TY - JOUR A1 - Treutwein, Marius A1 - Steger, Felix A1 - Löschel, Rainer A1 - Kölbl, Oliver A1 - Dobler, Barbara T1 - The influence of radiotherapy techniques on the plan quality and on the risk of secondary tumors in patients with pituitary adenoma JF - BMC cancer N2 - BACKGROUND: This planning study compares different radiotherapy techniques for patients with pituitary adenoma, including flatness filter free mode (FFF), concerning plan quality and secondary malignancies for potentially young patients. The flatness filter has been described as main source of photon scatter. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eleven patients with pituitary adenoma were included. An Elekta Synergy™ linac was used in the treatment planning system Oncentra® and for the measurements. 3D plans, IMRT, and VMAT plans and non-coplanar varieties were considered. The plan quality was evaluated regarding homogeneity, conformity, delivery time and dose to the organs at risk. The secondary malignancy risk was calculated from dose volume data and from measured dose to the periphery using different models for carcinoma and sarcoma risk. RESULTS: The homogeneity and conformity were nearly unchanged with and without flattening filter, neither was the delivery time found substantively different. VMAT plans were more homogenous, conformal and faster in delivery than IMRT plans. The secondary cancer risk was reduced with FFF both in the treated region and in the periphery. VMAT plans resulted in a higher secondary brain cancer risk than IMRT plans, but the risk for secondary peripheral cancer was reduced. Secondary sarcoma risk plays a minor role. No advantage was found for non-coplanar techniques. The FFF delivery times were not shortened due to additional monitor units needed and technical limitations. The risk for secondary brain cancer seems to depend on the irradiated volume. Secondary sarcoma risk is much smaller than carcinoma risk in accordance to the results of the atomic bomb survivors. The reduction of the peripheral dose and resulting secondary malignancy risk for FFF is statistically significant. However, it is negligible in comparison to the risk in the treated region. CONCLUSION: Treatments with FFF can reduce secondary malignancy risk while retaining similar quality as with flattening filter and should be preferred. VMAT plans show the best plan quality combined with lowest peripheral secondary malignancy risk, but highest level of second brain cancer risk. Taking this into account VMAT FFF seems the most advantageous technique for the treatment of pituitary adenomas with the given equipment. KW - Adenoma/radiotherapy KW - Age Factors KW - Female KW - Humans KW - Male KW - Pituitary Neoplasms/radiotherapy KW - Radiotherapy Dosage KW - risk factors Y1 - 2020 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-020-6535-y VL - 20 SP - 1 EP - 13 PB - Springer ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Grabitz, Peter A1 - Friedmann, Zoe A1 - Gepp, Sophie A1 - Hess, Leonard U. A1 - Specht, Lisa A1 - Struck, Maja A1 - Tragert, Sophie Kira A1 - Walther, Tobias A1 - Klemperer, David T1 - Quantity and quality of conflict of interest policies at German medical schools BT - a cross-sectional study and survey JF - BMJ open N2 - OBJECTIVES: To assess the quantity and evaluate the quality of policies and curricula focusing on conflicts of interests (COI) at medical schools across Germany. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study, survey of medical schools, standardised web search. SETTING: Medical schools, Germany. PARTICIPANTS: 38 German medical schools. - INTERVENTIONS: We collected relevant COI policies, including teaching activities, by conducting a search of the websites of all 38 German medical schools using standardised keywords for COI policies and teaching. Further, we surveyed all medical schools' dean's offices. Finally, we adapted a scoring system for results we obtained with 13 categories based on prior similar studies. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Presence or absence of COI-related policies, including teaching activities at medical school. The secondary outcome was the achieved score on a scale from 0 to 26, with high scores representing restrictive policies and sufficient teaching activities. RESULTS: We identified relevant policies for one medical school via the web search. The response rate of the deans' survey was 16 of 38 (42.1%). In total, we identified COI-related policies for 2 of 38 (5.3%) German medical schools, yet no policy was sufficient to address all COI-related categories that were assessed in this study. The maximum score achieved was 12 of 26. 36 (94.7%) schools scored 0. No medical school reported curricular teaching on COI. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate a low level of action by medical schools to protect students from undue commercial influence. No participating dean was aware of any curriculum or instruction on COI at the respective school and only two schools had policies in place. The German Medical Students Association and international counterparts have called for a stronger focus on COI in the classroom. We conclude that for German medical schools, there is still a long way to go. KW - Conflict of Interest KW - Cross-Sectional Studies KW - Curriculum KW - Germany KW - Humans KW - Policy KW - Schools, Medical Y1 - 2020 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-039782 VL - 10 IS - 9 SP - 1 EP - 8 PB - BMJ Publishing Group ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Lenk, Christian A1 - Duttge, Gunnar A1 - Flatau, Laura A1 - Frommeld, Debora A1 - Poser, Wolfgang A1 - Reitt, Markus A1 - Schulze, Thomas A1 - Weber, Alexandra A1 - Zoll, Barbara T1 - A look into the future? Patients' and health care staff's perception and evaluation of genetic information and the right not to know JF - American journal of medical genetics. Part B, Neuropsychiatric genetics : the official publication of the International Society of Psychiatric Genetics N2 - The progress of medical genetics leads to a significant increase in genetic knowledge and a vast expansion of genetic diagnostics. However, it is still unknown how these changes will be integrated into medical practice and how they will change patients' and healthy persons' perception and evaluation of genetic diagnoses and genetic knowledge. Therefore, we carried out a comprehensive questionnaire survey with more than 500 patients, clients seeking genetic counseling, health care staff, and healthy persons (N = 523). The questionnaire survey covered detailed questions on the value of genetic diagnoses for the different groups of study participants, the right to know or not to know genetic diagnoses, possible differences between genetic and other medical diagnoses, and the practical use and implications of genetic knowledge with a special focus on hereditary neuropsychiatric diseases. A huge majority of the participants (90.7%) stated to have a right to learn every aspect of her or his genetic make-up. Similarly, study participants showed high interest (81.8%) in incidental health care findings-independent of whether the diseases are treatable or not. One can derive from the data outcome that study participants did not follow the implications of a "genetic exceptionalism" and often considered genetic findings as equivalent in relation to other medical diagnoses. KW - Attitude of Health Personnel KW - Female KW - Genetic Counseling/methods KW - Genetic Testing/ethics KW - Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice KW - Humans KW - Incidental Findings KW - Male KW - Middle Aged KW - Surveys and Questionnaires Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/ajmg.b.32751 VL - 180 IS - 8 SP - 576 EP - 588 PB - Wiley ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Nigg, Claudio R. A1 - Phu, Tatiana A1 - Mnich, Carina T1 - Strategies to prevent (STOP) substance use: a website for adolescents in Hawaii JF - Journal of Substance Use N2 - Background: Adolescent substance use is a global and local (Hawaii) problem. Therefore, the study goal was to develop and investigate the effect of an adolescent substance use prevention intervention website in Hawaii. Methods: A website was developed including drug overviews, health effects, how to stay away, external prevention and treatment resources, and an evaluation. Three grade 11 classes completed a baseline (T1) survey based on website content and a follow-up (T2) assessment after a 15-minute website interaction. - Results: At T1, 63/72 and at T2, 62 students participated (16–17 years old; 92% female; 87.2% Filipino). The number correct increased from 48.0% (SD = 14.5) at T1 to 82.0% (SD = 15.3) at T2 (t(59) = 13.5, p < .001). Eleven of twelve topics improved (p < .5) which addressed mental disorder drug use, workplace meth-use in Hawaii, Americans in need of drug/alcohol treatment, stimulant drugs, side effects of drugs, drug related domestic/child abuse, short-term drug effects, Hawaii and national methuse, chemicals in drugs, how to stay away, and ways of treatment. Conclusions: Adolescents improved their substance use prevention understanding. This is promising considering the brief, inexpensive, potentially scalable intervention which can be implemented within high school curricula. KW - adolescents KW - PREVENTION KW - Substance use KW - website Y1 - 2020 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1080/14659891.2019.1664659 VL - 25 IS - 1 SP - 88 EP - 94 PB - Taylor&Francis ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Mnich, Carina T1 - Is there Europeanization of physical activity promotion? BT - A neofunctional approach JF - Health policy N2 - Physical inactivity is a problem in Europe, contributing to various non-communicable diseases (NCDs). While health sciences offer data and models for preventing the development of NCDs through health promotion, they do not explain the dynamics between the different institutions and actors in the health field. Neofunctionalism refers to these different actors and suggests that their interaction leads to the construction of a supranational authority, allowing the actors to cooperate on common policies, rules and institutions, resulting in integration and Europeanization. Indeed, there are a variety of European Union (EU) institutions and policies concerned with physical activity (PA), however, the purpose of this paper is to analyze if Europeanization and integration are happening in PA promotion, through the lens of neofunctionalism. Analysis uses process tracing for investigating the emergence of PA on the EU agenda, the legal background, existing policies and institutions. Findings indicate that Europeanization and integration of PA promotion are happening, although the opportunity for actions of the EU are restricted to voluntary actions of the EU Member States due to the agreements in the Treaty of Lisbon. This only allows the EU institutions to apply soft law approaches on PA promotion, which seems to be implemented in some Member States despite its non-binding character. The findings are discussed and further implications for public health professionals and policies outlined. KW - EUROPE KW - European Union/organization & administration KW - Exercise KW - health policy KW - Health Promotion/organization & administration KW - Humans Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2019.01.004 VL - 123 IS - 3 SP - 317 EP - 326 PB - Elsevier ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schmidt, Simon A1 - Längler, Manuel A1 - Altenbuchner, Amelie A1 - Kobl, Louisa A1 - Gruber, Hans T1 - Acquiring the Art of Conducting: Deliberate Practice as Part of Professional Learning JF - Journal of Advanced Academics N2 - esearch was and still