Feasibility Study for Detection and Quantification of Corrosion in Bridge Barrier Rails, RB11-012, 2013

"Technical challenges exist with infrastructure that can be addressed by nondestructive evaluation (NDE) methods, such as detecting corrosion damage to reinforcing steel that anchor concrete bridge railings to bridge road decks. Moisture and chloride ions reach the anchors along the cold joint between the rails and deck, causing corrosion that weakens the anchors and ultimately the barriers. The Center for Nondestructive Evaluation at Iowa State University has experience in development of measurement techniques and new sensors using a variety of interrogating energies. This research evaluated feasibility of three technologies — x-ray radiation, ground-penetrating radar (GPR), and magnetic flux leakage (MFL) — for detection and quantification of corrosion of embedded reinforcing steel. Controlled samples containing pristine reinforcing steel with and without epoxy and reinforcing steel with 25 percent and 50 percent section reduction were embedded in concrete at 2.5 in. deep for laboratory evaluation. Two of the techniques, GPR and MFL, were used in a limited field test on the Iowa Highway 210 Bridge over Interstate 35 in Story County. The methods provide useful and complementary information. GPR provides a rapid approach to identify reinforcing steel that has anomalous responses. MFL provides similar detection responses but could be optimized to provide more quantitative correlation to actual condition. Full implementation could use either GPR or MFL methods to identify areas of concern, followed by radiography to give a visual image of the actual condition, providing the final guidance for maintenance actions." The full 103 page report and the 2 page Tech Transfer Summary are included in this link.

Minimal clinically meaningful differences for the EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-BN20 scales in brain cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to determine the smallest changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) scores in the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire core 30 and the Brain Cancer Module (QLQ-BN20), which could be considered as clinically meaningful in brain cancer patients. Materials and methods: World Health Organisation performance status (PS) and mini-mental state examination (MMSE) were used as clinical anchors appropriate to related subscales to determine the minimal clinically important differences (MCIDs) in HRQoL change scores (range 0-100) in the QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BN20. A threshold of 0.2 standard deviation (SD) (small effect) was used to exclude anchor-based MCID estimates considered too small to inform interpretation. RESULTS: Based on PS, our findings support the following integer estimates of the MCID for improvement and deterioration, respectively: physical (6, 9), role (14, 12), and cognitive functioning (8, 8); global health status (7, 4*), fatigue (12, 9), and motor dysfunction (4*, 5). Anchoring with MMSE, cognitive functioning MCID estimates for improvement and deterioration were (11, 2*) and for communication deficit were (9, 7). Estimates with asterisks were <0.2 SD and were excluded from our MCID range of 5-14. CONCLUSION: These estimates can help clinicians evaluate changes in HRQoL over time, assess the value of a health care intervention and can be useful in determining sample sizes in designing future clinical trials.

A new technique to improve tissue grip and contact force in arthroscopic capsulolabral repair: the MIBA stitch.

The success of anatomic repair of Bankart lesion diminishes in the presence of a capsule stretching and/or attenuation is reported in a variable percentage of patients with a chronic gleno-humeral instability. We introduce a new arthroscopic stitch, the MIBA stitch, designed with a twofold aim: to improve tissue grip to reduce the risk of soft tissue tear, particularly cutting through capsular-labral tissue, to and address capsule-labral detachment and capsular attenuation using a double loaded suture anchor. This stitch is a combination of horizontal mattress stitch passing through the capsular-labral complex in a "south-to-north" direction and an overlapping single vertical suture passing through the capsule and labrum in a "east-to-west" direction. The mattress stitch is tied before the vertical stitch in order to reinforce the simple vertical stitch, improving grip and contact force between capsular-labral tissue and glenoid bone.

Trapeziectomy and tendon suspension with or without a mitek anchor fixation in the thumb basal joint osteoarthritis.

Partial trapeziectomy with suspension ligamentoplasty is a commonly performed treatment of thumb osteoarthritis. Nevertheless, the post-operative recovery remains long and critical reason for which different modifications of the surgical technique have been proposed. To compare two suspension ligamentoplasty techniques, one with a mitek anchor and another without, a retrospective study of 55 consecutive operated patients was performed. A detailed clinical analysis of pain, function and a radiologic assessment of the trapeziometacarpal space were performed. Mitek anchor fixation was associated with a shorter convalescence period. However, in spite of an improved radiological maintenance of the scaphometacarpal space, mitek anchor fixation was associated with an impaired postoperative function and residual pain when compared with the conventional suspension ligamentoplasty procedure. Patient's satisfaction was comparable in both groups. In our series stabilization of the suspension ligamentoplasty procedure by the insertion of a mitek anchor did not bring the hoped benefits to the patients with a trapeziometacarpal arthritis.

