Responsive Systems and Surfaces in Architecture - Design and Challenges

In the last two decades, the impact of digital technologies has dramatically changed the way of thinking in architecture. Following the overall development of digital media and computation, the process of generating forms has become more automated, with the use of algorithms and scripts. Moreover, computational design approach created new groundwork for the new, time-depended systems in architecture - responsive facades and structures. Responsive systems react to the surrounding by changing its surface in order to adapt the architectural form according to predefined influences. An example of such design approach are media facades, artistic based installations etc.Challenges are mainly oriented towards forming a user-architecture connection. Such bonds are formed between sensors and actuators, via programming board and language. Adaptive qualities of such systems are based on sustainability principles as well, utilizing alternative energy sources in situ. In this paper, design and challenges of responsive systems are analyzed, evaluated and applied on a case study in particular.Simultaneous use of above approaches is applied in the design of the structure that is located in Novi Sad's central core. The structure is optimized to use the maximum input of solar energy and adapt to it, while limiting the spatial openness of public squares and increasing human interaction. Resulting design is presented in this paper. Further exploration of responsive generative systems can contribute to financial benefit and better quality of given architectural solutions in the near future

Changing Geography, Retaining the Mentality: Social and Economic Integration of Post-Soviet Immigrants in Hungary and Austria

The article explores the relationship between social and economic aspects of the integration of Soviet immigrants in Hungary and Austria. Relying on the analysis of narratives collected through digital ethnography, the article describes paths of integration of former Soviet citizens in Hungary and Austria. The article reveals that Russian-speaking communities usually provide the first instance of social integration. They remain a major channel for economic integration via entrepreneurship for many immigrants. Along with these findings, the article develops a concept of a culture-based immigrant community – as opposed to an ethnic one – contributing in this way also to the literature on migrations

Imigrantsko poduzetništvo u postsocijalističkim zemljama Europske Unije: motivi i obrasci poduzetništva postsovjetskih imigranata u Mađarskoj

This paper explores the relationship between migration, entrepreneurship, and foreign direct investments by focusing on entrepreneurial activities of post-Soviet (im)migrants in Hungary in periods between 1991 and 2016. Post-Soviet migrants are in focus because between 1956 and 1989 the Soviet Union coercively kept Hungary in the Socialist bloc. Based on surveys and in-depth interviews, this paper reveals that there are considerable differences in patterns of entrepreneurship among post-Soviet immigrant entrepreneurs depending mostly on time of their arrival to Hungary. Similarly, motives for entrepreneurship among the first-wave migrants combine negative factors in the former Soviet Union with positive factors encountered in Hungary, while factors in Hungary recognized as positive by most post-Soviets prevail in motives for later waves of post-Soviet migration and entrepreneurship in Hungary. The paper also demonstrates that many relatively small investments have been conducted since 2000 by citizens of post-Soviet countries to Hungary. Some of them are transforming into an entrepreneurial activity, serving also as a basis for immigration to Hungary.U radu se istražuje odnos između migracija, poduzetništva i izravnih stranih ulaganja s fokusom na poduzetničke aktivnosti postsovjetskih (i)migranata u Mađarskoj između 1991. i 2016. Postsovjetski migranti nalaze se u fokusu jer je između 1956. i 1989. Sovjetski Savez prisiljavao Mađarsku na ostanak u Socijalističkom bloku. Temeljeći se na anketama i dubinskim intervjuima, u radu se prikazuju značajne razlike u obrascima poduzetništva postsovjetskih imigrantskih poduzetnika u Mađarskoj koje većinom ovise o vremenu njihova dolaska u Mađarsku. Isto tako, motivi za pokretanje poduzetništva među prvim valom imigranata spajaju negativne faktore u bivšemu Sovjetskom Savezu s pozitivnim faktorima s kojima su se imigranti susreli u Mađarskoj, dok faktori koje većina tih imigranata u Mađarskoj smatra pozitivnima dominiraju među motivima kasnijih valova postsovjetske migracije i poduzetništva u toj zemlji. Ovaj rad također pokazuje da su od 2000. državljani bivših sovjetskih republika ostvarili mnogo relativno malih ulaganja u Mađarskoj. Neka od njih preobrazila su se u poduzetničke aktivnosti koje istodobno služe kao temelj imigracije u Mađarsku

Credit Scorecard for Corporate Clients based on Industries

A mathematical model for an improved credit scorecard is developed. Ideally, this scorecard will not reject "good" clients nor will it approve a loan to "bad" clients

Endocannabinoid signaling in brain diseases: Emerging relevance of glial cells

The discovery of cannabinoid receptors as the primary molecular targets of psychotropic cannabinoid Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta(9)-THC) in late 1980s paved the way for investigations on the effects of cannabis-based therapeutics in brain pathology. Ever since, a wealth of results obtained from studies on human tissue samples and animal models have highlighted a promising therapeutic potential of cannabinoids and endocannabinoids in a variety of neurological disorders. However, clinical success has been limited and major questions concerning endocannabinoid signaling need to be satisfactorily addressed, particularly with regard to their role as modulators of glial cells in neurodegenerative diseases. Indeed, recent studies have brought into the limelight diverse, often unexpected functions of astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and microglia in brain injury and disease, thus providing scientific basis for targeting glial cells to treat brain disorders. This Review summarizes the current knowledge on the molecular and cellular hallmarks of endocannabinoid signaling in glial cells and its clinical relevance in neurodegenerative and chronic inflammatory disorders.CIBERNED, Grant/Award Number: CB06/05/0076; ARSEP Foundation; European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) and Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Grant/Award Number: PI18/00513; Basque Government, Grant/Award Numbers: PIBA19-0059, IT1203-19; Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, Grant/Award Number: SAF2016-75292-

Eating Habits and Body-weights of Students of the University of Belgrade, Serbia: A Cross-sectional Study

The purpose of this survey was to quantify the prevalence of overweight and obesity among a sample of students in Belgrade University, Serbia and to describe their main eating habits. A total of 1,624 questionnaire responses were analyzed (response rate 97.3%). The students were recruited during mandatory annual check-ups in April-June 2009. All subjects completed the questionnaire; height (in cm) and weight (in km) were measured by two physicians. Results were assessed statistically. Almost every fourth male student was overweight. Strikingly, 15% of female students were underweight. Highly-significant difference was found between average body mass index (BMI) of male and female students (F=317.8, p=0.001). Students\u2019 BMI did not correlate with average family income or with the frequency of taking breakfast (p=-0.064, p=0.152 for males and \u3c1=0.034, p=0.282 for females respectively). There is a growing demand for global health strategies which would encourage healthy body-image and figure; thus, these initiatives should mobilize the society on a national and international level