is involved in the controversial issue about innate talent or extensive practice as the determinants of excellent performance in a range of domains. This study aims to contribute by presenting an analysis of practice activities in a domain that appears to be particularly suitable—orchestral conducting. Most conductors usually attain expertise in instrument playing prior to commencing conducting studies. Twenty-seven students of German study programs of orchestral conducting (approximately 18.7% of the population) responded to a questionnaire about their practice activities in conducting programs and their instrumental experiences. Descriptive results show the wealth of prestudy experiences conducting students have. A clear influence on practice activities cannot be stated. During study, students rated conducting-specific practice activities as more demanding and devoted more time to them than to general music practice activities. Therefore, conducting-specific practice activities might have been practiced more deliberately than general music practice activities. KW - conducting KW - conservatory KW - deliberate practice KW - expertise KW - professional learning KW - talent development KW - university of music Y1 - 2021 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1177/1932202x21995931 VL - 32 IS - 3 SP - 354 EP - 379 PB - Sage ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Rothleitner, Christian A1 - Schlamminger, Stephan T1 - Invited Review Article: Measurements of the Newtonian constant of gravitation, G JF - Review of Scientific Instruments N2 - By many accounts, the Newtonian constant of gravitation G is the fundamental constant that is most difficult to measure accurately. Over the past three decades, more than a dozen precision measurements of this constant have been performed. However, the scatter of the data points is much larger than the uncertainties assigned to each individual measurement, yielding a Birge ratio of about five. Today, G is known with a relative standard uncertainty of 4.7 x 10(-5), which is several orders of magnitudes greater than the relative uncertainties of other fundamental constants. In this article, various methods to measure G are discussed. Alarge array of different instruments ranging from the simple torsion balance to the sophisticated atom interferometer can be used to determine G. Some instruments, such as the torsion balance can be used in several different ways. In this article, the advantages and disadvantages of different instruments as well as different methods are discussed. A narrative arc from the historical beginnings of the different methods to their modern implementation is given. Finally, the article ends with a brief overview of the current state of the art and an outlook. KW - acceleration KW - ADJUSTMENT KW - ATOM KW - BALANCE KW - CODATA RECOMMENDED VALUES KW - FORCE KW - FUNDAMENTAL PHYSICAL CONSTANTS KW - INTERFEROMETRY KW - MASS KW - PRECISION-MEASUREMENT Y1 - 2017 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4994619 VL - 88 IS - 11 PB - AIP Publishing ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kiesl, Hans T1 - Indirect Sampling: A Review of Theory and Recent Applications JF - AStA Wirtschafts- und Sozialstatistisches Archiv N2 - Survey practitioners regularly face the task to draw a sample from a (sub-) population for which no sampling frame exists. Indirect sampling might be a way out in such situations, given that connections exist between the target population and another population for which probability sampling is feasible. While the theory of indirect sampling originated in the context of household panel studies, a wider area of applications emerged during the last decade. We first give a short review of the theory of indirect sampling, show that estimators from indirect samples might have smaller variance than the corresponding direct estimators (contrary to some claims in the literature), summarize recent applications and discuss some issues that are relevant for applying indirect sampling in practice. We also present some theory for unbiased estimation after an additional subsampling stage that was necessary for sampling kindergarten children in the German National Educational Panel Study (NEPS). KW - Bildungserhebung KW - Indirekte Auswahl KW - Stichprobenverfahren Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s11943-016-0183-3 VL - 10 IS - 4 SP - 289 EP - 303 PB - Springer ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Erb, Wolfgang A1 - Weinmann, Andreas A1 - Ahlborg, Mandy A1 - Brandt, Christina A1 - Bringout, Gael A1 - Buzug, Thorsten M. A1 - Frikel, Jürgen A1 - Kaethner, C. A1 - Knopp, Tobias A1 - März, T. A1 - Moddel, Martin A1 - Storath, Martin A1 - Weber, A. T1 - Mathematical analysis of the 1D model and reconstruction schemes for magnetic particle imaging JF - Inverse Problems N2 - Magnetic particle imaging (MPI) is a promising new in vivo medical imaging modality in which distributions of super-paramagnetic nanoparticles are tracked based on their response in an applied magnetic field. In this paper we provide a mathematical analysis of the modeled MPI operator in the univariate situation. We provide a Hilbert space setup, in which the MPI operator is decomposed into simple building blocks and in which these building blocks are analyzed with respect to their mathematical properties. In turn, we obtain an analysis of the MPI forward operator and, in particular, of its ill-posedness properties. We further get that the singular values of the MPI core operator decrease exponentially. We complement our analytic results by some numerical studies which, in particular, suggest a rapid decay of the singular values of the MPI operator. KW - FORMULATION KW - ill-posedness KW - INTERPOLATION KW - inverse problems KW - magnetic particle imaging KW - model-based reconstruction KW - MPI KW - NODES KW - reconstruction operator KW - RELAXATION KW - RESOLUTION Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6420/aab8d1 VL - 34 IS - 5 PB - IOP Publishing ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Dobler, Barbara A1 - Maier, Johannes A1 - Knott, Bernadette A1 - Maerz, Manuel A1 - Löschel, Rainer A1 - Kölbl, Oliver T1 - Second Cancer Risk after simultaneous integrated boost radiation therapy of right sided breast cancer with and without flattening filter JF - Strahlentherapie und Onkologie N2 - Background The aim of this study was to investigate if the flattening filter free mode (FFF) of a linear accelerator reduces the excess absolute risk (EAR) for second cancer as compared to the flat beam mode (FF) in simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) radiation therapy of right-sided breast cancer. Patients and methods Six plans were generated treating the whole breast to 50.4 Gy and a SIB volume to 63 Gy on CT data of 10 patients: intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), and a tangential arc VMAT (tVMAT), each with flattening filter and without. The EAR was calculated for the contralateral breast and the lungs from dose-volume histograms (DVH) based on the linear-exponential, the plateau, and the full mechanistic dose-response model. Peripheral low-dose measurements were performed to compare the EAR in more distant regions as the thyroids and the uterus. Results FFF reduces the EAR significantly in the contralateral and peripheral organs for tVMAT and in the peripheral organs for VMAT. No reduction was found for IMRT. The lowest EAR for the contralateral breast and lung was achieved with tVMAT FFF, reducing the EAR by 25 % and 29 % as compared to tVMAT FF, and by 44 % to 58 % as compared to VMAT and IMRT in both irradiation modes. tVMAT FFF showed also the lowest peripheral dose corresponding to the lowest EAR in the thyroids and the uterus. Conclusion The use of FFF mode allows reducing the EAR significantly when tVMAT is used as the treatment technique. When second cancer risk is a major concern, tVMAT FFF is considered the preferred treatment option in SIB irradiation of right-sided breast cancer. T2 - Sekundärmalignom-Risiko nach simultan integrierter Boost-Bestrahlung des rechtsseitigen Mamma-Karzinoms mit und ohne Ausgleichskörper KW - 3D-CRT KW - Breast Cancer KW - CONTRALATERAL BREAST KW - DOSES RELEVANT KW - flattening filter free KW - HODGKIN COHORTS KW - IMRT KW - INDUCTION KW - JAPANESE A-BOMB KW - Peripheral Dose KW - PREDICTED RISK KW - Radiotherapy KW - Second Cancer Risk KW - VMAT Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00066-016-1025-5 VL - 192 IS - 10 SP - 687 EP - 695 PB - Springer Nature CY - Heidelberg ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Maier, Johannes A1 - Knott, Bernadette A1 - März, Manuel A1 - Löschel, Rainer A1 - Kölbl, Oliver A1 - Dobler, Barbara T1 - Simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) radiation therapy of right sided breast cancer with and without flattening filter - A treatment planning study JF - Radiation oncology N2 - Background: The aim of the study was to compare the two irradiation modes with (FF) and without flattening filter (FFF) for three different treatment techniques for simultaneous integrated boost radiation therapy of patients with right sided breast cancer. Methods: An Elekta Synergy linac with Agility collimating device is used to simulate the treatment of 10 patients. Six plans were generated in Monaco 5.0 for each patient treating the whole breast and a simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) volume: intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and a tangential arc VMAT (tVMAT), each with and without flattening filter. Plan quality was assessed considering target coverage, sparing of the contralateral breast, the lungs, the heart and the normal tissue. All plans were verified by a 2D-ionisation-chamber-array and delivery times were measured and compared. The Wilcoxon test was used for statistical analysis with a significance level of 0.05. Results: Significantly best target coverage and homogeneity was achieved using VMAT FFF with V95% = (98.7 +/- 0.8) % and HI = (8.2 +/- 0.9) % for the SIB and V95% = (98.3 +/- 0.7) % for the PTV, whereas tVMAT showed significantly lowest doses to the contralateral organs at risk with a D-mean of (0.7 +/- 0.1) Gy for the contralateral lung, (1.0 +/- 0.2) Gy for the contralateral breast and (1.4 +/- 0.2) Gy for the heart. All plans passed the gamma evaluation with a mean passing rate of (99.2 +/- 0.8) %. Delivery times were significantly reduced for VMAT and tVMAT but increased for IMRT, when FFF was used. Lowest delivery times were observed for tVMAT FFF with (1:20 +/- 0:07) min. Conclusion: Balancing target coverage, OAR sparing and delivery time, VMAT FFF and tVMAT FFF are considered the preferable of the investigated treatment options in simultaneous integrated boost irradiation of right sided breast cancer for the combination of an Elekta Synergy linac with Agility and the treatment planning system Monaco 5.0. KW - 3D-CRT KW - CONSERVING THERAPY KW - FIELD KW - IMRT KW - Radiotherapy KW - VMAT Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1186/s13014-016-0687-6 VL - 11 PB - BMC, Part of Springer Nature ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Saßmannshausen, Sean Patrick A1 - Volkmann, Christine T1 - The Scientometrics of Social Entrepreneurship and Its Establishment as an Academic Field JF - Journal of small business management N2 - This paper provides an overview of the state of art of research on social entrepreneurship and the establishment of this topic in the academic world, It uses scientometric methods in measuring the maturity of social entrepreneurship research. The empirical part reveals the exponentially growing number of papers, the institutionalization of social