The Value of the County Engineer: Strategies to Expand the Shrinking Employment Pool, HR-338, 1993

The first phase of this research involved an effort to identify the issues relevant to gaining a better understanding of the County Engineering profession. A related objective was to develop strategies to attract responsible, motivated and committed professionals to pursue County Engineering positions. In an era where a large percentage of County Engineers are reaching retirement age, the shrinking employment pool may eventually jeopardize the quality of secondary road systems not only in Iowa, but nationwide. As we move toward the 21st century, in an era of declining resources, it is likely that professional staff members in charge of secondary roads will find themselves working with less flexible budgets for the construction and maintenance of roads and bridges. It was important to understand the challenges presented to them, and the degree to which those challenges will demand greater expertise in prioritizing resource allocations for the rehabilitation and maintenance of the 10 million miles of county roads nationwide. Only after understanding what a county engineer is and what this person does will it become feasible for the profession to begin "selling itself", i.e., attracting a new generation of County Engineers. Reaching this objective involved examining the responsibilities, goals, and, sometimes, the frustrations experienced by those persons in charge of secondary road systems in the nine states that agreed to participate in the study. The second phase of this research involved addressing ways to counter the problems associated with the exodus of County Engineers who are reaching retirement age. Many of the questions asked of participants asked them to compare the advantages and disadvantages of public sector work with the private sector. Based on interviews with nearly 50 County Engineers and feedback from 268 who returned surveys for the research, issues relevant to the profession were analyzed and recommendations were made to the profession as it prepares to attract a new generation. It was concluded that both State and Regional Associations for County Engineers, and the National Association of County Engineers are most well-situated to present opportunities for continued professional development. This factor is appealing for those who are interested in competitive advantages as professionals. While salaries in the public sector may not be able to effectively compete with those offered by the private sector, it was concluded that this is only one factor of concern to those who are in the business of "public service". It was concluded, however, that Boards of Supervisors and their equivalents in other states will need to more clearly understand the value of the contributions made by County Engineers. Then the selling points the profession can hope to capitalize on can focus on the strength of state organizations and a strong national organization that act as clearinghouses of information and advocates for the profession, as well as anchors that provide opportunities for staying current on issues and technologies.

Intergroup distinctiveness and discriminatory immigration attitudes: The role of national identification

We examined the moderating role of national identification in understanding when a focus on intergroup similarity versus difference on ingroup stereotypical traits-manipulated with scale anchors-leads to support for discriminatory immigration policies. In line with intergroup distinctiveness research, national identification moderated the similarity-difference manipulation effect. Low national identifiers supported discriminatory immigration policies more when intergroup difference rather than similarity was made salient, whereas the opposite pattern was found for high national identifiers: They trended toward being more discriminatory when similarity was made salient. The impact of assimilation expectations and national identity content on the findings is discussed.

Outcome of a Modified Broström-Gould Procedure for Lateral Ankle Instability

Introduction: Ankle sprains affect 200'000 persons/year in Switzerland. Most incidences are successfully treated by conservative measures but 20% require reconstruction for symptomatic chronic lateral ankle instability. This study evaluates the functional outcome after a modified Broström-Gould technique as measured by different clinical scores and compares the functional outcome of this technique with other surgical treatments of ankle instability. Methods: This retrospective cohort study evaluates 47 patients who underwent a modified Broström-Gould procedure using suture anchors to refix the lateral ankle capsuloligamentary structures at our institution from 2005 to 2009 with a minimum follow-up of one year (13-72 Mo). All patients were operated by one single surgeon and evaluated by an independent examiner. The function was assessed using 4 scores including: the AOFAS (American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society's Score) hindfoot score; the FAAM (Foot and Ankle Ability Measurement); the CAIT (Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool); the CAIS (Chronic Ankle Instability Scale). Results: Six patients were excluded leaving 41 patients for examination. 34 patients (83%) thought that their ankle was more stable after the surgery, 7 (17%) did not feel any difference. 27 patients were very satisfied, 11 satisfied and 3 not satisfied. Reasons for non satisfaction included persistent instability and pain. Ankle mobility returned to normal in 93% of patients. Five patients had transcient hypoesthesy in the area of the superficial peroneal nerve. One patient suffered from a superficial infection treated successfully by local measures. 80% had the perception of a normal ankle, 20% thought to be below normal. At follow-up the AOFAS was 89/100 (37-100), the FAAM 85/100% (35-100%), the CAIT 20/30 (5-30), and the CAIS 74/100% (27-100%). Conclusions: The modified Broström-Gould procedure, which belongs to the anatomic ankle stabilizations is relatively simple and offers good outcome that satisfied 93% of the patients in the present study. No active stabilisator is sacrificed. Preservation of the ankle mobility is better and the complication rate is lower than after non-anatomical procedures described in the literature. The CAIT appeared as the most severe score compared to the other scales used in our study.

