Finite Element Model Updating has recently arisen as an issue of vast importance on the design, construction and maintenance of structures in civil engineering. Many algorithms have been proposed, developed and enhanced in order to accomplish the demands of the updating process, mainly to achieve computationally efficient programs and greater results.The present Master Thesis proposes two new algorithms to be used in Finite Element Model Updating: the Bees Algorithms (BA) and the Artificial Bee Colony algorithm (ABC). Both were first proposed in 2005, are based on the foraging behaviour of bees and have been proved to be efficient algorithms in other fields. The objective of this Master Thesis is, thus, to implement and to test these two newalgorithms in Finite Element Model Updating for a cantilever beam. The Finite Element Model and the algorithms are programmed, followed by the extraction of the experimental frequencies and the updating process. Results, comparison of these two methods and conclusions are given at the end of this report, as well as suggestions for further work.

A common type of problems that exist in both industrial and scientific spaces are optimization problems. These problems can be found in among other things manufacturing, pathfinding, network routing and more. Because of the wide area of application, optimization is well a studied area. One solution to these types of problems is the Ant Colony Optimization algorithm that has been around since 1991 and has undergone a lot of developments over the years. This algorithm draws inspiration from real ant colonies and their procedure for foraging. However, a common criticism of this algorithm is its poor scalability. To tackle the scalability problem this thesis will combine the concept of binary space partitioning with the Ant Colony Optimization algorithm. The goal is to examine the algorithms convergence times and lengths of the paths produced. The results are measured in intervals by calculating the best possible path found at every interval. The findings showed that given an unlimited execution time the original Ant Colony Optimization algorithm produced shorter paths. But when a limit on execution time was introduced and the problem sizes grew the performance began to favor the partitioned versions. These findings could be useful in areas where complex optimization problems need to be solved within a limited timeframe. / <p>The presentation took place via an online conference call using the software "Zoom"</p>

Metaheuristics is a term for optimization procedures/algorithms that can be applied to a wide range of problems. These problems for which metaheuristics are used usually fall in the NP-hard category, meaning that they cannot be solved in polynomial time. This means that as the input dataset gets larger the time to solve increases exponentially. One such problem is the traveling salesman problem (TSP) which is and has been widely used as a benchmark problem to test optimization algorithms. This study focused on two such algorithms called ant colony optimization (ACO) and genetic algorithm (GA) respectively. Development of such optimization algorithms can have huge implications in several areas of business and industry. They can for example be used by delivery companies to optimize routing of delivery vehicles as well as in material science/industry where they can be used to calculate the most optimal mix of ingredients to produce materials with the desired characteristics. The approach taken in this study was to compare the performance of the two algorithms in three different programming languages (python, javascript and C#).  Previous studies comparing the two algorithms have reported conflicting results where some studies found that ACO yielded better results but was slower than GA, while others found that GA yielded better results than ACO. Results of this study suggested that both ACO and GA could find the benchmark solution, but  ACO did so much more consistently. Furthermore javascript was found to be the most efficient language with which to run the algorithms in the setup used in this study.

Autoimmune neutropenia (AIN) is characterized by antibody mediated peripheral destruction of neutrophils. Since there is no effective treatment, antibiotics have to be used frequently for recurrent infections. Five selected patients with serologically proven AIN were treated with r-metHuG- CSF at 5-8 μg/kg body weight (300-480 μg) daily: the dose and frequency of r-metHuG-CSF was reduced after neutrophil counts above 1.0 x 109/l were obtained. R-metHuG-CSF is effective in AIN and causes a sustained rise in ANC which can he maintained on a low dose administered twice or thrice weekly.

Candida albicans is an increasingly important pulmonary fungal pathogen. Resident alveolar macrophages are important in host defense against opportunistic fungal infections. Activation of Group IVA cytosolic phospholipase A2α (cPLA2α) in macrophages initiates arachidonic acid (AA) release for production of eicosanoids, which regulate inflammation and immune responses. We investigated the ability of C. albicans to activate cPLA2α in unprimed alveolar macrophages and after priming with granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), which regulates alveolar macrophage maturation. AA was released within minutes by GM-CSF-primed but not unprimed alveolar macrophages in response to C. albicans, and was blocked by soluble glucan phosphate (S-GP). The expression of the β-glucan receptor dectin-1 was increased in GM-CSF-primed macrophages, and AA release from GM-CSF-primed dectin-1-/- alveolar macrophages was reduced to basal levels. The enhanced activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases and phosphorylation of cPLA2α on Ser-505 that occurred in GM-CSF-primed macrophages were reduced by MEK1 and Syk inhibitors, which also suppressed AA release. At later times after C. albicans infection (6 h), unprimed and GM-CSF-primed macrophages released similar levels of AA. The expression of cyclooxygenase 2 and prostanoid production at 6 hours was higher in GM-CSF-primed macrophages, but the responses were not dependent on dectin-1. However, dectin-1 contributed to the C. albicans-stimulated increase in TNF-α production that occurred in GM-CSF-primed macrophages. The results demonstrate that dectin-1 mediates the acute activation of cPLA 2α in GM-CSF-primed alveolar macrophages, but not in the more delayed phase of AA release and GM-CSF-dependent prostanoid production.

