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Hintergrund/Zielsetzung
Der Beitrag befasst sich mit dem Wissenstand und der Einstellung der Bevölkerung. Betrachtet werden die Übermittlung und Verfügbarkeit von Gesundheitsdaten, Gesundheitsregister, die elektronische Patientenakte, Einwilligungsverfahren für die Übermittlung von Daten und der Zugriff auf Gesundheitsdaten zu Forschungszwecken.
Methoden
Die Studie basiert auf einer computergestützten Telefonbefragung (Dual-Frame) bei einer Zufallsstichprobe der Bevölkerung in Deutschland im Zeitraum 01.-27.06.2022 (n = 1.308).
Ergebnisse
Der Wissensstand zur Übermittlung von Gesundheitsdaten an Krankenkassen ist hoch, wohingegen das Vorhandensein zentraler Sterbe-, Impf- und Gesundheitsregister sowie der Zugriff auf Gesundheitsdaten durch behandelnde Ärztinnen und Ärzte überschätzt werden. Die Akzeptanz medizinischer Register ist sehr hoch. Die elektronische Patientenakte ist bei der Hälfte der Bevölkerung unbekannt, die Nutzungsbereitschaft ist eher gering ausgeprägt; bei der Übertragung von Daten wird eine Zustimmungsoption bevorzugt, und über achtzig Prozent würden die Daten der elektronischen Patientenakte zur Forschung freigeben. Drei Viertel würden ihre Gesundheitsdaten allgemein zur Forschung freigeben, insbesondere an Universitäten in Deutschland, wobei meist Anonymität Bedingung ist. Die Bereitschaft zur Datenfreigabe steigt mit der Höhe des Vertrauens in die Presse sowie in Universitäten und Hochschulen, und sie sinkt, wenn ein Datenleck als schwerwiegend erachtet wird.
Diskussion und Schlussfolgerung
In Deutschland besteht, wie in anderen europäischen Ländern, eine große Bereitschaft zur Freigabe von Gesundheitsdaten zu Forschungszwecken. Dagegen ist der Wunsch zur Nutzung der elektronischen Patientenakte eher gering. Ebenso niedrig ist die Akzeptanz einer Widerspruchsoption, die jedoch als Voraussetzung für eine erfolgreiche Einführung einer elektronischen Patientenakte gilt. Vertrauen in die Forschung und staatliche Stellen, die Gesundheitsdaten verarbeiten, sind zentrale Faktoren.
In der Vergangenheit wurde beklagt, dass in der empirischen Forschung zur Bildungsbeteiligung Erwachsener selten eine Integration von Theorie und Empirie erfolge und die mangelnde empirische Prüfung eine theoretische Weiterentwicklung des Forschungsfeldes erschwere. Mittels einer Qualitativen Inhaltsanalyse von Beiträgen ausgewählter Fachzeitschriften der Erwachsenen‑/Weiterbildungsforschung wurde versucht, die Aktualität dieser Feststellung empirisch zu überprüfen. Dazu wurden 38 empirische Forschungsbeiträge zur Bildungsbeteiligung der Jahrgänge 2018 bis 2020 von neun Fachzeitschriften mit Peer-Review untersucht. Die Einschätzung der Beiträge erfolgte hinsichtlich des Grades der Theorieeinbindung. Die Ergebnisse der Analyse zeigen ein gemischtes Bild: neun Beiträge (24 %) binden keine Theorie in den Forschungsprozess ein, ein Beitrag (3 %) zitiert Theorie lediglich, ohne sie weiter einzubinden. Am häufigsten ist eine Einbindung zum theoriegeleiteten Vorgehen (16 Beiträge, 42 %). Eine tiefergehende Theorieanwendung findet sich in sechs Beiträgen (16 %). Eine theorieprüfende oder -bildende Einbindung liegt mit je drei Beiträgen (je 8 %) seltener vor. Die rezipierten Theorien sind vielfältig: es werden 20 verschiedene Theorieansätze festgestellt. Den Forderungen nach einer verstärkten Einbindung von Theorie in den Forschungsprozess kann somit weiterhin Gültigkeit attestiert werden: ein substanzieller Teil der Beiträge berichtet keine Theorieeinbindung, eine empirische Prüfung oder Weiterentwicklung findet relativ selten statt.
The significant effect of an external dc magnetic field on the splashing behavior of ethanol drops impacting on the unstructured (flat) surface of soft magnetoactive elastomers (MAEs) is reported. The Weber number corresponding to the transition between the deposition and the splashing regime is reduced by ≈20% in a moderate magnetic field of ≈300 mT. Alongside this effect, a two-fold increase of the initial deceleration of the ejection sheet is observed for the softest sample. The main underlying mechanism for the observed phenomena is believed to be the magnetic-field-induced stiffening of the MAEs. Further possible mechanisms are magnetically induced changes in the surface roughness and magnetic-field-induced plasticity (magnetic shape memory effect). The potential application areas are magnetically regulable wetting and magneto-responsive surfaces for controlling the drop splashing.
Transient surrogate modeling of modally reduced structures with discontinuous loads and damping
(2024)
In this work, a surrogate model for structural, transient and discontinuously excited finite element method simulations is developed. This allows to reduce the computational effort of repeated calculations of identical models under different load cases. The architecture of the surrogate combines fully connected neural network layers with long short-term memory layers. For the reproduction of different damping ratios, a categorical variable is added to the continuous input data. Based on a recursive flow of the predicted data back to the input layer, long-term dependencies do not vanish due to short-input sequences. The system dimension is reduced by applying the model-order reduction technique for modal decomposition. The high accuracy of the surrogate and the reduction of computational costs are shown on an academic example of a cantilever beam and a real-world example of a robot. The advantages of our approach are illustrated in comparison with state-of-the-art surrogates for transient finite element analysis. By using the surrogate proposed in this study, oscillations due to discontinuous excitation of mechanical structures can be reproduced. For this purpose, only short-input sequences are necessary since the excitation of the oscillations does not have to be part of the input sequence during the whole duration of the oscillations. Due to the categorical variable for the damping ratio, the surrogate can account for the influence of different damping in parameter studies.
Significant deformations of bodies made from compliant magnetoactive elastomers (MAE) in magnetic fields make these materials promising for applications in magnetically controlled actuators for soft robotics. Reported experimental research in this context was devoted to the behaviour in the quasi-static magnetic field, but the transient dynamics are of great practical importance. This paper presents an experimental study of the transient response of apparent longitudinal and transverse strains of a family of isotropic and anisotropic MAE cylinders with six different aspect ratios in time-varying uniform magnetic fields. The time dependence of the magnetic field has a trapezoidal form, where the rate of both legs is varied between 52 and 757 kA/(s·m) and the maximum magnetic field takes three values between 153 and 505 kA/m. It is proposed to introduce four characteristic times: two for the delay of the transient response during increasing and decreasing magnetic field, as well as two for rise and fall times. To facilitate the comparison between different magnetic field rates, these characteristic times are further normalized on the rise time of the magnetic field ramp. The dependence of the normalized characteristic times on the aspect ratio, the magnetic field slew rate, maximum magnetic field values, initial internal structure (isotropic versus anisotropic specimens) and weight fraction of the soft-magnetic filler are obtained and discussed in detail. The normalized magnetostrictive hysteresis loop is introduced, and used to explain why the normalized delay times vary with changing experimental parameters.
The human nose serves as the primary gateway for air entering the respiratory system and plays a vital role in breathing. Nasal breathing difficulties are a significant health concern, leading to substantial healthcare costs for patients. Understanding nasal airflow dynamics is crucial for comprehending respiratory mechanisms. This article presents a detailed study using tomo-Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) to investigate nasal airflow dynamics while addressing its accuracy. Embedded in the OpenNose project, the work described aims to provide a validation basis for different numerical approaches to upper airway flow. The study includes the manufacturing of a transparent silicone model based on a clinical CT scan, refractive index matching to minimize optical distortions, and precise flow rate adjustments based on physiological breathing cycles. This method allows for spatial high-resolution investigations in different regions of interest within the nasopharynx during various phases of the breathing cycle. The results demonstrate the accuracy of the investigations, enabling detailed analysis of flow structures and gradients. This spatial high-resolution tomo-PIV approach provides valuable insights into the complex flow phenomena occurring during the physiological breathing cycle in the nasopharynx. The study's findings contribute to advancements in non-free-of-sight experimental flow investigation of complex cavities under nearly realistic conditions. Furthermore, reliable and accurate experimental data is crucial for properly validating numerical approaches that compute this patient-specific flow for clinical purposes.
