@article{VoglSchulzSchaefferetal., author = {Vogl, Yannick and Schulz, Carsten and Schaeffer, Thomas and Geiger, Benjamin}, title = {Prediction of the wear behavior of a conveyor belt with flexible rollers}, series = {Multibody System Dynamics}, journal = {Multibody System Dynamics}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Cham}, issn = {1384-5640}, doi = {10.1007/s11044-025-10097-7}, pages = {16}, abstract = {This paper introduces a method to predict wear behavior in conveyor belt systems using a lumped mass modeling approach. While previous research has focused primarily on lateral belt walking, this study shifts attention to belt deformation and its associated wear. Both significantly affect system efficiency and component lifespan. The authors propose using local frictional power as a wear indicator, leveraging its direct relation to frictional work in established wear models. To solely demonstrate the method, the study simulates a conveyor belt with three flexible rollers and a deformable belt modeled through rigid spheres connected by spring-damper elements. The authors visualize frictional power density across the belt width, distinguishing between running and transverse directions. The results demonstrate that the frictional power distribution depends heavily on discretization quality, particularly due to the polygon effect inherent in the lumped mass approach. A convergence analysis reveals the minimum necessary discretization of the belt, ensuring reliable qualitative results. To support the credibility of the work, this study compares theoretical expectations and initial wear observations from a real belt with the results from the shown approach. The plausibility check already shows promising results. The proposed methodology provides an adaptable framework to evaluate wear in belt-like structures. It can be readily adapted to a variety of multibody dynamics applications and integrated into larger MBS models that include the overall drivetrain and engine control. Future work will focus on refining discretization strategies and contact models, as well as validation of the wear model to enable quantitative predictions.}, language = {en} } @article{MendelRauberSouzaJretal., author = {Mendel, Robert and Rauber, David and Souza Jr., Luis Antonio de and Papa, Jo{\~a}o Paulo and Palm, Christoph}, title = {Error-Correcting Mean-Teacher: Corrections instead of consistency-targets applied to semi-supervised medical image segmentation}, series = {Computers in Biology and Medicine}, volume = {154}, journal = {Computers in Biology and Medicine}, number = {March}, publisher = {Elsevier}, issn = {0010-4825}, doi = {10.1016/j.compbiomed.2023.106585}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:898-opus4-57790}, pages = {13}, abstract = {Semantic segmentation is an essential task in medical imaging research. Many powerful deep-learning-based approaches can be employed for this problem, but they are dependent on the availability of an expansive labeled dataset. In this work, we augment such supervised segmentation models to be suitable for learning from unlabeled data. Our semi-supervised approach, termed Error-Correcting Mean-Teacher, uses an exponential moving average model like the original Mean Teacher but introduces our new paradigm of error correction. The original segmentation network is augmented to handle this secondary correction task. Both tasks build upon the core feature extraction layers of the model. For the correction task, features detected in the input image are fused with features detected in the predicted segmentation and further processed with task-specific decoder layers. The combination of image and segmentation features allows the model to correct present mistakes in the given input pair. The correction task is trained jointly on the labeled data. On unlabeled data, the exponential moving average of the original network corrects the student's prediction. The combined outputs of the students' prediction with the teachers' correction form the basis for the semi-supervised update. We evaluate our method with the 2017 and 2018 Robotic Scene Segmentation data, the ISIC 2017 and the BraTS 2020 Challenges, a proprietary Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection dataset, Cityscapes, and Pascal VOC 2012. Additionally, we analyze the impact of the individual components and examine the behavior when the amount of labeled data varies, with experiments performed on two distinct segmentation architectures. Our method shows improvements in terms of the mean Intersection over Union over the supervised baseline and competing methods. Code is available at https://github.com/CloneRob/ECMT.}, language = {en} } @article{GrassmannMengelkampBrandletal., author = {Graßmann, Felix and Mengelkamp, Judith and Brandl, Caroline and Harsch, Sebastian and Zimmermann, Martina E. and Linkohr, Birgit and Peters, Annette and Heid, Iris M. and Palm, Christoph and Weber, Bernhard H. F.}, title = {A Deep Learning Algorithm for Prediction of Age-Related Eye Disease Study Severity Scale for Age-Related Macular Degeneration from Color Fundus Photography}, series = {Ophtalmology}, volume = {125}, journal = {Ophtalmology}, number = {9}, publisher = {Elsevier}, doi = {10.1016/j.ophtha.2018.02.037}, pages = {1410 -- 1420}, abstract = {Purpose Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common threat to vision. While classification of disease stages is critical to understanding disease risk and progression, several systems based on color fundus photographs are known. Most of these require in-depth and time-consuming analysis of fundus images. Herein, we present an automated computer-based classification algorithm. Design Algorithm development for AMD classification based on a large collection of color fundus images. Validation is performed on a cross-sectional, population-based study. Participants. We included 120 656 manually graded color fundus images from 3654 Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) participants. AREDS participants were >55 years of age, and non-AMD sight-threatening diseases were excluded at recruitment. In addition, performance of our algorithm was evaluated in 5555 fundus images from the population-based Kooperative Gesundheitsforschung in der Region Augsburg (KORA; Cooperative Health Research in the Region of Augsburg) study. Methods. We defined 13 classes (9 AREDS steps, 3 late AMD stages, and 1 for ungradable images) and trained several convolution deep learning architectures. An ensemble of network architectures improved prediction accuracy. An independent dataset was used to evaluate the performance of our algorithm in a population-based study. Main Outcome Measures. κ Statistics and accuracy to evaluate the concordance between predicted and expert human grader classification. Results. A network ensemble of 6 different neural net architectures predicted the 13 classes in the AREDS test set with a quadratic weighted κ of 92\% (95\% confidence interval, 89\%-92\%) and an overall accuracy of 63.3\%. In the independent KORA dataset, images wrongly classified as AMD were mainly the result of a macular reflex observed in young individuals. By restricting the KORA analysis to individuals >55 years of age and prior exclusion of other retinopathies, the weighted and unweighted κ increased to 50\% and 63\%, respectively. Importantly, the algorithm detected 84.2\% of all fundus images with definite signs of early or late AMD. Overall, 94.3\% of healthy fundus images were classified correctly. Conclusions Our deep learning algoritm revealed a weighted κ outperforming human graders in the AREDS study and is suitable to classify AMD fundus images in other datasets using individuals >55 years of age.