entrepreneurship in seven dimensions the emergence of thematic clusters, and methodological issues. The paper makes concrete suggestions on how to overcome methodological challenges. Furthermore, we provide a ranking of the 22 most cited academic contributions in social entrepreneurship. Surprisingly, almost half of the most cited papers have not been published in journals but in books, raising doubts about the current (over-)rating of journal publications. KW - COCITATION KW - ENTERPRISE KW - IMPACT KW - INDEX KW - ISSUES KW - KNOWLEDGE Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1111/jsbm.12254 VL - 56 IS - 2 SP - 251 EP - 273 PB - Wiley ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kummerlin, Jana A1 - Fabro, Hannah Katharina A1 - Pedersen, Peter Heide A1 - Jensen, Kenneth Krogh A1 - Pedersen, Dennis A1 - Andersen, Michael Skipper T1 - Measuring Knee Joint Laxity in Three Degrees-of-Freedom In Vivo Using a Robotics- and Image-Based Technology JF - Journal of Biomechanical Engineering N2 - Accurate and reliable information about three-dimensional (3D) knee joint laxity can prevent misdiagnosis and avoid incorrect treatments. Nevertheless, knee laxity assessments presented in the literature suffer from significant drawbacks such as soft tissue artifacts, restricting the knee within the measurement, and the absence of quantitative knee ligament property information. In this study, we demonstrated the applicability of a novel methodology for measuring 3D knee laxity, combining robotics- and image-based technology. As such technology has never been applied to healthy living subjects, the aims of this study were to develop novel technology to measure 3D knee laxity in vivo and to provide proof-of-concept 3D knee laxity measurements. To measure tibiofemoral movements, four healthy subjects were placed on a custom-built arthrometer located inside a low dose biplanar X-ray system with an approximately 60 deg knee flexion angle. Anteroposterior and mediolateral translation as well as internal and external rotation loads were subsequently applied to the unconstrained leg, which was placed inside a pneumatic cast boot. Bone contours were segmented in the obtained X-rays, to which subject-specific bone geometries from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were registered. Afterward, tibiofemoral poses were computed. Measurements of primary and secondary laxity revealed considerable interpersonal differences. The method differs from those available by the ability to accurately track secondary laxity of the unrestricted knee and to apply coupled forces in multiple planes. Our methodology can provide reliable information for academic knee ligament research as well as for clinical diagnostics in the future. KW - ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT KW - COMPLEX KW - COORDINATE SYSTEM KW - INJURY KW - INSTABILITY KW - MOTION KW - OSTEOARTHRITIS KW - QUANTIFICATION KW - STIFFNESS Y1 - 2022 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4053792 SN - 1528-8951 VL - 144 IS - 8 PB - The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Merk, Josef A1 - Schlotz, Wolff A1 - Falter, Thomas T1 - The Motivational Value Systems Questionnaire (MVSQ): Psychometric Analysis Using a Forced Choice Thurstonian IRT Model JF - Frontiers in Psychology N2 - This study presents a new measure of value systems, the Motivational Value Systems Questionnaire (MVSQ), which is based on a theory of value systems by psychologist Clare W. Graves. The purpose of the instrument is to help people identify their personal hierarchies of value systems and thus become more aware of what motivates and demotivates them in work-related contexts. The MVSQ is a forced-choice (FC) measure, making it quicker to complete and more difficult to intentionally distort, but also more difficult to assess its psychometric properties due to ipsativity of FC data compared to rating scales. To overcome limitations of ipsative data, a Thurstonian IRT (TIRT) model was fitted to the questionnaire data, based on a broad sample of N = 1,217 professionals and students. Comparison of normative (IRT) scale scores and ipsative scores suggested that MVSQ IRT scores are largely freed from restrictions due to ipsativity and thus allow interindividual comparison of scale scores. Empirical reliability was estimated using a sample-based simulation approach which showed acceptable and good estimates and, on average, slightly higher test-retest reliabilities. Further, validation studies provided evidence on both construct validity and criterion-related validity. Scale score correlations and associations of scores with both age and gender were largely in line with theoretically - and empirically-based expectations, and results of a multitrait-multimethod analysis supports convergent and discriminant construct validity. Criterion validity was assessed by examining the relation of value system preferences to departmental affiliation which revealed significant relations in line with prior hypothesizing. These findings demonstrate the good psychometric properties of the MVSQ and support its application in the assessment of value systems in work-related contexts. Y1 - 2017 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01626 VL - 8 IS - 1626 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Strech, Daniel A1 - Follmann, Markus A1 - Klemperer, David A1 - Lelgemann, Monika A1 - Ollenschläger, Günter A1 - Raspe, Heiner A1 - Nothacker, Monika T1 - When Choosing Wisely meets clinical practice guidelines JF - Zeitschrift für Evidenz, Fortbildung und Qualität im Gesundheitswesen : ZEFQ = The journal of evidence and quality in health care N2 - The American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Foundation launched the Choosing Wisely campaign in 2012 and until today convinced more than 50 US specialist societies to develop lists of interventions that may not improve people’s health but are potentially harmful. We suggest combining these new efforts with the already existing efforts in clinical practice guideline development. Existing clinical practice guidelines facilitate a more participatory and evidence-based approach to the development of top 5 lists. In return, adding top 5 lists (for overuse and underuse) to existing clinical practice guidelines nicely addresses a neglected dimension to clinical practice guideline development, namely explicit information on which Do or Don’t do recommendations are frequently disregarded in practice. T2 - Wenn "Choosing Wisely" auf Leitlinien trifft Y1 - 2014 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.zefq.2014.10.014 SN - 1865-9217 SN - 2212-0289 VL - 108 IS - 10 SP - 601 EP - 603 PB - Elsevier ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schmidt, Ulf A1 - Penzkofer, Rainer A1 - Bachmaier, Samuel A1 - Augat, Peter T1 - Implant Material and Design Alter Construct Stiffness in Distal Femur Locking Plate Fixation: A Pilot Study JF - Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research® N2 - BACKGROUND: Construct stiffness affects healing of bones fixed with locking plates. However, variable construct stiffness reported in the literature may be attributable to differing test configurations and direct comparisons may clarify these differences. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: We therefore asked whether different distal femur locking plate systems and constructs will lead to different (1) axial and rotational stiffness and (2) fatigue under cyclic loading. METHODS: We investigated four plate systems for distal femur fixation (AxSOS, LCP, PERI-LOC, POLYAX) of differing designs and materials using bone substitutes in a distal femur fracture model (OTA/AO 33-A3). We created six constructs of each of the four plating systems. Stiffness under static and cyclic loading and fatigue under cyclic loading were measured. RESULTS: Mean construct stiffness under axial loading was highest for AxSOS (100.8 N/mm) followed by PERI-LOC (80.8 N/mm) and LCP (62.6 N/mm). POLYAX construct stiffness testing showed the lowest stiffness (51.7 N/mm) with 50% stiffness of AxSOS construct testing. Mean construct stiffness under torsional loading was similar in the group of AxSOS and PERI-LOC (3.40 Nm/degree versus 3.15 Nm/degree) and in the group of LCP and POLYAX (2.63 Nm/degree versus 2.56 Nm/degree). The fourth load level of > 75,000 cycles was reached by three of six AxSOS, three of six POLYAX, and two of six PERI-LOC constructs. All others including all LCP constructs failed earlier. CONCLUSIONS: Implant design and material of new-generation distal femur locking plate systems leads to a wide range of differences in construct stiffness. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Assuming construct stiffness affects fracture healing, these data may influence surgical decision-making in choosing an implant system. Y1 - 2013 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-013-2867-0 VL - 471 IS - 9 SP - 2808 EP - 2814 PB - The Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Rudolph, Clarissa T1 - Old wine in new wineskins? BT - Labour market reforms in Germany and its impact on women JF - AG About Gender : International Journal of gender studies N2 - In the mid 2000s, a fundamental labour market reform has been carried out in Germany. The so-called Hartz-reforms were supposed to implement the paradigms of “activation” and “individual responsibility”. It was also discussed, whether in this context the “adult worker model” and more gender equality in the labour market should and could be achieved. This article clarifies the reforms ambivalent impact on women: there is a stronger but only partial labour market inclusion predominantly into the low-wage sector. Women´s responsibility in private care remains unchanged. Besides, in both fields, gender equality is not only a matter of quantity but also of quality. In other words, it is not about work inclusion at any cost, but rather the circumstances for female employment must be critically analyzed. The labour market reforms have so far done little to oppose the gender specific structures of the labour market. KW - Gender Equality KW - Labour Market Reforms, KW - Gender Models KW - Low Wage Sector Y1 - 2013 U6 - https://doi.org/10.15167/2279-5057/ag.2013.2.4.84 SN - 2279-5057 VL - 2 IS - 4 SP - 76 EP - 94 PB - Genova University Press ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Cichy, Ireneusz A1 - Kruszwicka, Agnieszka A1 - Palus, Patrycja A1 - Przybyla, Tomasz A1 - Schliermann, Rainer A1 - Wawrzyniak, Sara A1 - Klichowski, Michal A1 - Rokita, Andrzej T1 - Physical Education with Eduball Stimulates Non-Native Language Learning in Primary School Students JF - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health) N2 - Although the neuronal mechanisms of action and cognition are related, the division of intellectual and physical lessons is standard in schools. This is surprising, because numerous studies show that integrating physical education (PE) with teaching content stimulates critical skills. For example, several experiments indicate that Eduball-based PE (i.e., lessons in a sports hall during which students play team mini-games with educational balls with printed letters, numbers, and other signs) develops mathematical and language competencies. At the same time, the Eduball method does not slow down learners' physical development. However, we have little knowledge about the effects of such techniques on non-native language learning. Consequently, the absence of incorporating core academic subjects into PE in dual-language schools or during foreign language education is exceptionally high. Here, we replicated the Eduball experiment, but with the goal of testing this method for non-native language