Books on the topic 'Eco Roof'

Rapid decarbonization requires additional research, development, and demonstration of low-carbon energy technologies. Various financing instruments are in place to support this development. They are frequently assessed through indicator-based evaluations. There is no standard set of indicators for this purpose. This study looks at the Nordic countries, which are leading countries with respect to eco-innovation. Different indicators to assess financing instruments are analysed with respect to their acceptance, the ease of monitoring, and their robustness. None of the indicators emerges as clearly superior from the analysis. Indicator choice is subject to trade-offs and leaves room for steering evaluation results in a desired direction. The study concludes by discussing potential policy implications of biases in indicator-based evaluation.

The earliest Europeans in the Andes marveled at the quality of Inca masonry and the engineering of imperial infrastructure. Hiram Bingham’s rediscovery of Machu Picchu brought international attention to Inca architecture, and in recent decades, scholars have begun to place the most elaborate Inca constructions into a broader context. Inca architecture is found at special sites, including royal estates, administrative sites on the royal road networks, and religious shrines. Much of the finest Inca construction is found in the Cuzco region, where several structural types can be discerned. Beyond the capital region, Inca architecture appears in a wide range of hybrid structures, as well as in design features that echo the elite buildings of Cuzco. Although the finest Inca constructions were built of stone, other materials were used to build and roof imperial buildings, and the use of adobe and other materials connotes status and stylistic variations across the empire.

Perioperative echocardiography is one of the fastest growing areas of echocardiography. Although transthoracic imaging has a role, intraoperative imaging is mostly undertaken using transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE).The indications for perioperative echo have recently been re-evaluated, resulting in recognition of the ubiquitous benefit in patients undergoing cardiac surgery, and recognition of the value in non-cardiac surgery and critical care also.Although TOE is safe, it should be remembered that there may be a greater risk of traumatic damage to the soft tissues in anaesthetized patients who cannot complain of pain during probe insertion.Perioperative imaging should be used to confirm and refine the preoperative diagnosis, detect new or unsuspected pathology, adjust the anaesthetic and surgical plan, and assess the results of surgical intervention. Using imaging to optimize myocardial function is a constantly developing technique, and one which may ensure that patients leave the operating room in the best possible condition. The use of perioperative echo in some procedures, for example, in mitral repair, is now regarded as so valuable that it is arguable that perioperative TOE should be mandatory in these cases.

This article discusses time-series methods such as simple time-series regressions, ARIMA models, vector autoregression (VAR) models, and unit root and error correction models (ECM). It specifically presents a brief history of time-series analysis before moving to a review of the basic time-series model. It then describes the stationary models in univariate and multivariate analyses. The nonstationary models of each type are addressed. In addition, various issues regarding the analysis of time series including data aggregation and temporal stability are considered. Before concluding, the article briefly reports the time-series techniques in the context of panel data. In general, time-series analysis can help improve the understanding of the political world.

This chapter considers the proposal that increasing the clout of the European Parliament will solve the EU’s legitimacy problem. It first examines the argument that giving the Parliament the powers national parliaments typically enjoy will enable the EU to gain democratic legitimacy. It then discusses the importance of making a full account of standards, such as representation, in ascertaining whether increasing the powers of the European Parliament will deliver on its promise. It also examines the asymmetry between negative and positive integration as the root of the liberalizing tendency of the European Court of Justice’s jurisprudence. The chapter contends that the EU must develop a self-interest in strong democracy in the Member States, rather than undermining it by increasingly crippling national powers, and calls for an end to the detachment of the European Commission and the ECJ from the democratic processes in the EU and the Member States.

Atrial flutter is the term given to one of the four types of supraventricular tachycardia; in it, atrial activation occurs as a consequence of a continuous ‘short circuit’: a defined and fixed anatomical route, resulting in a fairly uniform atrial rate, and uniform atrial flutter waves on the ECG. The ventricles are not a part of this arrhythmia circuit, and ventricular activation is variable, dependent on atrioventricular (AV) nodal conduction. Given that the atrial rate is essentially uniform (e.g. 300 min−1), ventricular activation tends to be regular (i.e. 150 min−1, 100 min−1, 75 min−1, etc., if the atrial rate is 300 mins−1), or regularly irregular if changes are occurring in the fraction of conducted impulses to the ventricles. When AV nodal conduction permits only 4:1 conduction or less, atrial flutter is usually obvious, but when ventricular rates are higher (150 min−1 or more) the flutter waves can be obscured by the QRS complexes, making diagnosis more difficult. Atrial flutter is of two types, typical and atypical. Typical atrial flutter is a right atrial tachycardia, with electrical activation proceeding around the tricuspid valve annulus. This arrhythmia is dependent on a zone of slow electrical conduction through the cavotricuspid isthmus (the tissue lying between the origin of the inferior vena cava and the posterior tricuspid valve). The resulting circuit can be either anticlockwise (activation proceeds up the inter-atrial septum, across the atrial roof, down the free wall, and then through the cavotricuspid isthmus to the basal septum) or clockwise (down the inter-atrial septum and around the circuit in the opposite direction). Anticlockwise typical atrial flutter is more common. Atypical atrial flutter refers to all other atrial flutters, and this includes other right atrial flutters (e.g. pericristal flutter), left atrial flutters, post-ablation or post-surgical flutters, and pulmonary vein flutters. The feature common to all types of flutter and which differentiates flutter from other types of supraventricular tachycardia is the presence of a macro-re-entrant anatomical circuit around which the electrical impulse travels continuously and repeatedly, thereby generating the flutter. Even though typical atrial flutter has a fairly obvious and specific appearance on the ECG, atypical flutters do not, and often it is only possible to differentiate atypical flutter from atrial tachycardias by invasive electrophysiology studies, as the ECG alone may be insufficient.