Test Setup for Investigating the Impact Behavior of Biaxially Prestressed Composite Laminates
(2024)
Instrumented impact testing and compression-after-impact testing are important to adequately qualify material behavior and safely design composite structures. However, the stresses to which fiber-reinforced plastic components are typically subjected in practice are not considered in the impact test methods recommended in guidelines or standards. In this paper, a test setup for investigating the impact behavior of composite specimens under plane uniaxial and biaxial preloading is presented. For this purpose, a special test setup consisting of a biaxial testing machine and a specially designed drop-weight tower was developed. The design decisions were derived from existing guidelines and standards with the aim of inducing barely visible impact damage in laminated carbon fiber-reinforced plastic specimens. Several measurement systems have been integrated into the setup to allow comprehensive observation of the impact event and specimen behavior. A feasibility test was performed with biaxially prestressed carbon fiber-reinforced plastic specimens in comparison with unstressed reference tests. The compressive-tensile prestressing resulted in lower maximum contact forces, higher maximum deflections, higher residual deflections and a different damage pattern, which was investigated by light microscopic analysis. Finally, the functionality of the experimental setup is discussed, and the results seem to indicate that the test setup and parameters were properly chosen to investigate the effect of prestresses on the impacts behavior of composite structures, in particular for barely visible subsequent damages.
The dependence of the resonant direct magnetoelectric effect on temperature is studied experimentally in planar composite structures. Samples of rectangular shapes with dimensions of 5 mm x 20 mm employed ferromagnetic layers of either an amorphous (metallic glass) alloy or nickel with a thickness of 20-200 m and piezoelectric layers of single crystalline langatate material or lead zirconate titanate piezoelectric ceramics with a thickness of 500 m. The temperature of the samples was varied in a range between 120 and 390 K by blowing a gaseous nitrogen stream around them. It is shown that the effective characteristics of the magnetoelectric effectsuch as the mechanical resonance frequency f(r), the quality factor Q and the magnitude of the magnetoelectric coefficient (E) at the resonance frequencyare contingent on temperature. The interrelations between the temperature changes of the characteristics of the magnetoelectric effect and the temperature variations of the following material parametersYoung's modulus Y, the acoustic quality factor of individual layers, the dielectric constant epsilon, the piezoelectric modulus d of the piezoelectric layer as well as the piezomagnetic coefficients ((n)) of the ferromagnetic layerare established. The effect of temperature on the characteristics of the nonlinear magnetoelectric effect is observed for the first time. The results can be useful for designing magnetoelectric heterostructures with specified temperature characteristics, in particular, for the development of thermally stabilized magnetoelectric devices.
The currently still high fossil energy demand is forcing the glass industry to search for innovative approaches for the reduction in CO2 emissions and the integration of renewable energy sources. In this paper, a novel power-to-methane concept is presented and discussed for this purpose. A special focus is on methods for the required CO2 capture from typical flue gases in the glass industry, which have hardly been explored to date. To close this research gap, process simulation models are developed to investigate post-combustion CO2 capture by absorption processes, followed by a techno-economic evaluation. Due to reduced flue gas volume, the designed CO2 capture plant is found to be much smaller (40 m3 absorber column volume) than absorption-based CO2 separation processes for power plants (12,560 m3 absorber column volume). As there are many options for waste heat utilization in the glass industry, the waste heat required for CO2 desorption can be generated in a particularly efficient and cost-effective way. The resulting CO2 separation costs range between 41 and 42 EUR/t CO2, depending on waste heat utilization for desorption. These costs are below the values of 50–65 EUR/t CO2 for comparable industrial applications. Despite these promising economic results, there are still some technical restrictions in terms of solvent degradation due to the high oxygen content in flue gas compositions. The results of this study point towards parametric studies for approaching these issues, such as the use of secondary and tertiary amines as solvents, or the optimization of operating conditions such as stripper pressure for further cost reductions potential.
Although the average tenure of CIOs has increased over the last years, the majority of CIOs have been in their positions for only three years or less. Nevertheless, some CIOs have been successful in their position for a long time. In this study, we use tenure as a proxy for success as a CIO. The goal of this paper is to examine factors that are critical to the success of long-term CIOs. For this purpose, we created and analyzed resumes of 384 CIOs. Out of these 384, we conducted 19 interviews with CIOs from top-tier companies and collected and analyzed both qualitative and quantitative data. In the process, we were able to identify nine factors that are critical for the success (CSF) of CIOs. These factors fall into three categories. Category “Personality” includes “Accepting and embracing change” (CSF #1), “Being perseverant to pursue long-term goals” (CSF #2), “Anticipating the future through visionary thinking” (CSF #3), and “Being empathetic to deal with uncertainty felt by co-workers” (CSF #4). The “Role Fulfilment” category includes “Cross-functional involvement and integration of the IT organization” (CSF #5), “Positioning and restructuring of the IT organization” (CSF #6), and “Well-connected and communicative leadership” (CSF #7). The “Organizational Environment” category consists of “Availability of skilled workforce” (CSF #8) and “Reporting line to the CEO” (CSF #9). CSFs 1, 2, and 3 were perceived as most important by the participating CIOs. The results may be of particular interest both to aspiring CIOs and equally their employing organizations, as they reflect what long-term CIOs value during their time in office.
Simulation and Techno-Economic Analysis of a Power-to-Hydrogen Process for Oxyfuel Glass Melting
(2021)
As an energy-intensive industry sector, the glass industry is strongly affected by the increasingly stringent climate protection targets. As established combustion-based production systems ensure high process stability and glass quality, an immediate switch to low greenhouse gas emission processes is difficult. To approach these challenges, this work investigates a step-by-step integration of a Power-to-Hydrogen concept into established oxyfuel glass melting processes using a simulation approach. This is complemented by a case study for economic analysis on a selected German glass industry site by simulating the power production of a nearby renewable energy park and subsequent optimization of the power-to-hydrogen plant performance and capacities. The results of this study indicate, that the proposed system can reduce specific carbon dioxide emissions by up to 60%, while increasing specific energy demand by a maximum of 25%. Investigations of the impact of altered combustion and furnace properties like adiabatic flame temperature (+25 °C), temperature efficiency (∆ξ = −0.003) and heat capacity flow ratio (∆zHL = −0.009) indicate that pure hydrogen-oxygen combustion has less impact on melting properties than assumed so far. Within the case study, high CO2 abatement costs of 295 €/t CO2-eq. were determined. This is mainly due to the insufficient performance of renewable energy sources. The correlations between process scaling and economic parameters presented in this study show promising potential for further economic optimization of the proposed energy system in the future.
Thermomechanical shape memory materials have certain disadvantages when it comes to 3D volumetric reproduction intended for rapid prototyping or robotic prehension. The need to constantly supply energy to counteract elastic retraction forces in order to maintain the required geometry, together with the inability to achieve conformal stability at elevated temperatures, limits the application of thermal shape memory polymers. Form removal also presents problems as most viscoelastic materials do not ensure demolding stability. This work demonstrates how magnetoactive boron−organo−silicon oxide polymers under the influence of an applied magnetic field can be used to achieve energy free sustainable volumetric shape memory effects over extended periods. The rheopectic properties of boron−organo−silicon oxide materials sustain form removal without mold distortion.
