Designing with regulating lines and geometric relations

This paper introduces regulating lines and geometric relations as a framework for shape delineation and dynamic drawing manipulation. It describes a relation - based graphic environment that can provide a qualitatively different way to explore shape, dimension, and geometric organisation in design. It also presents ReDraw, a limited prototype of the relations-based graphic system, and discusses some implications of its use in conceptual architectural design

Procena genotoksičnosti korišćenjem kometa testa u različitim tkivima klena iz rečne vode

Cilj ovog rada je bila analiza oštećenja molekula DNK primenom komet testa (engl. Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis, SCGE) na klenu (Squalius cephalus L.) kao potencijalnom model organizmu za procenu genotoksičnosti vode Kolubarskog basena. Kolubarski basen je bogat nalazištima lignita pa kao takav trpi veliki pritisak rudarskog postrojenja, “Kolubara”, pored već postojećeg uticaja komunalnih voda kao i spiranja sa obradivih površina. Uzorkovanja su vršena mesečno tokom sezone 2011/2012 god. Jedinke klena sa Zlatarskog jezera, Uvac, su korišćene kao prirodna kontrolna populacija. Komet test je osetljiva i relativno jednostavna metoda primenljiva na velikom broju različitih organizama i tkiva. Za detekciju oštećenja DNK molekula u ovom radu korišćena su tri tkiva: krv, jetra i škrge

Kako poplave modifikuju genotoksični odgovor slatkovodnih riba?

U ovom radu ispitivan je potencijal dve vrste roda Abramis (Abramis bjoerkna i Abramis sapa) kao bioindikatora genotoksičnog potencijala vode reke Save primenom komet testa. Izabrani lokalitet pripada oblasti intezivne poljoprivredne aktivnosti, izložen je otpadnim vodama grada Obrenovca i nalazi se u blizini najveće termoelektrane u Srbiji, “Nikola Tesla”. Uzorkovanje je vršeno od januara do avgusta 2014. godine, obuhvatajući mesec maj kada je došlo do intezivnih poplava u slivu reke Save. Dobijeni rezultati ukazuju da se ispitivane vrste mogu koristiti za procenu genotoksičnog potencijala

Evolution and differential expression of a vertebrate vitellogenin gene cluster

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The multiplicity or loss of the vitellogenin (<it>vtg</it>) gene family in vertebrates has been argued to have broad implications for the mode of reproduction (placental or non-placental), cleavage pattern (meroblastic or holoblastic) and character of the egg (pelagic or benthic). Earlier proposals for the existence of three forms of vertebrate <it>vtgs </it>present conflicting models for their origin and subsequent duplication.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>By integrating phylogenetics of novel <it>vtg </it>transcripts from old and modern teleosts with syntenic analyses of all available genomic variants of non-metatherian vertebrates we identify the gene orthologies between the Sarcopterygii (tetrapod branch) and Actinopterygii (fish branch). We argue that the vertebrate <it>vtg </it>gene cluster originated in proto-chromosome m, but that <it>vtg </it>genes have subsequently duplicated and rearranged following whole genome duplications. Sequencing of a novel fourth <it>vtg </it>transcript in labrid species, and the presence of duplicated paralogs in certain model organisms supports the notion that lineage-specific gene duplications frequently occur in teleosts. The data show that the <it>vtg </it>gene cluster is more conserved between acanthomorph teleosts and tetrapods, than in ostariophysan teleosts such as the zebrafish. The differential expression of the labrid <it>vtg </it>genes are further consistent with the notion that neofunctionalized Aa-type <it>vtgs </it>are important determinants of the pelagic or benthic character of the eggs in acanthomorph teleosts.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The vertebrate <it>vtg </it>gene cluster existed prior to the separation of Sarcopterygii from Actinopterygii >450 million years ago, a period associated with the second round of whole genome duplication. The presence of higher copy numbers in a more highly expressed subcluster is particularly prevalent in teleosts. The differential expression and latent neofunctionalization of <it>vtg </it>genes in acanthomorph teleosts is an adaptive feature associated with oocyte hydration and spawning in the marine environment.</p

Effect of chemical composition on the microstructure, hardness and electrical conductivity profiles of the Bi-Ge-In alloys

