Ventilation performance and pollutant flow in a unidirectional-traffic road tunnel

To develop a reliable method for modeling fire case scenarios within the road tunnels and observing the effects of the skewed velocity, experimental and numerical approach is used. Experimental results obtained from a laboratory tunnel model installation, are used to define geometry and boundary conditions. The result for the overall ventilation performance is compared to the available cases, for empty tunnel and stationary bi-directional vehicle traffic. For a unidirectional traffic road tunnel, in traffic loaded conditions, with a ventilation system based on axial ducted fans, the numerical simulation is used to determine the flow and temperature fields, the ventilation efficiency (efficiency of momentum transfer), and to assess the shape of the velocity distribution. The effect that a skewed velocity distribution can have on the resulting thermal and pollutant fields (CO2), smoke backlayering and stratification, is evaluated using numerical simulations, for the model-scale tunnel fire conditions. The effect of two possible limiting shapes of the velocity distribution, dependent only on the location of the fire with respect to the nearest upstream operating fans, is analyzed. The numerical results for a fire are scenario are a starting point in assessing the feasibility of a laboratory model fire-scenario experiment, what is planned as the next step in this research

Morphological and genetic variability of isophylloid bellflowers from the group "Versicolor" of the Campanula pyramidalis complex (Campanulaceae)

Kompleks Campanula pyramidalis čine blisko srodni i morfološki slični taksoni široko rasprostranjeni na Balkanskom polustrvu, sa malim delom areala na jugu Apenina. Pored tipične vrste C. pyramidalis, koja je morfološki i molekularno jasno izdiferencirana i izdvojena u grupu "Pyramidalis", prema rezultatima najnovije filogenetske studije u ovaj kompleks spadaju i vrste C. austroadriatica, C. secundiflora i C. versicolor, koje su objedinjene u grupu "Versicolor". Kako odnos populacija iz kontinentalnog dela Crne Gore sa populacijama vrsta C. austroadriatica i C. secundiflora nije prethodnim studijama razrešen, kao i činjenica da se u vezu sa C. versicolor dovodi 19 taksona, ukazaje na potrebu detaljnijeg istraživanja grupe "Versicolor". Genetička i morfološka varijabilnost je analizirana na osnovu velikog broja sakupljenih populacija sa čitavog areala grupe "Versicolor". Horološki i ekološki podaci su prikupljeni obradom literaturnih podataka, revizijom herbarskog materijala i terenskim istraživanjima. Rezultati ove sveobuhvatne studije su pokazali jasnu morfološku, genetičku i fitogeografsku diferencijaciju unutar grupe "Versicolor". Molekularne analize (SSR) su pokazale visok stepen izdiferenciranosti analiziranih vrsta C. austroadriatica, C. secundiflora i C. versicolor unutar koje su izdvojene dve podvrste C. versicolor subsp. plasonii i C. versicolor subsp. tenorei, dok su populacije iz kontinentalnog dela Crne Gore izdvojene u novu vrstu C. montenegrina. Ovo je podržano morfometrijskim i fitogeografskim analizama. Na osnovu dobijenih rezultata predložen je novi preliminarni taksonomski koncept čitavog kompleksa C. pyramidalis, sa ključem za identifikaciju i opisima taksona, podacima o tipskim primercima, rasprostranjenju i staništima svih analiziranih taksona.Campanula pyramidalis complex comprises closely related and morphologically similar taxa widely distributed on the Balkan Peninsula, with a small part of the area in the southern Apennines. Apart from the typical C. pyramidalis, which is morphologically and molecularly clearly differentiated and segregated in the "Pyramidalis" group, according to the latest phylogenetic study this complex includes also the species C. austroadriatica, C. secundiflora and C. versicolor. These three species belong to the "Versicolor" group. As the relationships between the populations from the continental part of Montenegro and populations of C. austroadriatica and C. secundiflora have not been resolved in previous studies, as well as the fact that 19 taxa can be related to C. versicolor, points to the need for more detailed research of the "Versicolor" group. The genetic and morphological variability was analyzed on the basis of a large number of populations collected from the entire area of the "Versicolor" group. Chorological and ecological data were collected by processing the literature data, as well as on the revisions of herbarium materials and field investigations. The results of this comprehensive study showed clear morphological, genetic and phytogeographic differentiation within the "Versicolor" group. Molecular analysis (SSR) showed a high level of differentiation of the analyzed species C. austroadriatica, C. secundiflora and C. versicolor, which is supported by morphometric and phytogeographic analysis. Within C. versicolor two subspecies are distinguished, C. versicolor subsp. plasonii and C. versicolor subsp. tenorei, while the populations from the continental part of Montenegro are segregated into a new species C. montenegrina. On the basis of the obtained results a new preliminary taxonomic concept of the entire C. pyramidalis complex is provided, with a key for the identification and descriptions of analyzed taxa, data on type specimens, distribution and their habitats

