ANN Model for Prediction of Rockfill Dam Slope Stability

Dam safety and potential failure is one of the issues with the highest risk in water resources management. The dam slope stability is adversely influenced by the natural seepage process in the dam. Thus, monitoring of the pore and total pressures in the dam core is essential in the seepage process analysis. It is possible during the dam operation period to have one or more cells malfunctioning, after years of operation. Sometimes it is technically not possible to replace the cell or the costs of the replacement are too high and not economically justified. At the Pridvorica Dam, several instruments - cells for pore and total pressure monitoring malfunctioned. The objective of this study is to develop a neural network model for the prediction of the pore and total pressure on the malfunctioning cells and to demonstrate its quick and effective practical application for identifying complex non-linear relationship between the input and output variables. The proposed approach can be a very helpful tool for modeling of the stochastic behavior of the dam in order to give adequate warning of soil pressures to prevent failures

High Embankment Dam Stability Analysis Using Artificial Neural Networks

Regular surveillance, data acquisition, and visual observation of high embankment dams are extremely important for the stability analysis of these structures. The stability issues that could occur during a dam\u27s lifetime are mainly related to slope instability and internal erosion. The aim of continuous dam security monitoring and field measurement is to identify priority flow paths in the dam body, i.e. cracks and the erosion process. A key parameter for embankment dam stability assessment is the pore water pressure (PWP) response in the clay core. Increasing pore water pressure results in shear strength reduction and can cause dam instability. In this paper, four different models based on artificial neural networks will be developed for pore water pressure prediction in an embankment dam clay core, based on meteorological, hydrological, and geotechnical data. These models will be compared and the model that gives the smallest prediction error will be presented. In the light of climate change, the main objective of this paper is to find the model that can be used for embankment dam stability prediction in extreme weather events

EPS-SJ exopolisaccharide produced by the strain Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei BGSJ2-8 is involved in adhesion to epithelial intestinal cells and decrease on E. coli association to Caco-2 cells

The aim of this study was to determine the role of an exopolysaccharide produced by natural dairy isolate Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei BGSJ2-8, in the adhesion to intestinal epithelial cells and a decrease in Escherichia coli's association with Caco-2 cells. Annotation of the BGSJ2-8 genome showed the presence of a gene cluster, epsSJ, which encodes the biosynthesis of the strain-specific exopolysaccharide EPS-SJ, detected as two fractions (P1 and P2) by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) coupled with multi-angle laser light scattering (MALLS) detection. SEC-MALLS analysis revealed that an EPS-SJ- mutant (EPS7, obtained by insertion mutagenesis of the glps_2198 gene encoding primary glycosyltransferase) does not produce the P2 fraction of EPS-SJ. Transmission electron microscopy showed that EPS7 mutant has a thinner cell wall compared to the EPS-SJ strain BGSJ2-83 (a plasmid free-derivative of BGSJ2-8). Interestingly, strain BGSJ2-83 showed higher adhesion to Caco-2 epithelial intestinal cell line than the EPS7 mutant. Accordingly, BGSJ2-83 effectively reduced E. coli ATCC25922's association with Caco-2 cells, while EPS7 did not show statistically significant differences. In addition, the effect of EPS-SJ on the proliferation of lymphocytes in gastrointestinal associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) was tested and the results showed that the reduction of GALT lymphocyte proliferation was higher by BGSJ2-83 than by the mutant. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report indicating that the presence of EPS (EPS-SJ) on the surface of lactobacilli can improve communication between bacteria and intestinal epithelium*Implying its possible role in gut colonization.Peer Reviewe

Capability of exopolysaccharide-producing Lactobacillus paraplantarum BGCG11 and its non-producing isogenic strain NB1, to counteract the effect of enteropathogens upon the epithelial cell line HT29-MTX

