A development of logistics management models for the Space Transportation System

A new analytic queueing approach was described which relates stockage levels, repair level decisions, and the project network schedule of prelaunch operations directly to the probability distribution of the space transportation system launch delay. Finite source population and limited repair capability were additional factors included in this logistics management model developed specifically for STS maintenance requirements. Data presently available to support logistics decisions were based on a comparability study of heavy aircraft components. A two-phase program is recommended by which NASA would implement an integrated data collection system, assemble logistics data from previous STS flights, revise extant logistics planning and resource requirement parameters using Bayes-Lin techniques, and adjust for uncertainty surrounding logistics systems performance parameters. The implementation of these recommendations can be expected to deliver more cost-effective logistics support

Análisis de dos escaleras suspendidas de Arne Jacobsen

In this paper we analyze two suspended staircases, with the same structural type, designed by Arne Jacobsen: the staircase of the Rodovre City Hall and the staircase of the Denmark National Bank. Both are essential part of the main access hall into buildings. They were designed with seven years of difference, they have technical progress, but they keep same management rules within the project. We show what gives them meaning and shape: expression, function, technique, position, relationship with other elements and construction system. &#13; From few original documents obtained, we have prepared and presented a new documentation, with that we can highlight the different elements. With this work, anyone interested in these staircases can get all the data about them; these data for various reasons were not publicly available, until the present paper. Thus, we make available another public source of ideas about the technique and philosophy of Jacobsen.<br><br>En este trabajo analizamos dos escaleras suspendidas de la misma tipología estructural diseñadas por Arne Jacobsen: la escalera del Ayuntamiento de Rodovre y la escalera del Banco Nacional de Dinamarca. Ambas son parte primordial del vestíbulo principal de acceso en los edificios. Diseñadas con siete años de diferencia, presentan progreso técnico y estructural, manteniendo las mismas reglas de ordenación dentro del proyecto. Mostramos aquello que les da sentido y forma: expresión, función, técnica, posición, relación con otros elementos y sistema constructivo. &#13; A partir de la escasa documentación original obtenida, elaboramos y presentamos nueva documentación con la que se pueden destacar los diferentes elementos. Con este trabajo, cualquier interesado en estas escaleras puede obtener todos los datos sobre ellas; datos que por diferentes motivos no se encontraban a disposición pública, hasta el presente artículo. Así, ponemos al alcance público otra fuente de ideas sobre la técnica y filosofía de Jacobsen

Whole blood-based measurement of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells reveals asymptomatic infection and vaccine immunogenicity in healthy subjects and patients with solid-organ cancers.

Accurate assessment of SARS-CoV-2 immunity is critical in evaluating vaccine efficacy and devising public health policies. Whilst the exact nature of effective immunity remains incompletely defined, SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cell responses are a critical feature that will likely form a key correlate of protection against COVID-19. Here, we developed and optimized a high-throughput whole blood-based assay to determine the T-cell response associated with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection and/or vaccination amongst 231 healthy donors and 68 cancer patients. Following overnight in vitro stimulation with SARS-CoV-2-specific peptides, blood plasma samples were analysed for TH 1-type cytokines. Highly significant differential IFN-γ+ /IL-2+ SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cell responses were seen amongst previously infected COVID-19-positive healthy donors in comparison with unknown / naïve individuals (p < 0·0001). IFN-γ production was more effective at identifying asymptomatic donors, demonstrating higher sensitivity (96·0% vs. 83·3%) but lower specificity (84·4% vs. 92·5%) than measurement of IL-2. A single COVID-19 vaccine dose induced IFN-γ and/or IL-2 SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cell responses in 116 of 128 (90·6%) healthy donors, reducing significantly to 27 of 56 (48·2%) when measured in cancer patients (p < 0·0001). A second dose was sufficient to boost T-cell responses in the majority (90·6%) of cancer patients, albeit IFN-γ+ responses were still significantly lower overall than those induced in healthy donors (p = 0·034). Three-month post-vaccination T-cell responses also declined at a faster rate in cancer patients. Overall, this cost-effective standardizable test ensures accurate and comparable assessments of SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cell responses amenable to widespread population immunity testing, and identifies individuals at greater need of booster vaccinations

Whole blood-based measurement of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses reveals asymptomatic infection and vaccine efficacy in healthy subjects and patients with solid organ cancers

Accurate assessment of SARS-CoV-2 immunity in the population is critical to evaluating vaccine efficacy and devising public health policies. Whilst the exact nature of effective immunity remains incompletely defined, SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses are a critical feature of the immune response that will likely form a key correlate of protection against COVID-19. Here, we developed and optimised a high-throughput whole blood-based assay to determine the T cell response associated with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection and/or vaccination amongst 156 healthy donors and 67 cancer patients. Following overnight in vitro stimulation with SARS-CoV-2-specific peptides, blood plasma samples were harvested and analysed for TH1-type effector cytokines (IFN-γ and IL-2). Amongst healthy donors, highly significant differential IFN-γ+/IL-2+ SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses were seen amongst vaccinated or previously infected COVID-19-positive individuals in comparison to unknown/naïve individuals (P < 0.0001). IL-2 production from T cells in response to SARS-CoV-2 derived antigens was a highly predictive diagnostic assay (P < 0.0001; 96.0% sensitivity, 93.9% specificity); measurement of IFN-γ+ SARS-CoV-2 specific T cell responses was equally effective at identifying asymptomatic (antibody and T cell positive) participants. A single dose of COVID-19 vaccine induced IFN-γ and/or IL-2 SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses in 28/29 (96.6%) of healthy donors, reducing significantly to 27/56 (48.2%) when measured in cancer patients (P = 0.0003). Overall, this cost-effective standardisable test ensures accurate and comparable assessments of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses amenable to widespread population immunity testing

Erfolgreich verhandeln. Bedingungen effizienter Zielvereinbarungen

Im Beitrag werden wesentliche Probleme bei der Gestaltung der Zielvereinbarungsprozesse ermittelt und Vorschläge gemacht, wie diese Probleme gelöst werden könnten. Bedingungen für eine optimale Verhandlungsgestaltung werden abgeleitet. Grundlage für die Analyse sind Beispiele aus der Zielvereinbarungspraxis in Deutschland, sowohl innerhalb der Hochschulen als auch auf der Ebene Staat-Hochschulen. Die dargestellten Probleme gelten für beide Ebenen, allerdings teilweise mit unterschiedlicher Intensität und Ausprägung im Detail. (HoF/Text übernommen