Electric road vehicles - overview, concepts and research at Reutlingen university

The paper details the architecture of fully electrified vehicles as well as their new electronic systems. Examples of up-to-date electrical passenger cars are given. A very important question, that is the environmental foot-print of electrical vehicles compared to conventional ones, is examined. A research project is introduced where a fleet of two-wheeled vehicles is available for day-to-day use. Research on vehicles, software for fleet management and battery range prediction is described.В данной статье привeдены подробные сведения о принципе работы электрифицированных транспортных средств, а также описаны их новые электрические системы. Показан примеры уже существующих электрических пассажирских транспортных средств. Рассмотрено влияние электрифицированного транспорта на окружающую среду в сравнении с обычными видами транспорта. Приведен проект исследований, в рамках которого для ежедневного использования существует парк двух колесных электрифицированных транспортных средств. Описаны исследования, непосредственно связанные с электрифицированным транспортом, определением точного времени разряда батареи, а также программным обеспечением, позволяющим управлять парком таких транспортных средств.У статті наведено докладні відомості щодо принципів роботи електрифікованих транспортних засобів, а також описано їх нові електричні системи. Показано приклади вже існуючих електричних пасажирських транспортних засобів. Розглянуто вплив електрифікованого транспорту на навколишнє середовище у порівнянні із звичайними видами транспорту. На- ведено проект досліджень, у рамках якого існує парк двоколісних електрифікованих транспортних засобів для щоденного використання. Описано дослідження, безпосередньо пов'язані із електрифікованим транспортом, визначенням точного часу розряду батареї, а також програмним забезпеченням, що дозволяє керувати парком таких транспортних засобів

The requirement of matrix ATP for the import of precursor proteins into the mitochondrial matrix and intermembrane space

The role of ATP in the matrix for the import of precursor proteins into the various mitochondrial subcompartments was investigated by studying protein translocation at experimentally defined ATP levels. Proteins targeted to the matrix were neither imported or processed when matrix ATP was depleted. Import and processing of precytochrome b2, (pb2), a precursor carrying a bipartite presequence, into the intermembrane space was also strongly dependent on matrix ATP. Preproteins, consisting of 220 or more residues of pb2 fused to dihydrofolate reductase, showed the same requirement for matrix ATP, whereas the import of shorter fusion proteins (up to 167 residues of pb2) was largely independent of matrix ATP. For those intermembrane-space-targeted proteins that did need matrix ATP, the dependence could be relieved either by unfolding these proteins prior to import or by introducing a deletion into the mature portion of the protein thereby impairing the tight folding of the cytochrome b5 domain. These results suggest the following: (a) The import of matrix-targeted preproteins, in addition to a membrane potential ΔΨ, requires matrix ATP [most likely to facilitate reversible binding of mitochondrial heat-shock protein 70 (mt-Hsp70) to incoming precursors], for two steps, securing the presequence on the matrix side of the inner membrane and for the completion of translocation; (b) in the case of intermembrane-space-targeted precursors with bipartite signals, the function of ATP/mt-Hsp70 is not obligatory, as components of the intermembrane-space-sorting pathway may substitute for ATP/mt-Hsp70 function (however, if a tightly folded domain is present in the precursor, ATP/mt-Hsp70 is indispensable); (c) unfolding on the mitochondrial surface of tightly folded segments of preproteins is facilitated by matrix-ATP/mt-Hsp70

The Forensic Accountant in the Property and Casualty Insurance Claim Industry—Expense or a Cost Benefit

