TY - CHAP A1 - Nakagawa, Masaki A1 - Kallweit, Stephan A1 - Michaux, Frank A1 - Hojo, Teppei T1 - Typical Velocity Fields and Vortical Structures around a Formula One Car, based on Experimental Investigations using Particle Image Velocimetry T2 - SAE International Journal of Passenger Cars - Mechanical Systems Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.4271/2016-01-1611 SN - 1946-4002 ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Möhring, S. A1 - Wulfhorst, H. A1 - Roth, J. A1 - Tippkötter, Nils T1 - Pretreatment strategies for lignocellulosic biomass T2 - New frontiers of biotech-processes (Himmelfahrtstagung) : 02-04 May 2016, Rhein-Mosel-Halle, Koblenz/Germany Y1 - 2016 SP - 131 PB - DECHEMA CY - Frankfurt am Main ER - TY - GEN A1 - Möhring, S. A1 - Wulfhorst, H. A1 - Capitain, C. A1 - Roth, J. A1 - Tippkötter, Nils T1 - Fractioning of lignocellulosic biomass: Scale-down and automation of thermal pretreatment for parameter optimization T2 - Chemie Ingenieur Technik N2 - In order to efficiently convert lignocellulose, it is often necessary to conduct a pretreatment. The biomass considered in this study typically comprises of agricultural and horticultural residues, as well as beechwood. A very environmentally friendly method, namely, fungal pretreatment using white-rot fungi, leads to an enhanced enzymatic hydrolysis. In contrast to other processes presented, the energy input is extremely low. However, the fungal growth on the lignocellulosic substrates takes several weeks at least in order to be effective. Thus, the reduction of chemicals and energy for thermal processing is a target of our current research. Liquid hot water (LHW) and solvent-based pretreatment (OrganoSolv) require more complex equipment, as they depend on high temperatures (160 – 180 °C) and enhanced pressure (up to 20 bar). However, they prove to be promising processes in regard to the fractioning of lignocellulose. For optimal lignin recovery the parameters differ from those established in cellulose extraction. A novel screening system scaled down to a reaction volume of 100 mL has been developed and successfully tested for this purpose. Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/cite.201650288 SN - 0009-286X SN - 1522-2640 (eISSN) N1 - ProcessNet-Jahrestagung und 32. DECHEMA-Jahrestagung der Biotechnologen 2016, 12. - 15. September 2016, Eurogress Aachen VL - 88 IS - 9 SP - 1229 PB - Wiley-VCH CY - Weinheim ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Mykoniou, Konstantin A1 - Butenweg, Christoph A1 - Holtschoppen, Britta A1 - Klinkel, Sven T1 - Seismic response analysis of adjacent liquid-storage tanks JF - Earthquake engineering and structural dynamics N2 - A refined substructure technique in the frequency domain is developed, which permits consideration of the interaction effects among adjacent containers through the supporting deformable soil medium. The tank-liquid systems are represented by means of mechanical models, whereas discrete springs and dashpots stand for the soil beneath the foundations. The proposed model is employed to assess the responses of adjacent circular, cylindrical tanks for harmonic and seismic excitations over wide range of tank proportions and soil conditions. The influence of the number, spatial arrangement of the containers and their distance on the overall system's behavior is addressed. The results indicate that the cross-interaction effects can substantially alter the impulsive components of response of each individual element in a tank farm. The degree of this impact is primarily controlled by the tank proportions and the proximity of the predominant natural frequencies of the shell-liquid-soil systems and the input seismic motion. The group effects should be not a priori disregarded, unless the tanks are founded on shallow soil deposit overlying very stiff material or bedrock. KW - liquid-structure interaction KW - seismic response KW - impulsive effects KW - liquid-storage tank KW - structure-soil-structure interaction Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/eqe.2726 SN - 1096-9845 (E-Journal); 0098-8847 (Print) VL - 45 IS - 11 SP - 1779 EP - 1796 PB - Wiley-VCH CY - Weinheim ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Murib, M. S. A1 - Yeap, W. S. A1 - Eurlings, Y. A1 - Grinsven, B. van A1 - Boyen, H.