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A vacuum supersonic ejector is an indispensable pneumatic device placed in nearly all industrial production lines. This device, also called a zero-secondary flow ejector, is characterized by the maximum entrained flow and the minimum secondary pressure. Numerical simulations were carried out by means of the CFD toolbox OpenFOAM v8 and its solver HiSA, which uses the AUSM+up upwind scheme. A single-factor analysis of eight parameters was performed to find how the ejector’s performance was enhanced or decreased, while other parameters were fixed. Four parameters were subject to further analysis to find the geometry that improves the standalone performance of the ejector. The mixing chamber length is the parameter that most improves its performance; alone it leads to a 10% improvement. A multi-factor analysis, based on a fractional factorial design, is carried out with the four relevant parameters. Results indicate that the multi-factor analysis enhances the performance of the ejector by 10.4% and the mixing chamber length is the factor that most influences the improvement. Although a multi-factor design improves the performance, no significant relevance has been detected with respect to the mixing chamber length improvement alone. The improved performance of this device leads to a reduction in operating time and, as a consequence, results in significant energy savings.

When a new activity evolves by changes in a pre-existing enzyme this is likely to reduce the original activity, generating a functional trade-off. The properties of this trade-off will affect the continued evolution of both functions. If the trade-off is strong, gene duplication and subsequent divergence would be favored whereas if the trade-off is weak a bi-functional enzyme could evolve that performs both functions. We previously showed that when a bi-functional HisA enzyme was evolved under selection for both HisA and TrpF functions, evolution mainly proceeded via duplication-divergence and specialization, implying that the trade-off is strong between these two functions. Here, we examined this hypothesis by identifying the mutational pathways (i.e., the mutational landscape) in the Salmonella enterica HisA enzyme that conferred a TrpF-like activity, and examining the trade-offs between the original and new activity. For the HisA enzyme there are many different paths toward the new TrpF function, each with its own unique trade-off. A total of 16 single mutations resulted in HisA enzyme variants that acquired TrpF activity and only three of them maintained HisA activity. Twelve mutants were evolved further toward increased TrpF activity and during evolution toward improved TrpF activity the original HisA activity was completely lost in all lineages. We propose that, aside from various relevant ecological factors, two main genetic factors influence whether evolution of a new function proceeds via duplication – divergence (specialization) or by evolution of a generalist: (i) the relative mutation supply of the two pathways and (ii) the shape of the trade-off curve between the native and new function.

Bacteria belonging to the Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) are among the most important pathogens isolated from cystic fibrosis (CF) patients and in hospital acquired infections (HAI). Accurate identification of Bcc is questionable by conventional biochemical methods. Clonal typing of Burkholderia is also limited due to the problem with identification. Phenotypic identification methods such as VITEK2, protein signature identification methods like VITEK MS, Bruker Biotyper, and molecular targets such as 16S rRNA, recA, hisA and rpsU were reported with varying level of discrimination to identify Bcc. rpsU and/or 16S rRNA sequencing, VITEK2, VITEK MS and Bruker Biotyper could discriminate between Burkholderia spp. and non-Burkholderia spp. Whereas, Bcc complex level identification can be given by VITEK MS, Bruker Biotyper, and 16S rRNA/rpsU/recA/hisA sequencing. For species level identification within Bcc hisA or recA sequencing are reliable. Identification of Bcc is indispensable in CF patients and HAI to ensure appropriate antimicrobial therapy.

V projektni nalogi je kozolec predstavljen kot bivanjska hiša. Tradicionalni kozolec je dobil novo vlogo, ki je odraz potreb sodobne družbe. Skozi celotno projektno nalogo smo poskušali čim bolj ohraniti videz tradicionalnega kozolca, vendar pa je zaradi spremembe namembnosti to bil izziv. Da bi čim manj spremenili videz, smo uporabili naravni material: les in steklo, ki je manj opazno. Osnovni kozolec je tipičen dolenjski kozolec, zato je tudi umeščen v ta del Slovenije. Prenovljen arhitekturni spomenik je funkcijsko prilagojen tako, da ustreza potrebam štiričlanske družine bivanja v njem. In my project work the hayrack is introduced as a house. A traditional hayrack has gotten a new role, which is a reflection of modern society needs. Throughout the project, we tried to maintain the looks of a hayrack as traditional as possible. We had to modify the purpose of the building, so the looks were a challenge. To change the appearance, we used natural materials: wood and glass, that are less striking. A basic hayrack is a tipical hayrack of Dolenjska, which is why it is also placed to that part of Slovenia. A modernised architectural monument is modified by function so that it meets the needs of a family of four members.

