Neurohypofyzární peptidy v lékařství z pražských a švédských laboratoří. Část I: Historie výzkumu a počátky produkce lékových forem

From the fifties to the seventies of the last century, the neurohypophyseal peptides oxytocin and vasopressin constituted one of the main research areas at the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry in Prague (IOCB). A significant contribution to this area is associated with the names of František Šorm, director of the said institute, and Josef Rudinger, head of the institute's peptide laboratory. At that time, newly developed research tools enabled to synthesize structural analogues of these hormones in numerous laboratories worldwide and hence to investigate the structure-activity relationships within this peptide group. Contributions of single peptide-chain positions to the respective biological activities were identified which opened a possibility to rationalize a design of peptides with a combination of changes in several positions. Several clinically interesting peptides were synthesized in the late 1960s at the IOCB and employed as therapeutics: [(Gly)3-Cys1,Lys8]-vasopressin (Glypressin Ferring®, Terli­pressin INN), 1-deamino-8-ᴅ-arginine vasopressin (Desmopressin INN, dDAVP), and later the uterotonics carbetocin (INN), widely used in obstetrics to prevent postpartum haemorrhage. Since the industrial production of peptide therapeutics was scarcely possible under the conditions of socialist economy in Czechoslovakia as well as in other countries under the Soviet influence, F. Šorm agreed to use the already established scientific contacts of IOCB with the Swedish pharmaceutical company Ferring AB and to transfer the production licences to Sweden. The license agreements were signed in 1969 and led to a quick spread of dDAVP in the substitution therapy of the central form of diabetes insipidus and, moreover, contributed to a fast upsurge of the Ferring company. Somewhat later, Glypressin was produced as a therapeutic with a prolonged action in cases of cardiovascular collapse. Contacts between Prague peptide chemists and the Ferring company lasted on a rather informal base until the end of the 1980s. After the fall of the totalitarian regime in Czechoslovakia in 1990, Ferring started a joint-venture collaboration with the newly organized Czech company Léčiva st.p. Praha in a newly established group Prague Polypeptide Institute spol. s. r.o. (later Ferring-Léčiva A.S.). A substantial part of the peptide-production capacities was then transferred to new buildings in Prague.

Urban space classification of squares in Kazan

Purpose: The author's classification of open spaces of urban activity.Research findings: Existing theories and concepts about urban space are studied and analyzed, modern global trends and approaches to the classification of urban spaces are identified, three city squares in Kazan are studied and analyzed.Research implications: The compiled classification of architecture and urban planning can be used in urban planning of territories with new buildings when introducing spaces of urban activity.

A RESEARCH ON THE USE OF OTTOMAN-ISLAMIC HERITAGE AS A CONSUMPTION OBJECT IN CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURAL PRACTICE

The Islamic heritage contains a rich cultural diversity with residential and public buildings such as traditional houses, mosques, palaces, and caravanserais that belong to the Ottoman Empire period. The character of the Islamic tradition is reflected in the environment-form-space organizations and construction techniques of these buildings. But today, the influence of the Islamic heritage has begun to be represented with the dominance of consumption-oriented culture and technology. The references taken from the architecture influenced by Islam are reduced to pure visuality and fashion. Especially, Ottoman architecture and its traditional elements become consumption objects that put visuality in the foreground in contemporary design practices. The Ottoman-Islamic heritage is referenced by imitating traditional buildings’ facades or copying structural elements. These new buildings produced with today’s technologies under the name of continuity of historical culture aim to fulfill the demands of the capitalist economy rather than conveying the essence of design. The study criticizes the transformation of Ottoman-Islamic architecture’s authenticity into “looking/pretending authentic” as a theme. In this context, this study discusses the Ottoman-Islamic heritage has become an object of consumption through a variety of examples that are located in Turkey such as hotels, shopping centers, residential buildings.

