DESIGN OF METHODOLOGY FOR THE VERIFICATION OF LOAD DISTRIBUTION IN A CONTAINER

The paper presents a sophisticated interactive tool supporting the decision-making of loading parties and vehicle operators – Methodology for the verification of load distribution in a container. The methodology allows us to standardize procedures used by loading parties, and ensures safe loading and transport of container units. Using a spreadsheet (table editor), it offers a simple, quick, affordable and universally applicable solution. The procedures featured in the Methodology are generalised and allow verifying load distribution in any ISO series 1 storage container. The procedures presented are generally algebraically described and accompanied by a calculation flow diagram. Safe handling and transport of a container unit is ensured by keeping the deviation of the actual centre of gravity from the optimum centre of gravity in acceptable limits. A model example of loading of one of the most commonly used containers – ISO 1 C – is also part of the Methodology.container, methodology, decisions, distribution, centre of gravity pallet unit.

Embedding STPA into a highly successful risk management software application

Since the introduction of STPA to a broader audience through the book Engineering a Safer World and the first MIT STAMP Workshop in 2012, the interest in this method of hazard analysis has been ever increasing. During the time of introduction to now, STPA has not only been applied to many different domains, has also been constantly developed and extended. We consider the availability of a professional, state-of-the art software application supporting STPA as a crucial agitator for further evolvement and expansion of STPA. Although some software tools are currently available, we are of the opinion that none fully meets the needs for a productive application of STPA outside of the context of research projects and case studies. Furthermore, we believe enterprises demand not only a professionally developed and highly streamlined software application, but also associated support, such as a proper user manual and instructions, along with regular updates and upgrades. The decision to effectively use STPA requires an investment into more than new software, thorough training of staff and a process supporting lessons learned are crucial. This investment will pay for itself through the additional insights that will be uncovered through the STPA methodology, along with the efficiencies and effectiveness enhanced through the software tool, the investment will pay off double! Stiki - Information Security, headquartered in Reykjavík, Iceland and the Safety-Critical Systems Research Lab at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences in Switzerland have successfully applied for an EU grant to develop a software solution satisfying the above mentioned characteristics. The software solution being developed will share the same framework as the software toolkit Risk Management Studio, developed by Stiki and available on the global market since 2005. The objectives are to allow enterprises to use STPA as standalone methodology through the software, and integrated into an enhanced enterprise risk management framework, enabling efficient risk identification and management. The joint development project bases on the software prototype SAHRA, which extends the UML/SysML case tool Enterprise Architect with the ability to perform STPA and on research projects conducted by both partners in the past. The development work commenced in October 2016 and spans over a total of 30 calendar months. With the poster presented we would not only like to outline the project and its end-result, but also motivate stakeholders interested in participating in this project for example by testing and providing feedback of beta-versions of the application

SAHRA - an integrated software tool for STPA

SAHRA (STPA based Hazard and Risk Analysis) as a software tool for STAMP/STPA improves the analysis workflow by not only supporting the complete STPA process but by also offering a unique way to capture Step 1 and 2 using the visual style of mind maps. SAHRA is seamlessly integrated into the widely used UML solution Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect (EA). This integration enables synergies between design of a system and its safety analysis and thus allows to use STPA in the paradigm of safety-guided design

Towards a modeling language for Systems-Theoretic Process Analysis (STPA) : Proposal for a domain specific language (DSL) for model driven Systems-Theoretic Process Analysis (STPA) based on UML

Dieser Artikel schlägt eine modellbasierte domänen-spezifische Sprache zur Modellierung von Sicherheitsanalyse nach der STAMP/STPA Methode vor. Im Dokument werden die einzelnen Modellierungskonstrukte detailliert beschrieben, sowie deren Zusammenhänge definiert.The article proposes a model-based domain-specific language for the STAMP/STPA safety analysis technique. The document describes the modeling artefacts and their relationships in detail

Development and status of protection functions for the normal conducting LINAC at ESS

The European Spallation Source faces a great challenge in succeeding with its ambitious availability goals. The aim is to construct a machine that allows for 95% availability for neutron beam production. This goal requires a robust protection system that allows for high availability by continuously monitoring and acting on the machine states, in order to avoid long facility downtimes and optimize the operation at any stage. The normal conducting section consists of the first 48 meters of the machine, and performs the initial acceleration, bunching, steering, and focusing of the beam, which sets it up for optimal transition into the superconducting section. Through a fit-for-purpose risk management process, a set of protection functions has been identified. The risk identification, analysis, and treatment were done in compliance with modern safety and ISO standards. This ensures that the risks, in this case downtime and equipment damage, are properly prevented and mitigated. This paper describes this process of defining the protection functions for the normal conducting LINAC at ESS

Detection of mSiglec-E, in solution and expressed on the surface of Chinese hamster ovary cells, using sialic acid functionalised gold nanoparticles