This research aimed to develop conceptually the pretensioned and stiffened membrane structures, using an experimental approach and computer simulation. The physical method of form finding included the pretensioned fabric with the glued grid made of the wooden sticks. Relaxation of the stressed membrane contributed to forming the specific anticlastic hyparic surface by energy release. The influence of the rigid elements pattern, intensity and direction of pretensioning on the final shape was investigated. The tensegrity structures were also built applying the same form finding way. These experiments led to the modelling of resulting samples with parametric design tools, namely Rhino and Grasshopper. Optimization of the final shape was carried out by changing parameters such as stiffenings configuration and membrane strength. This digital approach demonstrated successful simulation and rationalization of considered structures. Moreover, the final models can be used for further structural analysis and BIM. Considered membrane structures have very efficient load-bearing behavior. They are characterized by small weight, high light transmission and the ability to create large usable spaces free from columns. The most dangerous loads for membrane structures are wind and ponding. In practice, PTFE coated glass-fibre fabric and PVC coated polyester fabric are most suitable for pretensioned and stiffened membrane structures. The role of stiff elements can be played by steel profiles or metal tubes. The average time for the construction of a membrane structure is 6-15 months. Resulted pretensioned and stiffened membrane structures can be used as pavilions, roofs and awnings. They are distinguished by spectacular architectural view and very effective structural system. In addition, membrane tensile structures are characterized by high eco-efficiency and sustainability compared to other types of construction.

Perioperative echocardiography is one of the fastest growing areas of echocardiography. Transthoracic imaging is increasingly being used in postoperative patients, in critical care settings, and in emergency medicine. Intraoperative imaging remains the exclusive domain of transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) where cardiac surgery is the primary field of application. However, the use of intraoperative TOE is gradually expanding towards non-cardiac surgery. The indications for perioperative echo have recently been re-evaluated, resulting in recognition of the ubiquitous benefit in patients undergoing surgery. Although TOE is safe, there may be a greater risk of traumatic damage to the soft tissues in anaesthetized patients who cannot complain of pain nor resist during probe insertion. Perioperative imaging in cardiac surgery should be used to confirm and refine the preoperative diagnosis, detect new or unsuspected pathology, adjust the anaesthetic and surgical plan, and assess the results of surgical intervention. Using imaging to optimize myocardial function is a constantly developing technique to ensure that patients leave the operating room in the best possible condition.

