Cost-Benefit Based Maintenance Optimization for Deteriorating Structures

In recent years increasingly consideration has been given to the lifetime extension of existing structures. This is based on the fact that a growing percentage of civil infrastructure as well as buildings is threatened by obsolescence and that due to simple monetary reasons this can no longer be countered by simply re-building everything anew. Hence maintenance interventions are required which allow partial or complete structural rehabilitation. However, maintenance interventions have to be economically reasonable, that is, maintenance expenditures have to be outweighed by expected future benefits. Is this not the case, then indeed the structure is obsolete - at least in its current functional, economic, technical, or social configuration - and innovative alternatives have to be evaluated. An optimization formulation for planning maintenance interventions based on cost-benefit criteria is proposed herein. The underlying formulation is as follows: (a) between maintenance interventions structural deterioration is described as a random process; (b) maintenance interventions can take place anytime throughout lifetime and comprise the rehabilitation of all deterioration states above a certain minimum level; and (c) maintenance interventions are optimized by taking into account all expected life-cycle costs (construction, failure, inspection and state-dependent repair costs) as well as state- or time-dependent benefit rates. The optimization is performed by an evolutionary algorithm. The proposed approach also allows to determine optimal lifetimes and acceptable failure rates. Numerical examples demonstrate the importance of defining benefit rates explicitly. It is shown, that the optimal solution to maintenance interventions requires to take action before reaching the acceptable failure rate or the zero expected net benefit rate level. Deferring decisions with respect to maintenance not only results, in general, in higher losses, but also results in overly hazardous structures.Die Verlängerung der Nutzungsdauer bestehender Tragwerke hat in den letzten Jahren zunehmend an Bedeutung gewonnen. Dies liegt in der Tatsache begründet, dass ein nicht unerheblicher Anteil der Infrastruktur wie auch an Gebäuden durch Überalterung bedroht ist, und dass es aus rein wirtschaftlichen Gründen nicht länger möglich ist diesen Zustand durch Neubau zu entgegnen. Es sind also Instandhaltungsstrategien notwendig, die eine teilweise oder vollständige Revitalisierung von Tragwerken erlauben. Allerdings müssen diese Instandhaltungsstrategien auch einen volkswirtschaftlichen Sinn haben, das heißt die entsprechenden Aufwendungen müssen durch einen zukünftig zu erwartenden Nutzen aufgewogen werden. Ist dies nicht der Fall, so sind die Tragwerke in der Tat veraltet - zumindest in ihrer momentanen funktionellen, wirtschaftlichen, technischen oder gesellschaftlichen Bedeutung - und Alternativvorschläge müssen untersucht werden. In dieser Arbeit wird die Planung von Instandhaltungsmaßnahmen als Optimierungsaufgabe unter Verwendung von Kosten-Nutzen-Kriterien formuliert. Die zugrunde liegende Beschreibung ist wie folgt: (a) die Abnahme der Tragfähigkeit zwischen den Instandhaltungsmaßnahmen wird als Zufallsprozess beschrieben; (b) die Instandhaltungsmaßnahmen können jederzeit während der Nutzungsdauer stattfinden und bestehen in der Reparatur von Schadenszuständen eines gewissen Niveaus; (c) die Instandhaltungsmaßnahmen werden hinsichtlich aller Lebensdauerkosten (Errichtungs-, Versagens-, Inspektions- und schadensabhängiger Reparaturkosten) sowie des zustands- und zeitabhängigen Nutzens optimiert. Die Optimierung erfolgt mit Hilfe eines evolutionären Algorithmus. Die vorgeschlagene Formulierung erlaubt darüber hinaus auch die Bestimmung von optimalen Nutzungsdauern und zulässigen Versagensraten. Die Rechenbeispiele weisen die Bedeutung einer expliziten Ausweisung des Nutzens aus. Es wird gezeigt, dass eine optimale Strategie für Instandhaltungsmaßnahmen ein aktiv werden vor Erreichen zulässiger Versagensraten oder dem Verschwinden des Nettonutzens je Zeiteinheit erfordert. Das Aufschieben von Entscheidungen bezüglich der Durchführung von Instandhaltungsmaßnahmen zieht in der Regel nicht nur höhere Folgekosten nach sich, sondern resultiert auch in Tragwerke mit unzulässig hohem Gefährdungspotential