This paper describes how the insurance companies recognize and control the costs for loss payments and loss adjustment expenses (LLAE) while trying to be profitable. This discussion will concentrate on these costs and expenses within the property and casualty (P&C) insurance sector. Categorization as loss payment or loss adjustment expenses (LAE) may be a cost benefit in determining which cost or expense to incur, in order to be more profitable. As the specific aspects of the P&C insurance are laid out, to include underwriting the risk, to the claims end involving investigating the claim, the insurance company will take certain steps and make business decisions in resolving these matters. Within the LLAE, the utilization of the forensic accounting services in investigating these matters and the decision to utilize these services could change the overall cost to the insurance company and the determination of their profitability. The economy is going through some turmoil. Major catastrophes like 9/11 and Hurricane Sandy, along with the growth of insurance fraud, have made it a struggle for insurance companies to be profitable. The forensic accountant can be a fundamental tool in controlling costs and maximizing profits. The paper compares actual payments made by the carriers to the original costs for non-investigated claims. The overall savings is substantial. Applying these results to industry reported claims shows a large savings and this return on investment (ROI) becomes significant. Investigating claims by forensic accountants can lead to increased corporate profitability and benefit the consumer by reducing premiums

Energy flows along the production and use of secondary materials with a special focus on concrete

Urban mining in the existing building stock can contribute to securing raw materials and conserving natural resources if the potential of recycling construction waste is consistently exploited. From an ecological point of view, it is on the one hand interesting what amounts of primary materials can potentially be substituted and on the other how much energy need to be invested for this. At present, the recycling of construction waste usually is considered from a material perspective. There is lack of an approach, extending material-oriented considerations by energetic aspects. The aim is to develop a uniform research approach by which energy expenditure during recycling of important construction products can be determined. Besides concrete seven further construction products are  investigated. Recycling paths are described and analysed along waste management processing steps taking into account the quality of the demolition materials and the quality requirements of the possible new application variants in the construction sector. The result is a clear plea for more consistent recycling. The analyses of concrete indicate that "high-quality" recycling only results in energy advantages when "high-grade" demolition material is used. However, so-called "down-cycling" solutions allow resource conservation to be combined with energy savings, even with lower-quality demolition materials. The single-minded focus on "high-quality" recycling according to the general understanding should therefore be questioned. Instead, preference should be given to solutions that take resource conservation into account in a more holistic way especially with regard to resource conservation andclimate protection

Strengthening Circular Urbanization Based on Regional Material Cadastres

Urbanization, coupled with prosperity, is a major driver of building material consumption. As urbanization and prosperity grow, dynamically expanding societies will worsen the carrying capacity problem. Shifting from linear to circular urbanization models is key, aiming to close, slow, and narrow material flows. Understanding the materiality and dynamics of existing structures is crucial for designing these strategies, and regional material cadastres offer valuable support. This paper introduces the concept of regional material cadastres and provides examples of circularity strategy simulations based on German examples. Challenges, opportunities, and specific considerations for applying this method in areas with intense urbanization dynamics are discussed in an outlook, accompanied by a suggested research agenda. The urban city region of Hanoi is used as an example, considering previous research activities in the region

Stable isotopic labeling in proteomics

Labeling of proteins and peptides with stable heavy isotopes (deuterium, carbon-13, nitrogen-15, and oxygen-18) is widely used in quantitative proteomics. These are either incorporated metabolically in cells and small organisms, or postmetabolically in proteins and peptides by chemical or enzymatic reactions. Only upon measurement with mass spectrometers holding sufficient resolution, light, and heavy labeled peptide ions or reporter peptide fragment ions segregate and their intensity values are subsequently used for quantification. Targeted use of these labels or mass tags further leads to specific monitoring of diverse aspects of dynamic proteomes. In this review article, commonly used isotope labeling strategies are described, both for quantitative differential protein profiling and for targeted analysis of protein modifications

Targeted online liquid chromatography electron capture dissociation mass spectrometry for the localization of sites of in vivo phosphorylation in human Sprouty2

We demonstrate a strategy employing collision-induced dissociation for phosphopeptide discovery, followed by targeted electron capture dissociation (ECD) for site localization. The high mass accuracy and low background noise of the ECD mass spectra allow facile sequencing of coeluting isobaric phosphopeptides, with up to two isobaric phosphopeptides sequenced from a single mass spectrum. In contrast to the previously described neutral loss of dependent ECD method, targeted ECD allows analysis of both phosphotyrosine peptides and lower abundance phosphopeptides. The approach was applied to phosphorylation analysis of human Sprouty2, a regulator of receptor tyrosine kinase signaling. Fifteen sites of phosphorylation were identified, 11 of which are novel