The putative protective role of the exopolysaccharide (EPS)-producing Lactobacillus paraplantarum BGCG11, and its non-EPS-producing isogenic strain NB1, was tested upon HT29-MTX monolayers challenged with seven opportunistic pathogens. The probiotic strain Lactobacillus rhamnosus LMG18243 (GG) was used as a reference bacterium. Tested lactobacilli were able to efficiently reduce the attachment to HT29-MTX of most pathogens. Lb. paraplantarum NB1 and Lb. rhamnosus GG were more efficient reducing the adhesion of Clostridium difficile or Yersinia enterocolitica than Lb. paraplantarum BGCG11, while strain BGCG11 reduced, to a greater extent, the adhesion of Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes. The detachment and cell lysis of HT29-MTX monolayers in the presence of pathogens alone and co-incubated with lactobacilli or purified EPS was followed. L. monocytogenes induced the strongest cell detachment among the seven tested pathogens and this effect was prevented by addition of purified EPS-CG11. The results suggest that this EPS could be an effective macromolecule in protection of HT29-MTX cells from the pathogen-induced lysis. Regarding innate intestinal barrier, the presence of C. difficile induced the highest IL-8 production in HT29-MTX cells and this capability was reinforced by the co-incubation with Lb. paraplantarum NB1 and Lb. rhamnosus GG. However, the increase in IL-8 production was not noticed when C. difficile was co-incubated with EPS-producing Lb. paraplantarum BGCG11 strain or its purified EPS-CG11 polymer, thus indicating that the polymer could hinder the contact of bacteria with the intestinal epithelium. The measurement of mucus secreted by HT29-MTX and the expression of muc1, muc2, muc3B and muc5AC genes in the presence of pathogens and lactobacilli suggested that all lactobacilli strains are weak >co-adjuvants> helping some pathogens to slightly increase the secretion of mucus by HT29-MTX, while purified EPS-CG11 did not induce mucus secretion. Taking altogether, Lb. paraplantarum BGCG11 could act towards the reinforcement of the innate mucosal barrier through the synthesis of a physical-protective EPS layer which could make difficult the contact of the pathogens with the epithelial cells. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd.This work was financed by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competiveness (MINECO) and FEDER funds (European Union) through the project AGL2012-33278, as well as by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia grant No. 173019. The bilateral collaboration project AIB2010SE-00386 between Spain and the Republic of Serbia allowed the mobility of personnel between both institutions. C. Hidalgo-Cantabrana acknowledges his FPI pre-doctoral fellowship to MINECO (BES-2010-038270).Peer Reviewe

Cardiovascular Properties of the Androgen-Induced PCOS Model in Rats: The Role of Oxidative Stress

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a multifaced reproductive endocrinopathy affecting 6-20% of women of childbearing age. It was previously shown that women with PCOS have an increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cardiodynamic parameters of isolated rats' hearts, blood pressure levels, and histomorphological changes in the heart tissue following the androgen-induced PCOS model in rats and the role of oxidative stress in the development of these CV properties of PCOS. 21-day-old female rats (n=12) were divided into control and PCOS groups. PCOS was induced by administration of testosterone enanthate (1 mg/kg BW, daily) during 35 days. During the autoregulation protocol (40-120 mmHg) on the Langendorff apparatus, ex vivo cardiodynamic parameters of retrogradely perfused hearts showed enhanced contractile function and increased lusitropic effects in the left ventricle (LV) in PCOS rats. Systolic and diastolic pressures in LV were elevated at all perfusion pressure values. Systemic arterial systolic blood pressure showed borderline elevation, while mean arterial blood pressure was significantly higher in PCOS rats. Histological evaluation of heart tissue depicted hypertrophic (8.3%) alterations in LV cardiomyocytes and increase (7.3%) in LV wall thickness. Oxidative stress parameters were altered in systemic circulation, coronary venous effluent (CVE), and heart tissue. Levels of superoxide dismutase and reduced glutathione were decreased in blood and heart tissue, while catalase activity was not altered. Degree of lipid peroxidation was increased in circulation as well as heart tissue. Increased levels of O2- in CVE indicated the cardiotoxic effects in the rat PCOS model. The mentioned alterations of oxidative stress parameters in the blood, CVE, and heart could be recommended as potential contributors underlying the development of CV risk in PCOS women

