Systems Integration in Infrastructure Projects: Seven Lessons from Crossrail

We propose a systems integration model for the delivery of complex infrastructure projects. We argue that the client is ultimately accountable for systems integration in major projects, setting out the responsibilities to ensure that systems integration is successfully accomplished to achieve desired outcomes. From the Crossrail case, we draw seven lessons for clients, to: 1) manage programme delivery as an integration activity; 2) actively manage systems integration; 3) ensure authority to make decisions; 4) maintain configuration control; 5) plan for a lengthy testing and commissioning phase; 6) appreciate supply chain products may be part of unaligned global R&D and development programmes; and 7) do final integration only when there is something to integrate. Central to our argument is the idea that on such complex projects, the client cannot outsource systems integration and thus needs to recognize they retain accountability, though roles and responsibilities can be assigned to the delivery partner, supply chain, chief engineer and/or contracted systems integration firm. A key question for the client at the outset is how to distribute interface management and systems integration responsibilities while retaining accountability and oversight. Rather than managing through contracts, budgets and schedules, we suggest a changed approach with priority given to managing integration, and contracts, budgets and schedules that support and incentivise this.

ASYMPTOTIC METHODS OF ANALYSIS IN ELECTRODYNAMICS

Рассматривается метод геометрической дифракции и физической оптики, который является одним из самых точных и эффективных для решения крупных электродинамических задач. Для анализа характеристик процесса приводится его математическое описание, а также для сравнения с ним приведено описание метода конечного интегрирования, который является наиболее популярным и эффективным для малых объектов. Так показано, что применение метода МКИ невозможно для крупных объектов, так как в процессе сеточного разбиения происходит создание слишком большого числа ячеек для расчета, что значительно усложняет процедуру анализа. Для оценки эффективности и точности метода было произведено моделирование антенного элемента, который установлен на корабле-носителе. Так, характеристики излучателя рассчитывались с использованием метода конечного интегрирования, после чего характеристики диаграмм направленности передавались в проект с кораблем, затем производилось моделирование с использованием метода SBR. Итоговые результаты моделирования показали высокую эффективность и точность метода, а возможность установки шага сканирования позволяет управлять временем моделирования, однако стоит учитывать, что слишком большой шаг приводит к снижению точности анализа The article discusses the method of geometric diffraction and physical optics, which is one of the most accurate and effective for solving large electrodynamic problems. To analyze the characteristics of the process, we give its mathematical description and, for comparison, a description of the final integration method, which is the most popular and effective for small objects. Thus, we show that the application of the MCI method is impossible for large objects since in the process of grid division, too many cells are created for the calculation, which significantly complicates the analysis procedure. To assess the effectiveness and accuracy of the method, we simulated the antenna element, which is installed on the carrier ship. We calculated the characteristics of the emitter using the method of finite integration, after which we transferred the characteristics of the radiation patterns to the project with the ship, then we carried out the simulation using the SBR method. The final results of modeling showed high efficiency and accuracy of the method, and the ability to set the scanning step allows you to control the simulation time, however, it should be borne in mind that too large a step leads to a decrease in the accuracy of the analysis.

Mercury Toxicity and Neurogenesis in the Mammalian Brain

The mammalian brain is formed from billions of cells that include a wide array of neuronal and glial subtypes. Neural progenitor cells give rise to the vast majority of these cells during embryonic, fetal, and early postnatal developmental periods. The process of embryonic neurogenesis includes proliferation, differentiation, migration, the programmed death of some newly formed cells, and the final integration of differentiated neurons into neural networks. Adult neurogenesis also occurs in the mammalian brain, but adult neurogenesis is beyond the scope of this review. Developing embryonic neurons are particularly susceptible to neurotoxicants and especially mercury toxicity. This review focused on observations concerning how mercury, and in particular, methylmercury, affects neurogenesis in the developing mammalian brain. We summarized information on models used to study developmental mercury toxicity, theories of pathogenesis, and treatments that could be used to reduce the toxic effects of mercury on developing neurons.

Prosthodontics Using Removable Platform Switching Technologies (Multiunit, On1) as Exemplified by Conical Connection Implant Systems for Early and Immediate Loading

The removable platform switching technology (multiunit, Оn1) was tested intraoperatively using the passive placement technique as exemplified by a conical connection implant system, which makes it possible to visually control the placement of these platforms with respect to the alveolar bone in the correct orthopedic position. The technology is characterized by a rapid epithelialization of tissues around the base platform until the final integration of the implant, minimal trauma in the emergence profile zone, and an improved minimally invasive orthopedic protocol for working on a removable platform switching base.

