Performance-based Design of Tall Building Envelopes using Competing Wind Load and Wind Flow Criteria

© 2017 The Authors. This paper investigates performance-based tall building design and the development of a combined architectural-urban design method focusing on the effects of wind loads on- and wind flows around tall buildings. The paper provides an overview of related buildings codes and city development design guidelines that define requirements for structural façade wind loading and urban ventilation. A review of performance-based design methods for the generation, analysis and optimization of buildings is also presented. Within this frame, an approach to performance-based tall building envelope design is proposed. The approach is aimed at addressing wind loading and wind impact requirements based on generative parametric modelling and performance analysis that integrates physical parameters at the architectural and urban scales and performance criteria can support filtering and optimization relative to prevailing wind conditions

Predator efficacy and attraction to herbivore- induced volatiles determine insect pest selection of inferior host plant

Unlike mammals, most invertebrates provide no direct parental care for their progeny, which makes a well-selected oviposition site crucial. However, little is known about the female evaluation of opportunities and threats during host selection. Leveraging the wide range of host plants used by the polyphagous pest, Spodoptera littoralis, we investigate oviposition choice between two plants of different nutritional quality. Females prefer to lay their eggs on the host plant, which has inferior larval development and more natural enemies but provides lower predation rates. On the superior host plant, a major predator shows more successful search behavior and is more attracted to herbivore-induced volatiles. Our findings show that predator efficacy and odor-guided attraction, rather than predator abundance, determine enemy free space. We postulate that predators’ behaviors contribute to the weak correlation between preference and performance during host plant selection in S. littoralis and in polyphagous insects in general

Hierarchical task network approach for time and budget constrained construction project planning

© 2019 The Author(s). Completing a construction project on time and within budget is of great importance in the construction industry. To achieve this goal, a construction plan satisfying the time and cost constraints is crucial. While a rich amount of literature on the time-cost trade-off scheduling and time/cost optimization scheduling has been presented, developing a construction plan for the time and cost-constrained construction project has not been fully explored. This study presented a hierarchical task network (HTN) based construction planning model to fill this gap. First of all, a knowledge formalism catering to the HTN planning was provided to accommodate the construction planning knowledge. Then, the planning process was explained in detail, including temporal reasoning used to sequence the construction activities, and backtracking evasion mechanism used to avoid the trouble of backtracking due to inappropriate selection of execution modes for construction activities. Finally, two sets of comparisons based on a fictional construction project were performed, the results of which demonstrate that the time and budget constraints have an impact on the sec-tion of execution modes for construction methods, and the proposed planning model can develop construction plan that satisfies the specified deadline and budget limitations effectively regardless of the existing of backtracking

Study of the Optical Properties of Zno Nano-structure at Different Ti Content

Zinc oxide (ZnO) and TZO samples having different Ti content were synthesized from doping to composite by Citrate sol-gel method (dissolving and react with citric acid) characterized according to their optical properties. The UV - vis characterization exhibiting good optical properties. The results show there are one absorption edge at pure and low Ti doping but at higher Ti% another edge appeared and slightly shifted around 400 nm. The maximum absorption nearly at 350 nm, and the band gap energy of Ti-doped ZnO increase from 3.16 to 3.20 eV achieving a blue-shift. A red shift from 3.07 to 3.19 eV in the visible range which has a very important application, this improves the optical properties of ZnO and gives an indication how to tune its band gap (increase or decrease by doping or composition)

Hedgehog-mediated gut-taste neuron axis controls sweet perception in Drosophila

Dietary composition affects food preference in animals. High sugar intake suppresses sweet sensation from insects to humans, but the molecular basis of this suppression is largely unknown. Here, we reveal that sugar intake in Drosophila induces the gut to express and secrete Hedgehog (Hh) into the circulation. We show that the midgut secreted Hh localize to taste sensilla and suppresses sweet sensation, perception, and preference. We further find that the midgut Hh inhibits Hh signalling in the sweet taste neurons. Our electrophysiology studies demonstrate that the midgut Hh signal also suppresses bitter taste and some odour responses, affecting overall food perception and preference. We further show that the level of sugar intake during a critical window early in life, sets the adult gut Hh expression and sugar perception. Our results together reveal a bottom-up feedback mechanism involving a “gut-taste neuron axis” that regulates food sensation and preference

Functional integration of "undead" neurons in the olfactory system.