Open House Thessaloniki - Exhibition

HERSUS Project Open House in Thessaloniki took place from the 8th till the 16th of June 2023 with an exhibition open to the public at the Centre for Architecture of the Municipality of Thessaloniki. The exhibition presented the activities and results of HERSUS Project, including six Intelectual Outputs, three International Student Workshops, awarded projects with Prize on Modern Built Heritage, as well as HERSUS international presence and media projection. The HERSUS project proposes enhancing and testing of innovative teaching practices in the field of sustainability of the built heritage and strives to enhance the competence and motivation of educators and researchers to include curricula elements that will have tangible results, preparing students and educators to become real actors of the environmental change.HERSUS Consortium Vladan Djokić, Ana Radivojević, Ana Nikezić, Jelena Živković, Nataša Ćuković Ignjatović, Milica Milojević, Jelena Ristić Trajković, Aleksandra Milovanović, Aleksandra Djordjević, Mladen Pešić, Ana Zorić, Bojana Zeković, Tamara Popović, Nevena Lukić, Emanuela Sorbo, Enrico Anguillari, Sofia Tonello, Irene Sgarro,Maria Philokyprou, Aimilios Michael, Andreas Savvides, Panayiota Pyla, Odysseas Kontovourkis, Stavroula Thravalou, Maria Nodaraki, Theodora Hadjipetrou, Konstantinos Sakantamis, Alkmini Paka, Kleoniki Axarli, Maria Doussi, Angeliki Chatzidimitriou, Sofoklis Kotsopoulos, Mar Loren-Méndez, José Peral López, Enrique Larive, Julia Rey, Marta García de Casasola Gómez, María Carrascal, Daniel Pinzón-Ayala, María Álvarez de los Corrales, Roberto Alonso-Jiménez. Учесници: Архитектонски факултет, Универзитет у Београду (Србија), IUAV University of Venice (Италија), University of Cyprus (Кипар), Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Грчка), и University of Seville – UNESCO Chair on Built Urban Heritage CREhAR in the digital era (Шпанија)

Open House Nicosia - Exhibition

The UCY HERSUS OPEN HOUSE activity of the International HERSUS project took place at the Department of Architecture of the University of Cyprus (UCy) on June 7th. The exhibition presented the activities and results of HERSUS Project, including (1) Presentation of HERSUS Intellectual Outputs (01: Review of the Best Practices on Educating Sustainability and Heritage, 02: Questionnaire for the State of Art, 03: Statements for Teaching through Design for Sustainability of the Built Environment and Heritage Awareness, 04: HERSUS Sharing Platform) and other activities (timeline of the Hersus outputs, main achievements etc), (2) Results of the three International HERSUS Student Workshops (C2: Student Workshop 1: Sustainable Reconstruction in Urban Areas; C3: Student Workshop 2: Adaptive Reuse; C4: Student Workshop 3: Resilience and Climate Change), (3) Awarded projects of the HERSUS Prize on Modern Built Heritage (awarded finalist and shortlisted proposals for each of the four categories – Education Students, Education Instructors, Practice and Research). The exhibition was held at the Lobby of the UCY Department of Architecture at the same time as the students’ final projects exhibition for the academic year 2022-2023. The event was well attended, with participation and interest by students and faculty, as well as representatives from various municipalities, public entities and of course from practice. Moreover, introductory keynotes for the event were delivered by the university’s Vice-Rector of Academic Affairs, the Vice- Dean of the School of Engineering, the president of the Cyprus Scientific and Technical Chamber, the president of the Cyprus Architects Association and last but by no means least, the UCY Hersus coordinator

HERSUS Sharing Platform [Commendation at 44th Salon of Architecture]

The HERSUS Sharing Platform is a digital platform for researchers and students conceived as an educational tool and archive of resources around the topics of sustainability and heritage awareness in architecture and urban design. The platform has been designed and developed as a source of reference and inspiration to refer to when doing research in the fields that the HERSUS project aims to investigate. In the platform, links are created between apparently distant subjects, showing underlying narratives, connections and overlappings that bring contents together on different levels