V projektni nalogi so predstavljene majhne hiše, njihova zgodovina in razvoj ter kaj bi naj predstavljale. Prav tako se posvetimo tudi trenutni situaciji mladih, tematiki gradenj enodružinskih hiš v Sloveniji ter ekološki leseni gradnji. Pri načrtovanju se zato osredotočimo predvsem na oblikovanje hiše z minimalno kvadraturo ter na vse ugodnosti, ki jih takšna gradnja prinaša. V kasnejšem projektnem delu predstavimo lastno rešitev zasnove majhne hiše za mlad par, ob upoštevanju ekonomskih in ekoloških smernic gradnje. The project work deals with the field of small houses , their history, development and also, what they exactly represent. Also, we payed attention to the current situation of the young, theme of constructing single-family houses in Slovenia, as well as the ecological wooden construction. In planning and designing , we focus mostly on designing a house with minimal floor plan, and all the benefits which such house carries. The later part of the project represents our own solution of designing a small house for a young couple, within considering the economic as well as the ecological guidelines of construction.

Magistrsko delo se ukvarja s problematiko netrajnostne gradnje v ruralnem prostoru, katere izzivi se danes kažejo predvsem v spremenjenih vzorcih bivanja in gospodarskem položaju. Spremembe in razvoj na družbenem ter ekonomskem področju zahtevajo ponovni razmislek o pojmu bivanja in njenih alternacijah, prav tako postaja vedno večji izziv tudi gospodarstvo in ekonomsko stanje prebivalstva. Naloga arhitekture danes leži tako v njeni družbeni odgovornosti, v prepoznavanju omenjenih problemov ter iskanju ustreznih odgovorov na njih. Magistrsko delo tako obravnava več problemov, ki nastopijo pri snovanju sodobnega trajnostnega delovanja v ruralnem okolju. Ključni problem je, kako novo grajeno enoto umestiti v obsoječe ruralno-lokalno tkivo. To pomeni, da je potrebno temeljito raziskati osnove urbanizma in obdajajočo tipologijo. Ruralna identiteta je poseben, svojski značaj prostora, ki ta prostor prepoznavno zaznamuje in razlikuje od drugih urbanih prostorov. Kot tak predstavlja posebno kakovost v prostoru, saj omogoča lažjo orientacijo v prostoru. V času izrazite globalizacije postaja “lokalno in drugačno” posebna dragocena vrednota, saj se prebivalci z njo lažje poistovetimo, hkrati pa nam kakovostna ruralna struktura omogoča boljše pogoje bivanja. Bolj poenostavljeno pomeni ohranjanje identitete ruralne strukture to, da bomo pri zasnovi in gradnji objektov upoštevali merilo in postavitev drugih objektov na vasi in tako prispevali h kakovostnejšemu videzu celotnega območja, v katerem bomo živeli. The master's thesis deals with the issue of unsustainable construction in the rural area, which challenges today feature in changed patterns of living and economic situation. Changes and development in the social and economic sector require rethinking of the concept of residence and its alternations, also posing a growing challenge is the economy and economic situation of the population. The task of architecture today lies in its social responsibility, in identifying mentioned issues and to finding appropriate answers. The master's thesis deals with various problems that occur when planning a modern sustainable operation in rural areas. The main issue is how to fit the newly built unit in the existing rural-local fabric. This means that it is necessary to make a thorough investigation of the basics of urbanism and the surrounding typology. Rural identity is a particular, unique characteristic of an area, giving it a distinctive mark and distinguishing it from other urban areas. As such, it represents a special quality in the area, as it enables better orientation in that area. In a time of distinct globalization "local and different" becomes a special cherished value, since it is easier for the residents to identify with, simultaneously a high-quality rural structure allows for better living conditions. More simply put, preserving the identity of the rural structure means that when designing and constructing facilities, the scale and layout of other facilities will be put into account and thus it will contribute to a higher quality appearance of the whole area in which we will live.

V projektni nalogi je opisana lesena energijsko učinkovita gradnja, ki je v nadaljevanju predstavljena na konkretnem primeru. Prikazano je, da lahko tudi objekt nekompaktne oblike dosega podobno energijsko učinkovitost. Na koncu so predstavljeni tudi izračuni rabe energije, ki dokazujejo energijsko učinkovitost objekta. The project describes timber energy-efficient construction, which is further presented on the final project. It is shown, that also the building with non compact shape can achive similar level of energy efficiency as compact building. In the end, are also presented PHPP calculations, which demonstrate the energy effectiveness of the facility.