}, subject = {Senile Makuladegeneration}, language = {en} } @article{MaierPerretSimonetal., author = {Maier, Johannes and Perret, Jerome and Simon, Martina and Schmitt-R{\"u}th, Stephanie and Wittenberg, Thomas and Palm, Christoph}, title = {Force-feedback assisted and virtual fixtures based K-wire drilling simulation}, series = {Computers in Biology and Medicine}, volume = {114}, journal = {Computers in Biology and Medicine}, publisher = {Elsevier}, doi = {10.1016/j.compbiomed.2019.103473}, pages = {1 -- 10}, abstract = {One common method to fix fractures of the human hand after an accident is an osteosynthesis with Kirschner wires (K-wires) to stabilize the bone fragments. The insertion of K-wires is a delicate minimally invasive surgery, because surgeons operate almost without a sight. Since realistic training methods are time consuming, costly and insufficient, a virtual-reality (VR) based training system for the placement of K-wires was developed. As part of this, the current work deals with the real-time bone drilling simulation using a haptic force-feedback device. To simulate the drilling, we introduce a virtual fixture based force-feedback drilling approach. By decomposition of the drilling task into individual phases, each phase can be handled individually to perfectly control the drilling procedure. We report about the related finite state machine (FSM), describe the haptic feedback of each state and explain, how to avoid jerking of the haptic force-feedback during state transition. The usage of the virtual fixture approach results in a good haptic performance and a stable drilling behavior. This was confirmed by 26 expert surgeons, who evaluated the virtual drilling on the simulator and rated it as very realistic. To make the system even more convincing, we determined real drilling feed rates through experimental pig bone drilling and transferred them to our system. Due to a constant simulation thread we can guarantee a precise drilling motion. Virtual fixtures based force-feedback calculation is able to simulate force-feedback assisted bone drilling with high quality and, thus, will have a great potential in developing medical applications.}, subject = {Handchirurgie}, language = {en} } @article{RueckertRueckertPalm, author = {R{\"u}ckert, Tobias and R{\"u}ckert, Daniel and Palm, Christoph}, title = {Methods and datasets for segmentation of minimally invasive surgical instruments in endoscopic images and videos: A review of the state of the art}, series = {Computers in Biology and Medicine}, volume = {169}, journal = {Computers in Biology and Medicine}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, doi = {10.1016/j.compbiomed.2024.107929}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:898-opus4-69830}, pages = {24}, abstract = {In the field of computer- and robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery, enormous progress has been made in recent years based on the recognition of surgical instruments in endoscopic images and videos. In particular, the determination of the position and type of instruments is of great interest. Current work involves both spatial and temporal information, with the idea that predicting the movement of surgical tools over time may improve the quality of the final segmentations. The provision of publicly available datasets has recently encouraged the development of new methods, mainly based on deep learning. In this review, we identify and characterize datasets used for method development and evaluation and quantify their frequency of use in the literature. We further present an overview of the current state of research regarding the segmentation and tracking of minimally invasive surgical instruments in endoscopic images and videos. The paper focuses on methods that work purely visually, without markers of any kind attached to the instruments, considering both single-frame semantic and instance segmentation approaches, as well as those that incorporate temporal information. The publications analyzed were identified through the platforms Google Scholar, Web of Science, and PubMed. The search terms used were "instrument segmentation", "instrument tracking", "surgical tool segmentation", and "surgical tool tracking", resulting in a total of 741 articles published between 01/2015 and 07/2023, of which 123 were included using systematic selection criteria. A discussion of the reviewed literature is provided, highlighting existing shortcomings and emphasizing the available potential for future developments.}, subject = {Deep Learning}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{HoengWiedererEderetal., author = {H{\"o}ng, Simon K. and Wiederer, Jonas and Eder, Friedrich and Obergriesser, Mathias and Linner, Thomas}, title = {Towards AI-enhanced facade planning : integrating human expertise with machine learning-driven parametric modeling}, series = {EC³ \& CIB W78 : 2025 European Conference on Computing in Construction \& 42nd CIB W78 IT in Construction Conference}, volume = {6}, booktitle = {EC³ \& CIB W78 : 2025 European Conference on Computing in Construction \& 42nd CIB W78 IT in Construction Conference}, publisher = {European Council for Computing in Construction}, isbn = {978-9-083451-31-2}, issn = {2684-1150}, doi = {10.35490/EC3.2025.320}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:898-opus4-84862}, pages = {192 -- 199}, abstract = {Planning modern facade systems is complex, requiring optimization across multiple domains.This paper proposes an AI-enhanced workflow for facade planning, harnessing computer vision and human input via a Large Language Model.A generative AI system then guides a parametric model to produce 3D facade designs. Automated checks provide feedback to a Reinforcement Learning system, to iteratively determine optimal solutions.These solutions are verified and finalized by human expertise, ensuring improved outcomes with reduce planning time and effort.The approach illustrates how combining advanced AI methods with human expertise can address the multifactorial challenges of facade design within current industry practices.