Trichophyton rubrum secreted and membrane-associated carboxypeptidases

Dermatophytes are the most common agents of superficial mycoses, and exclusively infect stratum corneum, nails or hair. Therefore, secreted proteolytic activity is considered a virulence trait of these fungi. In a medium containing protein as a sole nitrogen and carbon source Trichophyton rubrum secretes a metallocarboxypeptidase (TruMcpA) of the M14 family according to the MEROPS proteolytic enzyme database. TruMcpA is homologous to human pancreatic carboxypeptidase A, and is synthesized as a precursor in a preproprotein form. The propeptide is removed to generate the mature active enzyme alternatively by either one of two subtilisins which are concomitantly secreted by the fungus. In addition, T. rubrum was shown to possess two genes (TruSCPA and TruSCPB) encoding serine carboxypeptidases of the S10 family which are homologues of the previously characterized Aspergillus and Penicillium secreted acid carboxypeptidases. However, in contrast to the Aspergillus and Penicillium homologues, TruScpA and TruScpB enzymes are not secreted into the environment, but are membrane-associated with a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor. During infection, T. rubrum secreted and GPI-anchored carboxypeptidases may contribute to fungal virulence by cooperating with previously characterized endoproteases and aminopeptidases in the degradation of compact keratinized tissues into assimilable amino acids and short peptides.