learning. Thus, the intervention occurred in a dual-language primary school and we evaluated second language (L2) learning. As before, we used the technique of parallel groups (experimental and control); in both groups, there were three 45-min PE classes per week. In the experimental class, two of them were held using Eduball. After a half-year experiment, children from the experimental group (one second-grade, N = 14) improved their non-native language skills significantly more than their peers from the control group (one second-grade, N = 12). These findings demonstrate that Eduball-type intervention stimulates non-native language learning in children. Hence, our report suggests that specific body training forms can support L2 learning. KW - Child KW - Humans KW - Language KW - Learning KW - Physical Education and Training KW - Schools KW - Students Y1 - 2022 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19138192 VL - 19 IS - 13 SP - 1 EP - 14 PB - MDPI CY - Basel ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schliermann, Rainer A1 - Stolz, Isabel A1 - Anneken, Volker T1 - The sports background, personality, attitudes, and social competencies of coaches and assistant coaches in the ‘Just Soccer’ program for pupils with intellectual disabilities JF - Human Movement N2 - The purpose of this study was to empirically analyze the sports background, personality dimensions, attitudes, and social competencies of adult head coaches and young assistant coaches involved in the German Einfach Fußball ( Just Soccer) program, which promotes the participation of pupils with intellectual disabilities in soccer/sports and society. Methods. The study recruited 28 head coaches and 29 assistant coaches who completed a questionnaire battery of standardized instruments (NEO Five-Factor Inventory, Interpersonal Reactivity Index, Social Self-Efficacy) as well as self-developed instruments. Analysis of the data involved descriptive and inferential statistical procedures. A descriptive comparison of the assistant coaches with a normative sample of males aged 16–20 years was performed. Results. The head coaches were found with little soccer/sports experience with persons with disabilities prior to participation in the Just Soccer program. However, the majority were familiar with these persons through personal/vocational contacts. Overall, the head coaches were differentiated by formal coaching levels and playing backgrounds, with very few holding any additional formal qualifications in special education. The assistant coaches pre sented below average scores in the analyzed five personality dimensions when compared with the normative sample. Their attitudes and social competencies did not change during their 8-month involvement in Just Soccer . Conclusions. The findings highlight the important role of the coaching staff in the success of the Just Soccerprogram. coaches involved in such activities should be familiarized with needs of people with disabilities, be stress-resistant, and possess a balanced set of personality traits. In addition, the results suggest that such individuals should be coaches/players from conventional soccer clubs instead of special school physical education teachers. KW - participation KW - inclusion KW - soccer KW - disabilities KW - personality KW - attitudes Y1 - 2014 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1515/humo-2015-0009 SN - 1732-3991 VL - 15 IS - 3 SP - 177 EP - 185 PB - Versita CY - Warsaw ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schliermann, Rainer A1 - Heydenreich, Patrick A1 - Bungter, Tanja A1 - Anneken, Volker T1 - Health-related quality of life in working-age adults with visual impairments in Germany JF - Disability & Rehabilitation N2 - Purpose The purpose of this study was to gather data about physical activity and quality of life (QoL) for people of working age with visual impairments to optimize upcoming physical activity-based interventions in vocational rehabilitation. Methods Two hundred and seventy-seven former participants of four vocational rehabilitation centres in Germany answered an online questionnaire. The health-related QOL has been assessed by means of the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire. The data were analysed via multivariate analysis of covariances (MANCOVAs), univariate analysis of covariances (ANCOVAs) and discriminant function analysis. Results Compared to a normative group of adults aged 36-45, the study group showed lower values in all domains of QOL. The MANCOVA (visual acuity) produced no multivariate significant effect. Also, the ANCOVA showed no significant effect for the global dimension of the WHOQOL-BREF. The MANCOVA (leisure time activity) produced a multivariate significant effect. Post-hoc ANCOVAS revealed significant effects for all four domains of QoL. The ANCOVA analysing the global domain showed a similar significant effect as well. The active persons had higher values in all domains of QoL compared to the more passive participants. Conclusion Interventions in vocational rehabilitation should focus on leisure time activity to enhance QoL. At this stage, the role of physical activity is still unclear and further studies are needed. Implications for rehabilitation People with visual impairments often show a worse quality of life than normal-sighted people. The degree of severity of the visual impairment does not affect quality of life. Sport and physical activity are effective means of improving quality of life. An active leisure time activity supports the improvement of the quality of life of visual-impaired people that participated in a vocational rehabilitation. KW - Employment status KW - Germany KW - ICF KW - job satisfaction KW - leisure activity KW - physical activity KW - vocational rehabilitation Y1 - 2017 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3109/09638288.2016.1146353 SN - 0963-8288 VL - 39 IS - 5 SP - 428 EP - 437 PB - Taylor & Francis CY - Abingdon ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Högele, Wolfgang A1 - Dobler, Barbara A1 - Kölbl, Oliver A1 - Beard, Clair A1 - Zygmanski, Piotr A1 - Löschel, Rainer T1 - Stochastic triangulation for prostate positioning during radiotherapy using short CBCT arcs JF - Radiotherapy and Oncology N2 - Background and purpose: Fast and reliable tumor localization is an important part of today's radiotherapy utilizing new delivery techniques. This proof-of-principle study demonstrates the use of a method called herein 'stochastic triangulation' for this purpose. Stochastic triangulation uses very short imaging arcs and a few projections. Materials and methods: A stochastic Maximum A Posteriori (MAP) estimator is proposed based on an uncertainty-driven model of the acquisition geometry and inter-/intra-fractional deformable anatomy. The application of this method was designed to use the available linac-mounted cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and/or electronic portal imaging devices (EPID) for the patient setup based on short imaging arcs. For the proof-of-principle clinical demonstration, the MAP estimator was applied to 5 CBCT scans of a prostate cancer patient with 2 implanted gold markers. Estimation was performed for several (18) very short imaging arcs of 5° with 10 projections resulting in 90 estimations. Results: Short-arc stochastic triangulation led to residual radial errors compared to manual inspection with a mean value of 1.4mm and a standard deviation of 0.9 mm (median 1.2mm, maximum 3.8mm) averaged over imaging directions all around the patient. Furthermore, abrupt intra-fractional motion of up to 10mm resulted in radial errors with a mean value of 1.8mm and a standard deviation of 1.1mm (median 1.5mm, maximum 5.6mm). Slow periodic intra-fractional motions in the range of 12 mm resulted in radial errors with a mean value of 1.8mm and a standard deviation of 1.1mm (median 1.6mm, maximum 4.7 mm). Conclusion: Based on this study, the proposed stochastic method is fast, robust and can be used for inter- as well as intra-fractional target localization using current CBCT units. KW - Patient positioning KW - Setup error KW - Maximum A Posteriori estimation KW - Short arc KW - Stochastic triangulation Y1 - 2013 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radonc.2013.01.005 VL - 106 IS - 2 SP - 241 EP - 249 PB - Elsevier ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Högele, Wolfgang A1 - Löschel, Rainer A1 - Dobler, Barbara A1 - Kölbl, Oliver A1 - Zygmanski, Piotr T1 - Bayesian estimation applied to stochastic localization with constraints due to interfaces and boundaries JF - Mathematical Problems in Engineering N2 - Purpose We present a systematic Bayesian formulation of the stochastic localization/triangulation problem close to constraining interfaces. Methods For this purpose, the terminology of Bayesian estimation is summarized suitably for applied researchers including the presentation of Maximum Likelihood (ML), Maximum A Posteriori (MAP), and Minimum Mean Square Error (MMSE) estimation. Explicit estimators for triangulation are presented for the linear 2D parallel beam and the nonlinear 3D cone beam model. The priors in MAP and MMSE optionally incorporate (A) the hard constraints about the interface and (B) knowledge about the probability of the object with respect to the interface. All presented estimators are compared in several simulation studies for live acquisition scenarios with 10,000 samples each. Results First, the presented application shows that MAP and MMSE perform considerably better, leading to lower Root Mean Square Errors (RMSEs) in the simulation studies compared to the ML approach by typically introducing a bias. Second, utilizing priors including (A) and (B) is very beneficial compared to just including (A). Third, typically MMSE leads to better results than MAP, by the cost of significantly higher computational effort. Conclusion Depending on the specific application and prior knowledge, MAP and MMSE estimators strongly increase the estimation accuracy for localization close to interfaces. Y1 - 2013 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/960421 SN - 1563-5147 VL - 213 PB - HIndawi ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Joseph, Saskia A1 - Schumm, Michael A1 - Rummel, Otmar A1 - Soska, Alexander A1 - Renschke, Michael A1 - Mottok, Jürgen A1 - Niemetz, Michael A1 - Schroll-Decker, Irmgard T1 - Teaching finite state machines with case method and role play JF - 2014 IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON 2014) : Istanbul, Turkey, 3 - 5 April 2014 N2 - The professional requirements in Software Engineering have become highly volatile due to the complexities of project development and rapid and innovative changes occurring in the field. Therefore, the development of inter-personal and social competences has gained central importance in the training of software developers. This paper will present a concept allowing to acquire competences by using Case Method and Role Play as instruments in several lectures of Software Engineering. By approaching the issue of competence acquisition on a technical as well as on an educational and social level, life-long learning is facilitated and supported. KW - Case Method KW - competences KW - learning arrangement KW - life-long learning KW - Role Play Y1 - 2013 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1109/EduCon.2013.6530275 SP - 1302 EP - 1305 PB - IEEE ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Fuhrmann, Thomas T1 - Course Preparation Time Optimization System for Improved Didactic Outcome T2 - 2022 20th International Conference on Information Technology Based Higher Education and Training (ITHET), 07-09 November 2022, Antalya, Turkey N2 - Due to the various demands