@article{KurzLinderTrzewiketal.2010, author = {Kurz, R. and Linder, Peter and Trzewik, J{\"u}rgen and R{\"u}ffer, M. and Artmann, Gerhard and Digel, Ilya and Rothermel, A. and Robitzki, A. and Temiz Artmann, Ayseg{\"u}l}, title = {Contractile tension and beating rates of self-exciting monolayers and 3D-tissue constructs of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes}, series = {Medical and Biological Engineering and Computing}, volume = {48}, journal = {Medical and Biological Engineering and Computing}, number = {1}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, address = {Cham}, issn = {1741-0444}, doi = {10.1007/s11517-009-0552-y}, pages = {59 -- 65}, year = {2010}, abstract = {The CellDrum technology (The term 'CellDrum technology' includes a couple of slightly different technological setups for measuring lateral mechanical tension in various types of cell monolayers or 3D-tissue constructs) was designed to quantify the contraction rate and mechanical tension of self-exciting cardiac myocytes. Cells were grown either within flexible, circular collagen gels or as monolayer on top of respective 1-mum thin silicone membranes. Membrane and cells were bulged outwards by air pressure. This biaxial strain distribution is rather similar the beating, blood-filled heart. The setup allowed presetting the mechanical residual stress level externally by adjusting the centre deflection, thus, mimicking hypertension in vitro. Tension was measured as oscillating differential pressure change between chamber and environment. A 0.5-mm thick collagen-cardiac myocyte tissue construct induced after 2 days of culturing (initial cell density 2 x 10(4) cells/ml), a mechanical tension of 1.62 +/- 0.17 microN/mm(2). Mechanical load is an important growth regulator in the developing heart, and the orientation and alignment of cardiomyocytes is stress sensitive. Therefore, it was necessary to develop the CellDrum technology with its biaxial stress-strain distribution and defined mechanical boundary conditions. Cells were exposed to strain in two directions, radially and circumferentially, which is similar to biaxial loading in real heart tissues. Thus, from a biomechanical point of view, the system is preferable to previous setups based on uniaxial stretching.}, language = {en} } @article{GarhoferBekBoehmetal.2010, author = {Garhofer, Gerhard and Bek, Toke and Boehm, Andreas G. and Gherghel, Doina and Grundwald, Juan and Jeppesen, Peter and Kergoat, H{\´e}l{\`e}ne and Kotliar, Konstantin and Lanzl, Ines and Lovasik, John V. and Nagel, Edgar and Vilser, Walthard and Orgul, Selim and Schmetterer, Leopold}, title = {Use of the retinal vessel analyzer in ocular blood flow research}, series = {Acta Ophthalmol}, volume = {88}, journal = {Acta Ophthalmol}, number = {7}, publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {1755-3768}, doi = {10.1111/j.1755-3768.2009.01587.x}, pages = {717 -- 722}, year = {2010}, abstract = {The present article describes a standard instrument for the continuous online determination of retinal vessel diameters, the commercially available retinal vessel analyzer. This report is intended to provide informed guidelines for measuring ocular blood flow with this system. The report describes the principles underlying the method and the instruments currently available, and discusses clinical protocol and the specific parameters measured by the system. Unresolved questions and the possible limitations of the technique are also discussed.}, language = {en} } @article{PresslerEsefeldScherretal.2010, author = {Pressler, Axel and Esefeld, Katrin and Scherr, Johannes and Ali, Mohammad and Hanssen, Henner and Kotliar, Konstantin and Lanzl, Ines and Halle, Martin and Kaemmerer, Harald and Schmidt-Trucks{\"a}ss, Arno and Hager, Alfred}, title = {Structural alterations of retinal arterioles in adults late after repair of aortic isthmic coarctation}, series = {The American Journal of Cardiology}, volume = {105}, journal = {The American Journal of Cardiology}, number = {5}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0002-9149}, doi = {10.1016/j.amjcard.2009.10.070}, pages = {740 -- 744}, year = {2010}, abstract = {Patients after coarctation repair still have an increased risk of cardiovascular or cerebrovascular events. This has been explained by the persisting hypertension and alterations in the peripheral vessels. However, involvement of the central vessels such as the retinal arteries is virtually unknown. A total of 34 patients after coarctation repair (22 men and 12 women; 23 to 58 years old, age range 0 to 32 years at surgical repair) and 34 nonhypertensive controls underwent structural and functional retinal vessel analysis. Using structural analysis, the vessel diameters were measured. Using functional analysis, the endothelium-dependent vessel dilation in response to flicker light stimulation was assessed. In the patients after coarctation repair, the retinal arteriolar diameter was significantly