The mechanisms by which the facultative intracellular pathogen Francisella tularensis is recognized by the innate immune system and the strategies that F. tularensis uses to avoid this recognition are not well understood. We have identified the basic components of the inflammasome that assemble in response to F. tularensis Live Vaccine Strain (LVS) challenge as containing the cysteine protease caspase-1, the adaptor protein ASC and the PYHIN molecule AIM2. We have also shown here that the nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat containing receptors (NLRs), NLRC4, NLRP3, NLRP6, NLRP10, and NLRP12 were not necessary for activation of caspase-1 and subsequent IL-1β secretion in response to challenge with F. tularensis LVS in vitro. In vivo, NLRC4, NLRP3, NLRP6, NLRP10, and NLRP12 did not appear to enhance survival. However, caspase-1- and ASC-deficient mice succumbed more rapidly to infection, indicating that the inflammasome played a role in defense against F. tularensis LVS. Additionally, we identified a gene with homology to Escherichia coli mviN, a putative lipid II flippase, that functions as a F. tularensis virulence factor. In vivo infection of mice with a F. tularensis LVS mviN transposon mutant (mviN::Tn5) resulted in improved host survival and decreased bacterial burdens compared to infection with wild-type F. tularensis LVS. Wild-type F. tularensis LVS and the mviN::Tn5 mutant replicated at a similar rate in both macrophages and liquid broth culture. Additionally, the ability to induce the production of TNF-α or IL-6 was also similar between WT F. tularensis and the mviN::Tn5 mutant. In contrast to the similar levels of production of IL-6 and TNF-α, the mviN mutant induced increased AIM2 inflammasome-dependent IL-1β secretion and cytotoxicity in macrophages compared to wild-type F. tularensis. The compromised in vivo virulence associated with the mutation of mviN was dependent upon inflammasome activation, as caspase-1- and ASC-deficient mice did not exhibit preferential survival following infection. These data show that F. tularensis LVS activation of the inflammasome is caspase-1-, ASC-, and AIM2-dependent. These data also identify mviN as a novel F. tularensis virulence factor that enables F. tularensis LVS to evade some AIM2 inflammasome activation.

This master’s thesis deals with strength analysis rear frame of forwarder LVS 520 and propose modifications of this frame. The main part of this work is strength analysis of the supporting frame of the original construction by the help of the finite elements method. Further the design of suitable structural modifications and strength analysis of the modified construction of frame. This master’s thesis has been prepared with Strojírna Novotný s.r.o. company cooperation.

This master’s thesis deals with analysis of the gearbox housing of forwarder LVS 511. Theme is designed by Strojírna Novotný s.r.o. Objective of the work is to perform strain stress analysis of gear housing and main transmission shaft. The main part of the thesis is focused on creating of finite element model and evaluation in NX I-Deas software.

This thesis occupies with environmetal limits and the european beech and oak trees in natural forest area 17–Polabí. Forests, whose age was at least 100 years, were mostly selected for the evalution. Signs of tree growth of both species has been reported in forest stands. It was also evaluated the quality and even the shape of the crown and the quality of the trunk. Last but not least, the incidence of harmful agents has been assessed. Data collection took place in the summer of 2018. In consequence, it was found that there are not ecological limits of both species in this area. At the same time it was it was found that there is no statistically significant difference between first vegetation tiers and second vegetation tiers. The both species growth is very similar, if not the same. Moreover, as expected, the difference between the 2nd and 3rd vegetation tiers in both the total height and the deployment height was proved. At the same time there has been no cause significant damage. Only Lymatria dispar has been detected relatively abundant occurrence.