Extensions to the main building of Lviv Polytechnic at the beginning of the XX century

The article deals with the problem of building up the educational premises of Lviv Polytechnic National University (official name at the time - Imperial Royal Higher Technical School in Lviv) in the early 20th century. The attention is drawn to the reasons that determined the necessity to extend the educational space for the institution, given its development and increased social significance. Based on the analysis of archival materials, the author traces the construction process in detail: from the official permit for extension in May 1903 to the implementation of the project. The persons who were engaged in the Building Committee, formed by the Galician governorship, and the sphere of their responsibility are indicated. The way of conducting such works at that time is specified: a sort of tender was held and a contract for execution of works was signed with a winner (a company that offered the lowest price). The particular enterprises, type of work performed (construction, carpentry, metalwork, etc.) and the amount of money paid are indicated. For example, the extension was carried out by Alfred Kamenobrodsky's firm, carpentry by Wczelak Brothers, varnishing by Alexander Boyarsky and interior design of six new classrooms by Marcin Prugar and Son. A detailed description of equipment necessary for the newly built premises is given, which allows understanding what the lecture halls of the time looked like. It is pointed out that the construction of wings led to other changes in the arrangement of the territory, in particular, a cobblestone path was finally paved from the main building to the chemistry building located nearby. Based on the studied sources and literature, the author concludes that the extension of the premises of the University in the early 20th century was extremely necessary. The addition of two so-called «wings» to the main building, however, did not solve the problem of lack of classroom space, because some of the units were still in rented premises and the professors constantly asked for the construction of new buildings for the needs of Lviv Polytechnic.

Forecasting the impact of buildings with multi-storey underground parts on the displacement of subsoil using modern numerical tools

The paper will analyse and review the experience to date in determining the impact range of implementation of deeply founded structures on the displacement of the subsoil in the vicinity. With the background of these experiences, primarily empirical, the present possibilities of using numerical modelling to forecast the displacements of the terrain surface in various stages of works, that is, execution of deep excavation support systems, excavation-deepening phases with successive adding of struts, construction of underground levels and erection of the above-ground part of the building, will be presented. Based on the results of own research, conclusions on the use of 3D numerical models in spatial shaping and designing the structure of underground parts of new buildings erected in dense urban development will be presented. The characterised 3D numerical models were verified, taking into account the actual results of geodetic measurements of the completed buildings. Determining the range and forecasting the displacements of the subsoil are necessary for the design and implementation of investments due to the need to ensure the safety of erection and use of a new building and the buildings located within the area of influence.

The Problem of Densification of Large-Panel Housing Estates upon the Example of Cracow

The paper focuses on the phenomenon of intense, uncontrolled densification of large-panel housing estates in Poland. Despite the fact that such housing estates as a legacy of the Modernist concept of segregation of functions are often burdened with problems, they still have considerable potential, which results predominantly from their urban advantages, such as functional and spatial logic, large amounts of open public space, and abundance of greenery. Unfortunately, this potential is being destroyed by introducing new buildings, ignoring the existing urban layout of the housing estate along with its original compositional assumptions. This type of densification results from—without limitations—the pressure exerted by developers in the free-market economy, and it often leads to problems such as the devastation of urban layouts of these housing estates, breaking the continuity of public spaces, appropriation of green areas, strengthening of monofunctionality, etc. This problem is becoming noticeable in the scientific debate, although it is still difficult to obtain reliable data illustrating the densifications of such housing estates. The goal of this paper is to present the scales and character of such densifications of the large-panel housing estates, which pose a threat of devastation of their urban layouts often considered as urban heritage. The paper proposes a method of a quantitative analysis of the housing estates with reference to the increase in the built-up area and a qualitative analysis of the character of development with reference to its distribution. This method comprises a sequence of subsequent steps with relevant criteria. In the results, it demonstrates the scale of the problem, which in many cases is already big and still growing. The resultant threat of devastation of the urban layout and its consequences are presented upon selected examples of housing estates in Cracow, Poland. This paper is a voice in a discussion devoted to the current status, but most of all to the future of large-panel housing estates, particularly in terms of their protection as valuable achievements of urban planning of the second half of the 20th century, and to stopping unfavorable tendencies of urban destruction.