}, language = {en} } @article{MaerklRueckertRauberetal., author = {Maerkl, Raphaela and Rueckert, Tobias and Rauber, David and Gutbrod, Max and Weber Nunes, Danilo and Palm, Christoph}, title = {Enhancing generalization in zero-shot multi-label endoscopic instrument classification}, series = {International Journal of Computer Assisted Radiology and Surgery}, volume = {20}, journal = {International Journal of Computer Assisted Radiology and Surgery}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, doi = {10.1007/s11548-025-03439-5}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:898-opus4-85674}, pages = {1577 -- 1587}, abstract = {Purpose Recognizing previously unseen classes with neural networks is a significant challenge due to their limited generalization capabilities. This issue is particularly critical in safety-critical domains such as medical applications, where accurate classification is essential for reliability and patient safety. Zero-shot learning methods address this challenge by utilizing additional semantic data, with their performance relying heavily on the quality of the generated embeddings. Methods This work investigates the use of full descriptive sentences, generated by a Sentence-BERT model, as class representations, compared to simpler category-based word embeddings derived from a BERT model. Additionally, the impact of z-score normalization as a post-processing step on these embeddings is explored. The proposed approach is evaluated on a multi-label generalized zero-shot learning task, focusing on the recognition of surgical instruments in endoscopic images from minimally invasive cholecystectomies. Results The results demonstrate that combining sentence embeddings and z-score normalization significantly improves model performance. For unseen classes, the AUROC improves from 43.9\% to 64.9\%, and the multi-label accuracy from 26.1\% to 79.5\%. Overall performance measured across both seen and unseen classes improves from 49.3\% to 64.9\% in AUROC and from 37.3\% to 65.1\% in multi-label accuracy, highlighting the effectiveness of our approach. Conclusion These findings demonstrate that sentence embeddings and z-score normalization can substantially enhance the generalization performance of zero-shot learning models. However, as the study is based on a single dataset, future work should validate the method across diverse datasets and application domains to establish its robustness and broader applicability.}, language = {en} } @article{EsperSchultheissGradetal., author = {Esper, Lukas and Schultheiss, Ulrich and Grad, Marius and Noster, Ulf and Bund, Andreas}, title = {Application of the Hull Cell for Identifying Electropolishing Parameters to Adjust Surface Morphology in Additive Manufacturing}, series = {ECS Advances}, volume = {4}, journal = {ECS Advances}, number = {4}, publisher = {The Electrochemical Society}, issn = {2754-2734}, doi = {10.1149/2754-2734/ae184f}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:898-opus4-86295}, pages = {9}, abstract = {Additively processed materials are increasingly used to manufacture customized parts, e.g. medical implants. Implant surfaces often require a smooth finish, which can be achieved by post-processing and well-defined process parameters. In this study, the effects of electropolishing of metal parts produced by laser powder bed fusion are investigated using Hull cell experiments and a three-electrode setup. Current density voltage curves were measured with the three-electrode setup to identify the regimes for electropolishing. Subsequently different constant-currents were applied and Hull cell experiments were conducted. The surface roughness (Sz, Sa) and the mass removal were analysed. Surface morphologies were assessed using laser scanning and scanning electron microscopy. A reduction of the initial surface roughness of more than 90\% to Sa \< 0.3 μm has been achieved. Considering the passed electrical charge during electropolishing, results from Hull cell experiments are systematically correlated with current-controlled electropolishing. This approach enables the precise tailoring of polishing parameters to achieve surfaces with defined roughness. Furthermore, the study demonstrates the suitability of Hull cells in determining electropolishing parameters for additive materials and highlights their contribution to post-processing in additive manufacturing.}, language = {en} } @article{GreinerLauerSchedeletal., author = {Greiner, Nina and Lauer, Norina and Schedel, Valentin and Pfingsten, Andrea}, title = {Group rehabilitation for adults with acquired neurological disorders: A systematic review of mono- and interdisciplinary interventions in physical and speech-language therapy}, series = {PM\&R}, journal = {PM\&R}, publisher = {Wiley}, doi = {10.1002/pmrj.70006}, pages = {17}, abstract = {Background: Group treatments and interdisciplinary collaboration are recommended in evidence-based guidelines for neurorehabilitation, including physical and speech-language therapy. Evidence suggests that activating overlapping neural networks for upper extremity motor control and speechlanguage processing produces synergistic effects during therapy. This systematic review aims to overview and appraise the efficacy of group treatments in traditional rehabilitation and telerehabilitation. In addition to summarizing evidence on monodisciplinary approaches in physical and speech-language therapy, it seeks data on integrative approaches involving one or both disciplines to inform further interdisciplinary collaboration. Methods: The review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021288012) and followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Systematic searches were conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed quality using AMSTAR 2, the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale, or the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Checklist, as appropriate. The evidence was summarized in a systematic narrative synthesis and its certainty rated based on the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Results: A total of 29 studies were included: 16 on speech-language therapy (861 participants) and 13 on physical therapy (1757 participants). No studies addressed interdisciplinary group interventions, and only two evaluated group telerehabilitation. Outcome domains and measures varied across studies and the certainty of evidence was predominantly low. However, moderate-certainty evidence supports that group speech-language therapy improves quality of life, communication, and language in stroke survivors, especially when interventions emphasize verbal production in communicative settings with multimodal materials and cueing. In physical therapy, circuit class training may be more effective than other group approaches for enhancing quality of life and mobility. Conclusion: Group treatments in neurorehabilitation show some benefits, but further research is needed - especially regarding interdisciplinary approaches and telerehabilitation.}, subject = {Gruppentherapie}, language = {en} } @article{BarthelSuessDendorfer, author = {Barthel, Mareike and S{\"u}ß, Franz and Dendorfer, Sebastian}, title = {Application of a transformer encoder for the prediction of intra-abdominal pressure}, series = {Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering}, journal = {Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering}, publisher = {Taylor \& Francis}, doi = {10.1080/10255842.2025.2586143}, pages = {11}, abstract = {Intra-abdominal pressure is a significant physiological parameter influencing spinal stability and pelvic floor health. This study investigates the potential of a transformer encoder model to predict IAP using motion capture data and musculoskeletal modeling. Data from 211 subjects performing walking, fast walking, and running were used to train a transformer encoder. The model showed promising results with an overall Mean Absolute Percentage Error of 13.5\% and a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.85. Predictions for fast walking and running proved to be more challenging compared to walking, which was attributed to the greater variability and complexity of faster movements.