Digitaltools-based performance evaluation of the adaptive building envelop in the early phase of design

Amelioration of indoor comfort for the building occupants, reduction in energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions can be achieved with application an adaptive building envelope in new and old buildings. Nowadays, there is a lack of methods for predicting and evaluating the performance of the adaptive building envelop at component and whole building scale. Also there is a need for guidance on how to model the adaptive envelope system and how to simulate one in a suitable way. The aim of the paper is to review the existing literature and projects on methods, techniques and strategies for the adaptive envelope performance assessment in the early phase of the design (in scope Computer-Aided Architectural Design - CAAD). Authors are currently carrying out a classification, critical and comparative analysis of the existing simulation and modelling approaches for the adaptive façade with focus on the design of exterior shading systems. After the aforementioned analysis they have implemented workflow proposed on a case study. The case study is discussed to show how the method proposed and based on digital tools can be applied. Numerical simulation is conducted to predict and to evaluate performance and possible energy reduction application the adaptive exterior shading system. In this case geometry and material characteristics of shade systems are investigated in relation to daylight and light performance of indoor space

Notes for genera: basal clades of Fungi (including Aphelidiomycota, Basidiobolomycota, Blastocladiomycota, Calcarisporiellomycota, Caulochytriomycota, Chytridiomycota, Entomophthoromycota, Glomeromycota, Kickxellomycota, Monoblepharomycota, Mortierellomycota, Mucoromycota, Neocallimastigomycota, Olpidiomycota, Rozellomycota and Zoopagomycota)

Compared to the higher fungi (Dikarya), taxonomic and evolutionary studies on the basal clades of fungi are fewer in number. Thus, the generic boundaries and higher ranks in the basal clades of fungi are poorly known. Recent DNA based taxonomic studies have provided reliable and accurate information. It is therefore necessary to compile all available information since basal clades genera lack updated checklists or outlines. Recently, Tedersoo et al. (MycoKeys 13:1--20, 2016) accepted Aphelidiomycota and Rozellomycota in Fungal clade. Thus, we regard both these phyla as members in Kingdom Fungi. We accept 16 phyla in basal clades viz. Aphelidiomycota, Basidiobolomycota, Blastocladiomycota, Calcarisporiellomycota, Caulochytriomycota, Chytridiomycota, Entomophthoromycota, Glomeromycota, Kickxellomycota, Monoblepharomycota, Mortierellomycota, Mucoromycota, Neocallimastigomycota, Olpidiomycota, Rozellomycota and Zoopagomycota. Thus, 611 genera in 153 families, 43 orders and 18 classes are provided with details of classification, synonyms, life modes, distribution, recent literature and genomic data. Moreover, Catenariaceae Couch is proposed to be conserved, Cladochytriales Mozl.-Standr. is emended and the family Nephridiophagaceae is introduced

KONCEPTUALNI OKVIR U DOMENU ZDRAVIH GRADOVA: ZNAČENJE, SVRHE I FORMATIVNI ELEMENTI

Many recent researches and studies have pointed out the necessity of developing comprehensive conceptual frameworks for healthy cities. Accordingly, this study aims to explain the conceptual framework for healthy cities research, planning, and design by identifying its meaning, purpose and formative elements. The research was conducted through qualitative techniques, such as conceptual, thematic and content analysis of the relevant literature and case studies. Results show that the conceptual framework contains voluminous conceptual knowledge about healthy cities and suggest that conceptual framework on healthy cities can include elements such as: 1) a subject, problems, methods, research questions, 2) theories, models, empirical data and practice data, concepts and relations among these concepts, principles; 3) the visual presentation of its contents, and a manual for its usage and development; authors’ values, beliefs and thinking. A conceptual framework, based on the elements mentioned above, serves to systematically explain the healthy cities and to support the research, planning and design in the process of its developing. These findings can help to advance knowledge and scientific understanding of conceptual frameworks of contemporary cities in the domain of health, planning, designing and research. Also, the presented findings can serve as a basis for developing a comprehensive conceptual framework for healthy cities in the future. For example, existing conceptual frameworks could be analysed and new ones developed according to the proposed elements and purposes. In these cases, the proposed elements and purposes would be a unique criterion for the analysis and development of the conceptual frameworks.Mnoga nedavna istraživanja i studije su ukazivale na neophodnost razvoja sveobuhvatnih konceptualnih okvira za zdrave gradove. Shodno tome, ova studija teži da objasni konceptualni okvir za istraživanje, planiranje i projektovanje zdravih gradova određujući njegovo značnje, svrhu i formativne elemente. Istraživanje je sprovedeno kroz kvalitativne tehnike, kao što su konceptualna, tematska i analiza sadržaja relevantne literature i studija slučaja. Rezultati pokazuju da konceptualni okvir sadrži obimno konceptualno znanje o zdravim gradovim i sugerišu da konceptualni okvir o zdravim gradovima treba da sadrži elemente kao što su: 1) predmet, problemi, metode, istraživačka pitanja, 2) teorije, modeli, empirijski podaci i praktični podaci, pojmovi i odnosi između ovih pojmova, principa; 3) vizuelni prikaz njegovog sadržaja i priručnik za njegovu upotrebu i izradu; vrednosti, uverenja i razmišljanja autora. Konceptualni okvir zasnovan na prethodno navedenim elementima služi da podrži istraživanje, planiranje i projektovanje u procesu razvoja zdravih gradova. Ovi nalazi mogu pomoći da se unapredi znanje i naučno razumevanje konceptualnih okvira o savremenim zdravim gradovima u domenu zdravlja, planiranja, projektovanja i istraživanja. Takođe, prikazani nalazi mogu da posluže kao osnova za razvoj sveobuhvatnog konceptualnog okvira za zdrave gradove u budućnosti. Na primer, postojeći konceptualni okviri bi mogli da se analizirju kao i da se razviju novi prema predloženim elementima i svrsi. U navedenim slučajevima, predloženi elementi i svrhe bi bili jedinstveni kriterijum za analizu postojećih i razvoj novih konceptualnih okivira

The interactions of vanadate monomer with the mycelium of fungus Phycomyces blakesleeanus: reduction or uptake?