-G. A1 - Conings, B. A1 - Michiels, L. A1 - Ameloot, M. A1 - Carleer, R. A1 - Warmer, J. A1 - Kaul, P. A1 - Haenen, K. A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef A1 - Ceuninck, W. de A1 - Wagner, P. T1 - Heat-transfer based characterization of DNA on synthetic sapphire chips JF - Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical N2 - In this study, we show that synthetic sapphire (Al₂O₃), an established implant material, can also serve as a platform material for biosensors comparable to nanocrystalline diamond. Sapphire chips, beads, and powder were first modified with (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES), followed by succinic anhydride (SA), and finally single-stranded probe DNA was EDC coupled to the functionalized layer. The presence of the APTES-SA layer on sapphire powders was confirmed by thermogravimetric analyis and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Using planar sapphire chips as substrates and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) as surface-sensitive tool, the sequence of individual layers was analyzed with respect to their chemical state, enabling the quantification of areal densities of the involved molecular units. Fluorescence microscopy was used to demonstrate the hybridization of fluorescently tagged target DNA to the probe DNA, including denaturation- and re-hybridization experiments. Due to its high thermal conductivity, synthetic sapphire is especially suitable as a chip material for the heat-transfer method, which was employed to distinguish complementary- and non-complementary DNA duplexes containing single-nucleotide polymorphisms. These results indicate that it is possible to detect mutations electronically with a chemically resilient and electrically insulating chip material. Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2016.02.027 SN - 0925-4005 VL - 230 IS - 230 SP - 260 EP - 271 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Molinnus, Denise A1 - Sorich, Maren A1 - Bartz, Alexander A1 - Siegert, Petra A1 - Willenberg, Holger S. A1 - Lisdat, Fred A1 - Poghossian, Arshak A1 - Keusgen, Michael A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef T1 - Towards an adrenaline biosensor based on substrate recycling amplification in combination with an enzyme logic gate JF - Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical N2 - An amperometric biosensor using a substrate recycling principle was realized for the detection of low adrenaline concentrations (1 nM) by measurements in phosphate buffer and Ringer’s solution at pH 6.5 and pH 7.4, respectively. In proof-of-concept experiments, a Boolean logic-gate principle has been applied to develop a digital adrenaline biosensor based on an enzyme AND logic gate. The obtained results demonstrate that the developed digital biosensor is capable for a rapid qualitative determination of the presence/absence of adrenaline in a YES/NO statement. Such digital biosensor could be used in clinical diagnostics for the control of a correct insertion of a catheter in the adrenal veins during adrenal venous-sampling procedure. Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2016.06.064 SN - 0925-4005 VL - 237 SP - 190 EP - 195 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Miyamoto, Ko-Ichiro A1 - Sato, Takuya A1 - Abe, Minami A1 - Wagner, Torsten A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef A1 - Yoshinobu, Tatsuo T1 - Light-addressable potentiometric sensor as a sensing element in plug-based microfluidic devices JF - Micromachines N2 - A plug-based microfluidic system based on the principle of the light-addressable potentiometric sensor (LAPS) is proposed. The LAPS is a semiconductor-based chemical sensor, which has a free addressability of the measurement point on the sensing surface. By combining a microfluidic device and LAPS, ion sensing can be performed anywhere inside the microfluidic channel. In this study, the sample solution to be measured was introduced into the channel in a form of a plug with a volume in the range of microliters. Taking advantage of the light-addressability, the position of the plug could be monitored and pneumatically controlled. With the developed system, the pH value of a plug with a volume down to 400 nL could be measured. As an example of plug-based operation, two plugs were merged in the channel, and the pH change was detected by differential measurement. KW - light-addressable potentiometric sensor KW - plug-based microfluidic device KW - chemical sensor Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3390/mi7070111 SN - 2072-666X N1 - This article belongs to the Special Issue "Micro/Nano Devices for Chemical Analysis" VL - 7 IS - 7 SP - 111 PB - MDPI CY - Basel ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Matcha, Heike ED - Herneoja, Aulikki ED - Österlund, Toni ED - Markkanen, Piia T1 - From Designing Buildings from Systems to Designing Systems for Buildings T2 - Complexity & Simplicity - Proceedings of the 34th eCAADe Conference - Volume 1 N2 - We study the novel possibilities computer aided design and production open up for the design of building systems. Such systems today can, via individualized mass production, consist of a larger number and more complex parts than previously and therefore be assembled into more complex wholes. This opens up the possibility of designing specialized systems specifically for single buildings. The common order of starting with a building system and designing a building using this system can be reversed to designing a building first and then developing a system specifically for that building. We present and discuss research that incorporates students design projects into research work and fosters links between research and teaching. KW - Building Systems KW - Parametric Design KW - Parametric Modelling KW - Structuralist Architecture Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.52842/conf.ecaade.2016.1.237 N1 - Proceedings of the 34th eCAADe Conference, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland, 22-26 August 2016. SP - 237 EP - 240 PB - ECAADe CY - Oulu, Finland ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Lu, S. A1 - Beyer, K. A1 - Bosiljkov, V. A1 - Butenweg, Christoph A1 - D’Ayala, D. A1 - Degee, H. A1 - Gams, M. A1 - Klouda, J. A1 - Lagomarsino, S. A1 - Penna, A. A1 - Mojsilovic, N. A1 - da Porto, F. A1 - Sorrentino, L. A1 - Vintzileou, E. ED - Modena, Claudio ED - da Porto, F. ED - Valluzzi, M.R. T1 - Next generation of Eurocode 8, masonry chapter T2 - Brick and Block Masonry Proceedings of the 16th International Brick and Block Masonry Conference, Padova, Italy, 26-30 June 2016 N2 - This paper describes the procedure on the evaluation of the masonry chapter for the next generation of Eurocode 8, the European Standard for earthquake-resistant design. In CEN, TC 250/SC8, working group WG 1 has been established to support the subcommittee on the topic of masonry on both design of new structures (EN1998-1) and assessment of existing structures (EN1998-3). The aim is to elaborate suggestions for amendments which fit the current state of the art in masonry and earthquake-resistant design. Focus will be on modelling, simplified methods, linear-analysis (q-values, overstrength-values), nonlinear procedures, out-of-plane design as well as on clearer definition of limit states. Beside these, topics related to general material properties, reinforced masonry, confined masonry, mixed structures and non-structural infills will be covered too. This paper presents the preliminary work and results up to the submission date. Y1 - 2016 SN - 978-1-138-02999-6 (Print) SN - 9781315374963 (E-Book) SP - 695 EP - 700 PB - Taylor & Francis CY - London ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Levers, A. A1 - Staat, Manfred A1 - Laack, Walter van T1 - Analysis of the long-term effect of the MBST® nuclear magnetic resonance therapy on gonarthrosis JF - Orthopedic Practice Y1 - 2016 VL - 47 IS - 11 SP - 521 EP - 528 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Leingartner, Max A1 - Maurer, Johannes A1 - Ferrein, Alexander A1 - Steinbauer, Gerald T1 - Evaluation of Sensors and Mapping Approaches for Disasters in Tunnels JF - Journal of Field Robotics N2 - Ground or aerial robots equipped with advanced sensing technologies, such as three-dimensional laser scanners and advanced mapping algorithms, are deemed useful as a supporting technology for first responders. A great deal of excellent research in the field exists, but practical applications at real disaster sites are scarce. Many projects concentrate on equipping robots with advanced capabilities, such as autonomous exploration or object manipulation. In spite of this, realistic application areas for such robots are limited to teleoperated reconnaissance or search. In this paper, we investigate how well state-of-the-art and off-the-shelf components and algorithms are suited for reconnaissance in current disaster-relief scenarios. The basic idea is to make use of some of the most common sensors and deploy some widely used algorithms in a disaster situation, and to evaluate how well the components work for these scenarios. We acquired the sensor data from two field experiments, one from a disaster-relief operation in a motorway tunnel, and one from a mapping experiment in a partly closed down motorway tunnel. Based on these data, which we make publicly available, we evaluate state-of-the-art and off-the-shelf mapping approaches. In our analysis, we integrate opinions and replies from first responders as well as from some algorithm developers on the usefulness of the data and the limitations of the deployed approaches, respectively. We discuss the lessons we learned during the two missions. These lessons are interesting for the community working in similar areas of urban search and rescue, particularly reconnaissance and search. Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/rob.21611 SN - 1556-4967 VL - 33 IS - 8 SP - 1037 EP - 1057 PB - Wiley-VCH CY - Weinheim ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Leicht-Scholten, Carmen A1 - Steuer-Dankert, Linda A1 - Bouffier, Anna T1 - Facing Future Challenges: Building Engineers for Tomorrow T2 - Conference proceedings : new perspectives in science education : 5th Conference edition, Florence, Italy, 17-18 March 2016 N2 - Future engineers are increasingly confronted with the so-called Megatrends which are the big social challenges society has to cope with. These Megatrends, such as “Silver Society”, “Globalization”, “Mobility” and “Female Shift” require an application-oriented perspective on Diversity especially in the engineering field. Therefore, it is necessary to enable future engineers not only to look at the technical perspectives of a problem, but also to be able to see the related questions within societies they are developing their artefacts for. The aim of teaching engineering should be to prepare engineers for these requirements and to draw attention to the diverse needs in a globalized world. Bringing together technical knowledge and social competences which go beyond a mere training of the so-called “soft skills”, is a new approach followed at RWTH Aachen University, one of the leading technical universities in Germany. RWTH Aachen University has established the bridging professorship “Gender and Diversity in Engineering” (GDI) which educates engineers with an interdisciplinary approach to expand engineering limits. In the frame of a sustainable teaching concept the research group under the leadership of Prof. Carmen Leicht-Scholten has developed an approach which imparts a supplication-specific Gender and Diversity expertise to engineers. In workshops students gain theoretical knowledge about Gender and Diversity and learn how to transfer their knowledge in their special field of study and later work. To substantiate this, the course participants have to solve case studies from real life. The cases which are developed in collaboration with non-profit organizations and enterprises from economy rise the students to challenges which are inspired by professional life. Evaluation shows the success of this approach as well as an increasing demand for such teaching formats. KW - Diversity KW - Engineering Education KW - Gender KW - Higher Education Y1 - 2016 SN - 978-886292-705-5 SP - 32 EP - 37 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Lagemaat, Miriam W. A1 - Breukels, Vincent A1 - Vos, Eline K. A1 - B., Adam A1 - Uden, Mark J. van A1 - Orzada, Stephan A1 - Bitz, Andreas A1 - Maas, Marnix C. A1 - Scheenen, Tom W. J. T1 - ¹H MR spectroscopic imaging of the prostate at 7T using spectral-spatial pulses JF - Magnetic Resonance in Medicine N2 - Purpose To assess the feasibility of prostate ¹H MR spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) using low-power spectral-spatial (SPSP) pulses at 7T, exploiting accurate spectral selection and spatial selectivity simultaneously. Methods A double spin-echo sequence was equipped with SPSP refocusing pulses with a spectral selectivity of 1 ppm. Three-dimensional prostate ¹H-MRSI at 7T was performed with the SPSP-MRSI sequence using an 8-channel transmit array coil and an endorectal receive coil in three patients with prostate cancer and in one healthy subject. No additional water or lipid suppression pulses were used. Results Prostate ¹H-MRSI could be obtained well within specific absorption rate (SAR) limits in a clinically feasible time (10 min). Next to the common citrate signals, the prostate spectra exhibited high spermine signals concealing creatine and sometimes also choline. Residual lipid signals were observed at the edges of the prostate because of limitations in spectral and spatial selectivity. Conclusion It is possible to perform prostate ¹H-MRSI at 7T with a SPSP-MRSI sequence while using separate transmit and receive coils. This low-SAR MRSI concept provides the opportunity to increase spatial resolution of MRSI within reasonable scan times. Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/mrm.25569 SN - 1522-2594 VL - 75 IS - 3 SP - 933 EP - 945 PB - International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine ER - TY - CHAP A1 - König, Johannes Alexander A1 - Wolf, Martin ED - Stephanidis, C. T1 - The pyramid assessment framework for ‘competence developing games’ T2 - Communications in Computer and Information Science Y1 - 2016 SN - 978-331940541-4 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40542-1_37 SN - 1865-0929 N1 - 18th International Conference on Posters’ Extended Abstracts, HCI International 2016; Toronto; Canada; 17 July 2016 through 22 July 2016 VL - 618 SP - 232 EP - 237 PB - Springer ER - TY - CHAP A1 - König, Johannes Alexander A1 - Wolf, Martin T1 - A new definition of competence developing games - and a framework to assess them T2 - ACHI 2016 : The Ninth International Conference on Advances in Computer-Human Interactions N2 - There are different types of games that try to make use of the motivation of a gaming situation in learning contexts. This paper introduces the new terminology ‘Competence Developing Game’ (CDG) as an umbrella term for all games with this intention. Based on this new terminology, an assessment framework has been developed and validated in scope of an empirical study. Now, all different types of CDGs can be evaluated according to a defined and uniform set of assessment criteria and, thus, are comparable according to their characteristics and effectiveness. KW - Serious Games