}, language = {en} } @article{CurrleHaugWeber, author = {Currle, Edda and Haug, Sonja and Weber, Karsten}, title = {Akzeptanz des Einsatzes von K{\"u}nstlicher Intelligenz im Anamneseprozess: Ergebnisse einer Bev{\"o}lkerungsbefragung in Deutschland}, series = {Zeitschrift f{\"u}r Evidenz, Fortbildung und Qualit{\"a}t im Gesundheitswesen}, volume = {198-199}, journal = {Zeitschrift f{\"u}r Evidenz, Fortbildung und Qualit{\"a}t im Gesundheitswesen}, publisher = {Elsevier}, doi = {10.1016/j.zefq.2025.10.003}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:898-opus4-86715}, pages = {9 -- 17}, abstract = {Hintergrund und Zielsetzung Zunehmend werden digitale Anamneseverfahren, wie z. B. Chatbots, entwickelt und evaluiert, sind jedoch in Arztpraxen in Deutschland noch nicht fl{\"a}chendeckend implementiert. Ziel dieser Arbeit ist die Erhebung der Akzeptanz der Bev{\"o}lkerung in Deutschland gegen{\"u}ber KI-gest{\"u}tzten Verfahren im Anamneseprozess, durch die es m{\"o}glich wird, R{\"u}ckschl{\"u}sse auf die Nutzung der Verfahren und ihre Eignung als Bestandteil von Digitalisierungsstrategien der Praxen zu ziehen. Methode Die Studie basiert auf einer Onlinebefragung der Bev{\"o}lkerung in Deutschland (Feldphase 18.-24.11.2024, n = 1.000). Zur{\"u}ckgehend auf die „Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology" (UTAUT) wurden drei zentrale Hypothesen zur Nutzung von K{\"u}nstlicher Intelligenz (KI) im Anamneseprozess aufgestellt und mit linearen Regressionsmodellen getestet. Ergebnisse Die Akzeptanz f{\"u}r die Nutzung von KI-gest{\"u}tzten Systemen f{\"a}llt in beiden untersuchten Szenarien, der Nutzung eines Chatbots zu Hause und der Nutzung eines Chatbots in einer Arztpraxis, hoch aus. Dabei best{\"a}tigen sich die erwarteten Zusammenh{\"a}nge von Leistungserwartung, Aufwandserwartung und erwartetem Sozialem Einfluss mit der Verhaltensabsicht, einen Chatbot in der Arztpraxis oder vor dem Besuch einer Arztpraxis zu nutzen. Die Einfl{\"u}sse von Alter, Geschlecht oder Erfahrung mit der Technologie zeigen jedoch nicht die vermuteten Zusammenh{\"a}nge. Diskussion und Schlussfolgerung Die Praktikabilit{\"a}t ist von entscheidender Bedeutung f{\"u}r eine positive Einstellung gegen{\"u}ber der Nutzung. Dabei zeigt sich kein Unterschied zwischen den Geschlechtern. Bei der Implementierung von Chatbots im Anamneseprozess sollten die Aspekte Praktikabilit{\"a}t, Datenschutz und Datensicherheit eine wesentliche Rolle spielen. Angesichts der Tatsache, dass ein großer Teil der {\"a}lteren Bev{\"o}lkerung in Deutschland nach wie vor {\"u}ber begrenzte Erfahrung mit digitalen Technologien verf{\"u}gt, ist Gebrauchstauglichkeit f{\"u}r diese Bev{\"o}lkerungsgruppe sowie f{\"u}r Menschen mit Beeintr{\"a}chtigungen von hoher Relevanz.}, language = {de} } @article{WeihererEigenbergerEggeretal., author = {Weiherer, Maximilian and Eigenberger, Andreas and Egger, Bernhard and Br{\´e}bant, Vanessa and Prantl, Lukas and Palm, Christoph}, title = {Learning the shape of female breasts: an open-access 3D statistical shape model of the female breast built from 110 breast scans}, series = {The Visual Computer}, volume = {39}, journal = {The Visual Computer}, number = {4}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, doi = {10.1007/s00371-022-02431-3}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:898-opus4-30506}, pages = {1597 -- 1616}, abstract = {We present the Regensburg Breast Shape Model (RBSM)—a 3D statistical shape model of the female breast built from 110 breast scans acquired in a standing position, and the first publicly available. Together with the model, a fully automated, pairwise surface registration pipeline used to establish dense correspondence among 3D breast scans is introduced. Our method is computationally efficient and requires only four landmarks to guide the registration process. A major challenge when modeling female breasts from surface-only 3D breast scans is the non-separability of breast and thorax. In order to weaken the strong coupling between breast and surrounding areas, we propose to minimize the variance outside the breast region as much as possible. To achieve this goal, a novel concept called breast probability masks (BPMs) is introduced. A BPM assigns probabilities to each point of a 3D breast scan, telling how likely it is that a particular point belongs to the breast area. During registration, we use BPMs to align the template to the target as accurately as possible inside the breast region and only roughly outside. This simple yet effective strategy significantly reduces the unwanted variance outside the breast region, leading to better statistical shape models in which breast shapes are quite well decoupled from the thorax. The RBSM is thus able to produce a variety of different breast shapes as independently as possible from the shape of the thorax. Our systematic experimental evaluation reveals a generalization ability of 0.17 mm and a specificity of 2.8 mm. To underline the expressiveness of the proposed model, we finally demonstrate in two showcase applications how the RBSM can be used for surgical outcome simulation and the prediction of a missing breast from the remaining one. Our model is available at https://www.rbsm.re-mic.de/.}, language = {en} } @article{BrebantWeihererNoisseretal., author = {Br{\´e}bant, Vanessa and Weiherer, Maximilian and Noisser, Vivien and Seitz, Stephan and Prantl, Lukas and Eigenberger, Andreas}, title = {Implants Versus Lipograft: Analysis of Long-Term Results Following Congenital Breast Asymmetry Correction}, series = {Aesthetic Plastic Surgery}, volume = {46}, journal = {Aesthetic Plastic Surgery}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, doi = {10.1007/s00266-022-02843-5}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:898-opus4-32404}, pages = {2228 -- 2236}, abstract = {Aims Congenital breast asymmetry represents a particular challenge to the classic techniques of plastic surgery given the young age of patients at presentation. This study reviews and compares the long-term results of traditional breast augmentation using silicone implants and the more innovative technique of lipografting. Methods To achieve this, we not only captured subjective parameters such as satisfaction with outcome and symmetry, but also objective parameters including breast vol-ume and anthropometric measurements. The objective examination was performed manually and by using the Vectra H2 photogrammetry scanning system. Results Differences between patients undergoing either implant augmentation or lipograft were revealed not to be significant with respect to patient satisfaction with surgical outcome (p= 0.55) and symmetry (p= 0.69). Furthermore, a breast symmetry of 93 \% was reported in both groups. Likewise, no statistically significant volume difference between the left and right breasts was observed in both groups (p\0.41). However, lipograft patients needed on average 2.9 procedures to achieve the desired result, compared with 1.3 for implant augmentation. In contrast, patients treated with implant augmentation may require anumber of implant changes during their lifetime. Conclusion Both methods may be considered for patients presenting with congenital breast asymmetry.