for lecturers, there is only a limited time to prepare lectures and lab courses. Therefore, it is necessary to invest the time target-oriented for optimal student learning success. A theoretic model is developed to structure course preparation work regarding scientific content, didactic preparation, and course presentation. Model parameters have to be chosen for each course depending on topic complexity, the lecturer’s prior knowledge, and the already available preparation from the prior semesters. With these parameters, a course preparation model for a complete semester is developed. Analytic models for different optimization strategies are introduced according to the overall goal of the lecturer. Numerical optimization is done to find the appropriate course preparation times to reach an optimal course preparation for high student learning success. It is seen that due to the different optimization strategies, the preparation time results vary and no single truth is given. But this optimization system gives hints on how to invest preparation time target-oriented for high student learning success. KW - Higher education KW - Engineering education KW - Course preparation KW - Curriculum development KW - Optimization Y1 - 2022 SN - 978-1-6654-8908-9 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1109/ITHET56107.2022.10031642 PB - IEEE ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Heine, Norbert A1 - Eigenberger, Andreas A1 - Brebant, Vanessa A1 - Kempa, Sally A1 - Seitz, Stephan A1 - Prantl, Lukas A1 - Kuehlmann, Britta T1 - The effect of radiotherapy on fat engraftment for complete breast reconstruction using lipofilling only JF - Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics N2 - Purpose Lipofilling has been established as a standard technique for contour enhancement following breast reconstruction. However, there is a paucity in current literature regarding the use of this technique for complete reconstruction of the female breast as an alternative to conventional techniques, such as expander or flap-based procedures. In particular, the influence of pre-operative irradiation for successful reconstruction has rarely been examined in published studies. Here, the authors describe their experience with successful fat injection in pre-radiated breasts in comparison with non-pre-radiated patients. Methods In this retrospective study, we examined a total of 95 lipofilling treatments on 26 patients (28 breasts). All of them experienced mastectomy following breast cancer; local breast defects after partial resection of the gland were not included in this study. In total, 47 lipofilling procedures in 12 non-irradiated patients (14 breasts) and 48 procedures in 14 irradiated women (also 14 breasts) were performed. Per session, approximately 297 +/- 112 cc of adipose tissue was grafted in group A (no radiotherapy) and approximately 259 +/- 93 cc was grafted in group B (radiotherapy). Results Among the group of women without pre-operative radiation, 71% of breast reconstructions limited to lipofilling only showed constant engraftment of fat tissue with a successful reconstructive result, whereas only 21% of the patients with pre-radiated breasts showed complete reconstruction of the breast with a permanent fat in-growth. Conclusion Preoperative radiotherapy significantly impedes successful completion of breast reconstructions planned only by autologous fat transfer. Patients should be selected individually and carefully for complete breast reconstruction using lipofilling only. KW - Breast augmentation KW - Breast cancer KW - CANCER KW - Fat graft KW - Lipofilling KW - OUTCOMES KW - PLATELET-RICH PLASMA KW - RADIATION-THERAPY KW - Radiotherapy KW - RECIPIENT-SITE KW - Reconstruction Y1 - 2022 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-022-06610-4 PB - Springer ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Maerz, Manuel A1 - Treutwein, Marius A1 - Nabo, Jan A1 - Dobler, Barbara T1 - Three-dimensional printers applied for the production of beam blocks in total body irradiation treatment JF - Journal of Applied Clinical Medical Physics N2 - Purpose: Total body irradiation (TBI) in extended source surface distance (SSD) is a common treatment technique before hematopoietic stem cell transplant. The lungs are organs at risk, which often are treated with a lower dose than the whole body. Methods: This can be achieved by the application of blocks. Three-dimensional (3D) printers are a modern tool to be used in the production process of these blocks. Results: We demonstrate the applicability of a specific printer and printing material, describe the process, and evaluate the accuracy of the product. Conclusion: The blocks and apertures were found to be applicable in clinical routine. KW - 3D printer KW - electron beam apertures KW - photon beam blocks KW - Radiotherapy KW - STEM-CELL TRANSPLANTATION KW - TBI KW - total body irradiation Y1 - 2022 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/acm2.13592 VL - 23 IS - 5 SP - 1 EP - 8 PB - Wiley ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Rösl, Gerhard A1 - Seitz, Franz T1 - Cash demand in times of crisis JF - Journal of Payments Strategy and Systems N2 - This paper focuses on the role of specific types of crisis (technological crisis, financial market crisis, natural disaster) and their effects on the demand for cash in an international context. As evidence from the last 30 years shows, demand for cash increases during periods of crisis, regardless of the nature of the crisis. The nature of the crisis does, however, determine whether small or large banknote denominations are affected more. This study finds that times of payment uncertainties are associated with increased demand for small denominations, probably reflecting an elevated demand for transaction balances. By contrast, in times of financial crisis or general economic uncertainty, the increased demand for cash is largely the result of consumers taking precautionary actions and building up non-transaction balances; for this reason, there is greater demand for large banknote denominations. This study finds that cash continues to play an important role in crisis management. Whether this function can also be fulfilled by a future central bank digital currency, however, remains to be seen. Y1 - 2022 UR - https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/hsp/jpss/2022/00000016/00000002/art00002 SN - 1750-1814 VL - 16 IS - 2 SP - 107 EP - 119 PB - Ingenta CY - Oxford ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Schaeffer, Leon A1 - Herrmann, David A1 - Böhm, Valter T1 - Concept of a wrist Hand Orthosis based on a prestressed compliant structure T2 - Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Biomedical Engineering and Applications (ICBEA), Hangzhou, China, 21-23 April 2023 N2 - In the treatment of hand injuries in the context of orthopedic care, movable wrist hand orthoses are used in numerous instances. Early motion therapy is in most cases advantageous for adequate, rapid and successful long-term healing of the hand. Conventional dynamic wrist hand orthoses can only be used for movement therapy to a limited extent since they represent the wrist as a simple rotating joint and neglect the complexity of the hand movement possibilities. In this paper, a preliminary concept for dynamic wrist hand orthoses based on prestressed compliant structures is presented. The distinctive feature of this concept lies in the enabling of multiaxial motion capabilities of the human hand without applying conventional joints. According to the concept the wrist region is surrounded by a prestressed compliant structure. Besides the derivation and description of the concept, a first three-dimensional computer-aided design is shown. Additionally, the necessary steps in the development of such a novel dynamic wrist orthosis are discussed. Y1 - 2023 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1109/ICBEA58866.2023.00024 SP - 98 EP - 103 PB - IEEE ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Sommoggy, Julia A1 - Grepmeier, Eva-Maria A1 - Apfelbacher, Christian A1 - Brandstetter, Susanne A1 - Curbach, Janina T1 - Pediatricians’ experiences of managing outpatient care during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study in Germany JF - Frontiers in Pediatrics N2 - Background: Pediatricians are important sources of information for parents regarding their children's health. During the COVID-19 pandemic, pediatricians faced a variety of challenges regarding information uptake and transfer to patients, practice organization and consultations for families. This qualitative study aimed at shedding light on German pediatricians’ experiences of providing outpatient care during the first year of the pandemic. Methods: We conducted 19 semi-structured, in-depth interviews with pediatricians in Germany from July 2020 to February 2021. All interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, pseudonymized, coded, and subjected to content analysis. Results: Pediatricians felt able to keep up to date regarding COVID-19 regulations. However, staying informed was time consuming and onerous. Informing the patients was perceived as strenuous, especially when political decisions had not been officially communicated to pediatricians or if the recommendations were not supported by the professional judgment of the interviewees. Some felt that they were not taken seriously or adequately involved in political decisions. Parents were reported to consider pediatric practices as sources of information also for non-medical inquiries. Answering these questions was time consuming for the practice personnel and involved non-billable hours. Practices had to adapt their set-up and organization immediately to the new circumstances of the pandemic, which proved costly and laborious as well. Some changes in the organization of routine care, such as the separation of appointments for patients with acute infection from preventive appointments, were perceived as positive and effective by some study participants. Telephone and online consultations were established at the beginning of the pandemic and considered helpful for some situations, whereas for others these methods were deemed insufficient (e.g. for examinations of sick children). All pediatricians reported reduced utilization mainly due to a decline in acute infections. However, preventive medical check-ups and immunization appointments were reported to be mostly attended. Conclusion: Positive experiences of reorganizing pediatric practice should be disseminated as “best practices” in order to improve future pediatric health services. Further research could show how some of these positive experiences in reorganizing care during the pandemic are to be maintained by pediatricians in the future. KW - COVID-19 KW - pediatric care KW - outpatient care KW - content analysis KW - pandemic Y1 - 2023 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2023.1127238 VL - 11 PB - frontiers ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Stadler, Sebastian A1 - Cornet, Henriette A1 - Frenkler, Fritz T1 - Assessing Heuristic Evaluation in Immersive Virtual Reality: A Case Study on Future Guidance Systems JF - Multimodal Technologies and Interaction N2 - A variety of evaluation methods for user interfaces (UI) exist such as usability testing, cognitive walkthrough, and heuristic evaluation. However, UIs such as guidance systems at transit hubs must be evaluated in their intended application field to allow the effective and valid identification of usability flaws. However, what if evaluations are not feasible in real environments, or laboratorial conditions cannot be ensured? Based on adapted heuristics, in the present study, the method