TY - JOUR A1 - Yazdanbakhsh, Pedram A1 - Solbach, Klaus A1 - Bitz, Andreas T1 - Variable power combiner for RF mode shimming in 7-T MR imaging JF - IEEE Transaction on Biomedical Engineering N2 - This contribution discusses the utilization of RF power in an MRI system with RF mode shimming which enables the superposition of circularly polarized modes of a transmit RF coil array driven by a Butler matrix. Since the required power for the individual modes can vary widely, mode-shimming can result in a significant underutilization of the total available RF power. A variable power combiner (VPC) is proposed to improve the power utilization: it can be realized as a reconfiguration of the MRI transmit system by the inclusion of one additional matrix network which receives the power from all transmit amplifiers at its input ports and provides any desired (combined) power distribution at its output ports by controlling the phase and amplitude of the amplifiers’ input signals. The power distribution at the output ports of the VPC is then fed into the “mode” ports of the coil array Butler matrix in order to superimpose the spatial modes at the highest achievable power utilization. The VPC configuration is compared to the standard configuration of the transmit chain of our MRI system with 8 transmit channels and 16 coils. In realistic scenarios, improved power utilization was achieved from 17% to 60% and from 14% to 55% for an elliptical phantom and a region of interest in the abdomen, respectively, and an increase of the power utilization of 1 dB for a region of interest in the upper leg. In general, it is found that the VPC allows significant improvement in power utilization when the shimming solution demands only a few modes to be energized, while the technique can yield loss in power utilization in cases with many modes required at high power level. Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/TBME.2012.2205926 SN - 1558-2531 VL - 59 IS - 9 SP - 2549 EP - 2557 PB - IEEE CY - New York ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Werner, Frederik A1 - Wagner, Torsten A1 - Miyamoto, Ko-ichiro A1 - Yoshinobu, Tatsuo A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef T1 - High speed and high resolution chemical imaging based on a new type of OLED-LAPS set-up JF - Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical N2 - Light-addressable potentiometric sensors (LAPS) are field-effect-based sensors. A modulated light source is used to define the particular measurement spot to perform spatially resolved measurements of chemical species and to generate chemical images. In this work, an organic-LED (OLED) display has been chosen as a light source. This allows high measurement resolution and miniaturisation of the system. A new developed driving method for the OLED display optimised for LAPS-based measurements is demonstrated. The new method enables to define modulation frequencies between 1 kHz and 16 kHz and hence, reduces the measurement time of a chemical image by a factor of 40 compared to the traditional addressing of an OLED display. Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2011.12.102 SN - 0925-4005 N1 - Part of special issue "Selected Papers presented at Eurosensors XXV" VL - 175 SP - 118 EP - 122 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Werner, Frederik A1 - Groebel, Simone A1 - Krumbe, Christoph A1 - Wagner, Torsten A1 - Selmer, Thorsten A1 - Yoshinobu, Tatsuo A1 - Baumann, Marcus A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef T1 - Nutrient concentration-sensitive microorganism-based biosensor JF - Physica Status Solidi (a) Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pssa.201100801 SN - 1862-6319 VL - 209 IS - 5 SP - 900 EP - 904 PB - Wiley-VCH CY - Weinheim ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Weigand, Christoph T1 - Statistical Tests Based on Reliability and Precision JF - Economic Quality Control : EQC ; international journal for quality and reliability N2 - The construction of a statistical test is investigated which is based only on “reliability” and “precision” as quality criteria. The reliability of a statistical test is quantifiedin a straightforward way by the probability that the decision of the test is correct. However, the quantification of the precision of a statistical test is not at all evident. Thereforethe paper presents and discusses several approaches. Moreover the distinction of “nullhypothesis” and “alternative hypothesis” is not necessary any longer. Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/eqc-2012-0002 SN - 1869-6147 VL - 27 IS - 1 SP - 43 EP - 64 PB - De Gruyter CY - Berlin ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Wagner, Torsten A1 - Werner, Frederik A1 - Miyamoto, Ko-Ichiro A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef A1 - Yoshinobu, Tatsuo T1 - Development and characterisation of a compact light-addressable potentiometric sensor (LAPS) based on the digital light processing (DLP) technology for flexible chemical imaging JF - Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical N2 - Chemical imaging systems allow the visualisation of the distribution of chemical species on the sensor surface. This work represents a new flexible approach to read out light-addressable potentiometric sensors (LAPS) with the help of a digital light processing (DLP) set-up. The DLP, known well for video projectors, consists of a mirror-array MEMS device, which allows fast and flexible generation of light patterns. With the help of these light patterns, the sensor surface of the LAPS device can be addressed. The DLP approach has several advantages compared to conventional LAPS set-ups, e.g., the spot size and the shape of the light pointer can be changed easily and no mechanical movement is necessary, which reduces the size of the set-up and increases the stability and speed of the measurement. In addition, the modulation frequency and intensity of the light beam are important parameters of the LAPS set-up. Within this work, the authors will discuss two different ways of light modulation by the DLP set-up, investigate the influence of different modulation frequencies and different light intensities as well as demonstrate the scanning capabilities of the new set-up by pH mapping on the sensor surface. Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2010.12.003 SN - 0925-4005 N1 - Part of special issue "Eurosensors XXIV, 2010" VL - 170 SP - 34 EP - 39 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Wagner, Torsten A1 - Shigiahara, N. A1 - Miyamoto, K. A1 - Suzurikawa, J. A1 - Finger, F. A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef A1 - Yoshinobu, T. T1 - Light-addressable Potentiometric Sensors and Light–addressable Electrodes as a Combined Sensor-and-manipulator Microsystem with High Flexibility JF - Procedia Engineering N2 - This work describes the novel combination of the light-addressable electrode (LAE) and the light-addressable potentiometric sensor (LAPS) into a microsystem set-up. Both the LAE as well as the LAPS shares the principle of addressing the active spot by means of a light beam. This enables both systems to manipulate resp. to detect an analyte with a high spatial resolution. Hence, combining both principles into a single set-up enables the active stimulation e.g., by means of electrolysis and a simultaneous observation e.g., the response of an entrapped biological cell by detection of extracellular pH changes. The work will describe the principles of both technologies and the necessary steps to integrate them into a single set-up. Furthermore, examples of application and operation of such systems will be presented. Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2012.09.290 SN - 1877-7058 N1 - Part of special issue "26th European Conference on Solid-State Transducers, EUROSENSOR 2012" IS - 47 SP - 890 EP - 893 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Stadler, Andreas M. A1 - Garvey, G. J. A1 - Bocahut, A. A1 - Sacquin-Mora, S. A1 - Digel, Ilya A1 - Schneider, G. J. A1 - Natali, F. A1 - Artmann, Gerhard A1 - Zaccai, G. T1 - Thermal fluctuations of haemoglobin from different species : adaptation to temperature via conformational dynamics JF - Journal of the Royal Society Interface N2 - Thermodynamic stability, configurational motions and internal forces of haemoglobin (Hb) of three endotherms (platypus, Ornithorhynchus anatinus; domestic chicken, Gallus gallus domesticus and human, Homo sapiens) and an ectotherm (salt water crocodile, Crocodylus porosus) were investigated using circular dichroism, incoherent elastic neutron scattering and coarse-grained Brownian dynamics simulations. The experimental results from Hb solutions revealed a direct correlation between protein resilience, melting temperature and average body temperature of the different species on the 0.1 ns time scale. Molecular forces appeared to be adapted to permit conformational fluctuations with a root mean square displacement close to 1.2 Å at the corresponding average body temperature of the endotherms. Strong forces within crocodile Hb maintain the amplitudes of motion within a narrow limit over the entire temperature range in which the animal lives. In fully hydrated powder samples of human and chicken, Hb mean square displacements and effective force constants on the 1 ns time scale showed no differences over the whole temperature range from 10 to 300 K, in contrast to the solution case. A complementary result of the study, therefore, is that one hydration layer is not sufficient to activate all conformational fluctuations of Hb in the pico- to nanosecond time scale which might be relevant for biological function. Coarse-grained Brownian dynamics simulations permitted to explore residue-specific effects. They indicated that temperature sensing of human and chicken Hb occurs mainly at residues lining internal cavities in the β-subunits. Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2012.0364 SN - 1742-5689 VL - 9 IS - 76 SP - 2845 EP - 2855 PB - The Royal Society CY - London ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Staat, Manfred A1 - Vu, Duc Khoi T1 - Limit analysis of flaws in pressurized pipes and cylindrical vessels Part II: Circumferential defects JF - Engineering Fracture Mechanics ; 97(2013), H. 1 N2 - Upper and lower bound theorems of limit analyses have been presented in part I of the paper. Part II starts with the finite element discretization of these theorems and demonstrates how both can be combined in a primal–dual optimization problem. This recently proposed numerical method is used to guide the development of a new class of closed-form limit loads for circumferential defects, which show that only large defects contribute to plastic collapse with a rapid loss of strength with increasing crack sizes. The formulae are compared with primal–dual FEM limit analyses and with burst tests. Even closer predictions are obtained with iterative limit load solutions for the von Mises yield function and for the Tresca yield function. Pressure loading of the faces of interior cracks in thick pipes reduces the collapse load of circumferential defects more than for axial flaws. Axial defects have been treated in part I of the paper. Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.engfracmech.2012.05.017 SN - 0013-7944 VL - 97 SP - 314 EP - 333 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Staat, Manfred A1 - Trenz, Eva A1 - Lohmann, Philipp A1 - Frotscher, Ralf A1 - Klinge, Uwe A1 - Tabaza, Ruth A1 - Kirschner-Hermanns, Ruth T1 - New measurements to compare soft tissue anchoring systems in pelvic floor surgery JF - Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B: Applied Biomaterials N2 - Suburethral slings as well as different meshes are widely used treating stress urinary incontinence and prolaps in women. With the development of MiniSlings and special meshes using less alloplastic material anchorage systems become more important to keep devices in place and to put some tension especially on the MiniSlings. To date, there are many different systems of MiniSlings of different companies on the market which differ in the structure of the used meshes and anchors. A new objective measurement method to compare different properties of MiniSling systems (mesh and anchor) is presented in this article. Ballistic gelatine acts as soft tissue surrogate. Significant differences in parameters like pull-out strength of anchors or shrinkage of meshes under loading conditions have been determined. The form and size of the anchors as well as the structural stability of the meshes are decisive for a proper integration. The tested anchorings sytems showed markedly different mechanical function at their respective load bearing capacity. As the stable fixation of the device in tissue is a prerequisite for a permanet reinforcement, the proposed test system permits further optimisation of anchor and mesh devices to improve the success of the surgical treatment Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jbm.b.32654 SN - 1552-4981 VL - 100B IS - 4 SP - 924 EP - 933 PB - Wiley CY - Hoboken, NJ ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Staat, Manfred T1 - Limit and shakedown analysis under uncertainty JF - Tap chi Khoa hoc & ung dung - Dai hoc Ton Duc Thang Y1 - 2012 N1 - = Journal of Applied Sciences - Ton Duc Thang University VL - 19 SP - 45 EP - 47 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Spelthahn, Heiko A1 - Schubert, Jürgen A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef T1 - Dünnschichtsensoren für die Schwermetallanalytik JF - GIT : Labor-Fachzeitschrift N2 - Die Detektion von Schadstoffen repräsentiert in der Umweltanalytik eine wichtige Aufgabenstellung. Gerade die Abwasser- bzw. Brauchwasseranalytik sowie die Prozesskontrolle haben einen hohen Stellenwert. Siliziumbasierte Dünnschichtsensoren bieten eine kostengünstige Möglichkeit, „online“-Messungen bzw. Vor-Ort-Messungen zeitnah durchzuführen. In dieser Arbeit wird ein potentiometrisches Sensorarray auf der Basis von Chalkogenidgläsern zur Detektion von Schwermetallen in wässrigen Medien vorgestellt. Y1 - 2012 SN - 0016-3538 VL - 56 IS - 4 SP - 285 EP - 287 PB - Wiley-VCH CY - Weinheim ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Spelthahn, Heiko A1 - Kirsanov, Dmitry A1 - Legin, Andrey A1 - Osterrath, Thomas A1 - Schubert, Jürgen A1 - Zander, Willi A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef T1 - Development of a thin-film sensor array for analytical monitoring of heavy metals in aqueous solutions JF - Physica Status Solidi (a) N2 - In industrial processes there is a variety of heavy metals (e.g., copper, zinc, cadmium, and lead) in use for wires, coatings, paints, alloys, batteries, etc. Since the application of these transition metals for industry is inevitable, it is a vital task to develop proper analytical techniques for their monitoring at low activity levels, especially because most of these elements are acutely toxic for biological organisms. The determination of ions in solution by means of a simple and inexpensive sensor array is, therefore, a promising task. In this work, a sensor array with heavy metal-sensitive chalcogenide glass membranes for the simultaneous detection of the four ions Ag⁺, Cu2⁺, Cd2⁺, and Pb2⁺ in solution is realized. The results of the physical characterization by means of microscopy, profilometry, Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) as well as the electrochemical characterization by means of potentiometric measurements are presented. Additionally, the possibility to expand the sensor array by polymeric sensor membranes is discussed. Y1 - 2012 SN - 1862-6319 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pssa.201100733 VL - 209 IS - 5 SP - 885 EP - 891 PB - Wiley-VCH CY - Weinheim ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schusser, Sebastian A1 - Poghossian, Arshak A1 - Bäcker, Matthias A1 - Leinhos, Marcel A1 - Wagner, Patrick A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef T1 - Characterization of biodegradable polymers with capacitive field-effect sensors JF - Sensors and actuators B: Chemical N2 - In vitro studies of the degradation kinetic of biopolymers are essential for the design and optimization of implantable biomedical devices. In the presented work, a field-effect capacitive sensor has been applied for the real-time and in situ monitoring of degradation processes of biopolymers for the first time. The polymer-covered field-effect sensor is, in principle, capable to detect any changes in bulk, surface and interface properties of the polymer induced by degradation processes. The feasibility of this approach has been experimentally proven by using the commercially available biomedical polymer poly(D,L-lactic acid) (PDLLA) as a model system. PDLLA films of different thicknesses were deposited on the Ta₂O₅-gate surface of the field-effect structure from a polymer solution by means of spin-coating method. The polymer-modified field-effect sensors have been characterized by means of capacitance–voltage and impedance-spectroscopy method. The degradation of the PDLLA was accelerated by changing the degradation medium from neutral (pH 7.2) to alkaline (pH 9) condition, resulting in drastic changes in the capacitance and impedance spectra of the polymer-modified field-effect sensor. KW - Impedance