Sialic acids are widespread in biology, fulfilling a wide range of functions. Their cognate lectin receptors - Siglecs - are equally diverse and widely distributed, with different Siglecs found within distinct populations of cells in the haemopoietic, immune and nervous systems. A convenient way to assay ligand recognition of soluble Siglecs would be useful, as would methods for the concomitant assessment of Siglec distribution on cell surfaces. Here we report the use of gold nanoparticles functionalised with a sialic acid ligand diluted with a polyethylene glycol (PEG) ligand for the plasmonic detection of a soluble form of murine Siglec-E (mSiglec-E-Fc fusion protein) and, importantly, for the specific detection of the same Siglec expressed on the surface of mammalian cells. These sialic acid functionalised nanoparticles are shown to overcome problems such as cellular cis interactions and low Siglec-ligand affinity. The gold nanoparticles were functionalised with various ratios of sialic acid : PEG ligands and the optimum ratio for the detection of murine Siglec-E was established based on the plasmonic detection of the soluble pre-complexed recombinant form of murine Siglec-E (mSiglec-E-Fc fusion protein). The optimum ratio for the detection of the fusion protein was found to be sialic acid : PEG ligands in a 50 : 50 ratio (glyconanoparticles 1). The optimised glyconanoparticles 1 were used to recognise and bind to the murine Siglec-E expressed on the surface of transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells as determined by transmission electron microscopy

Discovery of an RmlC/D fusion protein in the microalga <i>Prymnesium parvum</i> and its implications for NDP-β-L-rhamnose biosynthesis in microalgae

The 6-deoxy sugar L-rhamnose (L-Rha) is found widely in plant and microbial polysaccharides and natural products. The importance of this and related compounds in host–pathogen interactions often means that L-Rha plays an essential role in many organisms. L-Rha is most commonly biosynthesized as the activated sugar nucleotide uridine 5-diphospho-L-rhamnose (UDP-L-Rha) or thymidine 5-diphospho-L-rhamnose (TDP-L-Rha). Enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of these sugar nucleotides have been studied in some detail in bacteria and plants, but the activated form of L-Rha and the corresponding biosynthetic enzymes have yet to be explored in algae. Here, using sugar-nucleotide profiling in two representative algae, Euglena gracilis and the toxin-producing microalga Prymnesium parvum, we show that levels of UDP- and TDP-activated L-Rha differ significantly between these two algal species. Using bioinformatics and biochemical methods, we identified and characterized a fusion of the RmlC and RmlD proteins, two bacteria-like enzymes involved in TDP-L-Rha biosynthesis, from P. parvum. Using this new sequence and also others, we explored L-Rha biosynthesis among algae, finding that although most algae contain sequences orthologous to plant-like L-Rha biosynthesis machineries, instances of the RmlC-RmlD fusion protein identified here exist across the Haptophyta and Gymnodiniaceae families of microalgae. On the basis of these findings, we propose potential routes for the evolution of nucleoside diphosphate -L-Rha (NDP-L-Rha) pathways among algae

Iminosugar inhibitors of carbohydrate-active enzymes that underpin cereal grain germination and endosperm metabolism

Starch is a major energy store in plants. It provides most of the calories in the human diet and, as a bulk commodity, it is used across broad industry sectors. Starch synthesis and degradation are not fully understood, owing to challenging biochemistry at the liquid/solid interface and relatively limited knowledge about the nature and control of starch degradation in plants. Increased societal and commercial demand for enhanced yield and quality in starch crops requires a better understanding of starch metabolism as a whole. Here we review recent advances in understanding the roles of carbohydrate-active enzymes in starch degradation in cereal grains through complementary chemical and molecular genetics. These approaches have allowed us to start dissecting aspects of starch degradation and the interplay with cell-wall polysaccharide hydrolysis during germination. With a view to improving and diversifying the properties and uses of cereal grains, it is possible that starch degradation may be amenable to manipulation through genetic or chemical intervention at the level of cell wall metabolism, rather than simply in the starch degradation pathway per se

Serine-Rich Repeat Protein adhesins from Lactobacillus reuteri display strain specific glycosylation profiles

Lactobacillus reuteri is a gut symbiont inhabiting the gastrointestinal tract of numerous vertebrates. The surface-exposed Serine-Rich Repeat Protein (SRRP) is a major adhesin in Gram-positive bacteria. Using lectin and sugar nucleotide profiling of wild-type or L. reuteri isogenic mutants, MALDI-ToF-MS, LC-MS and GC-MS analyses of SRRPs, we showed that L. reuteri strains 100-23C (from rodent) and ATCC 53608 (from pig) can perform protein O-glycosylation and modify SRRP100-23 and SRRP53608 with Hex-Glc-GlcNAc and di-GlcNAc moieties, respectively. Furthermore, in vivo glycoengineering in E. coli led to glycosylation of SRRP53608 variants with α-GlcNAc and GlcNAcβ(1→6)GlcNAcα moieties. The glycosyltransferases involved in the modification of these adhesins were identified within the SecA2/Y2 accessory secretion system and their sugar nucleotide preference determined by saturation transfer difference NMR spectroscopy and differential scanning fluorimetry. Together, these findings provide novel insights into the cellular O-protein glycosylation pathways of gut commensal bacteria and potential routes for glycoengineering applications

Psl. *marьnъ a další odvozeniny od kořene *mar‑ / Psl. *marьnъ in druge izpeljave iz korena *mar‑

This article discusses the Proto-Slavic words *marьnъ, *mariti, *mara, and other derivatives from the root *mar‑ whose etymological and word-formation relations are puzzling and are interpreted differently by various authors. Departing from the meanings of individual words, the article draws the most plausible picture of their etymological and word-formation relations.Prispevek se ukvarja s psl. besedami *marьnъ, *mariti, *mara in drugimi izpeljavami iz korena *mar‑, katerih etimološka in besedotvorna razmerja so prepletena in jih različni avtorji interpretirajo različno. Na podlagi pomenov posameznih besed se prispevek trudi za kar najbolj verjetno podobo njihovih etimoloških in besedotvornih razmerij