of heuristic evaluation is combined with immersive Virtual Reality (VR) for the identification of usability flaws of dynamic guidance systems (DGS) at transit hubs. The study involved usability evaluations of nine DGS concepts using the newly proposed method. The results show that compared to computer-based heuristic evaluations, the use of immersive VR led to the identification of an increased amount of “severe” usability flaws as well as overall usability flaws. Within a qualitative assessment, immersive VR is validated as a suitable tool for conducting heuristic evaluations involving significant advantages such as the creation of realistic experiences in laboratorial conditions. Future work seeks to further prove the suitability of using immersive VR for heuristic evaluations and compare the proposed method to other evaluative methods. KW - virtual reality KW - heuristic evaluation KW - human-computer interaction KW - user interfaces KW - guidance system Y1 - 2023 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3390/mti7020019 SN - 2414-4088 VL - 7 IS - 2 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Himmelein, Susanne A1 - Perez Ruiz de Garibay, Aritz A1 - Brandel, Veronika A1 - Zierfuß, Frank A1 - Bingold, Tobias Michael T1 - The ADVanced Organ Support (ADVOS) hemodialysis system removes IL-6: an in vitro proof-of-concept study JF - Intensive care medicine experimental N2 - BACKGROUND IL-6 is a pleiotropic cytokine modulating inflammation and metabolic pathways. Its proinflammatory effect plays a significant role in organ failure pathogenesis, commonly elevated in systemic inflammatory conditions. Extracorporeal blood purification devices, such as the Advanced Organ Support (ADVOS) multi hemodialysis system, might offer potential in mitigating IL-6's detrimental effects, yet its efficacy remains unreported. METHODS We conducted a proof-of-concept in vitro study to assess the ADVOS multi system's efficacy in eliminating IL-6. Varying concentrations of IL-6 were introduced into a swine blood model and treated with ADVOS multi for up to 12 h, employing different blood and concentrate flow rates. IL-6 reduction rate, clearance, and dynamics in blood and dialysate were analyzed. RESULTS IL-6 clearance rates of 0.70 L/h and 0.42 L/h were observed in 4 and 12-h experiments, respectively. No significant differences were noted across different initial concentrations. Reduction rates ranged between 40 and 46% within the first 4 h, increasing up to 72% over 12 h, with minimal impact from flow rate variations. Our findings suggest that an IL-6-albumin interaction and convective filtration are implicated in in vitro IL-6 elimination with ADVOS multi. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates for the first time an efficient and continuous in vitro removal of IL-6 by ADVOS multi at low blood flow rates. Initial concentration-dependent removal transitions to more consistent elimination over time. Further clinical investigations are imperative for comprehensive data acquisition. KW - Extracorporeal blood purification KW - Albumin dialysis KW - Multiple organ failure, KW - Advanced organ support KW - IL-6 KW - Cytokines Y1 - 2024 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1186/s40635-024-00652-5 SN - 2197-425X VL - 12 IS - 1 PB - SpringerOpen CY - Berlin ; Heidelberg ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Uhrhan, Katja A1 - Schwindt, Esther A1 - Witte, Hartmut T1 - Fabrication and Dielectric Validation of an Arm Phantom for Electromyostimulation JF - Bioengineering N2 - Electromyostimulation (EMS) is an up-and-coming training method that demands further fundamental research regarding its safety and efficacy. To investigate the influence of different stimulation parameters, electrode positions and electrode sizes on the resulting voltage in the tissue, a tissue mimicking phantom is needed. Therefore, this study describes the fabrication of a hydrogel arm phantom for EMS applications with the tissue layers of skin, fat, blood and muscle. The phantom was dielectrically validated in the frequency range of 20 Hz to 100 Hz. We also conducted electromyography (EMG) recordings during EMS on the phantom and compared them with the same measurements on a human arm. The phantom reproduces the dielectric properties of the tissues with deviations ranging from 0.8% to more than 100%. Although we found it difficult to find a compromise between mimicking the permittivity and electrical conductivity at the same time, the EMS-EMG measurements showed similar waveforms (1.9-9.5% deviation) in the phantom and human. Our research contributes to the field of dielectric tissue phantoms, as it proposes a multilayer arm phantom for EMS applications. Consequently, the phantom can be used for initial EMS investigations, but future research should focus on further improving the dielectric properties. KW - tissue phantom KW - electromyostimulation KW - electrical muscle stimulation KW - dielectric validation KW - electromyography Y1 - 2024 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering11070724 SN - 2306-5354 VL - 11 IS - 7 PB - MDPI CY - Basel ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Hassmann, Tobias A1 - Westner, Markus T1 - A Framework for Rigorous Execution and Presentation of Expert Interviews in IS and Digital Transformation Research T2 - Advances in Information Systems Development: Exploring New Horizons and Opportunities N2 - This article addresses the inconsistent conceptualization of expert interviews in information systems (IS) research by providing a structured framework for their rigorous execution and presentation. Through a thematic analysis of 28 method-relevant papers, key characteristics and good practices for executing expert interviews are identified. Additionally, 39 highly cited IS studies were reviewed to examine expert interview utilization in IS research and to identify good practices for presenting expert interview outcomes, which are further validated on nine digital transformation (DT) studies. Our findings highlight the adaptability and varied applications of expert interviews in IS research and offer recommendations to strengthen rigor in their preparation, execution, and presentation of outcomes. Theoretical and practical implications are provided to guide a more systematic and rigorous use of expert interviews in IS research. Y1 - 2025 SN - 9783031878794 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-87880-0_4 SN - 2195-4968 SP - 63 EP - 86 PB - Springer Nature CY - Cham ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Hille, Julia A1 - Brandstetter, Manuela A1 - Schulze, Mandy A1 - Keller, Samuel T1 - Rural areas and social work: Reflection on research in German-speaking countries JF - International Social Work N2 - Demographic change, securing social services, dealing with migration and agreeing to democratic participation are particularly rural challenges in Austria, Switzerland and Germany. Although social work is responsible for all these issues, there is a lack of a differentiated view. What exactly are rural areas? Who are the relevant actors in and for social work? As the social contexts are very different, research must differentiate and take into account the cultural and historical contexts of regional challenges. This article aims to strengthen the research perspective on rural areas and demonstrate their relevance in the discourse on social work. KW - Intergenerationality, rural areas, social capital, social work, space KW - rural areas KW - social capital KW - social work KW - space Y1 - 2024 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:898-opus4-80748 SN - 1461-7234 SP - 1 EP - 7 PB - Sage ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Bartsch, Alexander A1 - Beham, Daniela A1 - Gebhardt, Jakob A1 - Ehrlich, Ingo A1 - Schratzenstaller, Thomas A1 - Monkman, Gareth J. T1 - Mechanical Properties of NdPrFeB Based Magnetoactive Bisphenol-Free Boron-Silicate Polymers JF - Journal of Nanomedicine and Nanotechnology N2 - Following a ban on many materials containing bisphenol-A, new bisphenol-free Boron silicates have been found as substitutes. The purpose of this study is to describe the mechanical properties of these bisphenol-free magnetoactive borosilicate polymers containing hard magnetic particles. Samples of 0%, 33% and 66% by wt. were loaded for compression using a universal testing machine. The maximum forces occurring for different travel speeds were compared before and after post-magnetization treatments. The post-magnetization included 2 stages. In addition, the change in mechanical properties within 24 hours after the post-magnetization process was investigated. Furthermore, the influence of speed and particle content were investigated. In general, there is a correlation between the required compressive force and, the level of post-magnetization stress, the increase in travel speed and particle content in the boron silicate. Comparison of the non-post-magnetized and post-magnetized samples using two-tailed t-tests shows that the p-values for all weight fraction changes in NdPrFeB particles and travel speeds are less than 0.001. Also, a comparison between tests in which the traverse speed was varied also showed significant changes in the resulting compression forces. The same is valid for changes in the weight ratio of the NdPrFeB particles in the samples. For post-magnetized samples, no significant difference can be observed in the first 24 hours following magnetization. In summary, the material presents viscoelastic, plastic force-displacement behavior, which can be well recognized by its bi-linear curve shape. The investigation shows that borosilicate polymers based on NdPrFeB can have their mechanical behavior modified and controlled by post-magnetization processes. This opens new possibilities for many future applications. Y1 - 2023 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:898-opus4-67425 UR - https://www.walshmedicalmedia.com/open-access/mechanical-properties-of-ndprfeb-based-magnetoactive-bisphenolfree-boronsilicate-polymers-124385.html SN - 2157-7439 N1 - Corresponding author: Alexander Bartsch VL - 14 IS - 6 PB - Walsh Medical Media ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Schaeffer, Leon A1 - Herrmann, David A1 - Böhm, Valter T1 - Preliminary theoretical considerations of a hand orthosis based on a prestressed, compliant structure T2 - Proceedings of the 2023 International Symposium on Medical Robotics (ISMR), Atlanta, 19-21 April 2023 N2 - In the treatment of hand injuries in the context of orthopedic care, movable hand orthoses are used in many cases. Early motion therapy is in most cases advantageous for adequate, rapid, and successful long-term healing of the hand. Conventional mobile hand orthoses can only be used for movement therapy to a limited extent since they represent the wrist as a simple rotating joint and neglect the complexity of the movement possibilities of the hand. In this paper, a novel concept for movable hand orthoses based on prestressed compliant structures is presented. The advantage with this concept is that it replicates the multiaxial motion capabilities without the need for conventional joints. Besides the derivation and description of the concept, a first three-dimensional CAD design is shown. Additionally, the next planned steps in the development of such a novel dynamic hand orthosis are described. Y1 - 2023 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1109/ISMR57123.2023.10130230 SP - 1 EP - 7 PB - IEEE ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Rösl, Gerhard A1 - Seitz, Franz T1 - Central Bank Digital Currency and Cash in the Euro Area: Current Developments and one Specific Proposal JF - Credit and Capital Markets – Kredit