Die vorliegende Studie untersucht Schlüsselfaktoren erfolgrei-
cher CIOs in deutschen Großunternehmen. Mit einer mittleren Verweildauer (Median) von 4,0 Jahren weisen deutsche CIOs, die mit 43 % noch überwiegend an den CFO berichten, im Vergleich zu anderen C-Level-Positionen eine deutlich kürzere Verweildauer im Amt auf. Die Ergebnisse aus 60 Interviews mit erfolgreichen deutschsprachigen CIOs, die primär über eine überdurchschnittlich lange Verweildauer verfügen, lassen verschiedene Schlüsselfaktoren für den Erfolg erkennen: Grundvoraussetzung ist stets die Gewährleistung eines sicheren und effizienten IT-Betriebs. Über effektive und innovative Change-Projekte machen die interviewten CIOs den IT-Mehrwert transparent und agieren als Brückenbauer zwischen IT und Fachbereichen. Dadurch wirken sie positiv auf die Firmenkultur ein und etablieren die IT nachhaltig in den Fachbereichen als Erfolgsfaktor. Erfolgreiche CIOs selbst sind keine „Techies“, sondern zeichnen sich durch hohe Führungskompetenz und ein hohes Geschäftsverständnis, gepaart mit visionärem Denken aus. Dadurch gelingt es ihnen, die IT zukunftsorientiert auszurichten und Anforderungen und Potenziale für und aus den Fachbereichen frühzeitig zu antizipieren. Die zukünftige Entwicklung der CIO-Organisation und der Paradigmen in der IT wird durch die Studienteilnehmer hingegen teilweise kontrovers diskutiert – so gibt es beispielsweise bei der Beurteilung der Sinnhaftigkeit und Relevanz der CDO-Position noch kein einheitliches Meinungsbild.
Review of elasto-static models for three-dimensional analysis of thick-walled anisotropic tubes
(2023)
Most shell or beam models of anisotropic tubes under bending have no validity for thick-walled structures. As a result, the need to develop three-dimensional formulations which allow a change in the stress, strain and displacement distributions across the radial component arises. Basic formulations on three-dimensional anisotropic elasticity were made either stressor displacement-based by Lekhnitskii or Stroh on plates. Lekhnitskii also was the first to expand these analytical formulations to tubes under various loading conditions. This paper presents a review of the stress and strain analysis of tube models using three-dimensional anisotropic elasticity. The focus lies on layered structures, like fiber-reinforced plastics, under various bending loads, although the basic formulations and models regarding axisymmetric loads are briefly discussed. One section is also dedicated to the determination of an equivalent bending stiffness of tubes.
In this work, the resonance enhancement of magnetoelectric (ME) coupling at the two lowest bending resonance frequencies was investigated in layered cantilever structures comprising a magnetoactive elastomer (MAE) slab and a commercially available piezoelectric polymer multilayer. A cantilever was fixed at one end in the horizontal plane and the magnetic field was applied horizontally. Five composite structures, each containing an MAE layer of different thicknesses from 0.85 to 4 mm, were fabricated. The fundamental bending resonance frequency in the absence of a magnetic field varied between roughly 23 and 55 Hz. It decreased with the increasing thickness of the MAE layer, which was explained by a simple theory. The largest ME voltage coefficient of about 7.85 V/A was measured in a sample where the thickness of the MAE layer was ≈2 mm. A significant increase in the bending resonance frequencies in the applied DC magnetic field of 240 kA/m up to 200% was observed. The results were compared with alternative designs for layered multiferroic structures. Directions for future research were also discussed.
Dieser Beitrag enthält Überlegungen zum Rechtspopulismus als (komplexe) Problemstellung der Sozialen Arbeit. Eine theoretisch-reflexive Analyse pädagogischer und didaktischer Ansätze, eine qualitative Analyse zu Herausforderungen und Bewältigungsstrategien von Fachkräften in der Kinder- und Jugendhilfe sowie eine Analyse aktueller Veröffentlichungen und Stellungnahmen im Kontext des Rechtspopulismus legen die Vermutung nahe, dass sich die Soziale Arbeit aufgrund der Komplexität dieses gesellschaftlichen und politischen Phänomens in einer Suchbewegung befindet.
The prospect of achieving computational speedups by exploiting quantum phenomena makes the use of quantum processing units (QPUs) attractive for many algorithmic database problems. Query optimisation, which concerns problems that typically need to explore large search spaces, seems like an ideal match for the known quantum algorithms. We present the first quantum implementation of join ordering, which is one of the most investigated and fundamental query optimisation problems, based on a reformulation to quadratic binary unconstrained optimisation problems. We empirically characterise our method on two state-of-the-art approaches (gate-based quantum computing and quantum annealing), and identify speed-ups compared to the best know classical join ordering approaches for input sizes that can be processed with current quantum annealers. However, we also confirm that limits of early-stage technology are quickly reached.
Current QPUs are classified as noisy, intermediate scale quantum computers (NISQ), and are restricted by a variety of limitations that reduce their capabilities as compared to ideal future quantum computers, which prevents us from scaling up problem dimensions and reaching practical utility. To overcome these challenges, our formulation accounts for specific QPU properties and limitations, and allows us to trade between achievable solution quality and possible problem size.
In contrast to all prior work on quantum computing for query optimisation and database-related challenges, we go beyond currently available QPUs, and explicitly target the scalability limitations: Using insights gained from numerical simulations and our experimental analysis, we identify key criteria for co-designing QPUs to improve their usefulness for join ordering, and show how even relatively minor physical architectural improvements can result in substantial enhancements. Finally, we outline a path towards practical utility of custom-designed QPUs.
Im Betrieb von Förderbändern auftretende Phänomene sind das Bandwandern in Achsrichtung der Walzen und die Bandverformung in der Bandebene [1, S. 142]. Das Bandwandern ist bisher detailliert untersucht [2–4], während die Bandverformung Gegenstand weniger Veröffentlichungen ist. Deshalb wird in diesem Artikel eine Methode zur Berechnung der sich im dynamischen Betrieb einstellenden Verformung eines elastischen Förderbandes vorgestellt. Dazu wird ein Mehrkörpersimulations-Modell basierend auf der Lumped-Mass-Modellierung verwendet. Als Untersuchungsbeispiel dient ein Zwei-Walzensystem mit flexiblen und zylindrischen Walzen, sowie ein flexibles Förderband. Es zeigt sich, dass mit der Lumped-Mass-Modellierung eine dynamische Bandverformung, die von der gewählten Diskretisierung abhängt, berechnet werden kann. Aufgrund dieser Abhängigkeit ist es notwendig eine Konvergenzanalyse durchzuführen. Zusätzlich ist darauf zu achten, dass die künstliche Anregung aufgrund der Lumped-Mass-Modellierung nicht mit einer Eigenfrequenz des Modells zusammenfällt.
Organizations are under increasing pressure to develop applications within budget and time at high quality. Therefore, multiple organizations adopt Low Code Development Platforms (LCDP) to develop applications faster and cheaper compared to traditional application development. However, current research on LCDP adoption lacks empirical grounding as well as a deeper understanding of the importance of adoption drivers and inhibitors. We conducted semi-structured interviews and a Delphi study with seventeen experts to address these gaps. As a result, we identified twelve drivers and nineteen inhibitors for adopting LCDPs. We show that the experts have a consensus on the most and the least important drivers and inhibitors for LCDP adoption. Yet, the ranking of the drivers and inhibitors between the most and least important is highly context dependent. For some drivers and inhibitors, the experts’ ranking is similar to academic literature, whereas, for others, it differs. In conclusion, the study at hand empirically validates drivers and inhibitors for LCDP adoption, adds six new drivers and six new inhibitors to the body of knowledge, and analyses the importance of these factors.
Um den Einfluss verschiedener Power-to-X-Verfahren auf die Transformation des deutschen Energiesystems und das Erreichen der Klimaschutzziele zu überprüfen, wurde ein sektorübergreifendes Energiesystemmodel entwickelt. Die daraus gewonnenen Ergebnisse zeigen: Für eine erfolgreiche Energiewende ist der Einsatz von Power-to-X in Zukunft unverzichtbar. Vor allem in Bereichen und Sektoren, in denen hohe Energiedichten erforderlich und nur wenig andere Optionen zur Defossilisierung vorhanden sind, werden Power-to-X-Technologien zwingend notwendig.