}, language = {en} } @article{MaierWeihererHuberetal., author = {Maier, Johannes and Weiherer, Maximilian and Huber, Michaela and Palm, Christoph}, title = {Imitating human soft tissue on basis of a dual-material 3D print using a support-filled metamaterial to provide bimanual haptic for a hand surgery training system}, series = {Quantitative Imaging in Medicine and Surgery}, volume = {9}, journal = {Quantitative Imaging in Medicine and Surgery}, number = {1}, publisher = {AME Publishing Company}, doi = {10.21037/qims.2018.09.17}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:898-opus4-979}, pages = {30 -- 42}, abstract = {Background: Currently, it is common practice to use three-dimensional (3D) printers not only for rapid prototyping in the industry, but also in the medical area to create medical applications for training inexperienced surgeons. In a clinical training simulator for minimally invasive bone drilling to fix hand fractures with Kirschner-wires (K-wires), a 3D-printed hand phantom must not only be geometrically but also haptically correct. Due to a limited view during an operation, surgeons need to perfectly localize underlying risk structures only by feeling of specific bony protrusions of the human hand. Methods: The goal of this experiment is to imitate human soft tissue with its haptic and elasticity for a realistic hand phantom fabrication, using only a dual-material 3D printer and support-material-filled metamaterial between skin and bone. We present our workflow to generate lattice structures between hard bone and soft skin with iterative cube edge (CE) or cube face (CF) unit cells. Cuboid and finger shaped sample prints with and without inner hard bone in different lattice thickness are constructed and 3D printed. Results: The most elastic available rubber-like material is too firm to imitate soft tissue. By reducing the amount of rubber in the inner volume through support material (SUP), objects become significantly softer. Without metamaterial, after disintegration, the SUP can be shifted through the volume and thus the body loses its original shape. Although the CE design increases the elasticity, it cannot restore the fabric form. In contrast to CE, the CF design increases not only the elasticity but also guarantees a local limitation of the SUP. Therefore, the body retains its shape and internal bones remain in its intended place. Various unit cell sizes, lattice thickening and skin thickness regulate the rubber material and SUP ratio. Test prints with higher SUP and lower rubber material percentage appear softer and vice versa. This was confirmed by an expert surgeon evaluation. Subjects adjudged pure rubber-like material as too firm and samples only filled with SUP or lattice structure in CE design as not suitable for imitating tissue. 3D-printed finger samples in CF design were rated as realistic compared to the haptic of human tissue with a good palpable bone structure. Conclusions: We developed a new dual-material 3D print technique to imitate soft tissue of the human hand with its haptic properties. Blowy SUP is trapped within a lattice structure to soften rubber-like 3D print material, which makes it possible to reproduce a realistic replica of human hand soft tissue.}, subject = {Handchirurgie}, language = {en} } @article{MaierWeihererHuberetal., author = {Maier, Johannes and Weiherer, Maximilian and Huber, Michaela and Palm, Christoph}, title = {Optically tracked and 3D printed haptic phantom hand for surgical training system}, series = {Quantitative Imaging in Medicine and Surgery}, volume = {10}, journal = {Quantitative Imaging in Medicine and Surgery}, number = {02}, publisher = {AME Publishing Company}, address = {Hong Kong, China}, doi = {10.21037/qims.2019.12.03}, pages = {340 -- 455}, abstract = {Background: For surgical fixation of bone fractures of the human hand, so-called Kirschner-wires (K-wires) are drilled through bone fragments. Due to the minimally invasive drilling procedures without a view of risk structures like vessels and nerves, a thorough training of young surgeons is necessary. For the development of a virtual reality (VR) based training system, a three-dimensional (3D) printed phantom hand is required. To ensure an intuitive operation, this phantom hand has to be realistic in both, its position relative to the driller as well as in its haptic features. The softest 3D printing material available on the market, however, is too hard to imitate human soft tissue. Therefore, a support-material (SUP) filled metamaterial is used to soften the raw material. Realistic haptic features are important to palpate protrusions of the bone to determine the drilling starting point and angle. An optical real-time tracking is used to transfer position and rotation to the training system. Methods: A metamaterial already developed in previous work is further improved by use of a new unit cell. Thus, the amount of SUP within the volume can be increased and the tissue is softened further. In addition, the human anatomy is transferred to the entire hand model. A subcutaneous fat layer and penetration of air through pores into the volume simulate shiftability of skin layers. For optical tracking, a rotationally symmetrical marker attached to the phantom hand with corresponding reference marker is developed. In order to ensure trouble-free position transmission, various types of marker point applications are tested. Results: Several cuboid and forearm sample prints lead to a final 30 centimeter long hand model. The whole haptic phantom could be printed faultless within about 17 hours. The metamaterial consisting of the new unit cell results in an increased SUP share of 4.32\%. Validated by an expert surgeon study, this allows in combination with a displacement of the uppermost skin layer a good palpability of the bones. Tracking of the hand marker in dodecahedron design works trouble-free in conjunction with a reference marker attached to the worktop of the training system. Conclusions: In this work, an optically tracked and haptically correct phantom hand was developed using dual-material 3D printing, which can be easily integrated into a surgical training system.