und Kapital N2 - The present paper provides an overview on current developments of cash usage and issue of central bank digital currency (CBDC) in the euro area and proposes a possible design of a digital euro that allows for instant offline payments. Cash usage at the point-of-sale decreased perceptibly in the past years mainly due to the ongoing trend towards digitalization. However, we show that there are also indications that consumers were somewhat pushed into cashless payments by government regulations and supply-side restrictions by commercial banks. Nonetheless, overall demand for euro cash remained strong and even increased relative to GDP since the financial crisis in 2008. In this process, however, we observe a supply-driven shift towards lower banknote denominations. Central banks all over the world are intensively thinking about the potential issue of ­CBDC as a substitute or complement to cash. Based on some of its preferred characteristics, we propose a double pre-paid scheme combining central elements of TARGET Instant Payment Settlement and electronic money features enabling offline and online instant payments. Since anonymity is categorically discarded by the ECB and as cash has some special advantages from a consumer perspective, the digital euro will rather co-circulate with cash than replace it in transactions. Y1 - 2022 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3790/ccm.55.4.523 VL - 55 IS - 4 SP - 523 EP - 551 PB - Duncker & Humblot CY - Berlin ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Reich, Katrin A1 - Dalferth, Matthias T1 - From the Placement Paradigm to Sustainable Support of Companies in the Integration of People with High-Functioning Autism - Results of an Employer Survey JF - Die Rehabilitation: Zeitschrift für Praxis und Forschung in der Rehabilitation N2 - Im Rahmen des Projektes AUT-1A wurden 123 Arbeitgeber*innen mittels Fragebogen zu ihren Erfahrungen mit der Beschäftigung von autistischen Mitarbeiter*innen befragt. Ziel war es, die beschäftigungsfördernden und -hindernden Faktoren herauszuarbeiten. Die Studie deutet darauf hin, dass sich die berufliche Qualifizierung in den Berufsbildungswerken positiv auf die nachhaltige Beschäftigung von Menschen mit Autismus-Spektrum-Diagnose (ASD) auswirkt, die Unterstützungsleistungen für Betriebe aber noch nicht hinreichend sind. Auch konnte eine mangelnde Aufklärung in Bezug auf eine autismusfreundliche Umgebungsgestaltung sowie eine mangelnde Aufklärung über die Diagnose Autismus der direkten Kolleg*innen herausgearbeitet werden. KW - Autismus KW - ASS KW - Teilhabe am Arbeitsleben KW - Arbeitgeberbefragung Y1 - 2023 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1055/a-1998-6630 SN - 0034-3536 PB - Thieme ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Markov-Glazer, Alon A1 - Elbe, Anne-Marie A1 - Schliermann, Rainer T1 - Sport psychology consultants’ views on mental training with elite Deaf sport athletes JF - International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology N2 - The elite sport movement for athletes with hearing impairments, namely Deaflympics, differs from the Paralympic and Olympic sport movements because it exhibits a variety of distinct sociocultural and organisational characteristics. Yet, mental training with Deaflympic athletes receives little to no attention from the scientific community. Little is known about sport psychology consultants’ (SPCs) work with Deaflympic athletes. In this study, we explored SPCs’ exposure to so called Deaf sport as well as their experiences, attitudes, and assumptions regarding the utility of psychological skills training (PST) with Deaflympic athletes. A self-constructed questionnaire with closed and semi-open questions was completed by 93 (58.8% female) SPCs in European German-speaking countries. Analyses revealed SPCs had limited exposure to Deaflympic sport but indicated readiness to work with Deaflympic athletes. SPCs shared no reasons as to why PST skills and techniques would not be effective with Deaflympic athletes. However, SPCs regarded communication challenges as a major obstacle. We conclude that the integration of elite Deaf sport in SPCs’ training programmes is vital, considering SPCs’ lack of exposure and experience with Deaflympic athletes as well as their communication insecurities. In addition, further empirical research on PST effectiveness in Deaflympics athletes should provide the foundation for evidence-based utility of applied sport psychology in Deaflympic sport. KW - Deaf culture KW - Deaflympics KW - psychological skills training Y1 - 2023 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1080/1612197X.2023.2245422 SN - 1557-251X N1 - This work was supported by the German Federal Institute of Sport Science (BISp) under Grant number [ZMVI4-070401/19-20]. AMG received a doctoral scholarship from the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF). SP - 1 EP - 16 PB - Taylor & Francis ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Schaeffer, Leon A1 - Herrmann, David A1 - Böhm, Valter T1 - Theoretical considerations on a 2D compliant tensegrity joint in context of a biomedical application T2 - Engineering for a changing world : 60th ISC, Ilmenau Scientific Colloquium, Technische Universität Ilmenau, September 4-8, 2023 N2 - In this paper, a two-dimensional compliant tensegrity joint was investigated for potential biomedical applications such as orthotics or exoskeletons. The structure consists of two compressed members connected by five compliant tensioned members. The concept is based on the tensegrity principle, which allows the realization of dynamic orthoses without conventional hinge joints. Another advantage is the adaptability to the individual needs of the patient through a suitable design of the structure and the careful selection of the characteristics of the elements. Using geometric nonlinear analysis, the mechanical behavior of the structure was investigated, focusing on mechanical compliance. The main objective was to determine the influence of the initial length and stiffness of the tensioned members and the influence of the magnitude of external forces on the overall stiffness of the movable member of the structure. The results highlight the significant impact of member parameters on the structure's stiffness and movability under varying load magnitudes. The research laid the foundation for future development of dynamic orthoses based on this structure. Y1 - 2023 U6 - https://doi.org/10.22032/dbt.58879 SP - 1 EP - 15 PB - Technische Universität Ilmenau CY - Ilmenau ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Winkler, Fabian A1 - Westner, Markus T1 - A Systematic Literature Review of DevOps Success Factors and Adoption Models JF - SOICT '23: Proceedings of the 12th International Symposium on Information and Communication Technology. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 7-8 December 2023 N2 - This paper investigates DevOps adoption, emphasizing its cultural dimensions in the context of the information systems domain. Utilizing a robust systematic literature review methodology, we discerned nine salient success factors and delineated three stage models instrumental for a smooth transition into DevOps-centric projects. Despite the increasing breadth of research in the DevOps area, the absence of a consolidated definition remains a challenge, underscoring the importance of a unified interpretative framework. This research notably extends the current body of knowledge by focusing on the cultural dynamics of DevOps adoption. As a result, it offers a refined lens through which both practitioners involved in the adoption process and academic researchers can comprehend the nuances and implications of cultural shifts in the evolving landscape of DevOps within information systems. Y1 - 2023 SN - 979-8-4007-0891-6 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1145/3628797.3628883 SP - 525 EP - 532 PB - ACM ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Spiller, Ralf A1 - Degen, Matthias A1 - Kronewald, Elke A1 - Guertler, Katherine T1 - Media watchblogs as an instrument of media accountability: An international survey JF - Journal of Applied Journalism & Media Studies N2 - Media watchdog weblogs can play an important role in media accountability, provided that the bloggers are regularly active and have an appropriate awareness of their role in the media landscape. The following article examines the presence and influence of media watchblogs in selected nations, as well as the operators’ standards and perceptions of their roles. In semi-structured qualitative interviews, operators of watchblogs in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the United Kingdom discussed their perceptions of their role, their ethical guidelines, their financing and any conflicts of interest, and their projections for the future. The interviews reveal that most media watchbloggers do not interpret their role to be a Fifth Estate with a mandate to monitor the mass media. The watchbloggers are reluctant to accept and uphold formal ethical and quality criteria, and limitations on time and money make them unable to guarantee ongoing critical media analysis. For these reasons, media watchblogs are determined to be a weak instrument of media accountability. KW - ethics KW - expert interviews KW - international comparative study KW - media accountability KW - role identity KW - watchblogs Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1386/ajms.5.2.151_1 SN - 2049-9531 VL - 5 IS - 2 SP - 151 EP - 176 PB - intellect ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kratzer, Simon A1 - Westner, Markus A1 - Strahringer, Susanne T1 - Factors for Fractional CIO Engagement Success JF - Information & Management N2 - As small- to medium-sized enterprises struggle with IT management, an increasing number appoint Fractional CIOs, i.e., CIOs that work part-time for multiple organizations simultaneously. We use Q-methodology to empirically evaluate the relative importance of factors for Fractional CIO engagement success and find that trust, top management team support, and the Fractional CIO's integrity are most important. Further, we identify three groups of Fractional CIOs: Strategic IT Advisors, Full-ownership CIOs, and Change Agents. Our results guide organizations when hiring and working with Fractional CIOs and provide the basis for further research on Fractional CIO archetypes.As small- to medium-sized enterprises struggle with IT management, an increasing number appoint Fractional CIOs, i.e., CIOs that work part-time for multiple organizations simultaneously. We use Q-methodology to empirically evaluate the relative importance of factors for Fractional CIO engagement success and find that trust, top management team support, and the Fractional CIO's integrity are most important. Further, we identify three groups of Fractional CIOs: Strategic IT Advisors, Full-ownership CIOs, and Change Agents. Our results guide organizations when hiring and working with Fractional CIOs and provide the basis for further research on Fractional CIO archetypes. KW - Fractional CIO KW - Virtual CIO KW - SMEs KW - Small Businesses KW - Engagement Success KW - Q-Methodology Y1 - 2023 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.im.2023.103793 SN - 0378-7206 VL - 60 PB - Elsevier ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Fuhrmann, Thomas T1 - Semi-Structured Lab Projects in Communication Engineering Education T2 - 2023 IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON), 01-04 May 2023, Kuwait N2 - It is generally known that project-based learning is a very important part of engineering education to connect theoretical knowledge with practical work. Students learn to