This review gives a worldwide overview on Power-to-Gas projects producing hydrogen or renewable substitute natural gas focusing projects in central Europe. It deepens and completes the content of previous reviews by including hitherto unreviewed projects and by combining project names with details such as plant location. It is based on data from 153 completed, recent and planned projects since 1988 which were evaluated with regards to plant allocation, installed power development, plant size, shares and amounts of hydrogen or substitute natural gas producing examinations and product utilization phases. Cost development for electrolysis and carbon dioxide methanation was analyzed and a projection until 2030 is given with an outlook to 2050. The results show substantial cost reductions for electrolysis as well as for methanation during the recent years and a further price decline to less than 500 euro per kilowatt electric power input for both technologies until 2050 is estimated if cost projection follows the current trend. Most of the projects examined are located in Germany, Denmark, the United States of America and Canada. Following an exponential global trend to increase installed power, today's Power-to-Gas applications are operated at about 39 megawatt. Hydrogen and substitute natural gas were investigated on equal terms concerning the number of projects.
Germany's energy transition, known as 'Energiewende', was always very progressive. However, it came technically to a halt at the question of large-scale, seasonal energy storage for wind and solar, which was not available. At the end of the 2000s, we combined our knowledge of both electrical and process engineering, imitated nature by copying photosynthesis and developed Power-to-Gas by combining water electrolysis with CO2-methanation to convert water and CO2 together with wind and solar power to synthetic natural gas. Storing green energy by coupling the electricity with the gas sector using its vast TWh-scale storage facility was the solution for the biggest energy problem of our time. This was the first concept that created the term 'sector coupling' or 'sectoral integration'. We first implemented demo sites, presented our work in research, industry and ministries, and applied it in many macroeconomic studies. It was an initial idea that inspired others to rethink electricity as well as eFuels as an energy source and energy carrier. We developed the concept further to include Power-to-Liquid, Power-to-Chemicals and other ways to 'convert' electricity into molecules and climate-neutral feedstocks, and named it 'Power-to-X'at the beginning of the 2010s.
Non-road sectors, such as agriculture and construction machinery, require high energy densities and flexibility in use, which is why diesel engines are mainly used. The use of climate-neutral fuels, produced from renewable energies, such as Oxymethylene Ether (OME) as a diesel substitute, can significantly reduce CO2 and pollutant emissions in these sectors. In addition to CO2 neutrality, OME also offers improved combustion characteristics compared to diesel fuel, eliminating the soot–NOx trade-off and thus enabling new opportunities in engine design and calibration. In this paper, the combustion of pure OME on a close-to-production, single-cylinder non-road diesel engine with a pump–line–nozzle injection system is analyzed. A variation of the center of combustion at constant power output was performed for diesel and OME at different operating points. Two injectors were investigated with OME. A study on ignition delay and a detailed thermodynamic analysis was carried out. In addition, the exhaust emissions CO, NOx, VOC, as well as particulate-matter, -number and -size distributions were measured. With OME, a significantly shorter ignition delay as well as a shortened combustion duration could be observed, despite a longer injection duration. In addition, the maximum injection pressure increases. VOC and CO emissions are reduced. Particulate matter was reduced by more than 99% and particle number (>10 nm) was reduced by multiple orders of magnitude. The median of the particle size distribution shifts from 60 to 85 nm (diesel) into a diameter range of sub 23 nm (OME). A significant reduction of NOx emissions with OME enables new degrees of freedom in engine calibration and an efficiency advantage without hardware adaption.
Hot pressing of pure Ti and cast iron under vacuum formed a ~15 μm wide TiC-layer through the thermoreactive diffusion process. Nanoindentation testing of the TiC-layer revealed average hardness and elastic
modulus values of ~35 GPa and ~400 GPa, respectively. High-resolution indentation mapping indicated hardness change across the boundary with peak values observed within the TiC-layer. Solid state high temperature diffusion holds significant potential for developing uniform hard coatings on pure Ti/Ti-alloys.
On analytic properties of the standard zeta function attached to a vector-valued modular form
(2022)
We proof a Garrett–Böcherer decomposition of a vector-valued Siegel Eisenstein series E2l,0 of genus 2 transforming with the Weil representation of Sp2(Z) on the group ring C[(L′/L)2]. We show that the standard zeta function associated to a vector-valued common eigenform f for the Weil representation can be meromorphically continued to the whole s-plane and that it satisfies a functional equation. The proof is based on an integral representation of this zeta function in terms of f and E2l,0.
Elbow stability is derived from a combination of muscular, ligamentous, and bony structures. After an elbow trauma the stability of the joint is an important decision criterion for the subsequent treatment. The decision regarding non-operative/operative care depends mostly on subjective assessments of medical experts. Therefore, the aim of this study is to use musculoskeletal simulations as an objective assessment tool to investigate the extent to which failure of different stabilizers affects the elbow stability and how these observations correspond to the assessment from clinical practice. A musculoskeletal elbow simulation model was developed for this aim. To investigate the stability of the elbow, varus/valgus moments were applied under 0°, 45°and 90° flexion while the respective cubital angle was analyzed. This was performed for nine different injury scenarios, which were also evaluated for stability by clinical experts. With the results, it can be determined by which injury pattern and under which flexion angle the elbow stability is impaired regarding varus/valgus moments. The scenario with a complete failure of the medial and lateral ligaments and a fracture of the radial head was identified as having the greatest instability. The study presented a numerical determination of elbow stability against varus/valgus moments regarding clinical injury patterns, as well as a comparison of the numerical outcome with experience gained in clinical practice. The numerical predictions agree well with the assessments of the clinical specialists. Thus, the results from musculoskeletal simulation can make an important contribution to a more objective assessment of the elbow stability.
Moving forward together
(2018)
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.
Experimental investigations are conducted to quantify the influence of specimen thickness and orientation on the mechanical properties of selective laser melted stainless steel 316 L. The results indicate that the mechanical strength and ductility increase with increasing specimen thickness until a saturation value is reached from a specimen thickness of about 2 mm. Specimen orientation dependency is pronounced for thin specimens (<1.5 mm), whereas only small deviations in strength are observed for thicker specimens with orientations of 30°, 45° and 90° to build direction. The mechanical properties of the specimen orientation of 0° to build direction shows great deviation to the other orientations and the smallest overall strength. A reliable design of selective laser melted components should account for specimen thickness and orientation, e. g. by a correction factor. Furthermore, it is recommended to avoid loads vertical (90°) and parallel (0°) to build direction to guarantee higher ductility and strength.
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.
Herein, the effect of an applied moderate (~240 mT) magnetic field on the work of adhesion (WoA) of mechanically soft (the shear modulus ~10 kPa) magnetoactive elastomer (MAE) samples with two different mass fractions (70 and 80 wt%) of carbonyl iron powder (CIP) is concerned. The unfilled elastomer sample is used for comparison. Due to some sedimentation of filling particles, the concentration of inclusions in thin (~10 μm) subsurface layers is different. It is shown that the WoA increases (up to 1.8-fold) on the particle-enriched side (PES) in the magnetic field and its value is higher for higher filler concentration. On the particle-depleted side (PDS), WoA does not depend on particle concentration and on the magnetic field. Adhesion and friction are coupled in MAEs. No statistically significant difference in the friction coefficient, determined from the extended Amontons´ law, depending on sample side, CIP concentration, or presence of magnetic field is found. However, the PDS in the magnetic field demonstrates significantly higher critical shear stress compared to that for the PES or PDS in the absence of magnetic field. Correlations between different surface properties are discussed. Obtained results are useful for the development of magnetically controllable soft robots.
The recent surge of interest in electrostatic actuators, particularly for soft robotic applications, has placed increasing demands on high voltage control technology. In this respect, optoelectronic bidirectional switching and analogue regulation of high voltages is becoming increasingly important. One common problem is the leakage current due to dark resistance of the material or device used. Another is the physical size of such elements. However, their ability to provide galvanic separation makes them a very attractive alternative to conventional (wired) semiconductor elements. This paper gives an overview of available methods and devices before introducing a concept based on the combination of photoresistive and magnetoresistive effects in Gallium Arsenide that are potentially applicable to other semiconductor materials.
