The Influence of Mediterranean Modernist Movement of Architecture in Lefkoşa: the First and Early Second Half of 20th Century

The twentieth century modern architectures in Lefkosia in North Cyprus are changing especially in residential building. This change is occurs based on the client\u27s orders or because of the dilapidated condition of the buildings. Identify the characteristics of modernist architectural movement will help in identifying these buildings and recognize the changes applied on them. The paper aims to reach the rationale understanding about the norms of modern architecture in Lefkoşa in the twentieth century. The methodology is based on analyzing the residential buildings designed by local architects and “Ahmet Vural Bahaeddin” selected as one of the famous modernist architect in the twentieth century in North Cyprus. Residential buildings from Milan and Rome in Italy, as well as Baecelina in Spain selected for analysis. The paper tries to demonstrate the presence of vernacular elements in modern architecture in Lefkoşa. Two vernacular elements were studied, i) the patio (outside and inside interrelation), and ii) the façade materials (exposed stone) as vernacular elements in “Mediterranean modernist architecture”. The paper delineated the influence of the “Mediterranean modernist movement” on modern architecture in Lefkoşa in the 20th century. The findings show that there is influence by Modernist movement of architecture in other Mediterranean cities in Italy and Espain on the modern architecture in Lefkoşa. The results contribute evidence to promote our understanding regarding the modernist architecture in Lefkoşa

Opportunities for Practicing Sustainable Building Construction in Kurdistan Region, Iraq

Construction sector of Kurdistan region of Republic of Iraq has witnessed a huge development in construction sector last ten years. However, there are lack of awareness and legislation regarding the sustainable construction in buildings sector. The aim of the paper is to find the required mechanism to introduce sustainable practice and implement sustainable construction in the buildings construction sector at Northern Iraq. The main objectives in this study are identifying the barriers in sustainable construction at Northern Iraq and investigate the law and regulations in dealing with these barriers

Triplex real-time PCR assay for sensitive and simultaneous detection of grapevine phytoplasmas of the 16SrV and 16SrXII-A groups with an endogenous analytical control

Flavescence dorée (FD) and Bois noir (BN) are the two main yellows of grapevine in Europe and are caused by phytoplasmas of the 16SrV and 16SrXII-A groups respectively. A new triplex real-time PCR assay was developed in order to detect simultaneously the FD and BN phytoplasmas as well as grapevine chloroplastic DNA with TaqMan minor groove binder probes. Each set of designed primers and probes specifically detected the map gene of the FD and BN phytoplasmas, respectively and did not detect phytoplasmas from other phylogenetic groups. PCR efficiencies varied from 90 to 110 %. The PCR assay showed good intra-test and inter-test reproducibility. Triplex real-time PCR was compared to the conventional biplex nested-PCR method. The sensitivity of the real-time PCR, tested on several infected periwinkle and grapevine samples, was up to 5 and 100 times higher for the BN-P and the FD-P targets, respectively. Out of 109 grapevine samples analysed 10, which were negative with the nested PCR, turned to be FD-P positive with the real-time PCR. A decision scheme was set up according to the Ct values of the FD-P, BN-P and grapevine targets in order to assess the routine detection results

Conductivity of the PGT Synthesized by the High Energy Ball Milling (HEBM)

Nanocrystalline Pb1−3x/2GdxTiO3 (where x=0.01) abbreviated as PGT has been synthesised by high energy ball milling at room temperature. Milling was continuous and X-ray analysis shows that single phase tetragonal structure of nanocrystalline PGT was formed after 15 h milling. The average crystallite size was found to be 17 nm. The frequency dependent ac conductivity of the PGT ceramic was studied in the range 100–525°C. Complex impedance analysis suggested the dielectric relaxation to be of non-Debye type. The activation energy was found to be 1.04 ev. The mechanism of charge transport in nanocrystalline PGT was successfully explained by correlated hopping model