Prispevek obravnava problem ohranjanja raznolikosti pri novih stanovanjskih hišah in način vključevanja oblikovnih določil v sistem urejanja naselij. Pri tem sta ključni dve vprašanji: 1. kaj ohranjati (kateri fiziognomski elementi vpostavljajo identiteto regionalnega stavbarstva) in 2. kako ohranjati (kakšen naj bo režim ohranjanja v posameznih pokrajinah). The article deals with the problem of preserving a regional variety of new constructions and the way how to incorporate the preserving regime in the system of settlement regulation. Two questions were discoused: 1. what to preserve - which morphological features of authentic construction should new constructions imitate in order to preserve the regional identity of the buildings? and 2. how to preserve - how should regulations be incorporated into the system of settlement regulation?

How do microbes adapt to challenges from the environment? In this thesis, two distinct cases were examined through structural and biochemical methods. In the first, we followed a real-time protein evolution of HisA to a novel function. The second case was fusidic acid (FA) resistance mediated by the protein FusB in Staphylococcus aureus. In the first study, the aim was to understand how mutants of HisA from the histidine biosynthetic pathway could evolve a novel TrpF activity and further evolve to generalist or specialist enzymes. We solved the crystal structure of wild type Salmonella enterica HisA in its apo-state and the structures of the mutants D7N and D7N/D176A in complex with the substrate ProFAR. These two distinct complex structures showed us the coupled conformational changes of HisA and ProFAR before catalysis. We also solved crystal structures of ten mutants, some in complex with substrate or product. The structures indicate that bi-functional mutants adopt distinct loop conformations linked to the two functions and that mutations in specialist enzymes favor one of the conformations. We also observed biphasic relationships in which small changes in the activities of low-performance enzymes had large effects on fitness, until a threshold, above which large changes in enzyme performance had little effect on fitness. Fusidic acid blocks protein translation by locking elongation factor G (EF-G) to the ribosome after GTP hydrolysis in elongation and recycling of bacterial protein synthesis. To understand the rescue mechanism, we solved the crystal structure of FusB at 1.6Å resolution. The structure showed that FusB is a two-domain protein and C-terminal domain contains a treble clef zinc finger. Using hybrid constructs between S. aureus EF-G that binds to FusB, and E. coli EF-G that does not, the binding determinants were located to domain IV of EF-G. This was further supported by small-angle X-ray scattering studies of the FusB·EF-G complex. Using single-molecule methods, we observed FusB frequently binding to the ribosome and rescue of FA-inhibited elongation by effects on the non-rotated state ribosome. Ribosome binding of FusB was confirmed by isothermal titration calorimetry.

Diplomsko delo obravnava zasnovo kontejnerske hiše, postavljene na izbrani lokaciji v okolici izven mesta. Cilj je ustvariti učinkovito, konstrukcijsko in funkcijsko zasnovano zgradbo za mlado štiričlansko družino. Z alternativno gradnjo oz. recikliranjem starih ladijskih kontejnerjev bi zgradili finančno dosegljiv objekt, ki ustreza vsem standardom in omogoča kakovostno in udobno bivanje. V prvem delu je podan splošen opis ladijskih kontejnerjev, njihova sestava in konstrukcija, dimenzije ter transport. V nadaljevanju je predstavljena kontejnerska arhitektura s konkretnimi že postavljenimi primeri po svetu, s čimer želimo prikazati, da je takšen način gradnje primeren ne samo za začasne in počitniške zgradbe, temveč tudi za trajne in velike objekte. Projekt je zaključen z arhitekturno zasnovo kontejnerske hiše s kakovostnim interjerjem in eksterjerjem ter statično 3D-analizo, izvedeno v programu Tower 6, pri čemer je konstrukcija izračunana v skladu s standardi Evrokod. The diploma thesis deals with the design of a container house, situated at a selected location, in suburban surroundings. The goal is to design structural and functional efficient house for a four-member family. With an alternative way of building, that is recycling old used shipping containers, we can construct financially achievable structure which meets all the necessary standards and offers comfortable and high quality living conditions. The introduction of the thesis provides general description of the shipping containers, structure and construction, dimensions and the transport. The second part deals with the presentation of the shipping container architecture and highlights some existing cases worldwide, showing that not only temporary and holiday buildings but also permanent and big luxurious buildings can be made out of container boxes. In the conclusion the thesis introduces architectural design of a house with a quality interior and exterior design and also offers 3D construction analysis using the program Tower 6 in the accordance with Eurocode standards.