LuGre or not LuGre
(2023)
The LuGre model is widely used in the analysis and control of systems with friction. Recently, it has even been made available in the commercial multibody dynamics simulation software system Adams. However, the LuGre model exhibits well-known drawbacks like too low and force rate-dependent break-away forces, drift problems during sticking periods, and significant differences in non-stationary situations between the pre-defined friction law and the one produced by the LuGre model. In the present literature, these problems are supposed to come from the model dynamics or its nonlinear nature. However, most of these drawbacks are not simple side effects of a dynamic friction model but are caused in the LuGre approach, as shown here, by a too simple and inconsistent model of the bristle dynamics. Standard examples and a more practical application demonstrate that the LuGre model is not a “what you see is what you get” approach. A dynamic friction model with accurate bristle dynamics and consistent friction force is set up here. It provides insight into the physical basis of the LuGre model dynamics. However, it results in a nonlinear and implicit differential equation, whose solution will not be easy because of the ambiguity of the friction characteristics. The standard workaround, a static model based on simple regularized characteristics, produces reliable and generally satisfactory results but definitely cannot maintain a stick. The paper presents a second-order dynamic friction model, which may serve as an alternative. It can maintain a stick and produces realistic and reliable results.
Although many composite structures are inconsistently curved, such as the leading edges of aircraft wings, the variety of research in impact engineering is almost limited to the impact performance of plates or cylindrically curved specimens. It is not known whether the findings obtained from standardized tests can be transferred to curved structures or which adaptions are required. Therefore, a deeper understanding of the deformation and damage behavior of inconsistently curved structures is essential to transfer the observed impact behavior of flat specimens to general curved structures and therefore to utilize the full lightweight potential of a load-specific design. An accurate description of the procedure as well as the results of the experimental and numerical study of the low-velocity impact behavior of differently single-curved elliptic specimens is presented. To close the research gap of the impact behavior of geometries with curvatures between the plates and simplified leading edges, novel specimens geometries have been derived from established impact test standards. Glassfiber-reinforced specimens are subjected to an instrumented impact test at constant impact energy. This is numerically investigated by a stacked-layer model, which used cohesive zone modeling to enable the simulation of matrix cracking, fiber fracture and delamination. The resulting projected damage areas, as well as the force and deflection histories, were evaluated and section cuts were examined to discuss the damage morphology, formation and propagation process. Significant effects on maximum deflection, compliance and dynamic behavior on the size and morphology of damage were found.
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/.
Für Fußballer:innen stellen muskuläre Verletzungen der unteren Extremitäten ein großes Problem dar. Ein Beispiel hierfür liefert die Nationalmannschaftsstürmerin Alexandra Popp, die aufgrund muskulärer Probleme das EM-Finale 2022 in Wembley kurzfristig verpasste. Oftmals stehen gerade hohe Anspannungssituationen in zeitlichem Zusammenhang mit Verletzungen, der Einfluss der psychischen Beanspruchung auf die biomechanischen Belastungen wird jedoch meist nur wenig beachtet.
Mit PowerPoint oder LaTeX Beamer erstellte Vorlesungsfolien sind meist statisch und dienen hauptsächlich der Präsentation von Lehrinhalten. Als Alternative dazu werden drei Erweiterungen für das HTML- und JavaScript-basierte Präsentationsframework reveal.js vorgestellt, die für mehr Interaktion in der Datenbankenlehre sorgen sollen: (1) Eine Live-Ausführung von SQL-Anfragen und eine Darstellung des Anfrageergebnisses direkt auf der Folie; mit Möglichkeit zur Anpassung der Anfrage im Präsentationsbetrieb, (2) eine JSON-basierte Beschreibung von ER-Diagrammen, welche graphisch auf den Folien dargestellt werden sollen und (3) eingebettete Smartphone-Umfragen, um zwischendurch – ohne einen Kontextwechsel – Quiz-Fragen zu stellen.
This work concerns an area of magnetoactive polymer (MAP) research seldom considered. Traditionally only MAP with high concentrations of magnetic filler (typically between 10 and 90 wt%) have been investigated. This article deals with a hitherto neglected aspect of research, namely MAP containing lower magnetic filler concentrations (1 to 3 wt%). This article utilizes a range of spectroscopic analysis methods (Raman and FTIR) and their applicability to MAP characterization at wavelengths ranging from 2.5 to 25 mu m. Particular attention is paid to low carbonyl iron particle (CIP) concentrations in MAP for which the emergence of capillary doublets at a critical 2 wt% concentration is revealed. This results in measurable magnetic field-dependent changes in IR absorption at a wavelength of 4.255 mu m together with a detectable CO2 susceptibility. (c) 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 48366.
In Vitro Analysis of Human Cartilage Infiltrated by Hydrogels and Hydrogel-Encapsulated Chondrocytes
(2023)
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease causing loss of articular cartilage and structural damage in all joint tissues. Given the limited regenerative capacity of articular cartilage, methods to support the native structural properties of articular cartilage are highly anticipated. The aim of this study was to infiltrate zwitterionic monomer solutions into human OA-cartilage explants to replace lost proteoglycans. The study included polymerization and deposition of methacryloyloxyethyl-phosphorylcholine- and a novel sulfobetaine-methacrylate-based monomer solution within ex vivo human OA-cartilage explants and the encapsulation of isolated chondrocytes within hydrogels and the corresponding effects on chondrocyte viability. The results demonstrated that zwitterionic cartilage–hydrogel networks are formed by infiltration. In general, cytotoxic effects of the monomer solutions were observed, as was a time-dependent infiltration behavior into the tissue accompanied by increasing cell death and penetration depth. The successful deposition of zwitterionic hydrogels within OA cartilage identifies the infiltration method as a potential future therapeutic option for the repair/replacement of OA-cartilage extracellular suprastructure. Due to the toxic effects of the monomer solutions, the focus should be on sealing the OA-cartilage surface, instead of complete infiltration. An alternative treatment option for focal cartilage defects could be the usage of monomer solutions, especially the novel generated sulfobetaine-methacrylate-based monomer solution, as bionic for cell-based 3D bioprintable hydrogels.
Hintergrund:
Eltern stehen im Rahmen der eigenen Impfung und der Kinderimpfung mit einem COVID-19-Vakzin vor einer Impfentscheidung. Zum aktuellen Zeitpunkt gibt es keine (vollständige) Impfempfehlung.
Fragestellung:
Die Studie untersucht die Impfbereitschaft von Eltern minderjähriger Kinder und Personen ohne minderjährige Kinder, wobei insbesondere Geschlechtsunterschiede überprüft werden.
Methoden:
Die Studie basiert auf einer Zufallsstichprobe (Telefon-Survey, n = 2014, Erhebung zwischen 12.11.2020 und 10.12.2020). Die Auswertung stützt sich insbesondere auf die Teilstichprobe von Personen mit minderjährigen Kindern im Haushalt (n = 461).
Ergebnisse:
Eltern weisen durchgängig eine geringere Impfbereitschaft mit einem COVID-19-Vakzin auf als Befragte ohne minderjährige Kinder (54,1 % vs. 71,1 %). Väter weisen eine stärker ausgeprägte eigene Impfbereitschaft auf als Mütter. Darüber hinaus sind Männer eher als Frauen bereit, das eigene Kind mit einem COVID-19-Vakzin impfen zu lassen.
Schlussfolgerungen:
Bei Eltern und insbesondere Müttern ist eine erhebliche Fehleinschätzung von Impfrisiken und häufiger Glaube an Impfverschwörungstheorien zu beobachten. Empfohlen werden anschauliche und leicht verständliche Informationen über die Wirkung und Nebenwirkungen der Impfung mit einem COVID-19-Vakzin durch zuständige Institutionen und Ärzte.