Seasonal contrasts in individual consistency of oriental honey buzzards' migration

Funding: This project was supported by the Ministry of the Environment in Japan, and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Overseas Research Fellowship (to S.S.: H28/1018).Individual consistency in migration can shine light on the mechanisms of migration. Most studies have reported that birds are more consistent in the timing than in the routes or stopover sites during migration, but some specialist species showed the opposite patterns, being more consistent in spatial than temporal aspects of migration. One possible explanation for this contrast is that specialists rely on particular food or habitat resources, which restrict the migratory routes they can take, leading to high spatial consistency. If this is the case, the effect of specialist foraging should become apparent only when birds forage, instead of fasting and flying continuously. To test this effect, we analysed individual consistency in migration of the oriental honey buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus), a specialist raptor that feeds on honeybees and wasps, using a long-term tracking dataset. As honey buzzards make extended stopovers during which they forage in spring but not in autumn, the spatial consistency should be higher in spring than in autumn. Honey buzzards were highly consistent in both their migratory routes and stopover sites in Southeast Asia, but only during spring migration. Our results highlight an important link between species' migratory consistency and foraging ecology.PostprintPeer reviewe

Genetic suppression analysis in novel vacuolar processing enzymes reveals their roles in controlling sugar accumulation in tomato fruits

In plant cells, many vacuolar proteins are synthesized as precursors in the endoplasmic reticulum and are subsequently transported to the vacuole. These precursors are subject to post-translational modifications to allow the active mature forms to be produced. Vacuolar processing enzyme (VPE) has been identified as a family of cysteine proteases involved in protein maturation in the vacuole. In this study, novel VPE genes were isolated from tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), and they were designated SlVPE1–SlVPE5. Phylogenic analysis suggested that SlVPE1 and SlVPE2 were categorized as the seed coat type, SlVPE4 was categorized as the seed type, and both SlVPE3 and SlVPE5 were categorized as the vegetative type. Expression analysis demonstrated that these genes were expressed during fruit development, and that their expression profiles agreed with this classification. High VPE enzyme activity was observed during tomato fruit development; the enzyme activity was correlated with the SlVPE mRNA levels, indicating that the SlVPE encoded active VPE proteins. The total sugar content was higher in RNA interference (RNAi) lines compared with the control plants, suggesting negative roles for SlVPE in sugar accumulation. The quantitative expression analysis of each SlVPE gene in the RNAi lines suggested that the suppression of SlVPE5 probably had the strongest effect on the sugar accumulation observed. The suppression of SlVPE did not influence the total amino acid content, suggesting that the molecular targets of SlVPE were mainly involved in sugar accumulation

Aminophospholipids are signal-transducing TREM2 ligands on apoptotic cells

Variants of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) are associated with an increased incidence of Alzheimer’s disease, as well as other neurodegenerative disorders. Using a newly developed,highly sensitive reporter cell model, consisting of Jurkat T cells stably overexpressing a reporter gene and a gene encoding TREM2DAP12 fusion protein, we show here that TREM2-dependent signal transduction in response to apoptotic Neuro2a cells is mediated by aminophospholipid ligands,phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylethanolamine, which are not exposed on the intact cell surface, but become exposed upon apoptosis. We also show that signal-transducing TREM2 ligands different from aminophospholipids, which appear to be derived from neurons, might be present in membrane fractions of mouse cerebral cortex. These results may suggest that TREM2 regulates microglial function by transducing intracellular signals from aminophospholipids on apoptotic cells, as well as unidentified ligands in the membranes of the cerebral cortex