Abstract P230: Integration of Regional Administrative, Registry and Vital Databases for Ischemic Stroke Hospitalizations

Background: Administrative databases seldom include detailed clinical variables or final vital status, limiting the scope of population-based studies. We demonstrate a comprehensive process for integrating 3 databases (statewide all-payor inpatient hospitalizations [hospitalizations], Paul Coverdell National Acute Stroke Program Registry [registry] and Registry of Vital Statistics and Records [vitals]) into a single statewide stroke database. Methods: The 3 MA databases spanned 2008-2017 among 49 hospitals covering over 80% of the state’s stroke volume. Our integration process was composed of 3 phases: 1) hospitalizations-registry linkage, 2) hospitalizations-vitals linkage, and 3) final integration of all 3 databases (Figure). Following the assessments of linkage feasibility based on data uniqueness levels, rule-based deterministic linkage on indirect identifiers were applied in the first two phases. We validated the linkages by comparing additional patient variables not used in the linkage process. Results: Using 47,113 stroke admissions in the hospitalizations database, and 43,487 admissions in the registry from 01/01/2008 to 09/30/2015, we were able to link 38,493 (80.7%) of encounters, 95% of which were validated. There were 391,176 deaths reported between 01/01/2010 and 03/06/2017 in the vitals database; 10,660 encounters (27.7%) in the hospitalizations were linked to deaths, which reflects the cumulative mortality over the 7 year period among all registry-linked ischemic stroke hospitalization records. Conclusion: We demonstrate that a high-quality integration of statewide hospitalizations, clinical registry and vital data is achievable based on a data linkage strategy that leverages indirect identifiers. Our data integration framework which takes advantage of rich clinical data in registries with long term outcomes in claims or vital records may allow for larger scale outcome studies at reasonable cost.

OmicsTIDE: Interactive Exploration of Trends in Multi-Omics Data

MotivationThe increasing amount of data produced by omics technologies has significantly improved the understanding of how biological information is transferred across different omics layers and to which extent it is involved in the manifestation of a given phenotype. Besides data-driven analysis strategies, interactive visualization tools have been developed to make the analysis in the multi-omics field more transparent. However, most state-of-the-art tools do not reconstruct the impact of a given omics layer on the final integration result. In general, the amount of omics data analyses strategies and the fields of applications lack a clearer classification of the different approaches.ResultsWe developed a classification for omics data focusing on different aspects of multi-omics data sets, such as data type and experimental design. Based on this classification we developed the Omics Trend-comparing Interactive Data Explorer (OmicsTIDE), an interactive visualization tool developed to address the limitations of current visualization approaches in the multi-omics field. The tool consists of an automated part that clusters omics data to determine trends and an interactive visualization. The trends are visualized as profile plots and are connected by a Sankey diagram that allows an interactive pairwise trend comparison to discover concordant and discordant trends. Moreover, large-scale omics data sets are broken down into small subsets of concordant and discordant regulatory trends within few analysis steps. We demonstrate the interactive analysis using OmicsTIDE with two case studies focusing on different types of experimental designs.AvailabilityOmicsTIDE is a web tool and available via http://tuevis.informatik.uni-tuebingen.de/[email protected]

Political and legal institutionalization of a religious component in modern Russian education

Introduction: the article is devoted to institutionalization of the religious component in Russian education; the main stages that determine the specificity of its manifestation are outlined. Objectives: identifying the stages and features of political and legal institutionalization of the religious component in modern Russian education. Methods: analysis of public authorities documents, secondary data analysis. Results: four stages in the institutionalization process have been highlighted: preliminary stage, characterized by a wide public discourse on the necessity and legitimacy of including a religious component in education; the stage of formalization and testing the norms; the stage of final integration of religious component into education; stage of discussing the new Federal State Educational Standard and the secularization of modules. The features of institutionalization process have been revealed. Conclusions: attempts have been made to find a middle ground between the secularity of education and the spiritual and moral education of students by teaching the course on “Fundamentals of Religious Cultures and Secular Ethics”. However, there is reason to believe that formal requirements are not fully met or are tacitly ignored locally, which creates new challenges for legislative regulation and a field for further research.

