IMPLEMENTATION AND UNIFORM MANAGEMENT OF MODELLING ENTITIES IN A MASSIVELY FEATURE-OBJECT ORIENTED ADVANCED CAD ENVIRONMENT

Today we are spectators of the transition process in computer aided design from traditional geometry based on design systems to advanced computer-based engineering systems. The key is the feature technology that allows both integrating and managing modelling entities in a coherent way. Feature technology is developing rapidly. New research topics and contexts are emerging from time to time. This paper introduces concept, design and technological feature-objects to support operational, structural and morphological modelling of mechanical products. First, the feature-centred approaches to conceptual design are summarized and evaluated. Then an implementation of concept feature-objects and the methodology for using them is presented. The strength of concept feature-objects is in their morphology inclusive nature. They appear as parametrized three-dimensional skeletons providing geometrical representations for the modelled engineering conceptions. A concept feature-object models the physical ports, contact surfaces related to ports, bones between ports, DOF of ports, relevant physical parameters, scientific and empirical descriptions of intentional transformations and environmental effects. Concept feature-objects are related to design feature-objects that, in turn, are constructed of a relevant set of technological feature-entities. Concept feature-objects refer to the configurable and parametrized design feature-objects through an indexing mechanism. The conceptions have been tested during the programming and further development of the authors' PRODES system

Successful Prediction of Total α-Induced Reaction Cross Sections at Astrophysically Relevant Sub-Coulomb Energies Using a Novel Approach

The prediction of stellar ($\gamma$,$\alpha$) reaction rates for heavy nuclei is based on the calculation of ($\alpha$,$\gamma$) cross sections at sub-Coulomb energies. These rates are essential for modeling the nucleosynthesis of so-called $p$-nuclei. The standard calculations in the statistical model show a dramatic sensitivity to the chosen $\alpha$-nucleus potential. The present study explains the reason for this dramatic sensitivity which results from the tail of the imaginary $\alpha$-nucleus potential in the underlying optical model calculation of the total reaction cross section. As an alternative to the optical model, a simple barrier transmission model is suggested. It is shown that this simple model in combination with a well-chosen $\alpha$-nucleus potential is able to predict total $\alpha$-induced reaction cross sections for a wide range of heavy target nuclei above $A \gtrsim 150$ with uncertainties below a factor of two. The new predictions from the simple model do not require any adjustment of parameters to experimental reaction cross sections whereas in previous statistical model calculations all predictions remained very uncertain because the parameters of the $\alpha$-nucleus potential had to be adjusted to experimental data. The new model allows to predict the reaction rate of the astrophysically important $^{176}$W($\alpha$,$\gamma$)$^{180}$Os reaction with reduced uncertainties, leading to a significantly lower reaction rate at low temperatures. The new approach could also be validated for a broad range of target nuclei from $A \approx 60$ up to $A \gtrsim 200$.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures; 6 pages supplement with 3 additional figures and 3 tables; Physical Review Letters, accepted for publicatio

How mushrooms tend to break through the genetic dead end

Genes, genetics, genomics, and the roles of mushrooms and toadstools in the global carbon cycle (GCC) are reviewed here. The literature survey is a tribute to the contributions made by Hungary and Hungarian scientists to fungi and mushroom research. For this reason, the names of the fungi discussed are also given in Hungarian. Fungi – like wood eating insects – are the main decomposers (a type of consumers, syn.: heterotrophs) and consequently recycle the biomass produced by photosynthetic organisms (i.e., the producers, syn.: autotrophs). Photosynthesis is driven by the solar energy day by day (by photo-autotrophs) (i.e., primary producers of chlorophyllous plants), and primary production night by night is performed by chemo-autotroph prokaryotes. Only autotrophic organisms can produce organic materials in the Earth to supply food and feed the hetero-trophs (e.g., animals, including Human), and sapro-trophs (i.e., decomposers) including fungi and bacteria. The crucial excess oxygen from the oxygenic photosynthesis supports diverse life on Earth. Mushrooms were found to have 100-1000 times smaller genomes than plants or animals, however, enormous genome expansions e.g., of Armillarias (Eng./Hung.: honey mushrooms / tuskógombák) have indicated recently that fungi continue to expand their genome. Comparative genome analyses of Polyporales mushrooms have recently identified an ongoing transitioning from white-rot (WR) towards brown-rot (BR) life style with loss of genes encoding enzymes to decay cell wall components of plants (and woody plants, the trees) including cellulose, hemicellulases, lignin (the three together are also called lignocelluloses), and pectin. In the case of lignin, genes of ligninase enzymes, which are capable of digesting lignin only, developed only in wood-decay fungi which underscore their role in GCC. Symbiosis between fungi and green algae or cyanobacteria created a new phylum the Lichens (Mycophycophyta) in evolution. A tripartite symbiosis among achlorophyllous (i.e., parasitic) mycoheterotrophic plants ↔ mycorrhizal fungi ↔ and autotrophic green plants were re-discovered recently. Here we review the achievements of research of Di-caria true fungi (Eu-mycota) of both Asco-mycota (Eng./Hung.: Sac fungi / Tömlősgombák) and Basidio-mycota (Eng./Hung.: Club fungi / Bazidiumosgombák) with special emphasis on genes, genetics and genomic and evolutionary relationships. In brackets, the commercial mushroom names of English (Eng.) and Hungarian (Hung.) are give

Integrated pest management of major pests and diseases in eastern Europe and the Caucasus

This book promotes Integrated Pest Management, to contribute to reduced reliance on pesticides and the avoidance of adverse impacts from pesticide use on the health and safety of farming communities, consumers and the environment. Through the IPM approach, technical advice is provided to help plan methods and measures to control major pests and diseases occurring or expected to occur in the countries of Western Asia and Eastern Europe. The specific descriptions contain a short summary of the biology of the species, completed with information on methods and tools of monitoring and control. Preventive control methods are also discussed