In this study, the microstructure, hardness, and electrical properties of selected ternary Bi-Ge-In alloys were investigated. Isothermal sections of the Bi-Ge-In system at 25, 200, and 300 ° C were extrapolated using optimized thermodynamic parameters from the literature. The used experimental techniques include optical microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersion spectrometry (EDS), Brinell hardness, and electrical conductivity measurements. The results of EDS phase composition analysis were compared with the calculated isothermal sections and a good overall agreement was reached. The results of the XRD were also in line with the predicted phase balance. By using ANOVA analysis and experimental results of Brinell hardness and electrical conductivity, a mathematical model was suggested for the calculation of these properties along with all composition ranges. The appropriated mathematical model was subsequently used for the prediction of hardness and electrical conductivity throughout the whole composition range

Mechanical and electrical properties of the Bi-Ge-Sn alloys

Mechanical and electrical properties of the ternary Bi-Ge-Sn alloys were investigated in this study. Calculation of isothermal section at 200, 300, and 25 ºC was carried out by using optimized thermodynamic parameters for the constitutive binary systems. Microstructures of alloys were observed by using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Phases in microstructures have been detected by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and compositions of the phase by energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS). EDS results were compared with the predicted isothermal section at 200 and 300 ºC, and good agreement has been reached between them. The Brinell hardness and electrical conductivity of selected alloys were measured.&nbsp; Through ANOVA analysis and application of the obtained results, an appropriate mathematical model is proposed for every composition of alloys. By using the appropriated mathematical model for Brinell hardness and electrical conductivity, isolines for those properties were presented

Responsive envelope tessellation and stochastic rotation of 4-fold penttiles

This paper reports on the design and control of a responsive envelope based on the rotation of tessellated components. The study investigates responsive and dynamic approaches for building facades and envelopes to regulate solar shading, light control, views and thermal gain within the building. It is well known that near real-time visual output from computational simulation can significantly impact the prediction of dynamic building-environment interactions and lead to the development of smart, adaptable, net zero energy buildings. To address these motivations, this paper reports the development of an experimental simulation of a responsive envelope based on using a 4-fold penttile scheme. The simulation is developed using a novel pentagonal approach involving component (tile) design, tessellation and control methods. The paper further elaborates on the geometry and control aspects of the facade subdivision and presents the results of applying this tessellation geometry to a building envelope shading study based on facade components with rotation. Finally, it tests the “responsiveness” to multiple performance metrics by applying a non-deterministic exploration method for the stochastic rotation of individual panels. The sophisticated evaluation of alternative envelope configurations for a set of performance criteria require a tighter computational coupling between modelling and control of dynamic geometry

Analiza kvaliteta vode reke Jablanice na osnovu zajednice vodenih makroinvertebrata

Cilj rada je da se prikažu rezultati ocene kvaliteta vode reke Jablanice (sliv Kolubare) zasnovane na prisutnoj zajednici vodenih makroinvertebrata. Jablanica je relativno kratka (25 km) desna sastavnica, koja u blizini Valjeva sa Obnicom (leva sastavnica) formira Kolubaru. Kolubara, kao poslednja veća pritoka Save, protiče kroz područje sa izraženim i različitim antropogenim uticajima. Sama Jablanica nastaje spajanjem većeg broja potoka sa obronaka planina Jablanik i Medvednik. U skladu sa zahtevima EU prilikom ocene stanja rečnih sistema neophodno je utvrđivanje referentnih uslova. Da bi se utvrdilo recentno stanje, i usaglašenost sa zahtevima za dostizanje referentnog statusa, izvršeno je ispitivanje ove reke u aprilu 2013. godine na tri lokaliteta gornjeg toka. Kao parametri za ocenu kvaliteta vode, korišćeni su sledeći pokazatelji: ukupan broj taksona, saprobni indeks (SI; Zelinka & Marvan), BMWP i ASPT skorovi, broj taksona grupa Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (EPT) i indeks diverziteta (SWI; Shannon-Wiener’s indeks). Zabeležena su ukupno 72 taksona makroinvertebrata. Kao najraznovrsnije grupe izdvajaju se Trichoptera (16 taksona) i Ephemeroptera (15 taksona). U odnosu na saprobnu vrednost, utvrđeno je da je većina prisutnih taksona osetljiva na organsko zagađenje (ksenosaprobni i oligosaprobni organizmi). Dobijene vrednosti praktično svih korišćenih pokazatelja kvaliteta vode, upućuju na veoma dobar status (klasa I), čime su ispunjeni uslovi da se ispitivani deo toka Jablanice može smatrati referentnim stanjem, za potrebe istraživanja sliva Kolubare. Puštanje u rad akumulacije u Rovnima (srednji tok Jablanice) može izmeniti zatečeno stanje, zbog čega je neophodan redovni monitoring