The Machine Vision Measurement Module of the Modularized Flexible Precision Assembly Station for Assembly of Micro- and Meso-Sized Parts

The machine vision measurement module is indispensable for the Modularized Flexible Precision Assembly Station (MFPAS), which is a fully automatic assembly system being developed at Dalian University of Technology (DUT). MFPAS consists of basic and additional modules, and are expected to be flexible, expandable, and re-configurable to adapt to a variety of parts with a large size range, requiring the machine vision measurement module to be able to achieve accurate measurement of position, as well as orientation of the parts with different size scale. An automatic zooming vision system was set up for evaluation and final integration in MFPAS. Pixel equivalent, principal point and orientation deviation of images were analyzed and experimentally studied using different magnifications of the lens. A new template with circular patterns of different diameters was designed for zoom-lens calibration. The experiments show that the measurement error caused by the variation of the pixel equivalent, principal point and orientation is estimated under 10 μm without online calibration. When high accuracy is required, online calibration can be employed during assembly. The evaluation results of the vision system with or without on-line calibration were given for a better trade-off between accuracy and efficiency during assembly.

Prediction of the development cost of commercial aviation aircraft

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop a flexible design-oriented development cost method for commercial aviation aircraft based on small sample and poor information. Design/methodology/approach To predict the development cost of commercial aviation aircraft accurately, the methodology is based on the collected cost data and actual technical, and then the cost prediction relationships derived from an exhaustive statistical and filtered from regression analysis are incorporated. A series of regression equations with high regression coefficient are yielded after the cost driving factors of the development cost are fixed. Next, several sets of equations with high regression coefficient are selected for final integration. It is a flexible method that can be used efficiently to predict the cost of commercial aviation aircraft. Findings The development of commercial aviation aircraft has relatively a late start and no cost prediction model has been suitable for small sample, the proposed method is expected and is rather desirable. Practical implications By comparing the approach with the ordinary regression model and back propagation (BP) neural network, the scheme in this work is more efficient and convenient. Originality/value The results obtained in this paper show that the proposed method not only has a certain degree of versatility, but also can provide a preliminary prediction of the development cost of commercial aviation aircraft.

Bioactive Titanium Surfaces: Interactions of Eukaryotic and Prokaryotic Cells of Nano Devices Applied to Dental Practice

Background: In recent years, many advances have been made in the fields of bioengineering and biotechnology. Many methods have been proposed for the in vitro study of anatomical structures and alloplastic structures. Many steps forward have been made in the field of prosthetics and grafts and one of the most debated problems lies in the biomimetics and biocompatibility of the materials used. The contact surfaces between alloplastic material and fabric are under study, and this has meant that the surfaces were significantly improved. To ensure a good contact surface with the cells of our body and be able to respond to an attack by a biofilm or prevent the formation, this is the true gold standard. In the dental field, the study of the surfaces of contact with the bone tissue of the implants is the most debated, starting from the first concepts of osteointegration. Method: The study searched MEDLINE databases from January 2008 to November 2018. We considered all the studies that talk about nanosurface and the biological response of the latter, considering only avant-garde works in this field. Results: The ultimate aim of this study is to point out all the progress made in the field of bioengineering and biotechnologies about nanosurface. Surface studies allow you to have alloplastic materials that integrate better with our body and allow more predictable rehabilitations. Particularly in the field of dental implantology the study of surfaces has allowed us to make huge steps forward in times of rehabilitation. Overcoming this obstacle linked to the time of osseointegration, however, today the real problem seems to be linked to the “pathologies of these surfaces”, or the possible infiltration, and formation of a biofilm, difficult to eliminate, being the implant surface, inert. Conclusions: The results of the present investigation demonstrated how nanotechnologies contribute substantially to the development of new materials in the biomedical field, being able to perform a large number of tests on the surface to advance research. Thanks to 3D technology and to the reconstructions of both the anatomical structures and eventually the alloplastic structures used in rehabilitation it is possible to consider all the mechanical characteristics too. Recent published papers highlighted how the close interaction between cells and the biomaterial applied to the human body is the main objective in the final integration of the device placed to manage pathologies or for rehabilitation after a surgical tumor is removed.