Concrete mix design for reconstruction of northwest breakwater in the Tripoli harbour - Libya

Reconstruction of Northwest breakwater in the Tripoli Harbour - Libya (about 4500 m long) required manufacture of various concrete elements (cubes and accropodes) in total amount of 550 000 m(3). Volumes of cubes were 6,3 m(3), 8,5 m(3) and 12,7 m(3), volumes of accropodes were 6,3 m(3) and 9,0 m(3). After preliminary trials and trial production, an optimum mix proportion was chosen, in compliance with technical specification requirements. One of the main causes for concrete blocks cracking is the temperature difference between core and external surface of the blocks, so new blocks with new mix proportions were made (three variations in cement content). Temperature was measured at three characteristic points: in the middle of the cube, in the middle of vertical outer surface and in the middle of horizontal upper edge. Finally, optimal proportions of the constituent materials were adopted

Višejedarna Rhizoctonia sp. - patogen šećerne repe i osetljivost sorti u polju

Sugar beet root rot has severely occurred in our country recently, especially in localities of Pazova, Pećinci, Ruma, Sremska Mitrovica and Šid. From diseased roots as well as from soil collected from the localities where decay occurred, fungal isolates were obtained by bait plant method. Based on their characteristics, they were identified as multinucleate Rhizoctonia sp. During the year of 2004 in Mitrosrem trial field T-11, where the presence of multinucleate Rhizoctonia sp. was confirmed, an experiment under the coordination of Committee for Acknowledgement and Registration of New Cultivars in our country was conducted in order to determine cultivars' tolerance, i.e. their susceptibility and possibility for growing on infested fields. Six cultivars of sugar beet, Laetitia (as standard) and five new ones were included in the investigation. The trial was conducted in accordance with the established and accepted method (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Resources, Republic of Serbia). Susceptibility of investigated cultivars was evaluated according to significant production characteristics root yield, sugar content, corrected sugar content, thick juice Q, molasses sugar, content of K, Na and amino-N, polarized sugar yield and white sugar yield, as it was recommended by the method. Conducted investigations have revealed that tested sugar beet cultivars showed different reactions to natural infection with multinucleate Rhizoctonia sp. Concerning root yield as the most important agricultural characteristic, statistically significantly higher yield was obtained with the cultivar under code mark 5 (61.120 kg/ha) whereas the cultivar marked under code 6 had significantly lower yield comparing to the standard (38.100 kg/ha).Poslednjih godina uočeno je masovno propadanje šećerne repe u našoj zemlji i to u lokalitetima Pazove, Pećinaca, Rume, Sremske Mitrovice i Šida. Iz obolelih korenova i iz zemljišta prikupljenog sa terena gde je propadanje uočeno, metodom mamaka izolovana je gljiva koja je po svojim osobinama identifikovana kao višejedarna Rhizoctonia sp. U toku 2004. godine na parceli Mitrosrema T-11 gde je izolacijom dokazano prisustvo višejedarne Rhizoctonia sp., postavljen je ogled u okviru sortne komisije za priznavanje i registraciju novih sorti u našoj zemlji sa ciljem utvrđivanja tolerantnosti, odnosno osetljivosti pojedinih sorti i time njihove pogodnosti za gajenje na infestiranom zemljištu. U ispitivanja je uključeno 6 sorti šećerne repe: Laetitia (kao standard) i još pet novih sorti. Ogled je posejan po utvrđenoj i prihvaćenoj metodi sortne komisije (Ministarstvo poljoprivrede, šumarstva i vodoprivrede Republike Srbije). Osetljivost ispitivanih sorti ocenjivana je na osnovu značajnih proizvodnih osobina: prinos korena, polarizacija, korigovani sadržaj šećera Q gustog soka, sadržaja sećera u melasi, sadržaja K, Na i amino N, prinos polarizacionog šećera i prinos kristalnog šećera, kako to metoda i zahteva. Na osnovu obavljenih istraživanja ustanovljeno je da se ispitivane sorte šećerne repe različito ponašaju u uslovima prirodne zaraze višejedarnom Rhizoctonia sp. U pogledu prinosa, kao najvažnije proizvodne karakteristike, statistički značajno viši prinos od standarda ispoljila je sorta koja se vodi pod šifrom 5 (61.120 kg/ha), dok je sorta koja se vodi pod šifrom 6 imala statistički značajno niži prinos u poređenju sa standardom (38.100 kg/ha)

Natural and artificial (90Sr) radionuclides in some carbonated mineral waters used in Serbia