Determination of Plasma Parameters as well as Electrons Distribution Function

Abstract In this research we determined the biasing effects on the plas ma electrons distribution function and plas ma displacement in a low beta, large aspect ratio and circular cross section tokamak. Fo r this purpose, a movable biasing system was designed, constructed, and installed, and then the positive voltage applied to an electrode inserted inside the tokamak limiter and the plasma current, part icle distribution function and also the plasma horizontal displacement in the absence and presence of the biasing based on the mult ipole mo ments technique were measured. Measurements result has shown a modification of plas ma confinement by decreasing the plasma displacement

Control of the edge plasma modes by hot limiter biasing in the IR-T1 tokamak

Tokamak plasma modes were analyzed using the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) in presence of hot limiter biasing system in the IR-T1 Tokamak. Fourier analysis is reliable technique for mode detection in tokamaks. For this purpose we used a poloidal array of Mirnov coils and hot limiter biasing system. After Fourier analysis of Mirnov coils data in presence of hot biased limiter, Power Spectral Density (PSD) diagram was plotted. PSD describes how the power of a signal is distributed with frequency. In this contribution we also determined edge safety factor and safety factor from Fourier based derived mode numbers q = m/n. We obtained the maximum MHD activity using power spectrum at the frequency 33 kHz. Also the edge safety factor was determined less than 3, and the values of obtained safety factor from the mode numbers are between 2 ≤ q ≤ 5. Results show that hot limiter biasing can be used for increasing the plasma safety factor.Моды плазмы токамака анализировались с использованием быстрого преобразования Фурье (БПФ) при наличии системы подачи напряжения на горячий лимитер в токамаке IR-T1. Использовалась полоидальная схема расположения катушек Мирнова. С помощью Фурье-анализа данных катушек Мирнова была построена диаграмма спектральной плотности мощности (СПМ), описывающая распределение мощности сигнала с частотой. Были определены величины q на краю плазмы и по данным Фурье-анализа (как отношение мод: q=m/n). Максимум активности МГД оказался на частоте 33 кГц; на краю величина q≤ 3, а найденная из номеров гармоник − 2 ≤ q ≤ 5. Результаты показали, что подача напряжения на лимитер может использоваться для увеличения плазменного коэффициента надежности.Моди плазми токамака аналізувалися з використанням швидкого перетворення Фур'є (ШПФ) за наявності системи подачі напруги на гарячий лімітер у токамаці IR-T1. Використовувалась полоїдальна схема розміщення котушок Мірнова. За допомогою Фур'є-аналізу даних з котушок Мірнова була побудована діаграма спектральної щільності потужності (СЩП), яка описує розподіл потужності сигналу з частотою. Були визначені величини q на краю плазми і по даним Фур'є-аналізу (як відношення мод: q = m/n). Максимум активності МГД виявився на частоті 33 кГц; на краю величина q ≤ 3, а знайдена з номерів гармонік – 2 ≤ q ≤ 5. Результати показали, що подача напруги на лімітер може використовуватися для збільшення плазмового коефіцієнта надійності

Effects of a Lifestyle Program on Vascular Reactivity in Macro- and Microcirculation in Severely Obese Adolescents

Context and Objective: This study aimed to comprehensively assess the macro- and microcirculation of severely obese adolescents (SOA) and normal-weight counterparts and to determine the longitudinal effects of weight loss on vascular function in SOA. Design, Setting, Participants, and Outcome Measures: Seventeen SOA (body mass index z-score = 4.22 ± 0.73) and 19 puberty-matched normal-weight counterparts (body mass index z-score = −0.02 ± 1.04) were included. The SOA participated in a 4 month weight loss program. Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation and response to sublingual nitrate (nitrate-mediated dilation [NMD]) were assessed by high-resolution ultrasound. Microvascular reactivity was evaluated by laser Doppler flowmetry in response to NMD, iontophoresis of acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside, and local hyperthermia. Plasma insulin, leptin, resistin, C-reactive protein, myeloperoxidase, and tissue plasminogen activator were measured. Results: At baseline, SOA had similar flow-mediated dilation and impaired NMD in the brachial artery compared to normal-weight adolescents. Similarly, peak responses to acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside iontophoresis and to local hyperthermia were unaltered, whereas cutaneous blood flow after NMD was lower in the forearm microcirculation of SOA. All plasma measurements were significantly higher in SOA. After the 4-month program, SOA presented a weight reduction of 7.4 ± 3.1%, but neither brachial artery nor microvascular reactivity variables were improved. Significant decreases were detected in plasma leptin, myeloperoxidase, and tissue plasminogen activator. Conclusions: Macro- and microvascular endothelial function are preserved in adolescents with severe obesity. Conversely, weight loss does not improve their impaired smooth muscle response to exogenous organic nitrate in both vascular beds, despite reducing plasma markers adversely related to vascular homeostasis.This study was supported by grants from the French Society of Vascular Medicine 2010-2012 (to A.V. and A.P.M), and the Spanish Ministry of Health (CIBERobn CB12/03/30038) (to E.R.

