Search results for "City."
showing 10 items of 12094 documents
Old towns in “smart cities” between conservation and metamorphosis. Pending European Union guidelines
2014
In reflecting upon the role of environmental capital as represented by old towns in smart cities, the author reveals the consequences of re-plastering the facade of ancient buildings while emphasizing the resulting risk of globalization of historic districts. This is followed by a critical consideration concerning the active protection of old towns and their cultural typicality and geographical context, prerequisites for the development of specific guide-lines for the European Union. Explanation is also provided about how the restoration dynamics of the old towns are irreversibly changing the urban landscape in European cities. Strict regulations regarding the preservation of European old t…
Understanding the fluctuations of perceived authenticity in cultural tourism : an investigation of Bali and Alsace contexts
2022
The marketing of cultural tourism faces a dilemma between maximizing the economic return and nurturing the culture’s social functions. It needs to attract segments driven by cultural motifs, through a differentiation based on authenticity. Perceived authenticity changes over a time, but how it does remains elusive to researchers. This research investigated fluctuations of existential authenticity in cultural tourists in Bali. Participants were purposively and conveniently-sampled among visitors of cultural attractions. It comprised two stages: qualitative for building the model, and quantitative fortesting the variables. The first employed Grounded Theory interviewing 24 visitors, found the…
Automated detection of protein unfolding events in atomic force microscopy force curves
2016
Atomic force microscopy is not only a high-resolution imaging device but also a mechanical machine, which can be used either to indent or stretch (soft) biomaterials. Due to the statistical nature of such materials (i.e., hydrogels or polymers) hundreds of force-distance curves are required to describe their mechanical properties. In this manuscript, we present an automated system for polymer unfolding detection based on continuous wavelet analysis. We have tested the automated program on elastin, which is an important protein that provides elasticity to tissues and organs. Our results show that elastin changes its mechanical behavior in the presence of electrolytes. In particular, we show …
Preparation and crystal structure of the oxalato-bridged CrIII–AgItwo-dimensional compound {Ag3(H2O)[Cr(dpa)(ox)2]3}n·2nH2O (dpa = 2,2′-dipyridylamin…
2004
The reaction of the mononuclear complex [Cr(dpa)(ox)2]− (dpa = 2,2-dipyridylamine) with Ag+ in aqueous solution affords the two-dimensional compound {Ag3(H2O)[Cr(dpa)(ox)2]3}n·2nH2O (1) whose structure has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Six crystallographically independent metal atoms (three chromium and three silver atoms) occur in 1. The three [Cr(dpa)(ox)2]− units in 1 act as ligands towards the silver atoms through the two oxalate groups. Each oxalate group acts as bridging ligand adopting five coordination modes: bis-bidentate, bis-bidentate/monodentate (outer), bis-bidentate/monodentate (inner), bidentate/bis-monodentate (outer) and bidentate/monodentate (outer).…
1,2,3-Triazoles Fused to Aromatic Rings
2014
The structure, synthesis, reactivity and applications of 1,2,3-triazoles fused to aromatic rings are described. These compounds have been classified in two groups by a structural approach: (a) fused 1,2,3-triazoles without a bridgehead nitrogen atom and (b) fused 1,2,3-triazoles with a bridgehead nitrogen atom. Although both systems present a similar structure, the synthetic procedures and their reactivity are different.
Analysis of static friction and elastic forces in a nanowire bent on a flat surface: A comparative study
2014
ZnO nanowires bent to a complex shape and held in place by static friction force from supporting flat surface are investigated experimentally and theoretically. The complex shapes are obtained by bending the nanowires inside a scanning electron microscope with a sharp tip attached to a nanopositioner. Several methods previously described in the literature are applied along with author's original method to calculate the distributed friction force and stored elastic energy in the nanowires from the bending profile. This comparative study evidences the importance of the usage of appropriate models for accurate analysis of the nanowires profile. It is demonstrated that incomplete models can lea…
Magnetic coupling and spin topology in linear oxalato-bridged tetranuclear chromium(III)–copper(II) complexes with aromatic diimine ligands
2013
Abstract A novel heterotetranuclear chromium(III)–copper(II) complex of formula {[CrIII(bpy)(ox)2]2CuII2(bpy)2(ox)}·6H2O (1) has been synthesized by the ligand exchange reaction between Ph4P[CrIII(bpy)(ox)2]·H2O and [CuII(bpy)2(NO3)]NO3·MeOH in methanol (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine; ox2− = oxalate dianion). The X-ray crystal structure of 1 consists of neutral oxalato-bridged CrIII2Cu2II zigzag entities which are formed by the monodentate coordination of two [CrIII(bpy)(ox)2]− mononuclear anionic units through one of its two oxalato groups toward a [CuII2(bpy)2(ox)]2+ dinuclear cationic moiety featuring relatively long axial bonds at the square pyramidal CuII ions. Variable temperature (2.0–300 K)…
Intestinal Trematode Infections
2014
Intestinal trematodes are among the most common types of parasitic worms. About 76 species belonging to 14 families have been recorded infecting humans. Infection commonly occurs when humans eat raw or undercooked foods that contain the infective metacercariae. These parasites are diverse in regard to their morphology, geographical distribution and life cycle, which make it difficult to study the parasitic diseases that they cause. Many of these intestinal trematodes have been considered as endemic parasites in the past. However, the geographical limits and the population at risk are currently expanding and changing in relation to factors such as growing international markets, improved tran…
Piezoelectric Actuated Nonlinear Energy Sink With Tunable Attenuation Efficiency
2019
Abstract Comparing to linear vibration absorbers, nonlinear energy sinks (NESs) have attracted worldwide attention for their intrinsic characteristics of targeted energy transfer or energy pumping in a relatively wide frequency range. Unfortunately, they are highly dependent on the vibration amplitude to be attenuated and will play its role only if the external load exceeds a specific threshold value. Different from the passive bistable NES, a novel piezoelectric nonlinear energy sink (PNES) is designed by introducing in-phase actuation to compensate or enhance the external vibration loads, thus triggering the NES operating in high attenuation efficiency. The nonlinear mathematic model of t…
Combination of searches for anomalous top quark couplings with 5.4 fb−1 of pp¯ collisions
2012
We present measurements of the tWb coupling form factors using information from electroweak single top quark production and from the helicity of W bosons from top quark decays in t (t) over bar events. We set upper limits on anomalous tWb coupling form factors using data collected with the DO detector at the Tevatron p (p) over bar collider corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.4 fb(-1).