A radiological characterization of 7 different carbonated mineral water samples collected in the local supermarkets in the area of Belgrade (produced in Serbia) was carried out. Analysis included determination of gross alpha and gross beta activities. The obtained results showed that the natural activity concentrations of alpha and beta emitting radionuclides in carbonated mineral water samples were within World Health Organization recommended levels, except for the Heba Strong and Kiseljak samples where the beta activity exceeds 1 Bq/L. For these two water samples gamma spectrometry analysis was performed as well as determination of 90Sr by oxalic method. The instrumentation used to count the gross alpha and gross beta activities, as well as for 90Sr, was a/b low level proportional counter Thermo Eberline FHT 770 T. Gamma spectrometric measurements were performed using a HPGe Canberra detector with a counting efficiency of 20%. The annual effective dose equivalent due to ingestion of investigated waters was calculated for age group >17, and obtained values are lower than 0.1 mSv recommended reference level. Finally, a comparison of the investigated waters with worldwide data was made. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. III43009

Determination of staphylococcal enterotoxins in cheese by immunoenzyme assays

Staphylococcal food poisoning is one of the most common foodborne diseases resulting from the ingestion of staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) preformed in foods by enterotoxigenic strains of coagulase-positive staphylococci (CPS), mainly Staphylococcus aureus. The presence of enterotoxigenic strains of coagulase-positive staphylococci in raw milk during the production process leads to the contamination of products and outbreaks of alimentary intoxication. The problem of Staphylococcus aureus in cheese remains significant on a global level. Domestic cheese contaminated with enterotoxigenic staphylococci can result in the formation of enterotoxin, which can produce foodborne illness when the product is ingested. Due to microbiological contamination, microbiological criteria are tools that can be used in assessing the safety and quality of foods. In order to avoid foodborne illness, the Serbian Regulation on General and Special Conditions for Food Hygiene (Official Gazette of RS, No. 72/10) provides microbiological criteria for staphylococcal enterotoxins in dairy products

Microelectronics miniaturization and fractal electronic frontiers

The intergrain ceramic structures are very complex and difficult to describe by using traditional analytical methods. In this study, in order to establish grain shapes of sintered ceramics, new approach on correlation between microstructure and properties of doped BaTiO3 -ceramics based on fractal geometry has been developed. BaTiO3 ceramics doped with CeO2, Bi2O3, Fe2O3, CaZrO3 Nb2O5, MnCO3 , La2O3, Er2O3, Yb2O3 and Ho2O3, were prepared using conventional solid state procedure and sintered at 1350°C. The sintered specimens microstructure was investigated by SEM-5300 and capacitance has been done using LCR-metra Agilent 4284A. The fractal modeling method using a reconstruction of microstructure configurations, like grains or intergranular contacts shapes has been successfully done. Furthermore, the area of grains surface was calculated by using fractal correction which expresses the grains surface irregularity through fractal dimension. For better and deeper the ceramics material microstructure characterization the Voronoi model and mathematical statistics calculations, are applied, also. The fractal nature for ceramics structure analysis providing a new ideas for modeling the grain shape and relations between the BaTiO3 ceramic structure and dielectrical properties and new frontier for higher integration on electronic circuits. The presented results indicate that fractal method for structure ceramics analysis creates a new approach for describing, predicting and modeling the grain shape and relations between the BaTiO3 -ceramic structure and dielectric and generally electric and microelectronics properties

Double Tooth

The form of primary and permanent teeth can differ morphologically from that which is considered normal, completely or in some parts. The changes in tooth form can be hereditary or caused by some disease or trauma. Fusion is a union of one or more teeth during development. Gemination means that two separate morphological units were created by division of the tooth germ. The intention of this study was to state the prevalence of double teeth (fusion and gemination) among the persons tested, as to gender, distribution in the maxilla or mandible, and whether the anomaly occurred bilaterally or unilaterally. The results of this investigation have shown that in a total of examined 3,517 plaster models, a prevalence of double teeth was 0.2%. 57.2% of them were fusioned and 42.9% geminated

Novel H1N1 influenza in neonates: from mild to fatal disease

Analysis of pediatric deaths associated with pandemic A H1N1 influenza shows that fatal outcome is more likely in young children, under the age of 5. Neonates, because of the immaturity of their immune system, could represent a high-risk group for severe disease and fatal outcome. We present a group of five neonates with confirmed novel influenza A H1N1 infection. This report indicates that the full spectrum of influenza A H1N1 infection ranging from mild febrile illness with spontaneous recovery to severe disease with fatal outcome may be expected even in neonates. Journal of Perinatology (2011) 31, 446-448; doi:10.1038/jp.2010.19