reduced compared to that of the controls (median 182 μm, first to third quartile 171 to 197; vs 197 μm, first to third quartile 193 to 206; p <0.001). These findings were independent of the peripheral blood pressure and age at intervention. No differences were found for venules. The functional analysis findings were not different between the patients and controls (maximum dilation 3.5\%, first to third quartile 2.1\% to 4.5\% vs 3.6\%, first to third quartile 2.2\% to 4.3\%; p = 0.81), indicating preserved autoregulative mechanisms. In conclusion, the retinal artery diameter is reduced in patients after coarctation repair, independent of their current blood pressure level and age at intervention. As a structural marker of chronic vessel damage associated with past, current, or future hypertension, retinal arteriolar narrowing has been linked to stroke incidence. These results indicate an involvement of cerebral microcirculation in aortic coarctation, despite timely repair, and might contribute to explain the increased rate of cerebrovascular events in such patients.}, language = {en} } @article{KotliarNagelVilseretal.2010, author = {Kotliar, Konstantin and Nagel, Edgar and Vilser, Walthard and Seidova, Seid-Fatima and Lanzl, Ines}, title = {Microstructural alterations of retinal arterial blood column along the vessel axis in systemic hypertension}, series = {Investigative Ophthalmology \& Visual Science, IOVS}, volume = {51}, journal = {Investigative Ophthalmology \& Visual Science, IOVS}, number = {4}, publisher = {ARVO}, address = {Rockville, Md.}, issn = {0146-0404}, doi = {10.1167/iovs.09-3649}, pages = {2165 -- 2172}, year = {2010}, abstract = {Purpose: Image analysis by the retinal vessel analyzer (RVA) observes retinal vessels in their dynamic state online noninvasively along a chosen vessel segment. It has been found that high-frequency diameter changes in the retinal artery blood column along the vessel increase significantly in anamnestically healthy volunteers with increasing age and in patients with glaucoma during vascular dilation. This study was undertaken to investigate whether longitudinal sections of the retinal artery blood column are altered in systemic hypertension. Methods: Retinal arteries of 15 untreated patients with essential arterial hypertension (age, 50.9 ± 11.9 years) and of 15 age-matched anamnestically healthy volunteers were examined by RVA. After baseline assessment, a monochromatic luminance flicker (530-600 nm; 12.5 Hz; 20 s) was applied to evoke retinal vasodilation. Differences in amplitude and frequency of spatial artery blood column diameter change along segments (longitudinal arterial profiles) of 1 mm in length were measured and analyzed using Fourier transformation. Results: In the control group, average reduced power spectra (ARPS) of longitudinal arterial profiles did not differ when arteries changed from constriction to dilation. In the systemic hypertension group, ARPS during constriction, baseline, and restoration were identical and differed from ARPS during dilation (P < 0.05). Longitudinal arterial profiles in both groups showed significant dissimilitude at baseline and restoration (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The retinal artery blood column demonstrates microstructural alterations in systemic hypertension and is less irregular along the vessel axis during vessel dilation. These microstructural changes may be an indication of alterations in vessel wall rigidity, vascular endothelial function, and smooth muscle cells in this disease, leading to impaired perfusion and regulation.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{TranNovacekTolbaetal.2011, author = {Tran, Thanh Ngoc and Novacek, V. and Tolba, R. and Klinge, U. and Turquier, F. and Staat, Manfred}, title = {Experimental and Computational approach to study colorectal anastomosis. ISB2011, Proceedings of the XXIII Congress of the International Society of Biomechanics, Brussels, Belgium, July 3-7, 2011}, year = {2011}, abstract = {Summary: This paper presents a methodology to study and understand the mechanics of stapled anastomotic behaviors by combining empirical experimentation and finite element analysis. Performance of stapled anastomosis is studied in terms of leakage and numerical results which are compared to in vitro experiments performed on fresh porcine tissue. Results suggest that leaks occur between the tissue and staple legs penetrating through the tissue.