AbstractRegularized static friction models have been used successfully for many years. However, they are unable to maintain static friction in detail. For this reason, dynamic friction models have been developed and published in the literature. However, commercial multibody simulation packages such as Adams, RecurDyn, and Simpack have developed their own specific stick-slip models instead of adopting one of the public domain approaches. This article introduces the fundamentals of these commercial models and their behavior from a practical point of view. The stick-slip models were applied to a simple test model and a more sophisticated model of a festoon cable system using their standard parameters.
This communication presents an experimental and analytical study on the evaporation mechanism in a closed-structured asymmetric plate heat exchanger (PHE) employed as a stagnant water evaporator for the application in an adsorption heat transformation appliance. To this aim, an experimental unit is constructed, which comprises two identical PHEs, one acting as an vaporator/condenser and the second, as an adsorber/desorber. Two endoscopes are mounted inside the investigated evaporator to visualize the evaporation mechanism when performing adsorption-evaporation processes under different boundary conditions. It turned out that the evaporation mechanism is a partially covered, thin film evaporation. A heat transfer analysis is performed to evaluate the heat transfer coefficient of the thin film evaporation () inside the investigated evaporator, resulting in -values between 1330 and 160 [W∙m−2∙K−1] over the investigated adsorption-evaporation time. Correlating the obtained () to the film thickness and the wetted area results in -values between 0.34 and 0.78 [mm] and wetted to total area ratios of 0.78 to 0.16. Besides, an analytical model has been developed and introduced to correlate the overall evaporator heat transfer coefficient with the adsorption potential and the time rate of change of the water uptake.
The smooth transition between stable, Talbot-effect-dominated and modulationally unstable nonlinear optical beam propagation is described as the superposition of oscillating, growing and decaying eigenmodes of the common linearized theory of modulation instability. The saturation of the instability in form of breather maxima is embedded between eigenmode growth and decay. This explains well the changes of beam characteristics when the input intensity increases in experiments on modulation instability and breather excitation in spatial-spatial experimental platforms. An increased accuracy of instability gain measurements, a variety of interesting nonlinear beam scenarios and a more selective and well-directed breather excitation are demonstrated experimentally.
Die Situation von Menschen im Pflegeheim, die besonders dem Risiko der „pflegebedingten Verarmung“ ausgesetzt sind, ist in der Forschung wenig präsent. Der Beitrag befasst sich mit dem Erleben von Unsicherheiten, Armut und prekären Lebenslagen älterer Menschen im Heim. Grundlage liefern Daten einer ethnographischen Studie zum Älterwerden und zum Leben mit chronischen Erkrankungen. Anhand von Fällen wird ein Spektrum prekärer Lebenslagen skizziert. Deutlich wird u. a.: Menschen mit diversen soziobiografischen Hintergründen können im Zuge von Hilfebedürftigkeit und Heimübergängen von Unsicherheiten, Armut und prekären Lebenslagen betroffen sein. Nicht zu wissen, ob das verfügbare Geld genügt, um Kostensteigerungen bis zum Lebensende zu decken, kennzeichnet eine häufig erlebte Zukunftsunsicherheit; drohende Armut bzw. die Abhängigkeit von Sozialhilfe können pflege- und institutionell bedingte Verlusterfahrungen von Autonomie, Teilhabe und Lebensgestaltung verschärfen und den Gesamtzustand weiter destabilisieren. Das Erleiden bleibt weitgehend unsichtbar; strukturelle Probleme werden individualisiert.
Titanium is used in many areas due to its excellent mechanical, biological and corrosion-resistant properties. Implants often have thin and filigree structures, providing an ideal application for fine cutting with laser. In the literature, the main focus is primarily on investigating and optimizing the parameters for titanium sheets with thicknesses greater than 1 mm. Hence, in this study, the basic manufacturing parameters of laser power, cutting speed and laser pulse of a 200 W modulated fiber laser are investigated for 0.15 mm thick grade 2 titanium sheets. A reproducible, continuous cut could be achieved using 90 W laser-power and 2 mm/s cutting-speed. Pulse pause variations between 85 and 335 μs in 50 μs steps and a fixed pulse width of 50 μs show that a minimum kerf width of 23.4 μm, as well as a minimum cut edge roughness Rz of 3.59 μm, is achieved at the lowest pulse pause duration. An increase in roughness towards the laser exit side, independent of the laser pulse pause duration, was found and discussed. The results provide initial process parameters for cutting thin titanium sheets and thus provide the basis for further investigations, such as the influence of cutting gas pressure and composition on the cut edge.
The electrical properties of rheopectic magnetoactive composites comprising boron-organo-silicon oxide dielectric matrices containing carbonyl iron microparticles are presented for the first time. The increase in interfacial magnetocapacitance is seen to greatly exceed that experienced when using conventional elastomeric matrices such as polydimethylsiloxane. In addition to the increase in capacitance, a simultaneous and sharp decrease in the parallel electrical resistance over several orders of magnitude is also observed. The effects are time dependent but repeatable. Potential applications include magnetically controlled frequency dependent devices, magnetic sensor systems, weighting elements for neural networks, etc.
With steadily rising CO2 concentrations in the ambient air and fast-changing concretecompositions with reduced clinker contents, the availability of reliable and accelerated concrete car-bonation tests is of crucial importance to design durable structures. This paper focuses on the effectsof moisture under accelerated conditions and the effects of different CO2 exposure conditions. Mor-tar prisms incorporating three different cement types were cured and stored at either 50% or 65%relative humidity (RH). Afterwards, the prisms were carbonated at different ambient humidities(50, 57 and 65%), different CO2 concentrations (0.04, 1 and 3 vol.%) and complemented by a seriesof tests at increased gas pressure (2 barg). High-resolution test methods were used to explain theunderlying carbonation mechanisms. The results show that pre-conditioning for two weeks—ascurrently suggested by the European Standard—seems to be too short because the initial inner mois-ture content severely affects the carbonation rate. Relative humidity during carbonation of 57% ledto higher carbonation rates compared to 50% and 65%. In addition, climate data needs to be period-ically (preferably permanently) recorded in research experiments and in laboratory testing to ensurefair interpretation of experimental results.
Nach einer Fraktur ist Mobilisierung Behandlungsziel und Therapiesäule. Das Festlegen von Outcomes basiert jedoch auf vielen Unsicherheiten, da Assessments nicht für alle Patient/-innen geeignet sind. Sie können agesabhängig beeinflusst und subjektiv geprägt sein. Sensorbasiertes Bewegungsmonitoring bietet eine Ergänzung zur Operationalisierung der Gehfähigkeit. Für Längsschnittuntersuchungen, die auch im häuslichen Umfeld durchgeführt werden, eignet sich die tägliche Schrittzahl als Variable. Sie kann durch einen handelsüblichen Fitnesstracker beobachtet
werden.
Although magnesium and its alloys are promising candidates as biodegradable implant materials, the tendency for localized corrosion mechanism in physiological environment limit their biomedical application. Electropolishing is an attractive strategy for improving the corrosion behaviour of metals, but it is still largely unexplored in magnesium materials. In this study, the characterization of electropolished surfaces of AM50 and pure magnesium was performed, focussing on their in vitro degradation behaviour in cell medium. Corrosion rates were evaluated using potentiodynamic polarisation. The surface morphology before and after the onset of corrosion was investigated by scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The presented electropolishing process led to improved surface performances, observable by significantly lower corrosion rates (0.08 mm·year-1 in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium), lower arithmetical mean height (0.05 µm), lower water contact angle (25-35°) and lower micro hardness (35-50 HV 0.1) compared to mechanically and chemically treated surfaces. MgO/Mg(OH)2 could be detected on electropolished surfaces. The localized corrosion mode could be reduced, but not entirely prevented. Electropolishing shows great potential as post-treatment of magnesium-based components, but detailed tests of the long-term corrosion behaviour are an important area of future research.