Programmed cell death (PCD) is widespread during neurodevelopment, eliminating the surpluses of neuronal production. Using the Drosophila olfactory system, we examined the potential of cells fated to die to contribute to circuit evolution. Inhibition of PCD is sufficient to generate new cells that express neural markers and exhibit odor-evoked activity. These "undead" neurons express a subset of olfactory receptors that is enriched for relatively recent receptor duplicates and includes some normally found in different chemosensory organs and life stages. Moreover, undead neuron axons integrate into the olfactory circuitry in the brain, forming novel receptor/glomerular couplings. Comparison of homologous olfactory lineages across drosophilids reveals natural examples of fate change from death to a functional neuron. Last, we provide evidence that PCD contributes to evolutionary differences in carbon dioxide-sensing circuit formation in Drosophila and mosquitoes. These results reveal the remarkable potential of alterations in PCD patterning to evolve new neural pathways

Biocontrol of Some Fungal Pathogen that Cause Plant Diseases by Some Bio Agents

Fungal plant pathogens are among the most important factors that cause serious losses to agricultural products every year. Biological control of plant diseases including fungal pathogens has been considered a viable alternative method to chemical control. In plant pathology, biocontrol applied some microbes to suppress soil borne and airborne pathogens in an attempt to replace existing methods of chemical control by fungicides, which often lead to resistance in plant pathogens. In this review, we present the effect of mycorrhizae, actinomycetes and Trichoderma on plant growth and biocontrol of some fungal pathogens under stress conditions. The biological performance of mycorrhizae and Actinomycetes in soil is important for plant growth and development in stressed environments. In agriculture, plant growth promoting Actinomycetes can be used as biocontrol microorganisms and they had a big role in antibiotic production. They are well- known as active producers of a wide range of secondary metabolites, antibiotics and volatile organic compounds that can inhibit the growth of phytopathogenic fungi and bacteria. In particular, mycorrhizae and Trichoderma spores are found in soil and enhance both plant growth and decrease fungal infections. These antagonistic microorganisms are abundant in soils around the roots of economically and nutritionally valuable crops.  Their interactions with plant pathogens can significantly affect plant health in various ways. Different mode of actions of biocontrol-active microorganisms in controlling fungal plant diseases    include hyper parasitism, predation, antibiosis, cross protection, competition for site and nutrient and induced resistance. In conclusion, some microorganisms can used to suppress some phytopathogens and improve plant growth

Criterios de calidad, estimación del período de vida y pérdidas durante la comercialización del pescado denominado mujol pretratado y conservado en frío.

Monitoring of protein breakdown products and lipid autoxidation in farmed mullet fish as a function of a proposed treatments prior to chilling process at 3 °C ± 1 was carried out. Furthermore, sensory evaluation of three investigated treatments, whole mullet fish (RM)-eviscerated and soaked in distilled water (WSRM)-eviscerated and soaked in a solution containing 5% K-sorbate + 5% Na4P2O7 + 2% Na-citrate + 0.2% ascorbic acid (SSRM), were followed during chilling storage. Estimation of the predicted length of cold storage period as well as the marketing losses of the marketable mullet fish was also elucidated. The marketing losses of mullet fish at whole or retail market levels were also estimated by using a pre-tested questionnaire. Total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) and trimethylamine nitrogen (TMA-N) increased concomitantly during cold storage of differently treated mullet fish. Moreover, lipid oxidation and hydrolysis products were followed by determining peroxide value (PV), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and ratio of absorbance (A400/A450) as well as acid value (AV) and free volatile fatty acids (FVFA). Mostly, these parameters show upward trend with different rates depending on the applied treatment. Soaking treatment greatly retarded fish spoilage during cold storage. As regards, SSRM samples withstand spoilage up to about 15 days compared to only 8 and 9 days for both RM and WSRM samples, respectively.El trabajo presenta los resultados de la evolución de productos de rotura de proteínas y de la autoxidación de lípidos del pescado mujol criado en cautividad en función de los tratamientos propuestos antes de su enfriamiento a 3 °C ± 1. Además se sigue la evolución organoléptica durante el almacenamiento en frío de tres tratamientos: pez entero sin vísceras (RM), sin vísceras sumergido en agua destilada (WSRM) y sumergido en una solución conteniendo 5% sorbato potásico + 5% Na4P2O7 + 2% citrato sódico + 0,2 % ácido ascórbico (SSRM). Se dedujo el período de almacenamiento en frío así como las pérdidas durante la comercialización de dicho pescado. Asimismo, se estimaron las pérdidas a escala de mayorista y minoristas utilizando formularios. El nitrógeno básico total (TVB-N) y el nitrógeno como trimetilamina (TMA-N) aumentaron simultáneamente durante el almacenamiento en frío de los mujoles sometidos a los diferentes tratamientos. La oxidación de los lípidos y de los productos de hidrólisis se siguió analizando los índices de peróxido (PV), sustancias que reaccionan con el ácido thiobarbitúrico (TBARS) y relación de absorbancias a 400 y 450 nm (A400/A450) así como por la acidez (AV) y los ácidos grasos volátiles libres (FVFA). Estos parámetros mostraron incrementos que dependieron de los tratamientos. Los tratamientos de inmersión retardaron de forma muy importante el proceso de alteración. Como ejemplo, las muestras sometidas a SSRM tardaron en alterarse 15 días mientras que las tratadas con RM y WSRM sólo duraron 8 y 9 días respectivamente