New simple method for the assessment of masonry arch bridges

The paper presents an approximation method for the assessment of the load carrying capacity of masonry arch railway bridges. The method is a simple semi-empirical tool for the initial level assessment that is considered to serve as a first sieve and provides conservative values for the load-carrying capacity and permissible axle load of single-span arches. The proposed method is based on results obtained by the RING 2.0 masonry arch bridge analysis software. The method uses a closed mathematical formula to calculate the carrying capacity and its input parameters can easily be determined by simple site inspections or using data from bridge files

The influence of the way of regression on the results obtained by the receptorial responsiveness method (RRM), a procedure to estimate a change in the concentration of a pharmacological agonist near the receptor

The receptorial responsiveness method (RRM) enables the estimation of a change in concentration of an (even degradable) agonist, near its receptor, via curve fitting to (at least) two concentration-effect (E/c) curves of a stable agonist. One curve should be generated before this change, and the other afterwards, in the same system. It follows that RRM yields a surrogate parameter (“cx”) as the concentration of the stable agonist being equieffective with the change in concentration of the other agonist. However, regression can be conducted several ways, which can affect the accuracy, precision and ease-of-use. This study utilized data of previous ex vivo investigations. Known concentrations of stable agonists were estimated with RRM by performing individual (local) or global fitting, this latter with one or two model(s), using a logarithmic (logcx) or a nonlogarithmic (cx) parameter (the latter in a complex or in a simplified equation), with ordinary least-squares or robust regression, and with an “all-at-once” or “pairwise” fitting manner. We found that the simplified model containing logcx was superior to all alternative models. The most complicated individual regression was the most accurate, followed closely by the moderately complicated two-model global regression and then by the easy-to-perform one-model global regression. The two-model global fitting was the most precise, followed by the individual fitting (closely) and by the one-model global fitting (from afar). Pairwise fitting (two E/c curves at once) improved the estimation. Thus, the two-model global fitting, performed pairwise, and the individual fitting are recommended for RRM, using the simplified model containing logcx

Degradation of arouser by endosomal microautophagy is essential for adaptation to starvation in Drosophila

Hunger drives food-seeking behaviour and controls adaptation of organisms to nutrient availability and energy stores. Lipids constitute an essential source of energy in the cell that can be mobilised during fasting by autophagy. Selective degradation of proteins by autophagy is made possible essentially by the presence of LIR and KFERQ-like motifs. Using in silico screening of Drosophila proteins that contain KFERQ-like motifs, we identified and characterized the adaptor protein Arouser, which functions to regulate fat storage and mobilisation and is essential during periods of food deprivation. We show that hypomorphic arouser mutants are not satiated, are more sensitive to food deprivation, and are more aggressive, suggesting an essential role for Arouser in the coordination of metabolism and food-related behaviour. Our analysis shows that Arouser functions in the fat body through nutrient-related signalling pathways and is degraded by endosomal microautophagy. Arouser degradation occurs during feeding conditions, whereas its stabilisation during non-feeding periods is essential for resistance to starvation and survival. In summary, our data describe a novel role for endosomal microautophagy in energy homeostasis, by the degradation of the signalling regulatory protein Arouser

Engineering mit VINCENT - Der digitale Zwilling für die Entwicklungsphase

Trotz vielfältiger, unterschiedlicher Softwaretools, die den Entwurfsprozess bei komplexen Maschinen und Anlagen unterstützen, ist mit dem Übergang von Planungssystemen für Ablaufspezifikation und Entwurf in Simulationssysteme für die virtuelle Inbetriebnahme und realitätsbegleitende Simulation ein Bruch sowohl in Daten als auch in Systemen zu erkennen. Es wird im vorliegenden Beitrag dargestellt, wie mechanische Konstruktion und Elektrokonstruktion Hand in Hand arbeiten wobei der Übergang weitgehend automatisiert erfolgen kann. Weiterhin wird gezeigt, wie komplexe, multiphysikalische Zusammenhänge einfach beschrieben und sowohl in der Planungsphase zur Auslegung der Maschine als auch während der Inbetriebnahme durchgängig benutzt werden können

Integrierte Planung und virtuelle Inbetriebnahme von komplexen Fertigungsstrassen mit Roboterzellen

In komplexen Fertigungsstraßen werden Komponenten verschiedenster Art miteinander verknüpft, u.a. Roboter, Sondermaschinen und Handlingsysteme. Die Planung für das Zusammenspiel der unterschiedlichen Systeme sowie die Inbetriebnahme, sind aufwendig und zeitintensiv. Jede der Teilkomponenten hat ihre eigene hard- und softwarespezifische, in sich geschlossene Welt. In dieser müssen sie jeweils auf ihre Weise, einzeln für sich programmiert und getestet werden. Sollen die Komponenten zusammenarbeiten, müssen anschließend Brücken gebaut werden, welche die Welten verbinden. Diese Brücken werden in der Regel erst bei der Inbetriebnahme gebaut