The phenomenon of Live Video Shopping (LVS) has gained increased attention in recent years. Sinceapproximately 2017, the Chinese market has brought LVSto the attention of the public. In terms of overall market share, LVS was projected to account for roughly 20% of the overalle-commerce volume in Chinauntil 2021. Despite that, within Europe LVS has not seen such rapid growth and seems to be still a neglected domain,both in practice and in academia.Most academic research on LVS has originated in China and took place in an Asian setting. From a European standpoint, these findings can onlyserve as a starting point for further researchdue to cultural differences. Sincemost extant research on the topic of LVS adopted a quantitative research design, we could clearly identify a lack of qualitative studies in a European context. Therefore, our study aims to fill this research gap by investigating European consumersperceived value of LVS and their motivations to engage in it. A qualitative research design is particularly suitable for the exploratory nature of ourresearch. For the collection of data, we conducted three synchronous online focus groups through purposive sampling of European participants. In addition to that, and as a triangulation for our data sources, Pål Burman, the CEO of the LVS provider Zellma, was interviewed. With this we were able to includedifferent perspectives on the topic. It also helped us to increase thevalidityofthemanagerial implications.Usingthematic analysis, we could identify themes that theparticipants associated with the concept of LVS. The findings suggest that the perceived value of LVS for European consumers is not indisputable. Based on the theoretical concept of perceived value,LVS has to solve the trade-off between give and get components. This means that the committed time for attending an LVS stream has to be compensated by certainbenefits, such asdiscounts, enhanced product information, exclusivity of content,or inspiration. By using the theoretical framework of Uses and Gratifications Theory (UGT), we were able to divide the motivations of European consumers to engage in LVS in three types of gratifications: hedonic, utilitarian, and social. As opposed to prior Asian research on the topic, social gratifications only played a minor role forEuropean consumers. Reasons for an interaction between the viewer and the broadcaster were primarily product-related and utilitarian by nature. Engagement for the sake of social motives could not be confirmed. Utilitarian gratifications desired byEuropean consumers were mainly connected to theobtainment of enhanced production information, leading to more informed purchase decisions. Hedonic motivations were for exampleentertainmentand inspiration. When connecting UGT to the TechnologyAcceptance Model (TAM), we have also been able to identify consumers' approachesto LVS as a new technology.Crucial here weretheperceived ease of use and perceived usefulnessof LVS.It was shown that consumers require LVS to be as easy or easier than normal e-commerce shopping is already.LVS would further be perceived as useful if it could provide the viewers with something uniquethat old technologies are not able to provide.Asa new digital phenomenon, itis expected to serve as a complement to physical and online stores. In fact, LVS might not only serve as a platform of sales, but also tocreate long-lasting relationships between a brand and its consumers with consumer engagementas a main desired outcome.

Approved for public release, distribution is unlimited / The Marine Corps is fielding the MTVR Truck as a replacement for its aging fleet of five-ton cargo trucks. The MTVR is an Acquisition Category II program that was a multi-service Army-Marine Corps program. The purpose of this thesis is to examine the effectiveness of having an Army Product Office execute a Marine Corps Program. The study analyzes the effectiveness of the timing of the program's transition from the Army to the Marine Corps. A detailed literature search, as well as information gathered from attending various IPRs and conducting interviews with program officials and contractors, provided the basis for the in-depth background study presented. Analysis of the data gathered led to a justification for multi-service managed programs, as well as to recommendations on the timing of the MTVR program transition. / Civilian, United States Army

The master thesis is focused on how a local volatility surfaces can be extracted by optimization with respectto smoothness and price error. The pricing is based on utility based pricing, and developed to be set in arisk neutral pricing setting. The pricing is done in a discrete multinomial recombining tree, where the timeand price increments optionally can be equidistant. An interpolation algorithm is used if the option that shallbe priced is not matched in the tree discretization. Power utility functions are utilized, where the log-utilitypreference is especially studied, which coincides with the (Kelly) portfolio that systematically outperforms anyother portfolio. A fine resolution of the discretization is generally a property that is sought after, thus a seriesof derivations for the implementation are done to restrict the computational encumbrance and thus allow finer discretization. The thesis is mainly focused on the derivation of the method rather than finding optimal parameters thatgenerate the local volatility surfaces. The method has shown that smooth surfaces can be extracted, whichconsider market prices. However, due to lacking available interest and dividend data, the pricing error increasessymmetrically for longer option maturities. However, the method shows exponential convergence and robustnessto different initial (flat) volatilities for the optimization initiation. Given an optimal smooth local volatility surface, an arbitrary payoff function can then be used to price thecorresponding option, which could be path-dependent, such as barrier options. However, only vanilla optionswill be considered in this thesis. Finally, we find that the developed