Thin and transient meltwater layers and false bottoms in the Arctic sea ice pack—Recent insights on these historically overlooked features

The rapid melt of snow and sea ice during the Arctic summer provides a significant source of low-salinity meltwater to the surface ocean on the local scale. The accumulation of this meltwater on, under, and around sea ice floes can result in relatively thin meltwater layers in the upper ocean. Due to the small-scale nature of these upper-ocean features, typically on the order of 1 m thick or less, they are rarely detected by standard methods, but are nevertheless pervasive and critically important in Arctic summer. Observations during the Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate (MOSAiC) expedition in summer 2020 focused on the evolution of such layers and made significant advancements in understanding their role in the coupled Arctic system. Here we provide a review of thin meltwater layers in the Arctic, with emphasis on the new findings from MOSAiC. Both prior and recent observational datasets indicate an intermittent yet long-lasting (weeks to months) meltwater layer in the upper ocean on the order of 0.1 m to 1.0 m in thickness, with a large spatial range. The presence of meltwater layers impacts the physical system by reducing bottom ice melt and allowing new ice formation via false bottom growth. Collectively, the meltwater layer and false bottoms reduce atmosphere-ocean exchanges of momentum, energy, and material. The impacts on the coupled Arctic system are far-reaching, including acting as a barrier for nutrient and gas exchange and impacting ecosystem diversity and productivity

Embedding expert opinion in a Bayesian network model to predict wheat yield from spring-summer weather

Wheat yield is highly dependent on weather, Therefore, predicting its effect can improve crop management decisions. Various modelling approaches have been used to predict wheat yield including process-based modelling, statistical models, and machine learning. However, these models typically require a large data set for training or fitting. They often also have a limited ability in capturing the effects of small-scale variability, time, and duration of extreme weather events. Here, we develop a Bayesian Network (BN) model by interviewing experts including farmers, embedding their knowledge from years of experience within a quantitative model. These experts identified the period from the beginning of anthesis to the end of grain filling stage as a critical period and maximum temperature, mean temperature and precipitation as key weather variables for inclusion in the BN. To keep the time input from experts manageable, the conditional probability table for the BN was constructed based on their anticipated impact on the mean yield of different weather conditions. The model predicted the yield in the same or neighbouring class (very low, low, medium, high and very high) as the reported yield with low error rate ranging from 9.1 to 15.2% and, when used to estimate the median predicted yield, R2 ranging from 41 to 52%. Interestingly, model successfully predicted the yield in years 1998, 2007, 2012 and 2020 which had the most extreme weather events. Additionally, the more recent data, from 2012 to 2022 was predicted more accurately, especially 2022 season which was not sown yet when eliciting information and recently added to the testing data. Little difference was observed between the predictions made using model parameters based only the opinion of the farm manager from which the test data originated, and the predictions made using the average opinion of a group of 9 experts. The inclusion of causal variables in the model also provided insight into the experts’ rationale, allowing unexpected results to be explored. This methodology provides a means to rapidly develop a successful predictive model of wheat yield with limited (or no) data using expert understanding. This model could be tuned and updated with data as it becomes available