Osteoporosis is a common disease of old age. However, in many cases, it can be very well prevented and counteracted with physical activity, especially high-impact exercises. Wearables have the potential to provide data that can help with continuous monitoring of patients during therapy phases or preventive exercise programs in everyday life. This study aimed to determine the accuracy and reliability of measured acceleration data at different body positions compared to accelerations at the pelvis during different jumping exercises. Accelerations at the hips have been investigated in previous studies with regard to osteoporosis prevention. Data were collected using an IMU-based motion capture system (Xsens) consisting of 17 sensors. Forty-nine subjects were included in this study. The analysis shows the correlation between impacts and the corresponding drop height, which are dependent on the respective exercise. Very high correlations (0.83–0.94) were found between accelerations at the pelvis and the other measured segments at the upper body. The foot sensors provided very weak correlations (0.20–0.27). Accelerations measured at the pelvis during jumping exercises can be tracked very well on the upper body and upper extremities, including locations where smart devices are typically worn, which gives possibilities for remote and continuous monitoring of programs.
Computer-aided diagnosis using deep learning in the evaluation of early oesophageal adenocarcinoma
(2019)
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.
The Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology of the OTH Regensburg developed and implemented a compact freshmen seminar for the afternoon of the first day of study. The intention of this seminar is to help the freshmen during their transition between school and study without losing lecture time in the first semester. The concept was tested with one small study group at the beginning of the summer semester 2015. To rate the impact of the seminar and to find aspects for continuous improvement an evaluation method was developed and used. Due to the good student resonance during the first run, this introduction seminar was held again in the winter semester 2015/16. It is planned to integrate this seminar as a regular session for all freshmen of the faculty curriculum and monitor the long-term effects of student motivation and success.
Metadata management constitutes a key prerequisite for enterprises as they engage in data analytics and governance. Today, however, the context of data is often only manually documented by subject matter experts, and lacks completeness and reliability due to the complex nature of data pipelines. Thus, collecting data lineage—describing the origin, structure, and dependencies of data—in an automated fashion increases quality of provided metadata and reduces manual effort, making it critical for the development and operation of data pipelines. In our practice report, we propose an end-to-end solution that digests lineage via (Py‑)Spark execution plans. We build upon the open-source component Spline, allowing us to reliably consume lineage metadata and identify interdependencies. We map the digested data into an expandable data model, enabling us to extract graph structures for both coarse- and fine-grained data lineage. Lastly, our solution visualizes the extracted data lineage via a modern web app, and integrates with BMW Group’s soon-to-be open-sourced Cloud Data Hub.
We present a sensitive and compact interband cascade laser (ICL) based photoacoustic setup for the detection of gaseous hydrocarbons and discuss its applicability towards trace gas analysis. We investigated the performance of the sensor for trace concentrations of methane, ethane and acetylene diluted in nitrogen. The excitation of methane and ethane was accomplished using one tunable diode laser, covering a range from 3360 to 3372 nm, which was replaced by a separate ICL at 3025 nm for acetylene detection. The influence of ambient parameters such as temperature, flow rate and pressure as well as potential cross-sensitivities towards O2 and H2O have been examined in terms of methane and acetylene detection. A series of simulations proved several of these influences to be attributed to relaxation effects. With a 3σ limit of detection (LoD) of 6.8 parts per billion (ppbV) in case of methane, 2.3 ppbV regarding ethane and 3.6 ppbV in terms of acetylene, the sensor demonstrates a great potential for applications in the field of trace gas analysis.
Ziel der Studie:
Ziel der Studie ist die Messung des Stands der Digitalisierung und die mit einer Anbindung an die Telematikinfrastruktur verbundenen Chancen und Herausforderungen für Rehabilitationseinrichtungen.
Methodik:
Teilstandardisierte Online-Befragung bei Trägern von Rehabilitationseinrichtungen in Bayern (n=33). Der Fragebogen mit 36 Fragen beinhaltet eine leicht veränderte Skala auf Basis des „Electronic Medical Record Adoption Model (EMRAM)“.
Ergebnisse:
Der Digitalisierungsgrad wurde in 70 Prozent der Rehabilitationseinrichtungen mit Stufe 0 angegeben (Stufenmodell bis 7). Die Übermittlung patientenbezogener Daten (Eingang und Ausgang) erfolgt häufig analog, wohingegen die Verarbeitung innerhalb der Einrichtung in vielen Fällen bereits überwiegend digital ist. Beim Anschluss an die Telematikinfrastruktur wird hoher Aufwand bei der Installation, aber auch der Schulung des Personals und der Anpassung der Arbeitsorganisation gesehen.
Schlussfolgerung:
Durch Änderung der gesetzlich-finanziellen Lage in Deutschland eröffnen sich für Rehabilitationseinrichtungen neue Möglichkeiten einer verstärkten Digitalisierung. Hürden hängen mit Anforderungen an IT-Sicherheit, Schulung des Personals und sowie dem ebenfalls geringen Digitalisierungsstand bei Krankenhäusern und Ärzt*innen sowie Patient*innen zusammen, die eine digitale Datenübermittlung erschweren.
Exoskeletons were invented over 100 years ago but have only become popular in the last two decades, especially in the working industry as they can decrease work-related loads significantly. The most often used exoskeletons are for the lower back and shoulder since these are commonly affected body regions. All devices have in common that their purpose is to reduce internal loads of vulnerable body regions. Nevertheless, there is still little understanding on how biomechanical loading in the human body changes when exoskeletons are used. Therefore, further analyses are needed. A promising candidate for these are musculoskeletal models, which are based on an inverse dynamics approach and can calculate external parameters such as ground reaction forces or other interaction forces as well as internal parameters such as joint reaction forces or muscle activities. The various examples in the literature show that these models are increasingly used for assessing the biomechanical effects of exoskeletons on the human body. Furthermore, musculoskeletal models can calculate biomechanical loadings of humans with and without exoskeletons for all kinds of applications and allow an evaluation of their purpose.
Practical Relevance: This article highlights the possibilities of musculoskeletal models for assessing the design and efficiency of occupational exoskeletons. Several practical use cases are described along with distinct descriptions of common implications of musculoskeletal and exoskeleton modeling.
In the current research, magnesium and its alloys have been intensively studied as resorbable implant materials. Magnesium materials combine their good mechanical properties with bioactivity, which make them interesting for guided bone regeneration and for the application as barrier membranes. In this study, the in vitro degradation behavior of thin magnesium films was investigated in cell medium and simulated body fluid. Three methods were applied to evaluate corrosion rates: measurements of (i) the gaseous volume evolved during immersion, (ii) volume change after immersion, and (iii) polarization curves. In this comparison, measurements of H2 development in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium showed to be the most appropriate method, exhibiting a corrosion rate of 0.5 mm·year−1. Observed oxide and carbon contamination have a high impact on controlled degradation, suggesting that surface treatment of thin foils is necessary. The bioactivity test showed positive results; more detailed tests in this area are of interest.
Die Bedeutung von Zeit für Bildungsprozesse im Kontext der Sozialen Arbeit ist bisher wenig erforscht. Um sich dieser Fragestellung anzunähern, werden in diesem Beitrag theoretische Überlegungen im Anschluss an Diskurse zu Bildung und Zeit in der Pädagogik angestellt. Dabei wird Zeit als ermöglichender, ökonomischer und politischer Faktor diskutiert, um die Perspektive der Sozialen Arbeit auf Bildungsprozesse zu erweitern.
Hintergrund
Impfungen stellen eine bedeutende Präventionsmaßnahme dar. Grundlegend für die Eindämmung der Coronapandemie mittels Durchimpfung der Gesellschaft ist eine ausgeprägte Impfbereitschaft.
Ziel der Arbeit
Die Impfbereitschaft mit einem COVID‑19-Vakzin (Impfstoff gegen das Coronavirus) und deren Einflussfaktoren werden anhand einer Zufallsstichprobe der Gesamtbevölkerung in Deutschland untersucht.
Material und Methoden
Die Studie basiert auf einer telefonischen Zufallsstichprobe und berücksichtigt ältere und vorerkrankte Personen ihrem Bevölkerungsanteil entsprechend. Die Ein-Themen-Bevölkerungsbefragung zur Impfbereitschaft (n = 2014) wurde im November/Dezember 2020 durchgeführt.
