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Inspections are an efficient means of enhancing the reliability of redundant structural systems subjected to fatigue.To investigate the effect of such inspections, we represent the deterioration state of a Daniels system by means of a probabilistic fatigue crack growth model of all elements, which considers stochastic dependence among element fatigue behavior. We include inspection results in the
Prototypes of wind turbines of the megawatt class are to be built and tested starting from 2008 at the German offshore wind energy test site in the North Sea. To ensure a high operational reliability of future generations of offshore wind conversion systems (OWEC) with economically acceptable repair and maintenance efforts, comprehensive diagnosis and supervision concepts are required. Automatic m
This paper presents an integrated simulation-based methodology for considering the effects of weather on formwork removal times. An expert tool for estimating formwork removal times and weather data with high resolution are integrated into a discrete-event simulation model containing a process model of in-situ concrete wall operations. In addition, operational measures (denoted as curing strategie
A software breast phantom, based upon a breast tissue model derived from physical properties of breast anatomy, has been developed for mammography simulation. Synthetic mammograms, obtained by applying a breast compression model and an x-ray acquisition model to the software breast phantom, were compared by quantitative and qualitative means with real mammograms at different scales. Good agreement
This chapter argues for a new listening practice for electroacoustic music (EAM) that I call “deep situated listening”. “Deep situated listening” builds on existing EAM-theories, aesthetics and practices – which I here collectively refer to as the “hearing heads” approach – but extends this approach by adding an explicitly feminist perspective. “Deep situated listening” combines Donna Haraway’s no
It is known for more than 100 years that the intestinal microbes are important for the host's health and the last decade this is being intensely studied with a focus on the mechanistic aspects. Among the fundamental functions of the intestinal microbiome are the priming of the immune system, the production of essential vitamins and the energy harvest from foods. By now, several dozens of diseases,
In speech, the connection between sounds and word meanings is mostly arbitrary. However, among basic concepts of the vocabulary, several words can be shown to exhibit some degree of form–meaning resemblance, a feature labelled vocal iconicity. Vocal iconicity plays a role in first language acquisition and was likely prominent also in pre-historic language. However, an unsolved question is how voca
Trust is one of the key factors that determines success or failure of any software project. However, achieving and maintaining trust in distributed software projects, when team members are geographically, temporally and culturally distant from each other, is a remarkable challenge. This paper explores the dynamics of trust and best practices performed in software organizations to address trust-rel
Accurate atomic data are essential for opacity calculations and for abundance analyses of the Sun and other stars. The aim of this work is to provide accurate and extensive results of energy levels and transition data for C i–iv. The Multiconfiguration Dirac–Hartree–Fock and relativistic configuration interaction methods were used in this work. To improve the quality of the wavefunctions and reduc
In older adults, few studies confirm that adequate concentrations of antibiotics are achieved using current dosage regimens of intravenous β-lactam antibiotics. Our objective was to investigate trough concentrations of cefotaxime, meropenem, and piperacillin in older adults hospitalized with infection. We included 102 patients above 70 years of age. Total trough antibiotic concentrations were meas
Achieving a more circular production and consumption pattern will require consumers to make proactive choices regarding practices such as repair and product life extension. However, galvanizing such choices and practices may not be left alone up to consumers because their behaviors are driven not only by internal factors (e.g., attitude and motivation), but also by external (e.g., economic, social
Raman spectra of soot particles were monitored in the gaseous flow extracted from the burning regions of two low-pressure premixed ethylene flames, for the first time. The flame conditions were chosen to explore the diversity of soot nanostructure in slightly sooting flames. Evaluation of the Raman spectral parameters revealed that the soot particles exhibited a strongly disordered structure and a
Patients with cold urticaria can after exposure to cold air or infusions react with hypotension and cardiovascular collapse. We here report on a patient having a severe cold urticaria who because of angina required myocardial revascularization: She was successfully operated in normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass with cardioplegia.
The effect of a nonspherical particle shape on the dynamics in crowded solutions presents a significant challenge for a comprehensive understanding of interaction and structural relaxation in biological and soft matter. We report that small deviations from a spherical shape induce a nonmonotonic contribution to the crowding effect on the short-time cage diffusion compared with spherical systems, u
Research has been performed model the dynamics of different kinds of wastewater treatment systems. Plant models are built up from standard modules of subprocesses. Available model knowledge has been packaged into suitable software modules and a library of simulation models has been created. The paper describes this library and the kind of simulations that can be performed.
A computer simulated microworld was used to study risk management in a critical infrastructure context. 36 students assumed the role of an electric distribution company Chief Executive Officer (CEO) making decision on how to spend resources between investments in risk reduction and other investments. We studied the effect of differences in terms of the incentives to invest in risk reduction and th
Performing risk assessments for hierarchical, multi-functional systems, such as a municipality, is an activity that requires input from a multitude of actors. In such systems risk assessments can be performed at many system levels and support different types of decisions. For issues that are constrained to a specific sub-system, such as a municipal department, decisions can be preferably taken at
With ultraviolet illumination, we have found a broad UV-induced absorption in the blue and some involvement of Pr ions in Pr:LiNbO 3 . Transient and stable absorption induced by UV illumination was analyzed at 457, 514, and 633 nm and could be explained by hole trap centers and iron ions. We also studied the effects
Stars formed in clusters can encounter other stars at close distances. In typical open clusters in the Solar neighbourhood containing hundreds or thousands of member stars, 10-20 per cent of Solar-mass member stars are expected to encounter another star at distances closer than 100 au. These close encounters strongly perturb the planetary systems, directly causing ejection of planets or their capt
Pathogens that invade the human host are confronted by a multitude of defence mechanisms aimed at preventing colonization, dissemination and proliferation. The most frequent outcome of this interaction is microbial elimination, in which the complement system plays a major role. Complement, an essential feature of the innate immune machinery, rapidly identifies and marks pathogens for efficient rem