apply their knowledge to real-world challenges as it is the case in their later professional life. If students are not used to project work or the scientific topic is new and relatively complex, they may be overwhelmed. The consequence is that students achieve poor results, are frustrated, and therefore learning success is low. Semi-structured projects are introduced that combine the advantages of structured experiments with projects. The project work is structured into several parts with detailed descriptions of the tasks. In the end, students get similar results to doing a free project, but the success rate is higher due to higher guidance. Therefore, these semi-structured projects are seen to be an appropriate method to guide students to learn how to do project work. The feedback from most students is very positive. Some students with no previous lab experience complained about the project work and wished for more guidance to become familiar with lab work. In sum, the student feedback is encouraging to develop semi-structured projects further. KW - Knowledge engineering KW - Task analysis KW - Communication engineering education Y1 - 2023 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1109/EDUCON54358.2023.10125244 SP - 1 EP - 5 PB - IEEE ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Süzeroglu-Melchiors, Sevim A1 - Gassmann, Oliver A1 - Palmié, Maximilian T1 - Friend or foe? The effects of patent attorney use on filing strategy vis-a-vis the effects of firm experience JF - Management Decision N2 - PurposeIn the intellectual property (IP) and management literature, the question of how external patent attorneys impact patent filings has been understudied. The purpose of this paper is to advance this area of research by examining how the use of external patent attorneys influences the patent filing strategies of firms and what impact firms? level of experience with the exclusive use of in-house resources has on filing strategies. This study, thus, provides insights into the strategic dimension behind patent filing, a process which is affected by patent attorneys? work and decision-making processes.Design/methodology/approachThe econometric analysis is based on a patent database of 922,553 patents which is combined with an EPO patent database covering applications from 1990 to 2010. The authors test the hypotheses for this study using patent indicators addressing the impact of in-house firm experience vs the use of external patent attorneys on firm?s filing strategy.FindingsThis research finds empirical evidence that external patent attorneys? work has an effect on patent scope, international scope, and patenting speed. Moreover, it can be shown that external patent attorneys have a positive impact on most filing dimensions, such as patent scope, international scope and the Patent Cooperation Treaty option, whereas the level of in-house firm experience has a negative impact on most filing dimensions. This implies that external patent attorneys seem to pursue a ?maximization approach? while experienced firms seem to pursue a more differentiated approach to filing patents, for instance, drafting narrower and more focused patents.Practical implicationsThe study suggests that effective filing strategies require an integrated approach between diverse IP stakeholders. More particularly, filing strategies should be communicated and aligned between all actors, including external patent attorneys in order to achieve the targeted patenting output.Originality/valueThe current study develops a patent filing typology, which accounts for patent attorneys? decision options. In providing insights into patent attorneys? work and their impacts on intellectual property rights management, the study is a useful complement to prior research, which has predominantly focused on applicants or examiners. KW - Patents KW - Filing strategy KW - Intellectual property management KW - IP Intermediaries KW - Patent attorney KW - Patent strategies KW - Strategic IP mnanagement Y1 - 2017 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1108/MD-01-2016-0047 SN - 0025-1747 VL - 55 IS - 6 SP - 1122 EP - 1142 PB - Emerald ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Süzeroğlu-Melchiors, Sevim T1 - The supply side of IP management: Understanding firms’ choices regarding IP intermediaries JF - World Patent Information N2 - Studies focusing on the supply side of IP management, particularly on the outsourcing of patent related work, are relatively rare. This paper aims to contribute to the IP literature in two ways. First, a definition of the IP service provider is proposed. Second, I consider three main hypotheses that determine a firm's preference for outsourced IP work. Using data on the outsourcing of patent renewal payments, I found evidence that the choice of IP supplier is affected by: (1) the firm's own IP maintenance capabilities, (2) the firm's IP knowledge utilization, and (3) the IP complexity. KW - Intellectual property (IP) management KW - IP intermediaries KW - IP suppliers KW - Patents Y1 - 2017 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wpi.2017.08.002 SN - 0172-2190 VL - 50 SP - 55 EP - 63 PB - Elsevier ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Schaeffer, Leon A1 - Herrmann, David A1 - Böhm, Valter T1 - Preliminary considerations on the form-finding of a tensegrity joint to be used in dynamic orthoses T2 - 8th International Conference on Biomedical Engineering and Applications (ICBEA 2024), Tokio, 18-21. March 2024 Y1 - 2024 PB - ACM ET - accepted paper ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kratzer, Simon A1 - Westner, Markus A1 - Strahringer, Susanne T1 - Traction with fraction: Strategic IS management in SMEs through Fractional CIOs JF - International Journal of Information Systems and Project Management N2 - Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) increasingly need to manage nformation technology (IT) effectively in order to remain competitive. However, compared to larger organizations, SMEs often face challenges in terms of resources and employer attractiveness, and regularly do not have the need to employ a Chief Information Officer (CIO) on a full-time basis. To address this issue, a growing number of global experts have begun to provide CIO services on a part-time basis for multiple clients simultaneously. This approach allows SMEs to tap into the expertise of experienced IT leaders at a fraction of the cost and without committing to long-term arrangements. While these professionals, known as “Fractional CIOs”, have proven their value in the field, there has been a lack of academic research on this emerging trend. Therefore, we carried out a comprehensive research project between 2020 and 2023, involving 62 Fractional CIOs from 10 countries. The research produced a definition, different types of engagements, and success factors for Fractional CIOs and their engagements. This paper summarizes these findings for a wider audience of academics and practitioners. KW - Fractional CIO KW - Chief Information Officer KW - SMEs KW - small businesses Y1 - 2024 U6 - https://doi.org/10.12821/ijispm120101 SN - 2182-7788 VL - 12 IS - 1 SP - 5 EP - 16 ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Ali, Md. Wajed A1 - Ahmmed, Tanvir A1 - Al Emran, Md A1 - Roy, Dipon A1 - Refat, Kawsar Ahmed A1 - Khan, Robiul T1 - Driver Fatigue Detection using CWT-Extracted Features and a Deep Learning Approach (CNNLSTM) T2 - 2024 IEEE International Conference on Biomedical Engineering, Computer and Information Technology for Health (BECITHCON), 28-29 Nov. 2024, Dhaka, Bangladesh N2 - Driver fatigue is a leading reason behind traffic accidents globally, resulting in significant threats to public safety and substantial economic costs. Electroencephalography (EEG) has shown to be a critical tool for identifying driver fatigue as it can record brain activity associated with sleepiness, which gives it an advantage over other physiological modalities. Although raw EEG data can provide insightful information, accurate fatigue identification requires strong feature extraction techniques because of the inherent complexity of the data. This emphasizes how urgent it is to investigate revolutionary deep-learning architectures that can successfully extract discriminative features from raw EEG data. This study provides an innovative framework for driver fatigue identification from EEG that combines continuous wavelet transform (CWT) with convolutional neural networks (CNN) and long-short term memory (LSTM). In order to gain the advantage over the drawbacks of manual feature extraction, this study generates time-frequency spectrum representations of EEG data using the CWT. Following extracting information, each channel’s time-frequency images are concatenated and fed into a CNN-LSTM architecture. This combination models the temporal and spatial characteristics of the EEG data and automatically learns discriminative features for identifying drivers’ normal and fatigued states. A publicly available EEG dataset with recordings from twelve subjects is used to evaluate the proposed CWT-CNN-LSTM architecture. The result shows a prominent classification accuracy of 98.34% for both the average of each subject and combined subjects. These findings show how well the CNN-LSTM framework captures EEG patterns associated with fatigue, which may result in more reliable driver fatigue detection systems and improved traffic safety. KW - Accuracy KW - Brain modeling KW - CNN KW - Continuous wavelet transforms KW - Convolutional neural networks KW - CWT KW - Deep learning KW - Deep Learning (DL) KW - Driver Fatigue KW - EEG KW - Electroencephalography KW - Fatigue KW - Feature extraction KW - Long short term memory KW - LSTM KW - Time-frequency analysis Y1 - 2025 UR - https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10962632 SN - 979-8-3315-3435-6 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1109/BECITHCON64160.2024.10962632 SP - 77 EP - 82 PB - IEEE CY - Piscataway, NJ ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Förstl, Nikolas A1 - Süß, Franz A1 - Englert, Carsten A1 - Dendorfer, Sebastian T1 - Design of a reverse shoulder implant to measure shoulder stiffness during implant component positioning JF - Medical Engineering & Physics N2 - To avoid dislocation of the shoulder joint after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty, it is important to achieve sufficient shoulder stability when placing the implant components during surgery. One parameter for assessing shoulder stability can be shoulder stiffness. The aim of this research was to develop a temporary reverse shoulder implant prototype that would allow intraoperative measurement of shoulder stiffness while varying the position of the implant components. Joint angle and torque measurement techniques were developed to determine shoulder stiffness. Hall sensors were used to measure the joint angles by converting the magnetic flux densities into angles. The accuracy of the joint angle measurements was tested using a test bench. Torques were determined by using thin-film pressure sensors. Various mechanical mechanisms for variable positioning of the implant components were integrated into the prototype. The results of the joint angle measurements showed measurement errors of less than 5° in a deflection range of ±15° adduction/abduction combined with ±45° flexion/extension. The proposed design provides a first approach for intra-operative assessment of shoulder stiffness. The findings can be used as a technological basis for further developments. Y1 - 2023 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.medengphy.2023.104059 N1 - Corresponding author: Sebstian Dendorfer VL - 121 PB - Elsevier ET - Journal Pre-proof ER -