GIS and geodatabases application to global scale plate tectonics modelling

Les reconstructions palinspastiques fournissent le cadre idéal à de nombreuses études géologiques, géographiques, océanographique ou climatiques. En tant qu?historiens de la terre, les "reconstructeurs" essayent d?en déchiffrer le passé. Depuis qu?ils savent que les continents bougent, les géologues essayent de retracer leur évolution à travers les âges. Si l?idée originale de Wegener était révolutionnaire au début du siècle passé, nous savons depuis le début des années « soixante » que les continents ne "dérivent" pas sans but au milieu des océans mais sont inclus dans un sur-ensemble associant croûte « continentale » et « océanique »: les plaques tectoniques. Malheureusement, pour des raisons historiques aussi bien que techniques, cette idée ne reçoit toujours pas l'écho suffisant parmi la communauté des reconstructeurs. Néanmoins, nous sommes intimement convaincus qu?en appliquant certaines méthodes et certains principes il est possible d?échapper à l?approche "Wégenerienne" traditionnelle pour enfin tendre vers la tectonique des plaques. Le but principal du présent travail est d?exposer, avec tous les détails nécessaires, nos outils et méthodes. Partant des données paléomagnétiques et paléogéographiques classiquement utilisées pour les reconstructions, nous avons développé une nouvelle méthodologie replaçant les plaques tectoniques et leur cinématique au coeur du problème. En utilisant des assemblages continentaux (aussi appelés "assemblées clés") comme des points d?ancrage répartis sur toute la durée de notre étude (allant de l?Eocène jusqu?au Cambrien), nous développons des scénarios géodynamiques permettant de passer de l?une à l?autre en allant du passé vers le présent. Entre deux étapes, les plaques lithosphériques sont peu à peu reconstruites en additionnant/ supprimant les matériels océaniques (symbolisés par des isochrones synthétiques) aux continents. Excepté lors des collisions, les plaques sont bougées comme des entités propres et rigides. A travers les âges, les seuls éléments évoluant sont les limites de plaques. Elles sont préservées aux cours du temps et suivent une évolution géodynamique consistante tout en formant toujours un réseau interconnecté à travers l?espace. Cette approche appelée "limites de plaques dynamiques" intègre de multiples facteurs parmi lesquels la flottabilité des plaques, les taux d'accrétions aux rides, les courbes de subsidence, les données stratigraphiques et paléobiogéographiques aussi bien que les évènements tectoniques et magmatiques majeurs. Cette méthode offre ainsi un bon contrôle sur la cinématique des plaques et fournit de sévères contraintes au modèle. Cette approche "multi-source" nécessite une organisation et une gestion des données efficaces. Avant le début de cette étude, les masses de données nécessaires était devenues un obstacle difficilement surmontable. Les SIG (Systèmes d?Information Géographiques) et les géo-databases sont des outils informatiques spécialement dédiés à la gestion, au stockage et à l?analyse des données spatialement référencées et de leurs attributs. Grâce au développement dans ArcGIS de la base de données PaleoDyn nous avons pu convertir cette masse de données discontinues en informations géodynamiques précieuses et facilement accessibles pour la création des reconstructions. Dans le même temps, grâce à des outils spécialement développés, nous avons, tout à la fois, facilité le travail de reconstruction (tâches automatisées) et amélioré le modèle en développant fortement le contrôle cinématique par la création de modèles de vitesses des plaques. Sur la base des 340 terranes nouvellement définis, nous avons ainsi développé un set de 35 reconstructions auxquelles est toujours associé un modèle de vitesse. Grâce à cet ensemble de données unique, nous pouvons maintenant aborder des problématiques majeurs de la géologie moderne telles que l?étude des variations du niveau marin et des changements climatiques. Nous avons commencé par aborder un autre problème majeur (et non définitivement élucidé!) de la tectonique moderne: les mécanismes contrôlant les mouvements des plaques. Nous avons pu observer que, tout au long de l?histoire de la terre, les pôles de rotation des plaques (décrivant les mouvements des plaques à la surface de la terre) tendent à se répartir le long d'une bande allant du Pacifique Nord au Nord de l'Amérique du Sud, l'Atlantique Central, l'Afrique du Nord, l'Asie Centrale jusqu'au Japon. Fondamentalement, cette répartition signifie que les plaques ont tendance à fuir ce plan médian. En l'absence d'un biais méthodologique que nous n'aurions pas identifié, nous avons interprété ce phénomène comme reflétant l'influence séculaire de la Lune sur le mouvement des plaques. La Lune sur le mouvement des plaques. Le domaine océanique est la clé de voute de notre modèle. Nous avons attaché un intérêt tout particulier à le reconstruire avec beaucoup de détails. Dans ce modèle, la croûte océanique est préservée d?une reconstruction à l?autre. Le matériel crustal y est symbolisé sous la forme d?isochrones synthétiques dont nous connaissons les âges. Nous avons également reconstruit les marges (actives ou passives), les rides médio-océaniques et les subductions intra-océaniques. En utilisant ce set de données très détaillé, nous avons pu développer des modèles bathymétriques 3-D unique offrant une précision bien supérieure aux précédents.<br/><br/>Palinspastic reconstructions offer an ideal framework for geological, geographical, oceanographic and climatology studies. As historians of the Earth, "reconstructers" try to decipher the past. Since they know that continents are moving, geologists a trying to retrieve the continents distributions through ages. If Wegener?s view of continent motions was revolutionary at the beginning of the 20th century, we know, since the Early 1960?s that continents are not drifting without goal in the oceanic realm but are included in a larger set including, all at once, the oceanic and the continental crust: the tectonic plates. Unfortunately, mainly due to technical and historical issues, this idea seems not to receive a sufficient echo among our particularly concerned community. However, we are intimately convinced that, by applying specific methods and principles we can escape the traditional "Wegenerian" point of view to, at last, reach real plate tectonics. This is the main aim of this study to defend this point of view by exposing, with all necessary details, our methods and tools. Starting with the paleomagnetic and paleogeographic data classically used in reconstruction studies, we developed a modern methodology placing the plates and their kinematics at the centre of the issue. Using assemblies of continents (referred as "key assemblies") as anchors distributed all along the scope of our study (ranging from Eocene time to Cambrian time) we develop geodynamic scenarios leading from one to the next, from the past to the present. In between, lithospheric plates are progressively reconstructed by adding/removing oceanic material (symbolized by synthetic isochrones) to major continents. Except during collisions, plates are moved as single rigid entities. The only evolving elements are the plate boundaries which are preserved and follow a consistent geodynamical evolution through time and form an interconnected network through space. This "dynamic plate boundaries" approach integrates plate buoyancy factors, oceans spreading rates, subsidence patterns, stratigraphic and paleobiogeographic data, as well as major tectonic and magmatic events. It offers a good control on plate kinematics and provides severe constraints for the model. This multi-sources approach requires an efficient data management. Prior to this study, the critical mass of necessary data became a sorely surmountable obstacle. GIS and geodatabases are modern informatics tools of specifically devoted to store, analyze and manage data and associated attributes spatially referenced on the Earth. By developing the PaleoDyn database in ArcGIS software we converted the mass of scattered data offered by the geological records into valuable geodynamical information easily accessible for reconstructions creation. In the same time, by programming specific tools we, all at once, facilitated the reconstruction work (tasks automation) and enhanced the model (by highly increasing the kinematic control of plate motions thanks to plate velocity models). Based on the 340 terranes properly defined, we developed a revised set of 35 reconstructions associated to their own velocity models. Using this unique dataset we are now able to tackle major issues of the geology (such as the global sea-level variations and climate changes). We started by studying one of the major unsolved issues of the modern plate tectonics: the driving mechanism of plate motions. We observed that, all along the Earth?s history, plates rotation poles (describing plate motions across the Earth?s surface) tend to follow a slight linear distribution along a band going from the Northern Pacific through Northern South-America, Central Atlantic, Northern Africa, Central Asia up to Japan. Basically, it sighifies that plates tend to escape this median plan. In the absence of a non-identified methodological bias, we interpreted it as the potential secular influence ot the Moon on plate motions. The oceanic realms are the cornerstone of our model and we attached a particular interest to reconstruct them with many details. In this model, the oceanic crust is preserved from one reconstruction to the next. The crustal material is symbolised by the synthetic isochrons from which we know the ages. We also reconstruct the margins (active or passive), ridges and intra-oceanic subductions. Using this detailed oceanic dataset, we developed unique 3-D bathymetric models offering a better precision than all the previously existing ones.

