Effizienzpotenziale in kommunalen Fuhrparks: Eine empirische Untersuchung zur (inter)kommunalen Fahrzeugnutzung und zum Outsourcing fahrzeugbezogener Dienstleistungen

Auf der Suche nach mehr Wirtschaftlichkeit in kommunalen Fuhrparks werden derzeit verstärkt Kooperationsansätze diskutiert, nach denen Kommunen ihre Tätigkeiten bündeln und sich gegenseitig ergänzen sollen. Die Nutzung von Dienstleistungen sowie die interkommunale Zusammenarbeit kann das Streben nach wirtschaftlicher Optimierung sinnvoll unterstützen. In diesem Zusammenhang werden in dem aktuellen Bauhofbericht (1/2007) der Kommunalen Gemeinschaftsstelle für Verwaltungsmanagement (KGSt) unterschiedliche Möglichkeiten des Leistungszukaufs identifiziert. Neben dem gezielten Zukauf externer Leistungen bietet sich auch Leasing und Miete als Realisierungsoption an. Durch diese Möglichkeit könnte insofern eine Effizienzsteigerung erzielt werden, als dass sich durch die Einbeziehung gewerblicher Leasinggeber qualitative Vorzüge in Form von z. B. Einkaufssynergien, Erschließung von Folgemärkten etc. einstellen können. Inwiefern sich die Zusammenarbeit mit Leasinggesellschaften positiv auf wirtschaftliche Optimierung von Kommunen auswirkt, hängt allerdings auch von dem individuellen Bedarfsprofil und den geschlossenen Vertragsverhältnissen ab. So kann ein nachweisbarer wirtschaftlicher Vorteil für Kommunen nur dann entstehen, wenn der Leasinggeber Effizienzgewinne in Form von niedrigeren Preisen an den kommunalen Kunden weitergibt

Leasing von Feuerwehrfahrzeugen: Ausgewählte Aspekte zum Wirtschaftlichkeitsvergleich und zu Investitionskostenzuschüssen

Aufgrund der schwierigen finanziellen Lage der Kommunen in Deutschland besteht ein Investitionsstau bei Feuerwehrfahrzeugen in Höhe von mehr als 2 Mrd. EUR. Um der örtlichen Gefahrenabwehr nachkommen zu können, müssen neue Wege gesucht werden, die technischen Anforderungen zu erfüllen. Leasing weist als alternative Finanzierungsform zahlreiche Merkmale auf, die aus öffentlicher Sicht vorteilhaft sind. Die Entscheidung, ob ein Feuerwehrfahrzeug geleast werden soll, kann jedoch keinesfalls kategorisch erfolgen, sondern es ist in jedem Fall eine einzelfallbezogene Wirtschaftlichkeitsuntersuchung notwendig. In einigen Bundesländern schließt jedoch die Erlasslage die Nutzung von Leasing als alternative Finanzierungsform faktisch aus

A Generic Multibody Parachute Simulation Model

Flight simulation of dynamic atmospheric vehicles with parachute systems is a complex task that is not easily modeled in many simulation frameworks. In the past, the performance of vehicles with parachutes was analyzed by simulations dedicated to parachute operations and were generally not used for any other portion of the vehicle flight trajectory. This approach required multiple simulation resources to completely analyze the performance of the vehicle. Recently, improved software engineering practices and increased computational power have allowed a single simulation to model the entire flight profile of a vehicle employing a parachute

Ontology Summit 2008 Communiqué: Towards an open ontology repository

Each annual Ontology Summit initiative makes a statement appropriate to each Summits theme as part of our general advocacy designed to bring ontology science and engineering into the mainstream. The theme this year is "Towards an Open Ontology Repository". This communiqué represents the joint position of those who were engaged in the year's summit discourse on an Open Ontology Repository (OOR) and of those who endorse below. In this discussion, we have agreed that an "ontology repository is a facility where ontologies and related information artifacts can be stored, retrieved and managed." We believe in the promise of semantic technologies based on logic, databases and the Semantic Web, a Web of exposed data and of interpretations of that data (i.e., of semantics), using common standards. Such technologies enable distinguishable, computable, reusable, and sharable meaning of Web and other artifacts, including data, documents, and services. We also believe that making that vision a reality requires additional supporting resources and these resources should be open, extensible, and provide common services over the ontologies

