Functional Structure of Metapodial Bones of Cattle

The supporting part of the metapodium skeleton of the thoracic limb consists of os metacarpale III et IV, developing through the fusion of two initially independent bones (III and IV). In the pelvic limb it is os metatarsale III et IV, developing analogically. In macerated bones of recent cattle at the age of 1-8 years and those from archaeological excavations (medieval, 9th–15th centuries) the length asymmetry of the above bones was studied by means of osteometry and the data obtained were evaluated statistically. In the thoracic limb metapodium, being the major supporting element in unguligrade paraxonic cattle, three possible relations between the lengths of metacarpals III and IV were observed, viz., (1) III longer than IV, (2) IV longer than III, and (3) both bones of the same length. In the metatarsus, i.e. the part of the pelvic limb with a largely locomotive function, bone IV was the longer one in all cases. Osteometric and statistical methods were also applied to the material mentioned above in order to examine the correlation of the width of cavum medullare with the overall width of a bone. While the relative width of the medullar cavity of the metapodium bones was found to be correlated with age, this correlation was negative in both the metacarpus and metatarsus (r =-0.6778 and-0.6294, respectively). The relation between the resorptive and formative processes (R:F) in the bone of unguligrades tends to depend upon the requirements fo

Actual changes in system of urban planning in post-socialist city: the case of Prague

After the change of political system in Czechoslovakia (1989) came also a lot of social, economical and cultural changes. Today, all the Czech cities stay in front of the biggest change of city planning philosophy in last two decades. Prague, the capital city of Czech Republic, decided for a big institutional transition in 2012. The municipality, in cooperation with Faculty of Architecture CTU in Prague, is preparing completely pioneering methodology for quality commissioning of land use plans and, in cooperation with the new Institute of Planning and Development, is preparing innovative system of city planning. There are new ordinances, laws, regulations, tourist trade strategies and many other documents. Prague, as one of the strongest regions in East-Central Europe, can be seen like a laboratory of current development of post-socialist city. The new methodology of Metropolitan Plan could be a key to success