Lipid rafts act as specialised domains for tetanus toxin binding and internalisation in neurons

Tetanus (TeNT) is a zinc protease that blocks neurotransmission by cleaving the synaptic protein vesicle-associated membrane protein/synaptobrevin. Although its intracellular catalytic activity is well established, the mechanism by which this neurotoxin interacts with the neuronal surface is not known. In this study, we characterize p15s, the first plasma membrane TeNT binding proteins and we show that they are glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored glycoproteins in nerve growth factor (NGF)-differentiated PC12 cells, spinal cord cells, and purified motor neurons. We identify p15 as neuronal Thy-1 in NGF-differentiated PC12 cells. Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy measurements confirm the close association of the binding domain of TeNT and Thy-1 at the plasma membrane. We find that TeNT is recruited to detergent-insoluble lipid microdomains on the surface of neuronal cells. Finally, we show that cholesterol depletion affects a raft subpool and blocks the internalization and intracellular activity of the toxin. Our results indicate that TeNT interacts with target cells by binding to lipid rafts and that cholesterol is required for TeNT internalization and/or trafficking in neurons.

Developmental expression of the oligodendrocyte myelin glycoprotein in the mouse telencephalon

The oligodendrocyte myelin glycoprotein is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored protein expressed by neurons and oligodendrocytes in the CNS. Attempts have been made to identify the functions of the myelin-associated inhibitory proteins (MAIPs) after axonal lesion or in neurodegeneration. However, the developmental roles of some of these proteins and their receptors remain elusive. Recent studies indicate that NgR1 and the recently discovered receptor PirB restrict cortical synaptic plasticity. However, the putative factors that trigger these effects are unknown. Since Nogo-A is mostly associated with the endoplasmic reticulum and MAG appears late during development, the putative participation of OMgp should be considered. Here we examine the pattern of development of OMgp immunoreactive elements during mouse telencephalic development. OMgp immunoreactivity in the developing cortex follows the establishment of the thalamo-cortical barrel-field. At cellular level, we located OMgp neuronal membranes in dendrites and axons as well as in brain synaptosome fractions and axon varicosities. Lastly, the analysis of the barrel-field in OMgp-deficient mice revealed that although thalamo-cortical connections were formed, their targeting in layer IV was altered and numerous axons ectopically invaded layer II-III. Our data support the idea that early-expressed MAIPs play an active role during development and point to OMgp participating in thalamo-cortical connections.

