyuki
Published: December 2009

The effect of the phenyl–alkyl connecting group on mesogenic properties of several series of isostructural compounds containing p-carborane (A and B), bicyclo[2.2.2]octane (C), and benzene (D) was investigated using thermal and optical methods. Results demonstrated that mesophase stability in the series containing A–D follows the order (Alk)CH2CH2– < (Alk)OOC– < (Alk)CH2O– < (Alk)COO–. Surprisingly, the connecting groups (Alk)CH2CH2– and (Alk)OOC– destabilize the mesophase significantly stronger for carboranes (A and B) than for carbocyclic derivatives (C and D). Analysis indicates that this effect may have quadrupolar and conformational origin.
Felicia filifolia (Asteraceae), neòfit d’origen sud-africà introduït al sud de Catalunya
Authors: Molero J. , Pyke S.
Published: December 2009

[es] Se indica por primera vez la presencia de Felicia filifolia, especie introducida de origen sudafricano, en las montañas del norte de Falset (Priorat). En el registro de plantas alóctonas constituye una novedad corológica para la flora de Cataluña y de la Península Ibérica.

[ct] S’assenyala per primera vegada la presència de Felicia filifolia, espècie introduïda d’origen sud-africà, a les muntanyes del nord de Falset (Priorat). En el registre de plantes al·lòctones constitueix una novetat corològica per a la flora de Catalunya i de la Península Ibèrica.