WAYS OF ARCHITECTURAL REVALUATION OF ARCHITECTURAL SUBSTANCE IN THE HISTORICAL ENVIRONMENT OF THE CITY

The multifaceted problem of the relationship between the old and the new in the structure of cities subject to reconstructive transformation covers not only the range of tasks for the integration of historically composed and new buildings, but also a number of ambiguous issues of architectural revaluation of historical architectural and urban planning substance. lost elements to improve the aesthetic value of the urban environment and further preserve its integrity. If the solution of issues of urban coherence of historical and new buildings is based on the variability of the respective location in the urban structure of urban formation, the ways of architectural revaluation are based on the principles of volumetric and tectonic perfection of historical substance. ensembles, often by means of finely tempered harmonization of old and new architectural solutions (Hereditary development of compositional and spatial features of the city center). European urbanism of the twentieth century. He also knows cases of architectural revaluation of large urban complexes, such as in the process of restoration after the military destruction of the historic areas of Warsaw and Gdansk, where the problem of restoring the architectural integrity of buildings was combined with issues of restoration, reconstruction, modernization and necessary rehabilitation. on the legitimacy of such revaluation measures, which were not based on the restoration of authentic historical heritage, but in fact on its reproduction "from the ground up", based not only on scientifically sound materials, but often on architectural conjecture, method of analogues, etc. The controversy over the architectural revaluation of historic buildings began in the late nineteenth century, when the issues of conservation and restoration in a set of reconstructive urban planning tasks began to require immediate resolution. Renowned British art critic John Ruskin, reacting sharply to the imperfections of restoration work that led to significant distortions and even distortions of valuable historical substance in various countries, said: «Reproduction from nothing of something that was once great and beautiful in architecture is as impossible as return to life…» (Рёскин 81–82).

Improving Building Energy Footprint and Asset Performance Using Digital Twin Technology

This article presents a novel architecture by integrating the existing asset management theory with building simulation technology for effective maintenance strategies and operational control schemes. Building performance, value and energy usage collectively define the criteria for optimization. Building assets are partially or fully connected with building Internet of Things (IoT) and their real time conditions are accessible at all times. An asset’s value is derived from the functional contributions of that asset to the overall business objective of the system that it is part of. The architecture consists of digital twin, analytics and Business Value Model (BVM) engines and in-between gateways for data exchange. The paper provides illustrative examples for how the platform can serve operations and maintenance (O&M) objectives of existing and new buildings.

Friction magazine: The upcycling of manufacture for structural design

The growing need for new buildings and the soaring resources depletion call for a new way of considering the building material. As follows, the principle of recycling and reuse keep gaining in consideration as a pertinent strategy to address those issues, inciting the use of new materials and approaches for structural design. The present paper inscribes in this later framework and proposes a method for structural design and manufacturing out of old magazines using a broadly known physical phenomenon of friction in interleaved assemblies. The proposed method consist of a stock-based form-finding strategy for a net-like structure, based on the mechanical and fabrication-aware considerations with an integration of a geodesic constrain control for the rectilinear paper strips. In closing, a demonstration pavilion is built using the developed method and its further potential applications in construction sector are discussed.

Mw 6.4 Petrinja earthquake in Croatia: Main earthquake parameters, impact on buildings and recommendation for their structural strengthening

Strong Mw 6.4 Petrinja earthquake from 29.12.2020. took 7 lives and caused catastrophic damage in the Banovina area. The paper presents and analyses the most important earthquake parameters and highlights their importance in understanding the damage and demolition of buildings, as well as creating an optimal structure for their reconstruction. A contribution is made to the understanding of the complex mechanism of earthquake formation through the analysis of the stress-strain state in a rock mass during tectonic plate conflict. The causes of demolition and damage to buildings are explained by the combination of the properties of their structure, soil and the earthquake itself. Solutions for optimal structure of new buildings, as well as solutions for structural renovation of damaged buildings are proposed and described.