Leaf-Targeted Ferredoxin-NADP+-Oxidoreductase (FNR): Electron Transfer Properties and Thylakoid Association in Arabidopsis thaliana

Photosynthetic reactions are divided in two parts: light-driven electron transfer reactions and carbon fixation reactions. Electron transfer reactions capture solar energy and split water molecules to form reducing energy (NADPH) and energy-carrying molecules (ATP). These end-products are used for fixation of inorganic carbon dioxide into organic sugar molecules. Ferredoxin-NADP⁺ oxidoreductase (FNR) is an enzyme that acts at the branch point between the electron transfer reactions and reductive metabolism by catalyzing reduction of NADP+ at the last step of the electron transfer chain. In this thesis, two isoforms of FNR from A rabidopsis thaliana, FNR1 and FNR2, were characterized using the reverse genetics approach. The fnr1 and fnr2 mutant plants resembled each other in many respects. Downregulation of photosynthesis protected the single fnr mutant plants from excess formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), even without significant upregulation of antioxidative mechanisms. Adverse growth conditions, however, resulted in phenotypic differences between fnr1 and fnr2. While fnr2 plants showed downregulation of photosynthetic complexes and upregulation of antioxidative mechanisms under low-temperature growth conditions, fnr1 plants had the wild-type phenotype, indicating that FNR2 may have a specific role in redistribution of electrons under unfavorable conditions. The heterozygotic double mutant (fnr1xfnr2) was severely devoid of chloroplastic FNR, which clearly restricted photosynthesis. The fnr1xfnr2 plants used several photoprotective mechanisms to avoid oxidative stress. In wild-type chloroplasts, both FNR isoforms were found from the stroma, the thylakoid membrane, and the inner envelope membrane. In the absence of the FNR1 isoform, FNR2 was found only in the stroma, suggesting that FNR1 and FNR2 form a dimer, by which FNR1 anchors FNR2 to the thylakoid membrane. Structural modeling predicted formation of an FNR dimer in complex with ferredoxin. In this thesis work, Tic62 was found to be the main protein that binds FNR to the thylakoid membrane, where Tic62 and FNR formed high molecular weight complexes. The formation of such complexes was shown to be regulated by the redox state of the chloroplast. The accumulation of Tic62-FNR complexes in darkness and dissociation of complexes from the membranes in light provide evidence that the complexes may have roles unrelated to photosynthesis. This and the high viability of fnr1 mutant plants lacking thylakoid-bound FNR indicate that the stromal pool of FNR is photosynthetically active.

Puomiankkurin uudelleensuunnittelu ja valmistus

Tämän diplomityön tavoitteena on ollut suunnitella uusi öljyntorjunnassa käytettävä puomiankkuri. Nykyisin käytössä olevat ankkurit ovat painavia, paljon tilaa vieviä, jäykkiä rakenteeltaan ja hankalia käyttää. Työn tavoitteena on ollut suunnitella rakenne, jossa muotoilun avulla pyritään korvaamaan ankkurin painoa ja saavuttaa hyvä tunkeutuminen eri pohjalaaduissa. Ankkurin suunnitteluun kuuluu merkittävänä osana materiaalinvalintaprosessi, jonka perusteella materiaaliksi valittiin kulutusteräs. Kulutusteräksen korkea lujuus ja hyvä kulumiskestävyys mahdollistavat ohuemman materiaalin käytön rakenteessa, jonka seurauksena rakenteen painoa saatiin vähennettyä merkittävästi. Ankkurin rakenteen suunnittelussa käytettiin hyväksi nykyisiä ankkurin rakenteita, joiden pohjalta hahmoteltiin eri variaatioita ankkureista. Suunnittelutyössä käytettiin hyväksi tyypillisiä ankkurirakenteita hyvien puolien kannalta, joita pyrittiin toteuttamaan uudessa ankkuri- rakenteessa. Ankkurin suunnittelu toteutettiin järjestelmällisen suunnittelun avulla, jossa ensin laadittiin ankkurille vaatimuslista. Tämän jälkeen laadittiin ankkurille toimintorakenne ja jakaminen osatoimintoihin. Ankkurin rakenteista toteutettiin kaksi eri versiota: sisävesillä ja merialueilla käytettävät ankkurit, joille laadittiin mitoitus. Työssä suunnitellun terävän tunkeutumisosan ja optimaalisen tunkeutumiskulman avulla ankkureiden painoa saatiin huomattavasti alhaisemmaksi, jonka seurauksena ankkurille saatiin kevyempi rakenne ja materiaalikustannukset pienenivät merkittävästi. Uusien ankkurien rakenne on pienemmän koon ja painon ansiosta käyttäjäystävällisempi.

