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Integrating sustainability in urban design is a prerequisite for adequately addressing the urban challenges related to climate change, resource availability, environmental degradation and energy consumption. For the integration to be well formulated, urban planners need comprehensive microclimatic information at adequate spatial and temporal scales so as to define the bioclimatic design targets of the urban area concerned. In this study a medium size city (Acharnes, built at the southern foothills of Mt Parnitha, at a distance of 10km north of Athens) is examined in terms of its thermal characteristics and the resulting thermal comfort conditions in municipal open spaces. Results show significant thermal loads for specific city areas as well as use of materials which result in adverse thermal conditions and in poor thermal comfort. On the basis of the results, specific guidelines are defined for the sustainable urbanisation of the city of Acharnes, in particular for an urban regeneration project concentrated at the centre of the city. The approach reflects a pattern which may be well applied in cities of respective size and urban characteristics and in similar climatic zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A novel current-mode signal conditioning circuit topology for thermal flow sensors using the hot-wire anemometer technique is proposed. A second-generation current conveyor is used to implement a highly linear output-voltage versus resistance-variation converter due to the gas flow. After exploring the capabilities of a simple constant-current version, a current-feedback constant temperature version with linear behavior is also indroduced. The circuit configuration is simpler than its voltage-mode counterpart based on a Wheatstone bridge topology with op-amps and features higher performance in terms of circuit size, simplicity, linearity, and overall power consumption [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this study, we evaluated the growth performance and antioxidant status of broiler chicken supplemented with the edible mushroom Agaricus bisporus. Ninety 1-d-old female broiler chickens randomly allotted to 3 dietary treatments were given either a nutritionally balanced basal diet or the basal diet supplemented with 10 or 20 g of dried mushroom/kg of feed for 6 wk on an ad libitum basis. Body weight, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio values were monitored weekly. To evaluate the antioxidant status of broiler chicken, refrigerated liver, breast, and thigh tissues were assayed for levels of glutathione, reduced glutathione, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione S-transferase, as well as malondialdehyde at 6 wk of age. Results showed that dietary mushroom supplementation at both inclusion levels was accepted well by the broiler chicken and improved feed efficiency compared with the control diet. Dietary mushroom inclusion at 20 g/kg improved both growth performance and feed efficiency compared with control diet at 42 d of age. Dietary mushroom at both inclusion levels reduced malondialdehyde production in liver, breast, and thigh tissues and elevated glutathione peroxidase, reduced glutathione, glutathione reductase, and glutathione S-transferase compared with the control treatment, the effects being dose-dependent. These results suggest that A. bispor'us mushroom exerts both a growth-promoting and tissue antioxidant-protective activity when supplemented in broiler chicken diets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Recently developed computer applications provide tools for planning cranio-maxillofacial interventions based on 3-dimensional (3D) virtual models of the patient''s skull obtained from computed-tomography (CT) scans. Precise knowledge of the location of the mid-facial plane is important for the assessment of deformities and for planning reconstructive procedures. In this work, a new method is presented to automatically compute the mid-facial plane on the basis of a surface model of the facial skeleton obtained from CT. The method matches homologous surface areas selected by the user on the left and right facial side using an iterative closest point optimization. The symmetry plane which best approximates this matching transformation is then computed. This new automatic method was evaluated in an experimental study. The study included experienced and inexperienced clinicians defining the symmetry plane by a selection of landmarks. This manual definition was systematically compared with the definition resulting from the new automatic method: Quality of the symmetry planes was evaluated by their ability to match homologous areas of the face. Results show that the new automatic method is reliable and leads to significantly higher accuracy than the manual method when performed by inexperienced clinicians. In addition, the method performs equally well in difficult trauma situations, where key landmarks are unreliable or absent. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A new method for the extraction of the backscattering coefficient in nanoMOS devices has been demonstrated. The method, which relies on mobility measurements in linear operation, proves very simple and reliable for the determination of the ballistic rate of transport. Moreover, it allows to obtain the drift-diffusion mobility corrected from ballistic effects and therefore to make a diagnostic of the scattering mechanisms at small gate length. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this paper, a novel method for incorporating automatic, patient-specific, structural analysis in computer-aided preoperative planning is described. Special emphasis has been placed on accurately capturing the mechanical behavior of the implant-to-bone interface where failure may occur. A finite element solver was developed and integrated into our computer-aided planning system for implant dentistry. This paper describes how 3D mechanical analysis of bridges, implants and bone can be performed in a fully automatic manner providing clinically relevant feedback to the surgeon in real time during preoperative planning. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]