Open House Seville - Exhibition

On 11 May 2023, in the framework of the USE HERSUS Event series, the USE OPEN HOUSE activity of the international HERSUS project took place. The Open House was organized in a form of exhibition which consists of three parts: (1) RESULTS OF THE HERSUS STUDENT WORKSHOPS (The brief preview of the Syllabuses and Student Results – research and designs), (2) AWARDED PROPOSALS OF THE HERSUS PRIZE ON MODERN HERITAGE (The awarded, finalist and shortlisted proposals for each of 4 categories – Edu- cation Students, Education Instructors, Practice, and Research), and (3) PRESENTATION OF HERSUS INTELLECTUAL OUTPUTS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES (Timeline of the HERSUS Intellectual outputs followed by presenta- tion of organized events and main achievements including HERSUS in numbers presentation) The exhibition was held at the LOBBY OF THE USE SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE ETSAS with participation and interest of local students, academics, and representatives from practice. Moreover, USE Team organized School tour for all HERSUS Partners and exhibition visitors in order to introduce the school profile and student life.HERSUS Consortium Vladan Djokić, Ana Radivojević, Ana Nikezić, Jelena Živković, Nataša Ćuković Ignjatović, Milica Milojević, Jelena Ristić Trajković, Aleksandra Milovanović, Aleksandra Djordjević, Mladen Pešić, Ana Zorić, Bojana Zeković, Tamara Popović, Nevena Lukić, Emanuela Sorbo, Enrico Anguillari, Sofia Tonello, Irene Sgarro,Maria Philokyprou, Aimilios Michael, Andreas Savvides, Panayiota Pyla, Odysseas Kontovourkis, Stavroula Thravalou, Maria Nodaraki, Theodora Hadjipetrou, Konstantinos Sakantamis, Alkmini Paka, Kleoniki Axarli, Maria Doussi, Angeliki Chatzidimitriou, Sofoklis Kotsopoulos, Mar Loren-Méndez, José Peral López, Enrique Larive, Julia Rey, Marta García de Casasola Gómez, María Carrascal, Daniel Pinzón-Ayala, María Álvarez de los Corrales, Roberto Alonso-Jiménez. Учесници: Архитектонски факултет, Универзитет у Београду (Србија), IUAV University of Venice (Италија), University of Cyprus (Кипар), Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Грчка), и University of Seville – UNESCO Chair on Built Urban Heritage CREhAR in the digital era (Шпанија)

Hersus пројекат и дигитална платформа дељења (2020–2023) [65. Међународни сајам технике и техничких достигнућа]

HERSUS je Erasmus + стратешко партнерство које окупља пет универзитета из Србије, Италије, Кипра, Грчке и Шпаније који заједно раде на дизајну и развоју иновативних интелектуалних исхода и изградњи дигиталне платформу дељења. HERSUS платформа дељења је дигитална платформа за истраживаче и студенте замишљена као архива ресурса о темама одрживости и свести о наслеђу у архитектури и урбанизму. У платформи се стварају везе између наизглед удаљених тема, показујући основне наративе, везе и преклапања која се налазе на различитим просторним и друштвеним нивоима.Учесници: Архитектонски факултет, Универзитет у Београду (Србија), IUAV University of Venice (Италија), University of Cyprus (Кипар), Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Грчка), и University of Seville – UNESCO Chair on Built Urban Heritage CREhAR in the digital era (Шпанија). HERSUS Consortium Vladan Djokić, Ana Radivojević, Ana Nikezić, Jelena Živković, Nataša Ćuković Ignjatović, Milica Milojević, Jelena Ristić Trajković, Aleksandra Milovanović, Aleksandra Djordjević, Mladen Pešić, Ana Zorić, Bojana Zeković, Tamara Popović, Nevena Lukić, Emanuela Sorbo, Enrico Anguillari, Sofia Tonello, Irene Sgarro,Maria Philokyprou, Aimilios Michael, Andreas Savvides, Panayiota Pyla, Odysseas Kontovourkis, Stavroula Thravalou, Maria Nodaraki, Theodora Hadjipetrou, Konstantinos Sakantamis, Alkmini Paka, Kleoniki Axarli, Maria Doussi, Angeliki Chatzidimitriou, Sofoklis Kotsopoulos, Mar Loren-Méndez, José Peral López, Enrique Larive, Julia Rey, Marta García de Casasola Gómez, María Carrascal, Daniel Pinzón-Ayala, María Álvarez de los Corrales, Roberto Alonso-Jiménez (2022)