Horseradish roots, due to the content of many valuable nutrients and substances with healing and pro-health properties, are used more and more in medicine, food industry and cosmetics. In Poland, the cultivation of horseradish is considered minor crops. In addition, its limited size causes horseradish producers to encounter a number of unresolved agrotechnical problems. Infectious diseases developing on the leaves and roots during the long growing season reduce the size and quality of root crops. The small range of protection products intended for use in the cultivation of horseradish generates further serious environmental problems (immunization of pathogens, low effectiveness, deterioration of the quality of raw materials intended for industry, destruction of beneficial organisms and biodiversity). In order to meet the problems encountered by horseradish producers and taking into account the lack of data on: yielding, occurrence of infectious diseases and the possibility of combating them with methods alternative to chemical ones in the years 2012–2015, rigorous experiments have been carried out. The paper compares the impact of chemical protection and its reduced variants with biological protection on: total yield of horseradish roots and its structure. The intensification of infectious diseases on horseradish leaves and roots was analyzed extensively. Correlations were examined between individual disease entities and total yield and separated root fractions. A very important and innovative part of the work was to learn about the microbial communities involved in the epidemiology of Verticillium wilt of horseradish roots. The effect was examined of treatment of horseradish cuttings with a biological preparation (Pythium oligandrum), a chemical preparation (thiophanate-methyl), and the Kelpak SL biostimulator (auxins and cytokinins from the Ecklonia maxima algae) on the quantitative and qualitative changes occurring in the communities of these microorganisms. The affiliation of species to groups of frequencies was arranged hierarchically, and the biodiversity of these communities was expressed by the following indicators: Simpson index, Shannon–Wiener index, Shannon evenness index and species richness index. Correlations were assessed between the number of communities, indicators of their biodiversity and intensification of Verticillium wilt of horseradish roots. It was shown that the total yield of horseradish roots was on average 126 dt · ha–1. Within its structure, the main root was 56%, whereas the fraction of lateral roots (cuttings) with a length of more than 20 cm accounted for 26%, and those shorter than 20 cm for 12%, with unprofitable yield (waste) of 6%. In the years with higher humidity, the total root yield was higher than in the dry seasons by around 51 dt · ha–1 on average. On the other hand, the applied protection treatments significantly increased the total yield of horseradish roots from 4,6 to 45,3 dt · ha–1 and the share of fractions of more than 30 cm therein. Higher yielding effects were obtained in variants with a reduced amount of foliar application of fungicides at the expense of introducing biopreparations and biostimulators (R1, R2, R3) and in chemical protection (Ch) than in biological protection (B1, B2) and with the limitation of treatments only to the treatment of cuttings. The largest increments can be expected after treating the seedlings with Topsin M 500 SC and spraying the leaves: 1 × Amistar Opti 480 SC, 1 × Polyversum WP, 1 × Timorex Gold 24 EC and three times with biostimulators (2 × Kelpak SL + 1 × Tytanit). In the perspective of the increasing water deficit, among the biological protection methods, the (B2) variant with the treatment of seedlings with auxins and cytokinins contained in the E. maxima algae extract is more recommended than (B1) involving the use of P. oligandrum spores. White rust was the biggest threat on horseradish plantations, whereas the following occurred to a lesser extent: Phoma leaf spot, Cylindrosporium disease, Alternaria black spot and Verticillium wilt. In turn, on the surface of the roots it was dry root rot and inside – Verticillium wilt of horseradish roots. The best health of the leaves and roots was ensured by full chemical protection (cuttings treatment + 6 foliar applications). A similar effect of protection against Albugo candida and Pyrenopeziza brassicae was achieved in the case of reduced chemical protection to one foliar treatment with synthetic fungicide, two treatments with biological preparations (Polyversum WP and Timorex Gold 24 EC) and three treatments with biostimulators (2 × Kelpak SL, 1 × Tytanit). On the other hand, the level of limitation of root diseases comparable with chemical protection was ensured by its reduced variants R3 and R2, and in the case of dry root rot, also both variants of biological protection. In the dry years, over 60% of the roots showed symptoms of Verticillium wilt, and its main culprits are Verticillium dahliae (37.4%), Globisporangium irregulare (7.2%), Ilyonectria destructans (7.0%), Fusarium acuminatum (6.7%), Rhizoctonia solani (6.0%), Epicoccum nigrum (5.4%), Alternaria brassicae (5.17%). The Kelpak SL biostimulator and the Polyversum WP biological preparation contributed to the increased biodiversity of microbial communities associated with Verticillium wilt of horseradish roots. In turn, along with its increase, the intensification of the disease symptoms decreased. There was a significant correlation between the richness of species in the communities of microbial isolates and the intensification of Verticillium wilt of horseradish roots. Each additional species of microorganism contributed to the reduction of disease intensification by 1,19%.

El aprovechamiento de los recursos pesqueros en la península de Yucatán fue y sigue siendo una actividad muy importante, principalmente en las localidades costeras. Desde los antiguos mayas se hacía uso de la riqueza pesquera de la región, en ese entonces con balsas de madera, redes, anzuelos y arpones de materiales naturales como textiles, conchas y huesos. Con el desarrollo de la humanidad, también se desarrolló la pesca en la región; actualmente se estima que cerca de 30,000 personas se dedican a la pesca en los estados de Campeche, Yucatán y Quintana Roo y más del 90% lo representan actividades de pesca artesanal; de esta forma, es indudable que la pesca artesanal es una actividad importante y fuente de bienestar para sus pobladores, porque genera alimentos de calidad, empleos y en general desarrollo económico y social. Los sistemas de pesca artesanal en zonas tropicales, como los que se presentan en la península de Yucatán, objeto de esta obra, son sistemas especialmente complejos, porque capturan una gran variedad de especies y para eso usan también gran variedad de artes y métodos de pesca. Estas herramientas y operaciones que se utilizan para capturar organismos acuáticos son una figura central en los sistemas pesqueros. La forma que los pescadores pueden extraer/capturar los organismos, así como la decisión sobre el uso de un determinado arte o método de pesca, determinan la forma en la que los pescadores interactúan con el medio ambiente, interacción que está mediada por factores ecológicos y ambientales como: la abundancia, disponibilidad y vulnerabilidad del recurso objetivo; así como por factores sociales y económicos como: las tecnologías y materiales disponibles, el costo de las mismas, las demandas del mercado e incluso de una manera muy importante por los usos y las costumbres que llegan a formar parte de la cultura de una región.