Generic Spacecraft Model for Real-Time Simulation

Generic Spacecraft is the name of an evolving library of software that provides for simulation of a generic spacecraft that can orbit the Earth and land on the Moon (and, eventually, on Mars). This library is incorporated into the Langley Standard Realtime Simulation in C++ (LaSRS++) software framework. The generic-spacecraft simulation serves as a test bed for modeling spacecraft dynamics, propulsion, control systems, guidance, and displays. The Generic Spacecraft library supplements the LaSRS++ framework with an interface that facilitates the connection of new models into the LaSRS++ simulation by eliminating what would otherwise be the necessity of writing additional C++ classes to record data from the models and code to display values on graphical user interfaces (GUIs): The library includes routines for integrating new models into the LaSRS++ framework, identifying model inputs and outputs with full descriptions and units identified, recording data, and automatically generating graphical user interfaces (GUIs). The library is designed to be used in a manner similar to that of LaSRS++ software components for simulating vehicles other than the generic spacecraft. The user specifies (1) a spacecraft and individual models to be constructed and (2) connections between individual model inputs and outputs

Growth and Fatty Acid Composition of Marine Microalga Nannochloropsis SP in Medium Enriched with Magnesium

Micro-algae are to be an attractive way to produce bio-diesel due to high photosynthetic yields and lipid accumulation in cells. This high productivity combined with possibility to uptake CO2 stimulated its utilization as a biological mitigation method of CO2, at once as an alternative renewable source of energy. Growth characteristics and chemical composition of micro-algae can be altered by culture environment. Nutrient sufficiency,included magnesium element (Mg2+) is important factors on overall biochemical composition. In study, Nannochloropsis sp was cultivated in Erlenmeyer 250 ml containing 200 ml f/2 medium. There are three groups of treatment with different levelof magnesium (Mg2+), i.e. 0 (M0); 0.1mgL-1 (M1); and 1.0 mgL-1 (M2). All treatment was designed triplicate in batch system. Culture was then aerated continuously with sterile atmospheric air (1.5 L.min-1). Cells were harvested on 25th day after inoculation and analyzed. Data showed that Chlorophyll-a increased linearly with time and maximum at 18th days of growth period, i.e. 23.57; 26.44; and 27.74mgL-1, for M0; M1; and M2,respectively. Chlorophyll-a content decreased significantly when pH dropped to 5-6.Enrichment with Mg2+ increased the chlorophyll-a content 12.2-17.7%. Dry cell reached 375-400mgL-1 in all treatment. Lipid content of Nannochloropsis sp in control (M0) is 55.3%, higher than M1 and M2. Saturated fatty acid tends to increase from 80.70 (M0)to 96.70 (M1) and 94.53% (M2). Fatty acid of M0 and M1 was composed dominantly by palmitic acid (C16:0), i.e. 49.19-70.75% total fatty acids. Meanwhile, M2 treatment was dominantly by lauric acid (C12:0), i.e. 32.98%

Functional inhibition of acid sphingomyelinase by Fluphenazine triggers hypoxia-specific tumor cell death

Owing to lagging or insufficient neo-angiogenesis, hypoxia is a feature of most solid tumors. Hypoxic tumor regions contribute to resistance against antiproliferative chemotherapeutics, radiotherapy and immunotherapy. Targeting cells in hypoxic tumor areas is therefore an important strategy for cancer treatment. Most approaches for targeting hypoxic cells focus on the inhibition of hypoxia adaption pathways but only a limited number of compounds with the potential to specifically target hypoxic tumor regions have been identified. By using tumor spheroids in hypoxic conditions as screening system, we identified a set of compounds, including the phenothiazine antipsychotic Fluphenazine, as hits with novel mode of action. Fluphenazine functionally inhibits acid sphingomyelinase and causes cellular sphingomyelin accumulation, which induces cancer cell death specifically in hypoxic tumor spheroids. Moreover, we found that functional inhibition of acid sphingomyelinase leads to overactivation of hypoxia stress-response pathways and that hypoxia-specific cell death is mediated by the stress-responsive transcription factor ATF4. Taken together, the here presented data suggest a novel, yet unexplored mechanism in which induction of sphingolipid stress leads to the overactivation of hypoxia stress-response pathways and thereby promotes their pro-apoptotic tumor-suppressor functions to specifically kill cells in hypoxic tumor areas

Zona Wisata Kawasan Wisata Alam Air Terjun Madakaripura, Kabupaten Probolinggo

Kabupaten Probolinggo memiliki keindahan wisata alam salah satunya berupa wisata air terjun. Wisata Alam Air Terjun Madakaripura termasuk dalam kawasan hutan lindung dan rawan bencana longsor sehingga pengembangannya membutuhkan pembagian zona wisata yang sesuai dengan karakteristik fisik kawasan wisata alam. Penelitian ini bertujuan menentukan zona wisata kawasan wisata alam Air Terjun Madakaripura, Kabupaten Probolinggo. Metode analisa yang digunakan dalam tahapannya adalah analisa Theoritical Deskriptif Kualitatif, teknik analisa Delphi dan analisa teknik Overlay. Hasil penelitian ini berupa zona wisata pada kawasan wisata alam Air Terjun Madakaripura, Kabupaten Probolinggo dengan melihat pada kondisi eksisting serta faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi pengembangan kawasan wisata