RM-ODP has been widely accepted and used in the field of system and software model engineering and of enterprise computing within different environments. One of these specific domains is healthcare, in which the international standard Health Information Services Architecture (HISA) is applied under the directives of RM-ODP. HISA presents a flexible architecture identifying common use cases, actors, information, and services and easing its extension with specific services, systems and information. The HISA standard follows system specification through the RM-ODP viewpoints but it does not consider other features of the reference model, such as the Enterprise language or the UML4ODP specification. In this paper, we introduce the rationale and specification of the three technology-independent viewpoints of an HISA-based architecture conforming to RM-ODP and UML4ODP. Moreover, we evaluate how easy it is to extend this architecture to introduce specific services and elements. As proof of concept we explore security and privacy issues (i.e., requirements, actors, information objects, etc.) and enrich the architecture with suitable objects and services, mainly from access control standardization efforts. In addition, a detailed discussion about the divergences between RM-ODP and HISA is presented. The main contribution of our work is to develop (guided by RM-ODP, HISA, and other standards) a methodology and tools allowing healthcare service developers and designers to build solutions conforming to standards and leveraging the benefits of distribution and interoperability. These tools consist of the specification of three technology-independent viewpoints according to the guidelines of HISA, RM-ODP and UML4ODP for the healthcare domain, and they will be freely available. In parallel, these viewpoints are extended with access control issues, and the adequacy of the HISA extension mechanism is evaluated.

La asertividad sexual constituye un factor determinante de la salud sexual que requiere en su evaluación de instrumentos con adecuadas garantías científicas. En este estudio instrumental se analizan algunas propiedades psicométricas del Hurlbert Index of Sexual Assertiveness (HISA) en dos muestras de mujeres hispanas (230 españolas y 300 salvadoreñas) de la población general, con edades comprendidas entre 17 y 70 años, que mantenían una relación de pareja heterosexual desde al menos tres meses. Los resultados encontrados indican que el LUSA constituye una medida unidimensional de la asertividad sexual, presentando una estructura factorial muy similar en ambas muestras y valores de consistencia interna en torno a 0,90, lo que evidencia su estabilidad transcultural. Además, las puntuaciones del LUSA correlacionaron de forma significativa con erotof ilia y autoestima, lo que aporta indicios sobre la validez de las medidas de la versión española de este instrumento. Se discute la relevancia del LUSA en la evaluación de la asertividad sexual en población hispana. Sexual assertiveness is a crucial factor in sexual health which requires instruments with adequate scientific guarantees for its assessment. In this instrumental study some of the psychometric properties of Hurlbert Index of Sexual Assertiveness (HISA) were analyzed in two samples of Hispanic women (230 Spanish and 300 Salvadorian) from the general population, with ages between 17 and 70 years oíd, who maintained a relationship with a heterosexual partner for at least three months. The results indícate that HISA is a one-dimensional measure of sexual assertiveness which presents very similar factorial structure in both samples, and ínternal consistency valúes around 0.90 which makes evident its transcultural stability. Additionally, the punctuations from HISA correlate significantly with erotophilia and self-esteem which indicares the validity of the measures of the Spanish versión of the ínstrument. The relevance of HISA in assessment of sexual assertiveness in Hispanic population is discussed.

Technology of today makes it possible to change the way traditional healthcare is conducted. As the population grows older, and the elderly is becoming an increasing part of the whole population, the need for cost efficient and personalised care increases. By implementing home healthcare IT projects, it is possible for more patients to be treated at home with sustained quality of care. This thesis documents the work of a master’s degree project carried out during the autumn of 2005. The project is part of a research project within the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Linköping University. The project aims at developing a data model for storing medical data. The model should be general and easy to expand. This model is intended to be used within a larger system allowing a patient to measure medical data from a remote location.

The management of clinical data is a complex task. Patient related information reported in patient folders is a set of heterogeneous and structured data accessed by different users having different goals (in local or geographical networks). XML language provides a mechanism for describing, manipulating, and visualising structured data in web-based applications. XML ensures that the structured data is managed in a uniform and transparent manner independently from the applications and their providers guaranteeing some interoperability. Extracting data from the healthcare record and structuring them according to XML makes the data available through browsers. The MIC/MIE model (Medical Information Category / Medical Information Elements) [1], which allows the definition and management of healthcare records and used in CADMIO, a HISA [5] based project, is described in this paper, using XML for allowing the data to be visualised through web browsers

Recent studies on triosephosphate isomerase (TIM)-barrel enzymes highlight the remarkable versatility of the TIM-barrel scaffold. At least 15 distinct enzyme families use this framework to generate the appropriate active site geometry, always at the C-terminal end of the eight parallel β-strands of the barrel. Sequence and structure comparisons now suggest that many of the TIM-barrel enzymes are evolutionarily related. Common structural properties of TIM-barrel enzymes are discussed.