}, subject = {Handchirurgie}, language = {en} } @article{EbigboMendelProbstetal., author = {Ebigbo, Alanna and Mendel, Robert and Probst, Andreas and Manzeneder, Johannes and Souza Jr., Luis Antonio de and Papa, Jo{\~a}o Paulo and Palm, Christoph and Messmann, Helmut}, title = {Computer-aided diagnosis using deep learning in the evaluation of early oesophageal adenocarcinoma}, series = {GuT}, volume = {68}, journal = {GuT}, number = {7}, publisher = {British Society of Gastroenterology}, doi = {10.1136/gutjnl-2018-317573}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:898-opus4-68}, pages = {1143 -- 1145}, abstract = {Computer-aided diagnosis using deep learning (CAD-DL) may be an instrument to improve endoscopic assessment of Barrett's oesophagus (BE) and early oesophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Based on still images from two databases, the diagnosis of EAC by CAD-DL reached sensitivities/specificities of 97\%/88\% (Augsburg data) and 92\%/100\% (Medical Image Computing and Computer-Assisted Intervention [MICCAI] data) for white light (WL) images and 94\%/80\% for narrow band images (NBI) (Augsburg data), respectively. Tumour margins delineated by experts into images were detected satisfactorily with a Dice coefficient (D) of 0.72. This could be a first step towards CAD-DL for BE assessment. If developed further, it could become a useful adjunctive tool for patient management.}, subject = {Speiser{\"o}hrenkrebs}, language = {en} } @article{SafiBandicNiedermeieretal., author = {Safi, Hila and Bandic, Medina and Niedermeier, Christoph and Almudever, Carmen G. and Feld, Sebastian and Mauerer, Wolfgang}, title = {Stacking the odds: full-stack quantum system design space exploration}, series = {EPJ Quantum Technology}, volume = {12}, journal = {EPJ Quantum Technology}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Heidelberg}, doi = {10.1140/epjqt/s40507-025-00413-7}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:898-opus4-85157}, pages = {31}, abstract = {Design space exploration (DSE) plays an important role in optimising quantum circuit execution by systematically evaluating different configurations of compilation strategies and hardware settings. In this paper, we conduct a comprehensive investigation into the impact of various layout methods, qubit routing techniques, and optimisation levels, as well as device-specific properties such as different variants and strengths of noise and imperfections, the topological structure of qubits, connectivity densities, and back-end sizes. By spanning through these dimensions, we aim to understand the interplay between compilation choices and hardware characteristics. A key question driving our exploration is whether the optimal selection of device parameters, mapping techniques, comprising of initial layout strategies and routing heuristics can mitigate device induced errors beyond standard error mitigation approaches. Our results show that carefully selecting software strategies (e.g., mapping and routing algorithms) and tailoring hardware characteristics (such as minimising noise and leveraging topology and connectivity density) significantly improve the fidelity of circuit execution outcomes, and thus the expected correctness or success probability of the computational result. We provide estimates based on key metrics such as circuit depth, gate count and expected fidelity. Our results highlight the importance of hardware-software co-design, particularly as quantum systems scale to larger dimensions, and along the way towards fully error corrected quantum systems: Our study is based on computationally noisy simulations, but considers various implementations of quantum error correction (QEC) using the same approach as for other algorithms. The observed sensitivity of circuit fidelity to noise and connectivity suggests that co-design principles will be equally critical when integrating QEC in future systems. Our exploration provides practical guidelines for co-optimising physical mapping, qubit routing, and hardware configurations in realistic quantum computing scenarios.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{GrafHachaniFischeretal., author = {Graf, Julian and Hachani, Murad and Fischer, Sebastian and Hackenberg, Rudolf}, title = {A heuristic packet processing model for improved encrypted network analysis}, series = {CSCS '25: Proceedings of the 2nd Cyber Security in CarS Workshop}, booktitle = {CSCS '25: Proceedings of the 2nd Cyber Security in CarS Workshop}, publisher = {ACM}, address = {New York, USA}, doi = {10.1145/3736130.3764510}, pages = {12}, abstract = {Modern networked systems, such as those in the automotive sector, face increasing complexity and growing attack surfaces due to the rise of interconnected and data-driven technologies. Detecting malicious behavior in these environments requires efficient and scalable methods that can operate reliably despite limited resources and high communication volumes. This paper proposes a heuristic packet processing model designed to support intrusion detection based on structural and temporal characteristics of encrypted network traffic. The model follows a modular architecture consisting of four key phases: recording, sorting, prioritizing, and analyzing. At the core of the approach is the Polymetric Queueing Topology Space, a feature space that combines statistical and time series attributes derived from model structure and flow data. These features serve as input for machine learning models, which can effectively distinguish between benign and intrusion traffic patterns without relying on packet data beyond the transport layer. The approach was evaluated using the publicly available ToN_IoT dataset and demonstrated that reliable classification is achievable using a subset of the developed feature space that contains model-derived traffic features. We used Random Forest for supervised binary and multi-class classification achieving high accuracy scores of 99\% for binary and 98\% for multi-class classification. Additionally, for unsupervised anomaly detection, we created an Isolation Forest model accomplishing F1-scores of 0.92 for the benign and 0.96 for intrusion class. The architecture is designed to enable dynamic traffic prioritization and to offer a flexible foundation that can observe diverse network domains while maintaining efficient performance under constrained computational conditions.}, language = {en} } @article{HeberlHofrichterRanketal., author = {Heberl, Michael and Hofrichter, Andreas and Rank, Daniel and Bauer, Franz and Sterner, Michael}, title = {Influence of plant dimensioning and location on the ecology of PEM electrolysis}, series = {International Journal of Hydrogen Energy}, volume = {167}, journal = {International Journal of Hydrogen Energy}, publisher = {Elsevier}, issn = {0360-3199}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.151039}, pages = {11}, abstract = {PV and wind systems with PEM electrolysis offer great potential for producing hydrogen with low emissions. Our research has identified the ecologically optimal size of PEM in relation to fixed PV/wind capacities. We calculate efficiencies and production volumes for PEM with 240 capacity and site variations. We analyse the global warming potential of all systems and draw conclusions about the optimal system design. The lowest GWP is achieved at the site with the highest full load hours with 1.32 kg CO2-eq/kg H2 (Wind, 28 MW electrolysis) and 4.24 kg CO2-eq/kg H2 (PV, 23 MW electrolysis). We have identified a clear trend: increasing PV/wind full load hours leads to higher ideal PEM capacities. However, there is a significant discrepancy between the ideal economic and ecological capacity. Furthermore, higher electrolysis capacities can achieve lower emissions as they increasingly operate at a more efficient partial load.