Damages to a Five-Storied Building Founded Over Peat Layer

In the paper is presented a history of the long-term process of deformations and damages to a five-storied apartment building in Gliwice, one located over a thick lens of a young, very weak peat deposit. The evolution of deformations is defined by changes in time of representative foundation movement components (the angular distortion, deflection ratio, etc.). Relationships given and analysed in the paper are based on the results of settlement monitoring preformed since 1970, and failure escalation descriptions make use of crack documentations included in the expert opinions. The case history also comprises not quite efficient attempts of object protection. The description is completed by data concerning the building structure and soil conditions. In conclusion an idea for ground stabilization is recommended by the authors

Ferutinin Induces Membrane Depolarization, Permeability Transition Pore Formation, and Respiration Uncoupling in Isolated Rat Liver Mitochondria by Stimulation of Ca 2+ -Permeability

It is well known that the terpenoid ferutinin (4-oxy-6-(4-oxybenzoyloxy) dauc-8,9-en), isolated from the plant Ferula tenuisecta, considerably increases the permeability of artificial and cellular membranes to Ca2+-ions and produces apoptotic cell death in different cell lines in a mitochondria-dependent manner. The present study was designed for further evaluation of the mechanism(s) of mitochondrial effects of ferutinin using isolated rat liver mitochondria. Our findings provide evidence for ferutinin at concentrations of 5–27 µM to decrease state 3 respiration and the acceptor control ratio in the case of glutamate/malate as substrates. Ferutinin alone (10–60 µM) also dose-dependently dissipated membrane potential. In the presence of Ca2+-ions, ferutinin (10–60 µM) induced considerable depolarization of the inner mitochondrial membrane, which was partially inhibited by EGTA, and permeability transition pore formation, which was diminished partly by cyclosporin A, and did not influence markedly the effect of Ca2+ on mitochondrial respiration. Ruthenium Red, a specific inhibitor of mitochondrial calcium uniporter, completely inhibited Ca2+ -induced mitochondria swelling and membrane depolarization, but did not affect markedly the stimulation of these Ca2+-dependent processes by ferutinin. We concluded that the mitochondrial effects of ferutinin might be primarily induced by stimulation of mitochondrial membrane Ca2+-permeability, but other mechanisms, such as driving of univalent cations, might be involved

From DPSIR the DAPSI(W)R(M) Emerges… a Butterfly – ‘protecting the natural stuff and delivering the human stuff’

The complexity of interactions and feedbacks between human activities and ecosystems can make the analysis of such social-ecological systems intractable. In order to provide a common means to understand and analyse the links between social and ecological process within these systems, a range of analytical frameworks have been developed and adopted. Following decades of practical experience in implementation, the Driver Pressure State Impact Response (DPSIR) conceptual framework has been adapted and re-developed to become the D(A)PSI(W)R(M). This paper describes in detail the D(A)PSI(W)R(M) and its development from the original DPSIR conceptual frame. Despite its diverse application and demonstrated utility, a number of inherent shortcomings are identified. In particular the DPSIR model family tend to be best suited to individual environmental pressures and human activities and their resulting environmental problems, having a limited focus on the supply and demand of benefits from nature. We present a derived framework, the “Butterfly”, a more holistic approach designed to expand the concept. The “Butterfly” model, moves away from the centralised accounting framework approach while more-fully incorporating the complexity of social and ecological systems, and the supply and demand of ecosystem services, which are central to human-environment interactions

Personality profiles of cultures: aggregate personality traits

Personality profiles of cultures can be operationalized as the mean trait levels of culture members. College students from 51 cultures rated an individual from their country whom they knew well (N = 12, 156). Aggregate scores on Revised NEO Personality Inventory scales generalized across age and gender groups, approximated the individual-level Five-Factor Model, and correlated with aggregate self-report personality scores and other culture-level variables. Results were not attributable to national differences in economic development or to acquiescence. Geographical differences in scale variances and mean levels were replicated, with Europeans and Americans generally scoring higher in Extraversion than Asians and Africans. Findings support the rough scalar equivalence of NEO-PI-R factors and facets across cultures, and suggest that aggregate personality profiles provide insight into cultural differences

2D Angular distributions of ion sputtered germanium atoms under grazing incidence

Ion sputtering of germanium was studied within this work. Argon and nitrogen ions with energies of 20 key were used for the sputtering experiments. Grazing ion incidence angles in the range of 60-85 degrees were examined experimentally and by Monte-Carlo simulations. The range of ion incidence angles was chosen in order to observe a contribution of primary knock-on atoms to the total angular distribution. Experiments were performed using the collector technique. The collectors, 300 mm silicon wafers, were covered with a sub-monolayer concentration of germanium and were examined afterwards with spatial resolution using total X-ray reflection fluorescence (TXRF). Initially, simulation results significantly deviated from experiments. Therefore, the model of ion penetration into a target was modified, resulting in a better agreement between simulation and measurement

Effect of laser and clock stability and meteorological conditions on gravity surveyed with the A10 free-fall gravimeter - first results

The Institute of Geodesy and Cartography in Warsaw, Poland, operates the A10-020 free-fall portable gravimeter since November 2008. Numerous gravity measurements with the A10-020 gravimeter, conducted under both laboratory and field conditions, provide a unique material for the estimation of accuracy as well as reliability of the determined gravity. Time series of regular, monthly measurements conducted with the A10-020 at the Borowa Gora Geodetic-Geophysical Observatory for over two years at two laboratory test sites and one field station has been analysed in terms of their internal consistency and compliance with the previous measurements performed with a few other absolute gravimeters (mainly FG5). The results of a number of calibrations of both, the rubidium oscillator and the polarization-stabilized laser interferometer of the A10-020 were considered in the analysis. The effect of applying the frequency standard as well as laser interferometer calibration data on the quality of gravity determined was investigated. In addition, the impact of weather conditions as well as variability of metrological parameters on surveyed gravity was taken into consideration when evaluating accuracy and reliability of gravity survey with the A10 gravimeter. Also the possibility of the occurrence of gross errors in gravity determination with the A10 gravimeter was discussed