Ergebnisse
Die Impfbereitschaft in der Stichprobe liegt bei rund 67 %. Vorerfahrungen mit Impfungen moderieren die Impfbereitschaft. Sie steigt bei Zugehörigkeit zu einer Risikogruppe. Der Glaube an die Wirksamkeit alternativer Heilmethoden und Befürwortung alternativer Behandlungsverfahren geht mit geringerer Impfbereitschaft einher. Ältere Menschen sind impfbereiter, kovariierend mit ihrer Einschätzung höherer Gefährdung bei Erkrankung. Ebenso ist die Ablehnung einer Impfung mit der Überschätzung von Nebenwirkungen assoziiert.
Schlussfolgerung
Die Impfbereitschaft hängt mit Impferfahrungen und Einstellungen zu Gesundheitsbehandlungsverfahren allgemein zusammen. Die Überschätzung der Häufigkeit ernsthafter Nebenwirkungen bei Impfungen weist auf weit verbreitete Fehlinformationen hin.
The study is based on a German single-topic population survey on vaccination willingness against COVID-19 (VWC) by the authors (2020, n = 2014). The single-topic survey allowed us to test several competing explanations for VWC, as discussed in the literature. The VWC in the sample was 67.3%. Logistic regression was used to identify factors affecting VWC. Being at high risk from COVID-19 and having received flu vaccination have a positive impact on VWC. Perceived VWC of friends has a strong positive effect on respondents’ VWC. Bivariate relationships of gender, age, and level of education with VWC were no longer significant in a multivariate analysis. Trust in alternative medicine and belief in conspiracy theories have a negative effect on VWC.
One of the fundamental challenges in L-PBF of filigree geometries, such as aortic stents used in biomedical applications, is the requirement for a robust yet easily removable support structure that allows each component to be successfully fabricated without distortion. To solve this challenge, an integrative experimental approach was attempted in the present study by identifying an optimal support structure design and an optimized support removal strategy for this design. The specimens were manufactured using four different support structure designs based on the geometry exposed to the laser beam during the L-PBF. Support removal procedures included sand blasting (SB), glass bead blasting (GB), and electrochemical polishing (ECP). The two best-performing designs (line and cross) were chosen due to shorter lead times and lower material consumption. As an additional factor that indicates a stable design, the breaking load requirement to remove the support structures was determined. A modified line support with a 145° included angle was shown to be the best support structure design in terms of breaking load, material consumption, and manufacturing time. All three procedures were used to ensure residue-free support removal for this modified line support design, with ECP proving to be the most effective.
An inexpensive UV-LED photoacoustic based real-time sensor-system detecting exhaled trace-acetone
(2024)
n this research we present a low-cost system for breath acetone analysis based on UV-LED photoacoustic spectroscopy. We considered the end-tidal phase of exhalation, which represents the systemic concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) – providing clinically relevant information about the human health. This is achieved via the development of a CO2-triggered breath sampling system, which collected alveolar breath over several minutes in sterile and inert containers. A real-time mass spectrometer is coupled to serve as a reference device for calibration measurements and subsequent breath analysis. The new sensor system provided a 3σ detection limit of 8.3 ppbV and an NNEA of 1.4E-9 Wcm 1Hz 0.5. In terms of the performed breath analysis measurements, 12 out of 13 fell within the error margin of the photoacoustic measurement system, demonstrating the reliability of the measurements in the field.
Successful transfer of photoacoustic gas sensors from laboratory to real-life applications requires knowledge about potential cross-sensitivities towards environmental and gas matrix changes. Multi-dimensional calibration in case of cross-sensitivities can become very complex or even unfeasible. To address this challenge, we present a novel algorithm to compute the collision based non-radiative efficiency and phase lag of energy relaxation on a molecular level (CoNRad) for photoacoustic signal calculation. This algorithmic approach allows to calculate the entire elaxation cascade of arbitrarily complex systems, yielding a theoretical photoacoustic signal. In this work the influence of varying bulk compositions, i.e. nitrogen (N2), oxygen (O2) and water (H2O) on the photoacoustic signal during methane (CH4) detection is demonstrated. The applicability of the algorithm to other photoacoustic setups is shown exemplary by applying it to the relaxational system investigated in [1]. Hayden et al. examined the effect of water on photoacoustic carbon monoxide (CO) detection.
Im Alter nimmt das Quartier aufgrund geringerer Aktionsradien an Bedeutung zu. Der Beitrag befasst sich mit der Frage, welche Besonderheiten sich bei Senioren-Haushalten im Hinblick auf Wohnen und soziale Teilhabe zeigen. Aus dem Projekt MAGGIE werden Ergebnisse einer schriftlichen Haushaltsbefragung (N=195) in der Wohngenossenschaft Margaretenau Regensburg dargestellt. Hierbei wird auf die aktuelle und zukünftige Wohnsituation, den Veränderungsbedarf, den Wunsch nach Gemeinschaftsangeboten und die soziale Einbettung eingegangen. Es zeigt sich eine geringe Veränderungsbereitschaft und ein überdurchschnittlich hohes Maß an lokalem Sozialkapital. Am Ende werden Schlussfolgerungen für das Sanierungs- und Quartiersmanagement gezogen.
This paper presents a method for integrating industrial consumers owning compensation systems as alternative reactive power sources into grid operating processes. In remuneration, they receive a market-based provision of reactive power. The aim is to analyze the potential of reactive power compensation systems of industrial companies connected to medium-voltage (10 kV–30 kV) AC grids in order to increase the reactive power ability of distribution grids. Measurement methods and reactive power potential results of six industrial companies are presented to characterize the amount and temporal availability of their reactive power potential. The presented approach for using the decentralized reactive power potential is a centralized reactive power control method and is based on optimal power flow (OPF) calculations. An optimization algorithm based on linear programming is used to coordinate a reactive power retrieval tuned to the actual demand. The influencing quantities are the current grid status (voltage and load flow capacity reserves at grid nodes and power lines) and the current reactive power potential of the reactive power sources. The compensation impact of six measured industrial companies on an exemplary medium-voltage grid is shown by an application example.
Although adopting Low Code Development Platforms (LCDPs) promises significant efficiency and effectiveness improvements for application development, its adoption still needs further empirical research. This paper uses a combinatorial approach to research LCDP adoption and presents the results of a multiple mini case study with 36 cases on LCDP adoption. A combination of the Socio-Technical Systems theory and the Technology-Organisational-Environment model is used as a theoretical lens. In this paper, we show that LCDP adoption is a multifaceted phenomenon and identify three archetypes for LCDP adoption (i.e., IT Resource Shortage Mitigators, Application Development Democratisers, and Synergy Realisers) and one archetype for LCDP non-adoption (i.e., Intricacy Adversaries). Each archetype can be interpreted as an individual path towards LCDP (non-)adoption. Based on these archetypes, we derive seven starting points for practitioners to adopt LCDPs in work systems. Moreover, by using the theoretical lenses, the paper shows that for an LCDP adoption to occur, an optimisation of the social and technical sub-systems is required.
New structural sheet metal parts are developed in an iterative, time-consuming manner. To improve the reproducibility and speed up the iterative drawability assessment, we propose a novel low-dimensional multi-fidelity inspired machine learning architecture. The approach utilizes the results of low-fidelity and high-fidelity finite element deep drawing simulation schemes. It hereby relies not only on parameters, but also on additional features to improve the generalization ability and applicability of the drawability assessment compared to classical approaches. Using the machine learning approach on a generated data set for a wide range of different cross-die drawing configurations, a classifier is trained to distinguish between drawable and non-drawable setups. Furthermore, two regression models, one for drawable and one for non-drawable designs are developed that rank designs by drawability. At instantaneous evaluation time, classification scores of high accuracy as well as regression scores of high quality for both regressors are achieved. The presented models can substitute low-fidelity finite element models due to their low evaluation times while at the same time, their predictive quality is close to high-fidelity models. This approach may enable fast and efficient assessments of designs in early development phases at the accuracy of a later design phase in the future.