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{StockerLehrerDuddecketal., author = {Stocker, Philipp and Lehrer, Tobias and Duddeck, Fabian and Wagner, Marcus}, title = {Face-wise prediction of sheet-metal drawability using graph neural networks}, series = {Journal of Physics: Conference Series}, volume = {3104}, booktitle = {Journal of Physics: Conference Series}, number = {1}, publisher = {IOP Publishing}, issn = {1742-6588}, doi = {10.1088/1742-6596/3104/1/012053}, pages = {11}, abstract = {The early design phase of deep-drawn structural components involves time-consuming iterative development. Traditional drawability assessments rely on finite element simulations, which are computationally expensive and slow the design process. Alternative machine learning (ML) approaches show promise in accelerating this process but face challenges with existing methods. Existing low-dimensional ML models only provide global predictions without identifying specific geometric regions prone to failure. High-dimensional models provide local predictions but require significant amounts of training data. We propose a data-driven approach leveraging graph neural networks (GNNs) for face-wise drawability prediction of sheet metal components in their computer-aided design (CAD) representation. Our method aims to bridge the gap between the computational efficiency of ML and the spatial resolution of simulation by providing face-wise insight into potential failure regions. This study utilises a dataset of parametric U-channel geometries with variability in both geometry and topology. Ground-truth labels are generated using inverse analysis simulations. Geometric entities are represented through the use of UV parameterisations, whereby 3D surfaces are mapped into 2D space to facilitate geometric encoding. Concurrently, the topological relationships are captured using a face adjacency graph. To address data scarcity, we evaluate how different amounts of training data affect model performance and perform ablation studies to analyse the impact of different CAD representation features. Our results show that the proposed approach achieves high accuracy even with limited training data. In addition, the ablation studies provide insights into the most critical CAD features, guiding future research. These results highlight the potential of our GNN to predict face-wise drawability in the early design phase.}, language = {en} } @article{HantschWestnerMatschi, author = {Hantsch, Carolin and Westner, Markus and Matschi, Markus}, title = {IT/OT-Konvergenz: Status-Quo und Umsetzungsempfehlungen}, series = {HMD Praxis der Wirtschaftsinformatik}, journal = {HMD Praxis der Wirtschaftsinformatik}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, doi = {10.1365/s40702-024-01111-1}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:898-opus4-77937}, pages = {16}, abstract = {Organisationen machen große Anstrengungen zur Verbesserung ihrer Ambidextrie, d. h. ihrer F{\"a}higkeit sowohl Exploitationsziele (z. B. Effizienz, Vorhersagbarkeit) als auch Explorationsziele (z. B. Anpassbarkeit, Innovation) zu erreichen. Obwohl gem{\"a}ß der Praxisliteratur Technologie in Software-Projekten dabei eine zentrale Rolle spielen kann, gibt es kaum Forschung dazu, wie technologische Faktoren Ambidexterie in Software-Projekten beeinflussen. In dieser Studie untersuchen wir die Rolle dreier technologischer Faktoren: kontinuierliche Integration, Standardisierung und Microservice-Architektur. Die Ergebnisse einer Mehrinformanten-Umfrage in 95 Projekten in der Schweiz und D{\"a}nemark zeigen, dass kontinuierliche Integration und Standardisierung mit h{\"o}herer Ambidexterie einhergehen, w{\"a}hrend der Zusammenhang zwischen Microservice-Architektur und Ambidextrie nicht signifikant ist. Unser Artikel geht {\"u}ber die existierende Forschung hinaus, indem er zeigt, dass kontinuierliche Integration und Standardisierung nicht nur Exploitation, sondern auch Exploration f{\"o}rdern k{\"o}nnen. Wir diskutieren auch Gr{\"u}nde f{\"u}r den insignifikanten Zusammenhang zwischen Microservice-Architektur und Ambidextrie.}, language = {de} } @article{SchmidThiel, author = {Schmid, Michael T. and Thiel, Charlotte}, title = {Is it worth it? Potential for reducing the environmental impact of bitumen roofing membrane production}, series = {Recycling}, volume = {10}, journal = {Recycling}, number = {6}, publisher = {MDPI}, doi = {10.3390/recycling10060208}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:898-opus4-86873}, pages = {24}, abstract = {Between 51\% and 72\% of a bituminous roofing membrane used for structural water-proofing consists of organic material, predominantly bitumen - a derivative of crude oil refining - highlighting the strong dependence of this product on fossil resources. Considering that several tonnes of these membranes must be replaced every 30 to 50 years, substantial potential exists for emission reduction through the establishment of circular material systems. This study investigates this potential by analysing 26 Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and life cycle datasets from across Europe covering the period from 2007 to 2023. To ensure comparability, all data were normalised to a declared unit of 1 kg of roofing membrane. The reinforcement layers were categorised into glass and polyester \& glass composites, and their differences were examined using Welch's t-tests. Correlative analyses and linear as well as multiple regression models were then applied to explore relationships between environmental indicators and the shares of organic and mineral mass fractions. The findings reveal that renewable energy sources, although currently representing only a small share of total production energy, provide a major lever for reducing nearly all environmental impact categories. The type of reinforcement layer was also found to influence the demand for fossil resources, both materially and energetically. For most environmental indicators, only multiple regression models can explain at least 30\% of the variance based on the proportions of organic and mineral inputs. Overall, the study underscores the crucial importance of high-quality, transparently documented product data for accurately assessing the sustainability of building products. It further demonstrates that substituting fossil energy carriers with renewable sources and optimising material efficiency can substantially reduce environmental burdens, provided that methodological consistency and clarity of indicator definitions are maintained.