Engineering geological models: an introduction: IAEG commission 25

The generation and use of engineering geological models should be a fundamental activity for any geotechnical project. Such models are an essential tool for engineering quality control and provide a transparent way of identifying project-specific critical engineering geological issues and parameters. Models should also form the basis for designing the scope, the method and assessing the effectiveness of site investigations. However, whilst the idea of models in engineering geology has existed for several decades, there has been little published that systematically distinguishes the different model types and how and when they might be used. This paper presents the views of the International Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment Commission C25 on the ‘Use of Engineering Geological Models

Von der Transformation zur Europäischen Integration – 25 Jahre Wirtschaftsentwicklung in den Neuen Ländern – ein Tagungsbericht

Unter dem Titel „Von der Transformation zur Europäischen Integration – 25 Jahre Wirtschaftsentwicklung in den Neuen Ländern“ hat das Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung Halle (IWH) gemeinsam mit Partnern aus Universitäten in Mitteldeutschland am 18. Februar 2015 Forschungsergebnisse zu 25 Jahren Wirtschaftsentwicklung in den Neuen Ländern vorgestellt. Der Präsident des IWH, Prof. Reint E. Gropp, Ph.D., eröffnete die Tagung und ging auf einen Wandel im Verständnis von Transformation in der IWH-Forschung ein. Die institutionelle Transformation von der Zentralverwaltungs- in die Marktwirtschaft sei abgeschlossen. Angesichts des stagnierenden Aufholprozesses Ostdeutschlands müsse sich die IWH-Forschung nun um Transformation als Wachstumsprozess kümmern und untersuchen, wie Wachstum entsteht, was dabei fördernd oder hemmend wirkt und wie die Finanzmärkte zur effizienten Kapitalallokation beitragen

Hope Farm Windmill: Phytolith analysis of cereals in early colonial Australia

Phytolith assemblages of sediments from one of the first windmills built in Australia were analysed to determine if the mill operated as a flourmill. Reference material was obtained from several cereals and phytolith assemblages were examined for cereal presence. The analysis shows that the vegetation contributing to the phytolith assemblages mainly consisted of Panicoid and Eragrostoid (Chloridoid) grasses as well as some Festucoid grasses. The analysis of cereal assemblages is complicated by multiplicity and redundancy within the range of phytolith morphotypes, and it has proved difficult to identify types diagnostic of cereal grains. Festucoid cereal seeds (wheat, oats and barley) contained few phytoliths only and these had little diagnostic value. Although the Panicoid corn kernels (Zea mays) had a more diverse assemblage, likewise, the types were not specific to corn. Identification of cereal phytoliths therefore largely relies on contaminants from plant portions other than the grain, but where thorough processing operations have been practised contamination is less likely to occur and the resulting low levels of cereal contribution to the phytolith assemblages decreases the probability of detecting cereal presence. Some cereal-specific phytoliths, however, were identified from both assemblages and it is possible that the mill did operate for a short time. This outcome is also supported by historical records

Chemosensory processing in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Background: In attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) not only deficits in dopamine-related cognitive functioning have been found but also a lower dopamine-sensitive olfactory threshold. The aim of the present study was to proof that only olfactory but not trigeminal sensitivity is increased in ADHD. Structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to show increased olfactory bulb (OB) volume- a structure which is strongly shaped by olfactory performance through the mechanism of neuroplasticity (e.g. synaptogenesis). To elucidate whether cortical mechanisms are involved in altered olfaction in ADHD, functional MRI (fMRI) was introduced. Methods: A total of 18 boys with ADHD and 17 healthy controls (aged 7-12) were included in the study. Olfactory as well as trigeminal detection thresholds were examined. OB sizes were measured by means of structural MRI and an analysis of effective functional (fMRI) coupling of primary olfactory cortex was conducted. The frontal piriform cortex (fPIR) was chosen as seed region because of its importance in processing both trigeminal and olfactory stimuli as well as having profound influence on inner OB-signaling. Results: Increased olfactory sensitivity as well as an increase in OB volume was found in ADHD. There were no group differences in sensitivity towards a trigeminal stimulus. Compared to healthy controls, the fPIR in ADHD was more positively coupled with structures belonging to the salience network during olfactory and, to a lesser extent, during trigeminal stimulation. Conclusions: Olfactory functioning is superior in subjects with ADHD. The observed increase in OB volume may relate to higher olfactory sensitivity in terms of neuroplasticity. During the processing of chemosensory stimuli, the primary olfactory cortex in ADHD is differently coupled to higher cortical structures which might indicate an altered top-down influence on OB structure and function. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved