@article{WaldvogelFreylerHelmetal.2023, author = {Waldvogel, Janice and Freyler, Kathrin and Helm, Michael and Monti, Elena and St{\"a}udle, Benjamin and Gollhofer, Albert and Narici, Marco V. and Ritzmann, Ramona and Albracht, Kirsten}, title = {Changes in gravity affect neuromuscular control, biomechanics, and muscle-tendon mechanics in energy storage and dissipation tasks}, series = {Journal of Applied Physiology}, volume = {134}, journal = {Journal of Applied Physiology}, number = {1}, publisher = {American Physiological Society}, address = {Bethesda, Md.}, issn = {1522-1601 (Onlineausgabe)}, doi = {10.1152/japplphysiol.00279.2022}, pages = {190 -- 202}, year = {2023}, abstract = {This study evaluates neuromechanical control and muscle-tendon interaction during energy storage and dissipation tasks in hypergravity. During parabolic flights, while 17 subjects performed drop jumps (DJs) and drop landings (DLs), electromyography (EMG) of the lower limb muscles was combined with in vivo fascicle dynamics of the gastrocnemius medialis, two-dimensional (2D) kinematics, and kinetics to measure and analyze changes in energy management. Comparisons were made between movement modalities executed in hypergravity (1.8 G) and gravity on ground (1 G). In 1.8 G, ankle dorsiflexion, knee joint flexion, and vertical center of mass (COM) displacement are lower in DJs than in DLs; within each movement modality, joint flexion amplitudes and COM displacement demonstrate higher values in 1.8 G than in 1 G. Concomitantly, negative peak ankle joint power, vertical ground reaction forces, and leg stiffness are similar between both movement modalities (1.8 G). In DJs, EMG activity in 1.8 G is lower during the COM deceleration phase than in 1 G, thus impairing quasi-isometric fascicle behavior. In DLs, EMG activity before and during the COM deceleration phase is higher, and fascicles are stretched less in 1.8 G than in 1 G. Compared with the situation in 1 G, highly task-specific neuromuscular activity is diminished in 1.8 G, resulting in fascicle lengthening in both movement modalities. Specifically, in DJs, a high magnitude of neuromuscular activity is impaired, resulting in altered energy storage. In contrast, in DLs, linear stiffening of the system due to higher neuromuscular activity combined with lower fascicle stretch enhances the buffering function of the tendon, and thus the capacity to safely dissipate energy.}, language = {en} } @incollection{DachwaldUlamecKowalskietal.2023, author = {Dachwald, Bernd and Ulamec, Stephan and Kowalski, Julia and Boxberg, Marc S. and Baader, Fabian and Biele, Jens and K{\"o}mle, Norbert}, title = {Ice melting probes}, series = {Handbook of Space Resources}, booktitle = {Handbook of Space Resources}, editor = {Badescu, Viorel and Zacny, Kris and Bar-Cohen, Yoseph}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Cham}, isbn = {978-3-030-97912-6 (Print)}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-030-97913-3_29}, pages = {955 -- 996}, year = {2023}, abstract = {The exploration of icy environments in the solar system, such as the poles of Mars and the icy moons (a.k.a. ocean worlds), is a key aspect for understanding their astrobiological potential as well as for extraterrestrial resource inspection. On these worlds, ice melting probes are considered to be well suited for the robotic clean execution of such missions. In this chapter, we describe ice melting probes and their applications, the physics of ice melting and how the melting behavior can be modeled and simulated numerically, the challenges for ice melting, and the required key technologies to deal with those challenges. We also give an overview of existing ice melting probes and report some results and lessons learned from laboratory and field tests.}, language = {en} } @article{UysalFiratCreutzetal.2022, author = {Uysal, Karya and Firat, Ipek Serat and Creutz, Till and Aydin, Inci Cansu and Artmann, Gerhard and Teusch, Nicole and Temiz Artmann, Ayseg{\"u}l}, title = {A novel in vitro wound healing assay using free-standing, ultra-thin PDMS membranes}, series = {membranes}, volume = {2023}, journal = {membranes}, number = {13(1)}, publisher = {MDPI}, address = {Basel}, doi = {10.3390/membranes13010022}, pages = {Artikel 22}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Advances in polymer science have significantly increased polymer applications in life sciences. We report the use of free-standing, ultra-thin polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membranes, called CellDrum, as cell culture substrates for an in vitro wound model. Dermal fibroblast monolayers from 28- and 88-year-old donors were cultured on CellDrums. By using stainless steel balls, circular cell-free areas were created in the cell layer (wounding). Sinusoidal strain of 1 Hz, 5\% strain, was applied to membranes for 30 min in 4 sessions. The gap circumference and closure rate of un-stretched samples (controls) and stretched samples were monitored over 4 days to investigate the effects of donor age and mechanical strain on wound closure. A significant decrease in gap circumference and an increase in gap closure rate were observed in trained samples from younger donors and control samples from older donors. In contrast, a significant decrease in gap closure rate and an increase in wound circumference were observed in the trained samples from older donors. Through these results, we propose the model of a cell monolayer on stretchable CellDrums as a practical tool for wound healing research. The combination of biomechanical cell loading in conjunction with analyses such as gene/protein expression seems promising beyond the scope published here.}, language = {en} } @article{ThiebesKleinZingsheimetal.2022, author = {Thiebes, Anja Lena and Klein, Sarah and Zingsheim, Jonas and M{\"o}ller, Georg H. and G{\"u}rzing, Stefanie and Reddemann, Manuel A. and Behbahani, Mehdi and Cornelissen, Christian G.}, title = {Effervescent atomizer as novel cell spray technology to decrease the gas-to-liquid ratio}, series = {pharmaceutics}, volume = {14}, journal = {pharmaceutics}, number = {11}, publisher = {MDPI}, address = {Basel}, doi = {10.3390/pharmaceutics14112421}, pages = {Artikel 2421}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Cell spraying has become a feasible application method for cell therapy and tissue engineering approaches. Different devices have been used with varying success. Often, twin-fluid atomizers are used, which require a high gas velocity for optimal aerosolization characteristics. To decrease the amount and velocity of required air, a custom-made atomizer was designed based on the effervescent principle. Different designs were evaluated regarding spray characteristics and their influence on human adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells. The arithmetic mean diameters of the droplets were 15.4-33.5 µm with decreasing diameters for increasing gas-to-liquid ratios. The survival rate was >90\% of the control for the lowest gas-to-liquid ratio. For higher ratios, cell survival decreased to approximately 50\%. Further experiments were performed with the design, which had shown the highest survival rates. After seven days, no significant differences in metabolic activity were observed. The apoptosis rates were not influenced by aerosolization, while high gas-to-liquid ratios caused increased necrosis levels. Tri-lineage differentiation potential into adipocytes, chondrocytes, and osteoblasts was not negatively influenced by aerosolization. Thus, the effervescent aerosolization principle was proven suitable for cell applications requiring reduced amounts of supplied air. This is the first time an effervescent atomizer was used for cell processing.}, language = {en} } @article{AkimbekovZhubanovaMansurovetal.2010, author = {Akimbekov, N. Sh. and Zhubanova, A. A. and Mansurov, Z. A. and Digel, Ilya and Artmann, Gerhard and Temiz Artmann, Ayseg{\"u}l}, title = {Use of Carbonized Rise Shell for the local treatment of wounds}, series = {Eurasian ChemTech Journal}, volume = {12}, journal = {Eurasian ChemTech Journal}, number = {2}, publisher = {Institute of Combustion Problems}, address = {Almaty}, issn = {2522-4867}, doi = {10.18321/ectj35}, pages = {133 -- 138}, year = {2010}, abstract = {On the model of musculocutaneous wound in rats, the effect of applicative sorption by carbonized rise shell (CRS) on the healing of festering wound was studied. It has been shown, that cytological changes end with rapid scar formation. The use of CRS at the period of severe purulent wound contributes to its favorable course, prevents the development of complications of the animals from sepsis.}, language = {en} } @article{AggeloussisGiannakouAlbrachtetal.2010, author = {Aggeloussis, Nickos and Giannakou, Erasmia and Albracht, Kirsten and Arampatzis, Adamantios}, title = {Reproducibility of fascicle length and pennation angle of gastrocnemius medialis in human gait in vivo}, series = {Gait and Posture}, volume = {31}, journal = {Gait and Posture}, number = {1}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0966-6362}, doi = {10.1016/j.gaitpost.2009.08.249}, pages = {73 -- 77}, year = {2010}, abstract = {The purpose of the current study was to examine the reproducibility of fascicle length and pennation angle of gastrocnemius medialis while human walking. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study of the reproducibility of fascicle length and pennation angle of gastrocnemius medialis in vivo during human gait. Twelve males performed 10 gait trials on a treadmill, in 2 separate days. B-mode ultrasonography, with the ultrasound probe firmly adjusted in the transverse and frontal planes using a special cast, was used to measure the fascicle length and the pennation angle of the gastrocnemius medialis (GM). A Vicon 624 system with three cameras operating at 120 Hz was also used to record the ankle and knee joint angles. The results showed that measurements of fascicle length and pennation angle showed high reproducibility during the gait cycle, both within the same day and between different days. Moreover, the root mean square differences between the repeated waveforms of both variables were very small, compared with their ranges (fascicle length: RMS = ∼3 mm, range: 38-63 mm; pennation angle: RMS = ∼1.5°, range: 22-32°). However, their reproducibility was lower compared to the joint angles. It was found that representative data have to be derived by a wide number of gait trials (fascicle length ∼six trials, pennation angle more than 10 trials), to assure the reliability of the fascicle length and pennation angle in human gait.}, language = {en} } @article{ArampatzisPeperBierbaumetal.2010, author = {Arampatzis, Adamantios and Peper, Andreas and Bierbaum, Stefanie and Albracht, Kirsten}, title = {Plasticity of human Achilles tendon mechanical and morphological properties in response to cyclic strain}, series = {Journal of Biomechanics}, volume = {43}, journal = {Journal of Biomechanics}, number = {16}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0021-9290}, doi = {10.1016/j.jbiomech.2010.08.014}, pages = {3073 -- 3079}, year = {2010}, abstract = {The purpose of the current study in combination with our previous published data (Arampatzis et al., 2007) was to examine the effects of a controlled modulation of strain magnitude and strain frequency applied to the Achilles tendon on the plasticity of tendon mechanical and morphological properties. Eleven male adults (23.9±2.2 yr) participated in the study. The participants exercised one leg at low magnitude tendon strain (2.97±0.47\%), and the other leg at high tendon strain magnitude (4.72±1.08\%) of similar frequency (0.5 Hz, 1 s loading, 1 s relaxation) and exercise volume (integral of the plantar flexion moment over time) for 14 weeks, 4 days per week, 5 sets per session. The exercise volume was similar to the intervention of our earlier study (0.17 Hz frequency; 3 s loading, 3 s relaxation) allowing a direct comparison of the results. Before and after the intervention ankle joint moment has been measured by a dynamometer, tendon-aponeurosis elongation by ultrasound and cross-sectional area of the Achilles tendon by magnet resonance images (MRI). We found a decrease in strain at a given tendon force, an increase in tendon-aponeurosis stiffness and tendon elastic modulus of the Achilles tendon only in the leg exercised at high strain magnitude. The cross-sectional area (CSA) of the Achilles tendon did not show any statistically significant (P>0.05) differences to the pre-exercise values in both legs. The results indicate a superior improvement in tendon properties (stiffness, elastic modulus and CSA) at the low frequency (0.17 Hz) compared to the high strain frequency (0.5 Hz) protocol. These findings provide evidence that the strain magnitude applied to the Achilles tendon should exceed the value, which occurs during habitual activities to trigger adaptational effects and that higher tendon strain duration per contraction leads to superior tendon adaptational responses.}, language = {en} } @article{HeinzelSchaeferMuelleretal.2010, author = {Heinzel, Alexander and Sch{\"a}fer, Ralf and M{\"u}ller, Hans-Wilhelm and Schieffer, Andre and Ingenhag, Ariane and Eickhoff, Simon B. and Northoff, Georg and Franz, Matthias and Hautzel, Hubertus}, title = {Increased Activation of the Supragenual Anterior Cingulate Cortex during Visual Emotional Processing in Male Subjects with High Degrees of Alexithymia: An Event-Related fMRI Study}, series = {Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics}, volume = {79}, journal = {Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics}, number = {6}, publisher = {Karger}, address = {Basel}, issn = {0033-3190}, doi = {10.1159/000320121}, pages = {363 -- 370}, year = {2010}, abstract = {Background: One of the most prominent neurobiological models of alexithymia assumes an altered function of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) as the crucial neural correlate of alexithymia. So far functional imaging studies have yielded inconclusive results. Therefore, we tested this hypothesis in healthy alexithymics and nonalexithymics in an event-related fMRI study. Methods: Thirty high- and 30 low-alexithymic right-handed male subjects (selected by the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale, TAS-20) were investigated with event-related fMRI using a picture viewing paradigm. The stimuli consisted of happy, fearful and neutral facial expressions (Ekman-Friesen) as well as positive, negative and neutral pictures from the International Affective Picture System. Results: Contrasting the high-alexithymic with the low-alexithymic group we observed increased activation of the supragenual ACC for different emotional valences as well as for different emotional stimuli. Moreover, there was a positive correlation of the ACC with the individual TAS-20 scores but no correlations with the individual Beck Depression Inventory scores. Additionally, there was no difference in activity of the amygdala. Conclusions: We demonstrated that the supragenual ACC is constantly activated more strongly in alexithymic subjects and that this activation is related to the symptoms of alexithymia and not to associated symptoms such as depression. Therefore, our findings support the hypothesis of an altered function of the ACC in alexithymia.}, language = {en} } @article{TuraliyevaYeshibaevSaparbekovaetal.2016, author = {Turaliyeva, M. and Yeshibaev, A. and Saparbekova, A. and Akynova, L. and Abildayeva, R. and Sadenova, M. and Sartayeva, K. and Schieffer, Andre and Digel, Ilya}, title = {Species composition and injuriousness of stranger xylophilous fauna affecting indigenous urban dendroflora of Central Asia}, series = {Asian journal of microbiology, biotechnology \& environmental sciences : AJMBES}, volume = {18}, journal = {Asian journal of microbiology, biotechnology \& environmental sciences : AJMBES}, number = {2}, publisher = {EM International}, issn = {0972-3005}, pages = {359 -- 366}, year = {2016}, abstract = {At the present time, one of the most serious environmental problems of Central Asia and South Kazakhstan is the ongoing large-scale deterioration of principal urban tree populations. Several major centers of massive spread of invasive plant pests have been found in urban dendroflora of this region. The degree of damage of seven most wide-spread aboriginal tree species was found to range from 21.4±1.1 to 85.4±1.8\%. In particular, the integrity of the native communities of sycamore (Platanus spp.), willow (Salix spp.), poplar (Populus spp.) and elm (Ulmus spp.) is highly endangered. Our taxonomic analysis of the most dangerous tree pests of the region has revealed them as neobiontic xylophilous insects such as Cossus cossus L. (Order: Lepidoptera L.) Monochamus urussovi Fisch., Monochamus sutor L., Acanthocinus aedelis L. and {\~N}etonia aureate L. (Order: Coleoptera L.). We relate the origin of this threatening trend with the import of industrial wood in the mid 90’s of the last century that was associated with high degree of the constructional work in the region. Because of the absence of efficient natural predators of the pest species, the application of microbiological methods of the pest control and limitation is suggested.}, language = {en} } @article{HeinzelSchaeferMuelleretal.2010, author = {Heinzel, Alexander and Sch{\"a}fer, Ralf and M{\"u}ller, Hans-Wilhelm and Schieffer, Andre and Ingenhag, Ariane and Northoff, Georg and Franz, Matthias and Hautzel, Hubertus}, title = {Differential modulation of valence and arousal in high-alexithymic and low-alexithymic individuals}, series = {Neuroreport}, volume = {21}, journal = {Neuroreport}, number = {15}, publisher = {Lippincott Williams \& Wilkins}, address = {London}, issn = {1473-558X}, doi = {10.1097/WNR.0b013e32833f38e0}, pages = {998 -- 1002}, year = {2010}, abstract = {High-alexithymic individuals are characterized by an impaired ability to identify and communicate emotions whereas low-alexithymic individuals have a wide-ranging ability to deal with emotions. This study examined the hypothesis that valence and arousal modifications of emotional stimuli differentially modulate cortical regions in high-alexithymic and low-alexithymic individuals. To this end, 28 high-alexithymic and 25 low-alexithymic individuals were investigated with event-related fMRI using visual emotional stimuli. We found differential neural activations in the dorsal anterior cingulate, the insula and the amygdala. We suggest that these differences may account for the impaired ability of high-alexithymic individuals to appropriately handle emotional stimuli.}, language = {en} }