KW - Gamification KW - Business Simulations KW - Assessment Y1 - 2016 SN - 978-1-61208-468-8 N1 - Proceeding of the Ninth International Conference on Advances in Computer-Human Interactions (ACHI 2016), Venice. SP - 95 EP - 97 ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Kubalski, T. A1 - Marinković, Marko A1 - Butenweg, Christoph ED - Modena, Claudio T1 - Numerical investigation of masonry infilled R.C. frames T2 - Brick and Block Masonry. Proceedings of the 16th International Brick and Block Masonry Conference, Padova, Italy, 26-30 June 2016 Y1 - 2016 SN - 9781315374963 SP - 1219 EP - 1226 PB - CRC Press CY - Leiden ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kowalski, Julia A1 - Linder, Peter A1 - Zierke, S. A1 - Wulfen, B. van A1 - Clemens, J. A1 - Konstantinidis, K. A1 - Ameres, G. A1 - Hoffmann, R. A1 - Mikucki, J. A1 - Tulaczyk, S. A1 - Funke, O. A1 - Blandfort, D. A1 - Espe, Clemens A1 - Feldmann, Marco A1 - Francke, Gero A1 - Hiecker, S. A1 - Plescher, Engelbert A1 - Schöngarth, Sarah A1 - Dachwald, Bernd A1 - Digel, Ilya A1 - Artmann, Gerhard A1 - Eliseev, D. A1 - Heinen, D. A1 - Scholz, F. A1 - Wiebusch, C. A1 - Macht, S. A1 - Bestmann, U. A1 - Reineking, T. A1 - Zetzsche, C. A1 - Schill, K. A1 - Förstner, R. A1 - Niedermeier, H. A1 - Szumski, A. A1 - Eissfeller, B. A1 - Naumann, U. A1 - Helbing, K. T1 - Navigation technology for exploration of glacier ice with maneuverable melting probes JF - Cold Regions Science and Technology N2 - The Saturnian moon Enceladus with its extensive water bodies underneath a thick ice sheet cover is a potential candidate for extraterrestrial life. Direct exploration of such extraterrestrial aquatic ecosystems requires advanced access and sampling technologies with a high level of autonomy. A new technological approach has been developed as part of the collaborative research project Enceladus Explorer (EnEx). The concept is based upon a minimally invasive melting probe called the IceMole. The force-regulated, heater-controlled IceMole is able to travel along a curved trajectory as well as upwards. Hence, it allows maneuvers which may be necessary for obstacle avoidance or target selection. Maneuverability, however, necessitates a sophisticated on-board navigation system capable of autonomous operations. The development of such a navigational system has been the focal part of the EnEx project. The original IceMole has been further developed to include relative positioning based on in-ice attitude determination, acoustic positioning, ultrasonic obstacle and target detection integrated through a high-level sensor fusion. This paper describes the EnEx technology and discusses implications for an actual extraterrestrial mission concept. Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2015.11.006 SN - 0165-232X IS - 123 SP - 53 EP - 70 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Koster, Arie A1 - Scheidweiler, Robert A1 - Tieves, Martin T1 - A flow based pruning scheme for enumerative equitable coloring algorithms JF - A flow based pruning scheme for enumerative equitable coloring algorithms N2 - An equitable graph coloring is a proper vertex coloring of a graph G where the sizes of the color classes differ by at most one. The equitable chromatic number is the smallest number k such that G admits such equitable k-coloring. We focus on enumerative algorithms for the computation of the equitable coloring number and propose a general scheme to derive pruning rules for them: We show how the extendability of a partial coloring into an equitable coloring can be modeled via network flows. Thus, we obtain pruning rules which can be checked via flow algorithms. Computational experiments show that the search tree of enumerative algorithms can be significantly reduced in size by these rules and, in most instances, such naive approach even yields a faster algorithm. Moreover, the stability, i.e., the number of solved instances within a given time limit, is greatly improved. Since the execution of flow algorithms at each node of a search tree is time consuming, we derive arithmetic pruning rules (generalized Hall-conditions) from the network model. Adding these rules to an enumerative algorithm yields an even larger runtime improvement. Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.1607.08754 N1 - Lehrstuhl II für Mathematik, RWTH Aachen University SP - 1 EP - 30 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kolditz, Melanie A1 - Albin, Thivaharan A1 - Abel, Dirk A1 - Fasse, Alessandro A1 - Brüggemann, Gert-Peter A1 - Albracht, Kirsten T1 - Evaluation of foot position and orientation as manipulated variables to control external knee adduction moments in leg extension training JF - Computer methods and programs in biomedicine N2 - Background and Objective Effective leg extension training at a leg press requires high forces, which need to be controlled to avoid training-induced damage. In order to avoid high external knee adduction moments, which are one reason for unphysiological loadings on knee joint structures, both training movements and the whole reaction force vector need to be observed. In this study, the applicability of lateral and medial changes in foot orientation and position as possible manipulated variables to control external knee adduction moments is investigated. As secondary parameters both the medio-lateral position of the center of pressure and the frontal-plane orientation of the reaction force vector are analyzed. Methods Knee adduction moments are estimated using a dynamic model of the musculoskeletal system together with the measured reaction force vector and the motion of the subject by solving the inverse kinematic and dynamic problem. Six different foot conditions with varying positions and orientations of the foot in a static leg press are evaluated and compared to a neutral foot position. Results Both lateral and medial wedges under the foot and medial and lateral shifts of the foot can influence external knee adduction moments in the presented study with six healthy subjects. Different effects are observed with the varying conditions: the pose of the leg is changed and the direction and center of pressure of the reaction force vector is influenced. Each effect results in a different direction or center of pressure of the reaction force vector. Conclusions The results allow the conclusion that foot position and orientation can be used as manipulated variables in a control loop to actively control knee adduction moments in leg extension training. KW - External knee adduction moments KW - Manipulated variables KW - Inverse dynamic problem KW - Inverse kinematic problem KW - Musculoskeletal model Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmpb.2016.09.005 SN - 0169-2607 N1 - Part of special issue: "SI: Personalised Models and System Identification" VL - 171 SP - 81 EP - 86 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Knobe, M. A1 - Giesen, M. A1 - Plate, S. A1 - Gradl-Dietsch, G. A1 - Buecking, B. A1 - Eschbach, D. A1 - Laack, Walter van A1 - Pape, H.-C. T1 - The Aachen mobility and balance index to measure physiological falls risk: a comparison with the Tinetti POMA scale JF - European Journal Of Trauma And Emergency Surgery N2 - Purpose The most commonly used mobility assessments for screening risk of falls among older adults are rating scales such as the Tinetti performance oriented mobility assessment (POMA). However, its correlation with falls is not always predictable and disadvantages of the scale include difficulty to assess many of the items on a 3-point scale and poor specificity. The purpose of this study was to describe the ability of the new Aachen Mobility and Balance Index (AMBI) to discriminate between subjects with a fall history and subjects without such events in comparison to the Tinetti POMA Scale. Methods For this prospective cohort study, 24 participants in the study group and 10 in the control group were selected from a population of patients in our hospital who had met the stringent inclusion criteria. Both groups completed the Tinetti POMA Scale (gait and balance component) and the AMBI (tandem stance, tandem walk, ten-meter-walk-test, sit-to-stand with five repetitions, 360° turns, timed-up-and-go-test and measurement of the dominant hand grip strength). A history of falls and hospitalization in the past year were evaluated retrospectively. The relationships among the mobility tests were examined with Bland–Altmananalysis. Receiver-operated characteristics curves, sensitivity and specificity were calculated. Results The study showed a strong negative correlation between the AMBI (17 points max., highest fall risk) and Tinetti POMA Scale (28 points max., lowest fall risk; r = −0.78, p < 0.001) with an excellent discrimination between community-dwelling older people and a younger control group. However, there were no differences in any of the mobility and balance measurements between participants with and without a fall history with equal characteristics in test comparison (AMBI vs. Tinetti POMA Scale: AUC 0.570 vs. 0.598; p = 0.762). The Tinetti POMA Scale (cut-off <20 points) showed a sensitivity of 0.45 and a specificity of 0.69, the AMBI a sensitivity of 0.64 and a specificity of 0.46 (cut-off >5 points). Conclusion The AMBI comprises mobility and balance tasks with increasing difficulty as well as a measurement of the dominant hand-grip strength. Its ability to identify fallers was comparable to the Tinetti POMA Scale. However, both measurement sets showed shortcomings in discrimination between fallers and non-fallers based on a self-reported retrospective falls-status. KW - Tinetti test KW - Mobility KW - Mobility tests KW - Ground-level falls KW - Elderly KW - Fall prevention KW - Co-managed care KW - Balance Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-016-0693-2 SN - 1863-9941 VL - 42 IS - 5 SP - 537 EP - 545 PB - Springer CY - Berlin ER -