Parametric Analysis of Horizontal Static and Dynamic Behavior in Different Types of Masonry Structures

This article introduces the "Pre-seismic Survey Form for Masonry" (PRISM), a simplified tool for evaluating masonry structures. It aims to be user-friendly for both experienced surveyors and beginners. The primary objective is to develop PRISM as an efficient means of gathering relevant data that influences the diverse behaviors exhibited by masonry structures, covering both structural and non-structural aspects. PRISM's development involves a parametric method for identifying critical parameters by analyzing drift results from the response spectrum and horizontal static analyses. These analyses are performed on common masonry structures in European Mediterranean nations. The study investigates various factors, including facade openings, materials around openings, wall thickness, ground type, ground acceleration (g), and principal structural material. By examining 300 2D models created in SAP2000, correlations in structural responses are established. The findings of the parametric analysis significantly enrich the qualitative and quantitative comprehension of structural responses. This advancement contributes to the contemporary knowledge of prevalent masonry structures within European Mediterranean regions. The PRISM survey form employs a numeric rating scale format. Notably, PRISM enables surveyors to access field results, minimizing reliance on computers quickly. The form's design also ensures accessibility and data reliability, making it universally applicable while maintaining simplicity. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2023-09-10-015 Full Text: PD

Assessment of How Natural Stand Structure for Narrow Endemic Cedrus brevifolia Henry Supports Silvicultural Treatments for Its Sustainable Management

Cedrus brevifolia Henry is a narrow endemic tree species of Cyprus flora. The objectives of this study are to develop silvicultural treatments for the conservation of the species formations based on the stand structure analysis of C. brevifolia natural forest and to present the characteristics of the first application of the treatments through silvicultural interventions. Six structural types were distinguished in C. brevifolia formations in the study area located in the state forest of Paphos. For each structural type, six circular plots of approximately 500 m2 were established. In each plot, various measurements and estimations were recorded. Then, silvicultural interventions were applied in the plots of the mixed C. brevifolia formations. In the formations of C. brevifolia a great number of trees grow in the understory. In the very productive and in the poorly productive sites C. brevifolia occurs only in pure formations. The basal area of C. brevifolia in pure formations ranges from 19.04 m2·ha-1 in poorly productive sites to 38.49 m2·ha-1 in fairly productive sites. Cedrus brevifolia is the most competitive species of the study area as a result of both shade tolerance and the wide range of its site sensitivity behavior. The climax of the study area are the pure stands of C. brevifolia having an understory of Quercus alnifolia Poech and a sparse occurrence of Pinus brutia Ten., mainly in moderately productive sites. Forest practice has to, as much as possible, unite species formations in order to create extensive areas of C. brevifolia formations

LCA for emerging waste treatment technologies: theoretical approach and practical application

Our work is focusing on the assessment of the life cycle environmental performance of emerging technologies on waste treatment, by applying the LCA principles and tools (EASETECH, SimaPro). These technologies aim at the valorisation of waste for the production of bio-based products, the recovery of materials from waste and the optimization of established waste treatment technologies. A summarizing scheme including the feedstock types and the main processes used as well as the resulting products is illustrated in Figure 1. The technology readiness level (TRL) of the examined treatment schemes ranges between 3-6, while this diversification is also obvious within the treatment schemes themselves. The main aim for conducting LCA in all of the aforementioned emerging technologies is to timely inform the design and development process in order to support decision making for future investments. Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract. Please click Download on the upper right corner to see the presentation

Rapid and Sensitive Assessment of Globin Chains for Gene and Cell Therapy of Hemoglobinopathies

The β-hemoglobinopathies sickle cell anemia and β-thalassemia are the focus of many gene-therapy studies. A key disease parameter is the abundance of globin chains because it indicates the level of anemia, likely toxicity of excess or aberrant globins, and therapeutic potential of induced or exogenous β-like globins. Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) allows versatile and inexpensive globin quantification, but commonly applied protocols suffer from long run times, high sample requirements, or inability to separate murine from human β-globin chains. The latter point is problematic for in vivo studies with gene-addition vectors in murine disease models and mouse/human chimeras. This study demonstrates HPLC-based measurements of globin expression (1) after differentiation of the commonly applied human umbilical cord blood-derived erythroid progenitor-2 cell line, (2) in erythroid progeny of CD34+ cells for the analysis of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/Cas9-mediated disruption of the globin regulator BCL11A, and (3) of transgenic mice holding the human β-globin locus. At run times of 8 min for separation of murine and human β-globin chains as well as of human γ-globin chains, and with routine measurement of globin-chain ratios for 12 nL of blood (tested for down to 0.75 nL) or of 300,000 in vitro differentiated cells, the methods presented here and any variant-specific adaptations thereof will greatly facilitate evaluation of novel therapy applications for β-hemoglobinopathies

The South of Rotterdam: The Inclusive City: The public space of the public

The inclusive city is explained through Henri Lefebvre's theories of the social space in "The production of space" and "The right to the city". Through his theories, it is thoroughly explained that the people are the essential component of the space and that they are the ones that create the space. This Master thesis, aims to look at the public space in a challenged social context in the deprived area of Carnisse in the South of Rotterdam, and examined how some of the problems faced by the people can be addressed through creating inclusive, public spaces.The South of RotterdamThe Inclusive CityThe public space of the publicArchitecture, Urbanism and Building Science

Tracing the Historical Development of Architecture in Cyprus and its Resilience to Seismic Hazards

Cyprus is an island nation in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, with a rich and varied history of architecture. Located within a seismically active zone, Cyprus has experienced a number of earthquakes over the centuries, with some of them being particularly destructive. This initiative examines the evolution of architecture in Cyprus from 1489 to present, and how this evolution is related to seismic risk. Specifically, the work will register structural elements by time period, and analyze how these elements contribute to seismic response. Further it will explore the development of architecture in Cyprus, from the Venetians to the Ottoman Empire to the British Colonial period, the Greek-Cypriot period, and the modern era, and the structural elements of each time period. The paper describes how the structural elements of each time period affect seismic risk, and what modifications may be necessary in order to improve seismic risk in Cyprus. This paper will provide useful insight into the evolution of architecture in Cyprus and its effects on seismic risk

Development of uhpfrcc with the use of materials a vailable in Cyprus

The aim of the specific study is to present the results of an extended work on the development of an UHPFRCC with the use of materials available in Cyprus. The fundamental idea for the development of this high performance material is the enhancement of the microstructure of the final product. Moreover, the inclusion of small steel fibres in the mix improves substantially the tensile strength of the produced cementitious composite. The study will present results on mechanical properties and durability indicators of the produced material