The possibility of reduction of vanadate monomer in the mycelium of fungus Phycomyces blakesleeanus was investigated in this study by means of polarography. Control experiments were performed with vanadyl [V(IV)] and vanadate [V(V)] in 10 mM Hepes, pH 7.2. Addition of P. blakesleeanus mycelium resulted in disappearance of all V(IV) polarographic waves recorded in the control. This points to the uptake of all available V(IV) by the mycelium, up to 185 A mu mol/g(FW), and suggests P. blakesleeanus as a potential agent in V(IV) bioremediation. Polarographic measurements of mycelium with low concentrations (0.1-1 mM) of V(V), that only allows the presence of monomer, showed that fungal mycelia removes around 27% of V(V) from the extracellular solution. Uptake was saturated at 104 +/- 2 A mu mol/g(FW) which indicates excellent bioaccumulation capability of P. blakesleeanus. EPR, V-51 NMR and polarographic experiments showed no indications of any measurable extracellular complexation of V(V) monomer with fungal exudates, reduction by the mycelium or adsorption to the cell wall. Therefore, in contrast to vanadium oligomers, vanadate monomer interactions with the mycelium are restricted to its transport into the fungal cell, probably by a phosphate transporter

Teucrium plant species as natural sources of novel anticancer compounds: Antiproliferative, proapoptotic and antioxidant properties

This study deals with total phenolic content, antiproliferative and proapoptotic activity of methanolic extracts from different Teucrium species and the effect on the prooxidant/antioxidant status in HCT-116 cells. The total phenolic content of the extracts was measured spectrophotometricaly and the obtained results ranged from 56.62 mg/g to 172.50 mg GA/g. The antiproliferative activity of methanolic extracts from different Teucrium species was determined using MTT cell viability assay, where IC 50 value was used as a parameter for cytotoxicity. The type of cell death was explored by fluorescence microscopy using the acridin orange/ethidium bromide method. MTT assay showed that all extracts significantly reduced cell viability in a dose-dependent manner, with very low IC 50 values. The highest content of phenolic compounds and the best cytotoxic activity on HCT-116 cells after 24 h of exposure was in T. chamaedrys extract, with IC 50 values of 5.48 × 10 -9 μg/mL. After 72 h, methanolic extract of T. arduini appeared to have the best cytotoxic activity on HCT-116, with IC 50 values of 0.37 μg/mL. Treatments caused typical apoptotic morphological changes in HCT-116 cells and showed a high percentage of apoptotic cells. The results of the presented research indicate that some Teucrium extracts are a very rich source of phenols, which may directly contribute to high antiproliferative and proapoptotic activity. © 2011 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Chemical composition, cytotoxic and antioxidative activities of ethanolic extracts of propolis on HCT-116 cell line

BACKGROUND: Propolis is a complex resinous sticky substance that honeybees collect from buds and exudates of various plants. Owing to its versatile biological and pharmacological activities, propolis is widely used in medicines, cosmetics and foods. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxic and antioxidative effects of various ethanolic extracts of propolis (EEPs) on human colon cancer cell line HCT-116 and compare them with their composition determined by HPLC-DAD. RESULTS: The most abundant flavonoids in all samples were chrysin, pinocembrin and galangin (12.697-40.811μgmg-1), while the main phenolic acids were caffeic acid, ferulic acid and isoferulic acid. Dose- and time-dependent inhibition of growth of HCT-116 cells was observed for all propolis samples, with IC50 values ranging from 26.33 to 143.09μgmL-1. Differences in cytotoxic activity of propolis samples were associated with differences in their composition. All EEP samples reduced both superoxide anion radical and nitrite levels and also had strong DPPH-scavenging activity. CONCLUSION: All tested propolis samples had pronounced cytotoxic and antioxidative activities. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry

Energy production and redox status of rat red blood cells after reticulocytosis induced by various treatments

Stimulated erythropoiesis and reticulocytosis can be induced by daily bleeding, or by phenylhydrazine (PHZ) treatment. We compared the in vivo effects of PHZ and bleeding treatment on haematological, energy and redox status parameters in red blood cells (RBC) of rats. The results showed that all followed haematological parameters were significantly lower in bleeding, compared to PHZ-treated rats. PHZ induced even 2.58-fold higher reticulocytosis as compared to bleeding treatment. Although PHZ induced higher reticulocytosis, respiration intensity and energy production was lower than in bleeding-induced reticulocytes. These alterations were the consequence of increased superoxide anion and peroxynitrite concentrations in PHZ-treated rats. Bleeding treatment resulted in increased activity of an antioxidative enzyme, superoxide dismutase. In conclusion, differences in these two experimental models for reticulocytosis may be used as tools for appropriate pharmacological testing of redox-active substances considering energy and redox processes, as well as apoptosis pathways