Puomiankkurin uudelleensuunnittelu ja valmistus

Tämän diplomityön tavoitteena on ollut suunnitella uusi öljyntorjunnassa käytettävä puomiankkuri. Nykyisin käytössä olevat ankkurit ovat painavia, paljon tilaa vieviä, jäykkiä rakenteeltaan ja hankalia käyttää. Työn tavoitteena on ollut suunnitella rakenne, jossa muotoilun avulla pyritään korvaamaan ankkurin painoa ja saavuttaa hyvä tunkeutuminen eri pohjalaaduissa. Ankkurin suunnitteluun kuuluu merkittävänä osana materiaalinvalintaprosessi, jonka perusteella materiaaliksi valittiin kulutusteräs. Kulutusteräksen korkea lujuus ja hyvä kulumiskestävyys mahdollistavat ohuemman materiaalin käytön rakenteessa, jonka seurauksena rakenteen painoa saatiin vähennettyä merkittävästi. Ankkurin rakenteen suunnittelussa käytettiin hyväksi nykyisiä ankkurin rakenteita, joiden pohjalta hahmoteltiin eri variaatioita ankkureista. Suunnittelutyössä käytettiin hyväksi tyypillisiä ankkurirakenteita hyvien puolien kannalta, joita pyrittiin toteuttamaan uudessa ankkuri- rakenteessa. Ankkurin suunnittelu toteutettiin järjestelmällisen suunnittelun avulla, jossa ensin laadittiin ankkurille vaatimuslista. Tämän jälkeen laadittiin ankkurille toimintorakenne ja jakaminen osatoimintoihin. Ankkurin rakenteista toteutettiin kaksi eri versiota: sisävesillä ja merialueilla käytettävät ankkurit, joille laadittiin mitoitus. Työssä suunnitellun terävän tunkeutumisosan ja optimaalisen tunkeutumiskulman avulla ankkureiden painoa saatiin huomattavasti alhaisemmaksi, jonka seurauksena ankkurille saatiin kevyempi rakenne ja materiaalikustannukset pienenivät merkittävästi. Uusien ankkurien rakenne on pienemmän koon ja painon ansiosta käyttäjäystävällisempi.

The Anchoring Bias of Investors and the 52-Week High Momentum Strategy in the OMX Helsinki Stock Exchange: Psychological Approach to Market Efficiency

The behavioural finance literature expects systematic and significant deviations from efficiency to persist in securities markets due to behavioural and cognitive biases of investors. These behavioural models attempt to explain the coexistence of intermediate-term momentum and long-term reversals in stock returns based on the systematic violations of rational behaviour of investors. The study investigates the anchoring bias of investors and the profitability of the 52-week momentum strategy (GH henceforward). The relatively highly volatile OMX Helsinki stock exchange is a suitable market for examining the momentum effect, since international investors tend to realise their positions first from the furthest security markets by the time of market turbulence. Empirical data is collected from Thomson Reuters Datastream and the OMX Nordic website. The objective of the study is to provide a throughout research by formulating a self-financing GH momentum portfolio. First, the seasonality of the strategy is examined by taking the January effect into account and researching abnormal returns in long-term. The results indicate that the GH strategy is subject to significantly negative revenues in January, but the strategy is not prone to reversals in long-term. Then the predictive proxies of momentum returns are investigated in terms of acquisition prices and 52-week high statistics as anchors. The results show that the acquisition prices do not have explanatory power over the GH strategy’s abnormal returns. Finally, the efficacy of the GH strategy is examined after taking transaction costs into account, finding that the robust abnormal returns remain statistically significant despite the transaction costs. As a conclusion, the relative distance between a stock’s current price and its 52-week high statistic explains the profits of momentum investing to a high degree. The results indicate that intermediateterm momentum and long-term reversals are separate phenomena. This presents a challenge to current behavioural theories, which model these aspects of stock returns as subsequent components of how securities markets respond to relevant information.