}, subject = {Anastomose}, language = {en} } @article{BassamArtmannHescheleretal.2011, author = {Bassam, Rasha and Artmann, Gerhard and Hescheler, J{\"u}rgen and Graef, T. and Temiz Artmann, Ayseg{\"u}l and Porst, Dariusz and Linder, Peter and Kayser, Peter and Arinkin, Vladimir and Gossmann, Matthias and Digel, Ilya}, title = {Alterations in human hemoglobin structure related to red blood cell storage}, year = {2011}, abstract = {The importance of the availability of stored blood or blood cells, respectively, for urgent transfusion cannot be overestimated. Nowadays, blood storage becomes even more important since blood products are used for epidemiological studies, bio-technical research or banked for transfusion purposes. Thus blood samples must not only be processed, stored, and shipped to preserve their efficacy and safety, but also all parameters of storage must be recorded and reported for Quality Assurance. Therefore, blood banks and clinical research facilities are seeking more accurate, automated means for blood storage and blood processing.}, subject = {H{\"a}moglobin}, language = {en} } @article{PreissLinderWendtetal.2011, author = {Preiß, C. and Linder, Peter and Wendt, K. and Krystek, M. and Digel, Ilya and Gossmann, Matthias and Temiz Artmann, Ayseg{\"u}l and Porst, Dariusz and Kayser, Peter and Bassam, Rasha and Artmann, Gerhard}, title = {Engineering technology for plant physiology and plant stress research}, year = {2011}, abstract = {Plant physiology and plant stress: Plant physiology will be much more important for human mankind because of yield and cultivation limits of crops determined by their resistance to stress. To assess and counteract various stress factors it is necessary to conduct plant research to gain information and results on plant physiology.}, subject = {Pflanzenphysiologie}, language = {en} } @article{SeifarthSchehlLinderetal.2011, author = {Seifarth, Volker and Schehl, D. and Linder, Peter and Gossmann, Matthias and Digel, Ilya and Artmann, Gerhard and Porst, Dariusz and Preiß, C. and Kayser, Peter and Pack, O. and Temiz Artmann, Ayseg{\"u}l}, title = {Ureplace: development of a bioreactor for in vitro culturing of cell seeded tubular vessels on collagen scaffolds}, year = {2011}, abstract = {The demand of replacements for inoperable organs exceeds the amount of available organ transplants. Therefore, tissue engineering developed as a multidisciplinary field of research for autologous in-vitro organs. Such three dimensional tissue constructs request the application of a bioreactor. The UREPLACE bioreactor is used to grow cells on tubular collagen scaffolds OPTIMAIX Sponge 1 with a maximal length of 7 cm, in order to culture in vitro an adequate ureter replacement. With a rotating unit, (urothelial) cells can be placed homogeneously on the inner scaffold surface. Furthermore, a stimulation is combined with this bioreactor resulting in an orientation of muscle cells. These culturing methods request a precise control of several parameters and actuators. A combination of a LabBox and the suitable software LabVision is used to set and conduct parameters like rotation angles, velocities, pressures and other important cell culture values. The bioreactor was tested waterproof successfully. Furthermore, the temperature controlling was adjusted to 37 °C and the CO2 - concentration regulated to 5 \%. Additionally, the pH step responses of several substances showed a perfect functioning of the designed flow chamber. All used software was tested and remained stable for several days.}, subject = {Tissue Engineering}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{ArtmannDigelLinderetal.2011, author = {Artmann, Gerhard and Digel, Ilya and Linder, Peter and Temiz Artmann, Ayseg{\"u}l}, title = {Biophysical and Engineering Contributions to Plant Research}, year = {2011}, abstract = {Tests with palm tree leaves have just started yet and scan data are in the process to be analyzed. The final goal of future project for palm tree gender and species recognition will be to develop optical scanning technology to be applied to date palm tree leaves for in-situ screening purposes. Depending on the software used and the particular requirements of the users the technology potentially shall be able to identify palm tree diseases, palm tree gender, and species of young date palm trees by scanning leaves.}, subject = {Pflanzenphysiologie}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{DachwaldXuFeldmannetal.2011, author = {Dachwald, Bernd and Xu, Changsheng and Feldmann, Marco and Plescher, Engelbert and Digel, Ilya and Artmann, Gerhard}, title = {Development and testing of a subsurface probe for detection of life in deep ice : [abstract]}, year = {2011}, abstract = {We present the novel concept of a combined drilling and melting probe for subsurface ice research. This probe, named "IceMole", is currently developed, built, and tested at the FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences' Astronautical Laboratory. Here, we describe its first prototype design and report the results of its field tests on the Swiss Morteratsch glacier. Although the IceMole design is currently adapted to terrestrial glaciers and ice shields, it may later be modified for the subsurface in-situ investigation of extraterrestrial ice, e.g., on Mars, Europa, and Enceladus. If life exists on those bodies, it may be present in the ice (as life can also be found in the deep ice of Earth).}, subject = {Eisschicht}, language = {en} }