}, language = {en} } @article{BedburKampsSchmiedt, author = {Bedbur, Stefan and Kamps, Udo and Schmiedt, Anja Bettina}, title = {A flexible model of ordered random variables for non-metallic inclusions in steels and related statistical inference}, series = {Applied Mathematical Modelling}, volume = {149}, journal = {Applied Mathematical Modelling}, publisher = {Elsevier}, issn = {0307-904X}, doi = {10.1016/j.apm.2025.116284}, pages = {15}, abstract = {In a data set of non-metallic inclusion sizes in samples from engineering steel, common order statistics fail to serve as a suitable model for ascendingly ordered measurements within single samples. Therefore, a flexible model of ordered random variables is proposed, which allows for changes of distributions described by model parameters. Joint maximum likelihood estimation of these parameters and the shape parameter of an underlying left-truncated Weibull distribution is considered, and a model test is developed for the null-hypothesis of common order statistics being an adequate model. To overcome small data situations, a link-function approach is examined in order to reduce the number of involved model parameters as well as to propose to use a link-function parameter as a material indicator. An asymptotic test is provided to check for the presence of a linear link function, and tests for hypotheses about two link-function parameters are studied. Moreover, the construction of simultaneous confidence regions for the link-function parameters as well as of confidence bands for the entire graph of the link function are presented. Throughout, the findings are applied to the real metallurgical data set. Similar problems and data structures arise in other fields of material science and applications such as geology.}, language = {en} } @article{SchummBrownAbdelKhaleketal., author = {Schumm, Leon and Brown, Tom and Abdel-Khalek, Hazem and Ueckerdt, Falko and Sterner, Michael and Fioriti, David and Parzen, Max}, title = {The impact of temporal hydrogen regulation on hydrogen exporters and their domestic energy transition}, series = {Nature Communications}, volume = {16}, journal = {Nature Communications}, publisher = {Nature}, address = {London}, doi = {10.1038/s41467-025-62873-w}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:898-opus4-84857}, pages = {13}, abstract = {As global demand for green hydrogen rises, potential hydrogen exporters move into the spotlight. While exports can bring countries revenue, large-scale on-grid hydrogen electrolysis for export can profoundly impact domestic energy prices and energy-related emissions. Our investigation explores the interplay of hydrogen exports, domestic energy transition and temporal hydrogen regulation, employing a sector-coupled energy model in Morocco. We find substantial co-benefits of domestic carbon dioxide mitigation and hydrogen exports, whereby exports can reduce market-based costs for domestic electricity consumers while mitigation reduces costs for hydrogen exporters. However, increasing hydrogen exports in a fossil-dominated system can substantially raise market-based costs for domestic electricity consumers, but surprisingly, temporal matching of hydrogen production can lower these costs by up to 31\% with minimal impact on exporters. Here, we show that this policy instrument can steer the welfare (re-)distribution between hydrogen exporting firms, hydrogen importers, and domestic electricity consumers and hereby increases acceptance among actors.}, language = {en} } @article{SchmiedtEmpacherKamps, author = {Schmiedt, Anja B. and Empacher, Christina and Kamps, Udo}, title = {One- and two-sided prediction intervals for future Pareto record values with applications}, series = {Journal of Statistical Theory and Applications}, journal = {Journal of Statistical Theory and Applications}, publisher = {Springer}, issn = {2214-1766}, doi = {10.1007/s44199-025-00119-w}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:898-opus4-81605}, pages = {26}, abstract = {Based on upper record values in a series of observations over time from a Pareto distribution, an exact and several approximate one-sided and two-sided prediction intervals for the next record value (or for another future record value) to appear are studied and compared by means of an extensive simulation study. The performances of the prediction intervals are evaluated and recommendations are proposed for what method should be used in a given situation with respect to the form of the prediction interval on the one hand and to the tail behaviour on the other. The proposed methods are applied to insurance, environmental and sports data, where the respectively fitted Pareto distributions show a different tail behaviour. As a result, it is seen that although the number of observed record values in the presented real data applications is rather small, as it is usually the case, the selected prediction intervals are of practical use.}, language = {en} } @article{DotterHaugSchnelletal., author = {Dotter, Caroline and Haug, Sonja and Schnell, Rainer and Raptis, Georgios and Weber, Karsten}, title = {Sharing health data for research purposes: results of a population survey in Germany}, series = {BMC health services research}, volume = {25}, journal = {BMC health services research}, publisher = {BMC}, doi = {10.1186/s12913-025-12706-9}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:898-opus4-81622}, pages = {9}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Increased use of health data has the potential to improve both health care and health policies. Several recent policy initiatives at the European and German legislative levels aim to increase the primary and secondary use of health data. However, little is known about general population views on health data access for research. Most studies are based on subsets defined by specific illnesses. METHODS: We commissioned a national computer-assisted dual-frame telephone survey (landline and mobile). Logit estimation models were used to identify predictors of willingness to provide access to health data to different organizations (universities in Germany, universities worldwide, German government organizations, pharmaceutical companies). RESULTS: A high willingness to share health data for research purposes is observed, depending on the specific data recipient. The willingness is highest for research at universities in Germany and German governmental organizations, and lowest regarding research by pharmaceutical companies. The main drivers for sharing health data are the level of trust in public institutions, the respondents' assessment of the seriousness and likelihood of data misuse, and the level of digital literacy. Age, gender, and level of education have small effects and do not determine the willingness to share health data for all organizations. CONCLUSION: We present evidence from a random sample of the German population. The results indicate widespread support among the population for providing access to health data for research purposes. Similar to findings in other countries, the willingness depends strongly on the recipient of the data. This paper evaluates the impact of various determinants - identified in previous qualitative and quantitative research - on the willingness of the German population to share health data. While previous studies have found that patients are generally more willing to share health data, we found that the presence of a medical precondition does not translate into respondents' unequivocal support for health data sharing. We identify privacy concerns, general trust, and digital literacy as key factors influencing the willingness to share health data. Therefore, policymakers and stakeholders need to ensure and communicate the necessary privacy protection measures to increase the willingness of the German population to share health data.}, language = {en} }