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (GCSF) is currently the most widely used cytokine for stem cell mobilization. There are few studies suggesting GCSF administration may induce activation of both coagulation and endothelial cells that could favor the developing of thrombotic events. We report a 58-year-old female with vasculitis and renal impairment. She was found to have an underlying monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance (MGUS). The monoclonal protein was felt to play a role in her underlying renal disease and peripheral neuropathy. She was considered a candidate for peripheral blood stem cell transplantation to manage the monoclonal protein. During stem cell mobilization with GCSF, she developed worsening of anemia; thrombocytopenia and worsening of renal function. She was diagnosed with thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) which was successfully treated with therapeutic plasma exchange and rituximab. It is possible that GCSF may have directly (activating endothelial cells) or indirectly (activation of underlying autoimmune disorder) contributed to TMA in this patient.

Anthropogenic perturbations to Arctic ecosystems have influenced large-scale climate processes, as well as finer-scale ecological relationships within and amongst populations of species. Life history theory predicts a trade-off between the temporal variation in a vital rate and its impact on population dynamics. Here, we examine the drivers of long-term variation in reproductive success in a sub-Arctic common eider (Somateria mollissima) colony, and evaluate the impacts of variation in reproductive success on eider population dynamics. In Chapter 2, we develop a suite of nest survival models to evaluate the effects of variation in predator abundance, the availability and spatial distribution of alternative prey, and breeding season climate on annual common eider nest success. Eider nest success declined across the 41 years of study, but was also highly variable across years. Annual variation in nest success was driven by a complex interaction between predators and alternative prey, as well as breeding season climate. Our results suggest that increased abundance of snow geese (alternative prey) may buffer annual fluctuations in arctic fox abundance, yet result in a long-term decline in eider nest success suggesting apparent competition via other predator species (e.g. gulls). The effect of breeding season climate was subtle compared to the influence of biotic factors and indicated that cold, wet conditions in early spring were correlated with decreased nest success, while warm, wet conditions in late spring increased eider nest success. In Chapter 3 we develop a stochastic population model to evaluate the relative effects of variation and covariation amongst multiple vital rates on population dynamics, and determine the impact of long-term changes in the abundance of alternative prey on eider population dynamics. Consistent with life history predictions, we found that proportional changes in adult survival have the largest impact on population dynamics, yet high variation in the vital rates underlying fertility contribute more to actual variation in population growth. The eventual exodus of alternative prey from the eider colony reduced the long-term growth rate, primarily through negative impacts on mean nest success.

The Northwestern Shoshone Indians is the tribe of Indians that inhabited the territory north of the Great Salt Lake comprising the northern part of Utah and the Southern part of Idaho. The Indians have loose boundary lines, yet we can definitely state that this tribe occupied the territory from the Weber river on the South to the Snake river on the North: from Bear Lake and the Bear river on the East to Raft river and Goose creek on the West. Their confines would take in Weber, Rich, Box Elder, Cache, and part of Morgan, counties in Utah: and Bear Lake , Caribou, Cassia, Oneida, Franklin, Bonneville, parts of Power, Minidoka, Bingham, counties in Idaho.

With the loss or modification of natural roosting habitat afforded by caves, abandoned mines have assumed increased importance as surrogate roosting sites for Townsend's big-eared bats (Corynorhinus townsendii) and other chiropteran species. However, increasing concerns for human safety have led to accelerated programs for mine closure. In efforts to protect roosting sites in mines showing significant bat activity, "bat compatible" gates are installed, thus allowing continued access to mine workings. Aside from ensuring public safety, these structures afford protection from disturbance to roosting bats. To date few posting-gating studies have been conducted to obtain information on the effects of these structures on bat behavior and roost suitability. I evaluated the effects of gating on bat flight patterns at maternity colonies in two previously gated (reference) and two ungated mines, the latter (treatment) being gated with roundbar Manganal steel gates in the second year of the study. I also monitored four gated and three treatment mines to determine the potential effects of reclamation on internal microclimate. Overall circling activity increased > 6-fold at the portals of treatment mines following gating. Indices of crowding and frequency of bat-gate collisions were significantly higher in previously gated and increased substantially in treatment mines following reclamation. Gates appeared especially hazardous to subadults during initial-volancy periods. Increased activity of bats and collisions with gates at mine portals may amplify vulnerability to potential predators. Changes in internal mine microclimates, specifically increased ranges between minima and maxima in temperature and vapor pressure deficits following reclamation varied among treatment mines as a function of the number of mine openings. Generally, gated mines with multiple openings experienced greater changes in these parameters than those with single openings. Additional studies of bat-compatible gates are needed to elucidate possible long-term effects of these structures on Townsend's big-eared bats.

Reproductive success of white-faced ibis (Plegadis chihi) was measured in nine colonies on marshes in northern Utah during 1979. The effects of pesticides and characteristics of colonies and sub-colonies on reproductive success were examined. DDE was present in all 80 eggs sampled and had a geometric mean concentration of 1.25 ppm. Shell thickness of 176 eggs was 4.3 percent below pre-1945 thickness. Shell thickness was weakly correlated with residues of DDT, DDE, Dieldrin, and heptachlor epoxide. Residues of these four pesticides were all correlated with each other. However, because of the stronger correlations between shell thickness and two residues, DDE and DDT, and because of studies in the literature, it was concluded that these two residues were responsible for the observed shell thinning. Observed levels of pesticides did not cause sufficient shell thinning to reduce hatching success, but clutch size was negatively correlated with pesticide residues. Only two characteristics of colonies were observed to be associated with differences in reproductive success. Earlier sub-colonies had larger clutches and larger colonies suffered higher rates of predation. If there are effects of subcolony size, degree of nesting synchrony, vegetation type, or avian species association on reproductive success, they may not be detectable with one year of data.