The Order Calculation in the Engineering Company

Import 23/07/2015Diplomová práce je zpracovávána ve společnosti Hagemann a.s. Celá práce se zabývá kalkulací veřejné zakázky Ministerstva vnitra ČR na dodání speciálně upravených policejních vozidel pro monitoring reálných hrozeb. Diplomová práce je rozdělena na dvě základní části, a to teoretickou část a praktickou část. První z částí je popsána problematika veřejných zakázek a hospodářská činnost v podniku. V druhé části je proveden rozbor předmětu veřejné zakázky. Dále byl zpracován návrh postupu plnění zakázky v prostorách společnosti, na které navazuje cenová kalkulace. V závěru práce jsou výsledky práce vyhodnoceny.Master thesis is processed in the company Hagemann a.s. The thesis deals with the calculation of public procurement from Ministry of the Interior to supply police vehicles specially adapted for monitoring real threats. The thesis is divided into two parts, the theoretical and practical part. The first part describes the issue of public procurement and economic activities in the company. The second part is analyzing subject of the contract. Further was processed a proposal for the execution of the contract in the company's premises, which is followed by a calculation and types of costs. In conclusion, the results of the work are evaluated.345 - Katedra mechanické technologievýborn

Post-intervention Status in Patients With Refractory Myasthenia Gravis Treated With Eculizumab During REGAIN and Its Open-Label Extension

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether eculizumab helps patients with anti-acetylcholine receptor-positive (AChR+) refractory generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) achieve the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) post-intervention status of minimal manifestations (MM), we assessed patients' status throughout REGAIN (Safety and Efficacy of Eculizumab in AChR+ Refractory Generalized Myasthenia Gravis) and its open-label extension. METHODS: Patients who completed the REGAIN randomized controlled trial and continued into the open-label extension were included in this tertiary endpoint analysis. Patients were assessed for the MGFA post-intervention status of improved, unchanged, worse, MM, and pharmacologic remission at defined time points during REGAIN and through week 130 of the open-label study. RESULTS: A total of 117 patients completed REGAIN and continued into the open-label study (eculizumab/eculizumab: 56; placebo/eculizumab: 61). At week 26 of REGAIN, more eculizumab-treated patients than placebo-treated patients achieved a status of improved (60.7% vs 41.7%) or MM (25.0% vs 13.3%; common OR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.1-4.5). After 130 weeks of eculizumab treatment, 88.0% of patients achieved improved status and 57.3% of patients achieved MM status. The safety profile of eculizumab was consistent with its known profile and no new safety signals were detected. CONCLUSION: Eculizumab led to rapid and sustained achievement of MM in patients with AChR+ refractory gMG. These findings support the use of eculizumab in this previously difficult-to-treat patient population. CLINICALTRIALSGOV IDENTIFIER: REGAIN, NCT01997229; REGAIN open-label extension, NCT02301624. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study provides Class II evidence that, after 26 weeks of eculizumab treatment, 25.0% of adults with AChR+ refractory gMG achieved MM, compared with 13.3% who received placebo

Minimal Symptom Expression' in Patients With Acetylcholine Receptor Antibody-Positive Refractory Generalized Myasthenia Gravis Treated With Eculizumab

The efficacy and tolerability of eculizumab were assessed in REGAIN, a 26-week, phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive (AChR+) refractory generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG), and its open-label extension

Seasonal contrasts in individual consistency of oriental honey buzzards' migration

Individual consistency in migration can shine light on the mechanisms of migration. Most studies have reported that birds are more consistent in the timing than in the routes or stopover sites during migration, but some specialist species showed the opposite patterns, being more consistent in spatial than temporal aspects of migration. One possible explanation for this contrast is that specialists rely on particular food or habitat resources, which restrict the migratory routes they can take, leading to high spatial consistency. If this is the case, the effect of specialist foraging should become apparent only when birds forage, instead of fasting and flying continuously. To test this effect, we analysed individual consistency in migration of the oriental honey buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus), a specialist raptor that feeds on honeybees and wasps, using a long-term tracking dataset. As honey buzzards make extended stopovers during which they forage in spring but not in autumn, the spatial consistency should be higher in spring than in autumn. Honey buzzards were highly consistent in both their migratory routes and stopover sites in Southeast Asia, but only during spring migration. Our results highlight an important link between species' migratory consistency and foraging ecology

Stopover data of oriental honey buzzards

Dates and locations of stopovers by oriental honey buzzards. Columns represent: bird ID, year, date of arrival, date of departure, number of days bird spent in stopover site, and latitude and longitude of centroid of stopover site

Cost-benefit based optimization of maintenance interventions for deteriorating structures

Cost-benefit based optimization of maintenance interventions for deteriorating structure