spectroscopy KW - C–V method KW - Real-time monitoring KW - Poly(d,l-lacticacid) KW - (Bio)degradation KW - Field-effect sensor Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2012.07.099 SN - 0925-4005 N1 - Part of special issue "Selected Papers from the 14th International Meeting on Chemical Sensors" VL - 187 SP - 2 EP - 7 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schmitz, Philipp A1 - Weber, Martin T1 - Buying and selling behavior of individual investors in option-like securities JF - Die Betriebswirtschaft : DBW N2 - We analyze the trading behavior of individual investors in option-like securities, namely bankissued warrants, and thus expand the growing literature of investors behavior to a new kind of securities. A unique data set from a large German discount broker gives us the opportunity to analyze the trading behavior of 1,454 investors, making 89,958 transactions in 6,724 warrants on 397 underlyings. In different logit regression, we make use of the facts that investors can speculate on rising and falling prices of the underlying with call and put warrants and that we also have information about the stock portfolios of the investors. We report several facts about the trading behavior of individual investors in warrants that are consistent with the literature on the behavior of individual investors in the stock market. The warrant investors buy calls and sell puts if the price of the underlying has decreased over the past trading days and they sell calls and buy puts if the price of the underlying has increased. That means, the investors follow negative feedback trading strategies in all four trading categories observed. In addition, we find strong evidence for the disposition effect for call as well as put warrants, which is reversed in December. The trading behavior is also influenced if the underlying reaches some exceptionally prices, e.g. highs, lows or the strike price. We show that hedging, as one natural candidate to buy puts, does not play an important role in the market for bank-issued warrants. KW - Bank-issued Warrants KW - Disposition Effect KW - Negative Feedback Trading KW - Trading Behavior KW - Individual Investors Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2055088 SN - 0342-7064 VL - 72 IS - 5 SP - 409 EP - 426 PB - Schäffer-Poeschel CY - Stuttgart ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schiffer, Stefan A1 - Ferrein, Alexander A1 - Lakemeyer, Gerhard T1 - Caesar: an intelligent domestic service robot JF - Intelligent service robotics N2 - In this paper we present CAESAR, an intelligent domestic service robot. In domestic settings for service robots complex tasks have to be accomplished. Those tasks benefit from deliberation, from robust action execution and from flexible methods for human–robot interaction that account for qualitative notions used in natural language as well as human fallibility. Our robot CAESAR deploys AI techniques on several levels of its system architecture. On the low-level side, system modules for localization or navigation make, for instance, use of path-planning methods, heuristic search, and Bayesian filters. For face recognition and human–machine interaction, random trees and well-known methods from natural language processing are deployed. For deliberation, we use the robot programming and plan language READYLOG, which was developed for the high-level control of agents and robots; it allows combining programming the behaviour using planning to find a course of action. READYLOG is a variant of the robot programming language Golog. We extended READYLOG to be able to cope with qualitative notions of space frequently used by humans, such as “near” and “far”. This facilitates human–robot interaction by bridging the gap between human natural language and the numerical values needed by the robot. Further, we use READYLOG to increase the flexible interpretation of human commands with decision-theoretic planning. We give an overview of the different methods deployed in CAESAR and show the applicability of a system equipped with these AI techniques in domestic service robotics Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11370-012-0118-y SN - 1861-2776 N1 - Special Issue on Artificial Intelligence Techniques for Robotics: Sensing, Representation and Action, Part I VL - 5 IS - 4 SP - 259 EP - 276 PB - Springer CY - Berlin ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Scheer, Nico A1 - Kapelyukh, Yury A1 - Rode, Anja A1 - Buechel, Sandra A1 - Wolf, C. Roland T1 - Generation and characterization of novel cytochrome P450 Cyp2c gene cluster knockout and CYP2C9 humanized mouse lines JF - Molecular Pharmacology N2 - Compared with rodents and many other animal species, the human cytochrome P450 (P450) Cyp2c gene cluster varies significantly in the multiplicity of functional genes and in the substrate specificity of its enzymes. As a consequence, the use of wild-type animal models to predict the role of human CYP2C enzymes in drug metabolism and drug-drug interactions is limited. Within the human CYP2C cluster CYP2C9 is of particular importance, because it is one of the most abundant P450 enzymes in human liver, and it is involved in the metabolism of a wide variety of important drugs and environmental chemicals. To investigate the in vivo functions of cytochrome P450 Cyp2c genes and to establish a model for studying the functions of CYP2C9 in vivo, we have generated a mouse model with a deletion of the murine Cyp2c gene cluster and a corresponding humanized model expressing CYP2C9 specifically in the liver. Despite the high number of functional genes in the mouse Cyp2c cluster and the reported roles of some of these proteins in different biological processes, mice deleted for Cyp2c genes were viable and fertile but showed certain phenotypic alterations in the liver. The expression of CYP2C9 in the liver also resulted in viable animals active in the metabolism and disposition of a number of CYP2C9 substrates. These mouse lines provide a powerful tool for studying the role of Cyp2c genes and of CYP2C9 in particular in drug disposition and as a factor in drug-drug interaction. Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1124/mol.112.080036 SN - 1521-0111 VL - 82 IS - 6 SP - 1022 EP - 1029 PB - ASPET CY - Bethesda, Md. ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Scheer, Nico A1 - Kapelyukh, Yury A1 - McEwan, Jillian A1 - Beuger, Vincent A1 - Stanley, Lesley A. A1 - Rode, Anja A1 - Wolf, C. Roland T1 - Modeling Human Cytochrome P450 2D6 Metabolism and Drug-drug Interaction by a Novel Panel of Knockout and Humanized Mouse Lines JF - Molecular Pharmacology N2 - The highly polymorphic human cytochrome P450 2D6 enzyme is involved in the metabolism of up to 25% of all marketed drugs and accounts for significant individual differences in response to CYP2D6 substrates. Because of the differences in the multiplicity and substrate specificity of CYP2D family members among species, it is difficult to predict pathways of human CYP2D6-dependent drug metabolism on the basis of animal studies. To create animal models that reflect the human situation more closely and that allow an in vivo assessment of the consequences of differential CYP2D6 drug metabolism, we have developed a novel straightforward approach to delete the entire murine Cyp2d gene cluster and replace it with allelic variants of human CYP2D6. By using this approach, we have generated mouse lines expressing the two frequent human protein isoforms CYP2D6.1 and CYP2D6.2 and an as yet undescribed variant of this enzyme, as well as a Cyp2d cluster knockout mouse. We demonstrate that the various transgenic mouse lines cover a wide spectrum of different human CYP2D6 metabolizer phenotypes. The novel humanization strategy described here provides a robust approach for the expression of different CYP2D6 allelic variants in transgenic mice and thus can help to evaluate potential CYP2D6-dependent interindividual differences in drug response in the context of personalized medicine. Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1124/mol.111.075192 SN - 1521-0111 VL - 81 IS - 1 SP - 63 EP - 72 PB - ASPET CY - Bethesda, Md. ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Scheer, Nico A1 - Balimane, Praveen A1 - Hayward, Michael D. A1 - Buechel, Sandra A1 - Kauselmann, Gunther A1 - Wolf, C. Roland T1 - Generation and Characterization of a Novel Multidrug Resistance Protein 2 Humanized Mouse Line JF - Drug Metabolism and Disposition N2 - The multidrug resistance protein (MRP) 2 is predominantly expressed in liver, intestine, and kidney, where it plays an important role in the excretion of a range of drugs and their metabolites or endogenous compounds into bile, feces, and urine. Mrp knockout [Mrp2(−/−)] mice have been used recently to study the role of MRP2 in drug disposition. Here, we describe the first generation and initial characterization of a mouse line humanized for MRP2 (huMRP2), which is nulled for the mouse Mrp2 gene and expresses the human transporter in the organs and cell types where MRP2 is normally expressed. Analysis of the mRNA expression for selected cytochrome P450 and transporter genes revealed no major changes in huMRP2 mice compared with wild-type controls. We show that human MRP2 is able to compensate functionally for the loss of the mouse transporter as demonstrated by comparable bilirubin levels in the humanized mice and wild-type controls, in contrast to the hyperbilirubinemia phenotype that is observed in MRP2(−/−) mice. The huMRP2 mouse provides a model to study the role of the human transporter in drug disposition and in assessing the in vivo consequences of inhibiting this transporter by compounds interacting with human MRP2. Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1124/dmd.112.047605 SN - 1521-0111 VL - 40 IS - 11 SP - 2212 EP - 2218 PB - ASPET CY - Bethesda, Md. ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Rigling, Andreas A1 - Bigler, Christof A1 - Eilmann, Britta A1 - Feldmeyer-Christe, Elisabeth A1 - Gimmi, Urs A1 - Ginzler, Christian A1 - Graf, Ulrich A1 - Mayer, Phillip A1 - Vacchiano, Giorgio A1 - Weber, Pascal A1 - Wohlgemuth, Thomas A1 - zweifel, Roman A1 - Dobbertin, Matthias T1 - Driving factors of a vegetation shift from Scots pine to pubescent oak in dry Alpine forests JF - Global Change Biology N2 - An increasing number of studies have reported on forest declines and vegetation shifts triggered by drought. In the Swiss Rhone valley (Valais), one of the driest inner-Alpine regions, the species composition in low elevation forests is changing: The sub-boreal Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) dominating the dry forests is showing high mortality rates. Concurrently the sub-Mediterranean pubescent oak (Quercus pubescens Willd.) has locally increased in abundance. However, it remains unclear whether this local change in species composition is part of a larger-scale vegetation shift. To study variability in mortality and regeneration in these dry forests we analysed data from the Swiss national forest inventory (NFI) on a regular grid between 1983 and 2003, and combined it with annual mortality data from a monitoring site. Pine mortality was found to be highest at low elevation (below 1000 m a.s.l.). Annual variation in pine mortality was correlated with a drought index computed for the summer months prior to observed tree death. A generalized linear mixed-effects model indicated for the NFI data increased pine mortality on dryer sites with high stand competition, particularly for small-diameter trees. Pine regeneration was low in comparison to its occurrence in the overstorey, whereas oak regeneration was comparably abundant. Although both species regenerated well at dry sites, pine regeneration was favoured at cooler sites at higher altitude and oak regeneration was more frequent at warmer sites, indicating a higher adaptation potential of oaks under future warming. Our results thus suggest that an extended shift in species composition is actually occurring in the pine forests in the Valais. The main driving factors are found to be climatic variability, particularly drought, and variability in stand structure and topography. Thus, pine forests at low elevations are developing into oak forests with unknown consequences for these ecosystems and their goods and services. Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/gcb.12038 SN - 1354-1013 (Print) SN - 1365-2486 (Online) VL - 19 IS - 1 SP - 229 EP - 240 PB - Wiley-Blackwell CY - Oxford ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Ribitsch, D. A1 - Heumann, S. A1 - Karl, W. A1 - Gerlach, J. A1 - Leber, R. A1 - Birner-Gruenberger, R. A1 - Gruber, K. A1 - Eiteljoerg, I. A1 - Remler, P. A1 - Siegert, Petra A1 - Lange, J. A1 - Maurer, Karl-Heinz A1 - Berg, G. A1 - Guebitz, G. M. A1 - Schwab, H. T1 - Extracellular serine proteases from Stenotrophomonas maltophilia: Screening, isolation and heterologous expression in E. coli JF - Journal of biotechnology N2 - A large strain collection comprising antagonistic bacteria was screened for novel detergent proteases. Several strains displayed protease activity on agar plates containing skim milk but were inactive in liquid media. Encapsulation of cells in alginate beads induced protease production. Stenotrophomonas maltophilia emerged as best performer under washing conditions. For identification of wash-active proteases, four extracellular serine proteases called StmPr1, StmPr2, StmPr3 and StmPr4 were cloned. StmPr2 and StmPr4 were sufficiently overexpressed in E. coli. Expression of StmPr1 and StmPr3 resulted in unprocessed, insoluble protein. Truncation of most of the C-terminal domain which has been identified by enzyme modeling succeeded in expression of soluble, active StmPr1 but failed in case of StmPr3. From laundry application tests StmPr2 turned out to be a highly wash-active protease at 45 °C. Specific activity of StmPr2 determined with suc-l-Ala-l-Ala-l-Pro-l-Phe-p-nitroanilide as the substrate was 17 ± 2 U/mg. In addition we determined the kinetic parameters and cleavage preferences of protease StmPr2. KW - Alginate beads KW - Stenotrophomonas maltophilia KW - Detergent protease Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiotec.2011.09.025 SN - 1873-4863 (E-Journal); 0168-1656 (Print) VL - 157 IS - 1 SP - 140 EP - 147 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Reisgen, Uwe A1 - Schleser, Markus A1 - Mokrov, Oleg A1 - Zabirov, Alexander A1 - Füssel, Uwe A1 - Schnick, Michael A1 - Hertel, Martin A1 - Jaeckel, Sebastian T1 - Modelling and visualisation of the GMA process JF - Welding and Cutting Y1 - 2012 SN - 1612-3433 VL - 11 IS - 4 SP - 242 EP - 249 PB - DVS Verlag CY - Düsseldorf ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Reisgen, Uwe A1 - Schleser, Markus A1 - Mokrov, Oleg A1 - Ahmed, Essam T1 - Statistical modeling of laser welding of DP/TRIP steel sheets JF - Optics and laser technology N2 - In this research work, a statistical analysis of the CO2 laser beam welding of dual phase (DP600)/transformation induced plasticity (TRIP700) steel sheets was done using response surface methodology. The analysis considered the effect of laser power (2–2.2 kW), welding speed (40–50 mm/s) and focus position (−1 to 0 mm) on the heat input, the weld bead geometry, uniaxial tensile strength, formability limited dome height and welding operation cost. The experimental design was based on Box–Behnken design using linear and quadratic polynomial equations for predicting the mathematical models. The results indicate that the proposed models predict the responses adequately within the limits of welding parameters being used and the welding speed is the most significant parameter during the welding process. Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.optlastec.2011.05.025 SN - 1879-2545 (E-Journal); 0030-3992 (Print); 0308-4280 (Print) VL - 44 IS - 1 SP - 92 EP - 101 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Reisgen, Uwe A1 - Schleser, Markus A1 - Mokrov, Oleg A1 - Ahmed, Essam T1 - Optimization of laser welding of DP/TRIP steel sheets using statistical approach JF - Optics and laser technology N2 - Generally, the quality of a weld joint is directly influenced by the welding input parameter settings. Selection of proper process parameters is important to obtain the desired weld bead profile and quality. In this research work, numerical and graphical optimization techniques of the CO2 laser beam welding of dual phase (DP600)/transformation induced plasticity (TRIP700) steel sheets were carried out using response surface methodology (RSM) based on Box–Behnken design. The procedure was established to improve the weld quality, increase the productivity and minimize the total operation cost by considering the welding parameters range of laser power (2–2.2 kW), welding speed (40–50 mm/s) and focus position (−1 to 0 mm). It was found that, RSM can be considered as a powerful tool in experimental welding optimization, even when the experimenter does not have a model for the process. Strong, efficient and low cost weld joints could be achieved using the optimum welding conditions. Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.optlastec.2011.06.028 SN - 1879-2545 (E-Journal); 0030-3992 (Print); 0308-4280 (Print) VL - 44 IS - 1 SP - 255 EP - 262 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Reisgen, Uwe A1 - Schleser, Markus A1 - Abdurakhmanov, Aydemir A1 - Turichin, Gleb A1 - Valdaitseva, Elena A1 - Bach, Friedrich-Wilhelm A1 - Hassel, Thomas A1 - Beniyashi, Alexander T1 - Investigation of factors influencing the formation of weld defects in non-vacuum electron beam welding JF - The Paton welding journal N2 - The influence of welding condition parameters and properties of material on formation of defects, such as humping and undercuts, in non-vacuum electron beam welding was investigated. The influence of separate welding parameters on the quality of welds was determined. Y1 - 2012 SN - 0957-798X VL - 2012 IS - 2 SP - 11 EP - 18 PB - Paton Publishing House CY - Kiev ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Reisgen, Uwe A1 - Schleser, Markus A1 - Abdurakhmanov, Aydemir A1 - Gumenyuk, Andrey T1 - Measuring of plasma properties induced by non-vacuum electron beam welding JF - Physics of plasma N2 - Electron beam plasma measurement was realised by means of DIABEAM system invented by ISF RWTH Aachen. The Langmuir probe method is used for measurement. The relative simplicity of the method and the possibility of dispersion of high power on the probe allow its application for the investigation of high-power electron beams. The key element of the method is a rotating thin tungsten wire, which intersects the beam transversely on its axis and collects part of the current by itself. The signals, which are registered in the DIABEAM as a voltage, were taken in the form of amplitude. The conversion of the probe current into the distribution along the beam radius was realised using the Abel’s method. A voltage-current characteristic was built for the beam current. The local electron density as well as the electron temperature, the floating potential and the plasma potential were measured and calculated by means of this characteristic. Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.3675874 SN - 1089-7674 (E-Journal); 1070-664X (Print) VL - 19 IS - 1 SP - 1 EP - 7 PB - AIP Publishing CY - Melville, NY ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Reisgen, Uwe A1 - Olschok, Simon A1 - Jakobs, Stefan A1 - Schleser, Markus A1 - Mokrov, Oleg A1 - Rossiter, Eduardo T1 - Laser beam submerged arc hybrid welding JF - Physics procedia N2 - The laser beam-submerged arc hybrid welding method originates from the knowledge that, with increasing penetration depth, the laser beam process has a tendency to pore formation in the lower weld regions. The coupling with the energy-efficient submerged-arc process improves degassing and reduces the tendency to pore formation. The high deposition rate of the SA process in combination with the laser beam process offers, providing the appropriate choice of weld preparation, the possibility of welding plates with a thickness larger than 20° mm in a single pass, and also of welding thicker plates with the double-sided single pass technique. Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.phpro.2012.10.016 SN - 1875-3892 N1 - Part of special issue "Laser assisted net shape engineering 7 (LANE 2012)" VL - 39 SP - 75 EP - 83 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Poghossian, Arshak A1 - Weil, M. H. A1 - Bäcker, Matthias A1 - Mayer, D. A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef T1 - Field-effect Devices Functionalised with Gold-Nanoparticle/Macromolecule Hybrids: New Opportunities for a Label-Free Biosensing JF - Procedia Engineering N2 - Field-effect capacitive electrolyte-insulator-semiconductor (EIS) sensors functionalised with citrate-capped gold nanoparticles (AuNP) have been used for the electrostatic detection of macromolecules by their intrinsic molecular charge. The EIS sensor detects the charge changes in the AuNP/macromolecule hybrids induced by the adsorption or binding events. A feasibility of the proposed detection scheme has been exemplary demonstrated by realising EIS sensors for the detection of poly-D-lysine molecules. Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2012.09.136 SN - 1877-7058 N1 - Part of special issue "26th European Conference on Solid-State Transducers, EUROSENSOR 2012" IS - 47 SP - 273 EP - 276 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Pieper, Martin A1 - Klein, Peter T1 - Application of simple, periodic homogenization techniques to non-linear heat conduction problems in non-periodic, porous media JF - Heat mass transfer N2 - Often, detailed simulations of heat conduction in complicated, porous media have large runtimes. Then homogenization is a powerful tool to speed up the calculations by preserving accurate solutions at the same time. Unfortunately real structures are generally non-periodic, which requires unpractical, complicated homogenization techniques. We demonstrate in this paper, that the application of simple, periodic techniques to realistic media, that are just close to periodic, gives accurate, approximative solutions. In order to obtain effective parameters for the homogenized heat equation, we have to solve a so called “cell problem”. In contrast to periodic structures it is not trivial to determine a suitable unit cell, which represents a non-periodic media. To overcome this problem, we give a rule of thumb on how to choose a good cell. Finally we demonstrate the efficiency of our method for virtually generated foams as well as real foams and compare these results to periodic structures. Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00231-011-0879-4 SN - 0947-7411 VL - 48 IS - 2 SP - 291 EP - 300 PB - Springer CY - Berlin ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Paulßen, Elisabeth A1 - Ngyugen, Hung Huy A1 - Kahlcke, Nils A1 - Deflon, Victor M. A1 - Abram, Ulrich T1 - Tricarbonyltechnetium(I) and -rhenium(I) complexes with N′-thiocarbamoylpicolylbenzamidines JF - Polyhedron N2 - N,N-Dialkylamino(thiocarbonyl)-N′-picolylbenzamidines react with (NEt4)2[M(CO)3X3] (M = Re, X = Br; M = Tc, X = Cl) under formation of neutral [M(CO)3L] complexes in high yields. The monoanionic NNS ligands bind in a facial coordination mode and can readily be modified at the (CS)NR1R2 moiety. The complexes [99Tc(CO)3(LPyMor)] and [Re(CO)3(L)] (L = LPyMor, LPyEt) were characterized by X-ray diffraction. Reactions of [99mTc(CO)3(H2O)3]+ with the N′-thiocarbamoylpicolylbenzamidines give the corresponding 99mTc complexes. The ester group in HLPyCOOEt allows linkage between biomolecules and the metal core. Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.poly.2012.04.008 SN - 0277-5387 VL - 40 IS - 1 SP - 153 EP - 158 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Paulßen, Elisabeth A1 - Kong, Shushu A1 - Arciszewski, Pawel A1 - Wielbalck, Swantje A1 - Abram, Ulrich T1 - Aryl and NHC Compounds of Technetium and Rhenium JF - Journal of the American Chemical Society N2 - Air- and water-stable phenyl complexes with nitridotechnetium(V) cores can be prepared by straightforward procedures. [TcNPh2(PPh3)2] is formed by the reaction of [TcNCl2(PPh3)2] with PhLi. The analogous N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) compound [TcNPh2(HLPh)2], where HLPh is 1,3,4-triphenyl-1,2,4-triazol-5-ylidene, is available from (NBu4)[TcNCl4] and HLPh or its methoxo-protected form. The latter compound allows the comparison of different Tc–C bonds within one compound. Surprisingly, the Tc chemistry with such NHCs does not resemble that of corresponding Re complexes, where CH activation and orthometalation dominate. Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ja3033718 SN - 1520-5126 VL - 134 IS - 22 SP - 9118 EP - 9121 PB - ACS Publications CY - Washington, DC ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Orzada, S. A1 - Maderwald, S. A1 - Poser, B. A. A1 - Johst, S. A1 - Kannengiesser, S. A1 - Ladd, M. E. A1 - Bitz, Andreas T1 - Time-interleaved acquisition of modes: an analysis of SAR and image contrast implications JF - Magnetic Resonance in Medicine N2 - s the magnetic field strength and therefore the operational frequency in MRI are increased, the radiofrequency wavelength approaches the size of the human head/body, resulting in wave effects which cause signal decreases and dropouts. Especially, whole-body imaging at 7 T and higher is therefore challenging. Recently, an acquisition scheme called time-interleaved acquisition of modes has been proposed to tackle the inhomogeneity problems in high-field MRI. The basic premise is to excite two (or more) different Burn:x-wiley:07403194:media:MRM23081:tex2gif-stack-1 modes using static radiofrequency shimming in an interleaved acquisition, where the complementary radiofrequency patterns of the two modes can be exploited to improve overall signal homogeneity. In this work, the impact of time-interleaved acquisition of mode on image contrast as well as on time-averaged specific absorption rate is addressed in detail. Time-interleaved acquisition of mode is superior in Burn:x-wiley:07403194:media:MRM23081:tex2gif-stack-2 homogeneity compared with conventional radiofrequency shimming while being highly specific absorption rate efficient. Time-interleaved acquisition of modes can enable almost homogeneous high-field imaging throughout the entire field of view in PD, T2, and T2*-weighted imaging and, if a specified homogeneity criterion is met, in T1-weighted imaging as well. Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/mrm.23081 SN - 1522-2594 VL - 67 IS - 4 SP - 1033 EP - 1041 PB - Wiley-Liss CY - New York ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Olaru, Alexandra Maria A1 - Kowalski, Julia A1 - Sethi, Vaishali A1 - Blümich, Bernhard T1 - Exchange relaxometry of flow at small Péclet numbers in a glass bead pack JF - Journal of Magnetic Resonance (JMR) N2 - In this paper we consider low Péclet number flow in bead packs. A series of relaxation exchange experiments has been conducted and evaluated by ILT analysis. In the resulting correlation maps, we observed a collapse of the signal and a translation towards smaller relaxation times with increasing flow rates, as well as a signal tilt with respect to the diagonal. In the discussion of the phenomena we present a mathematical theory for relaxation exchange experiments that considers both diffusive and advective transport. We perform simulations based on this theory and discuss them with respect to the conducted experiments. KW - NMR exchange relaxometry KW - Low-field NMR Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jmr.2012.04.015 SN - 1096-0856 VL - 220 SP - 32 EP - 44 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Oertel, Mario A1 - Bung, Daniel B. T1 - Initial stage of two-dimensional dam-break waves: laboratory versus VOF JF - Journal of hydraulic research N2 - Since several decades, dam-break waves have been of main research interest. Mathematical approaches have been developed by analytical, physical and numerical models within the past 120 years. During the past 10 years, the number of research investigations has increased due to improved measurement techniques as well as significantly increased computer memories and performances. In this context, the present research deals with the initial stage of two-dimensional dam-break waves by comparing physical and numerical model results as well as analytical approaches. High-speed images and resulting particle image velocimetry calculations are thereby compared with the numerical volume-of-fluid (VOF) method, included in the commercial code FLOW-3D. Wave profiles and drag forces on placed obstacles are analysed in detail. Generally, a good agreement between the laboratory and VOF results is found. KW - VOF KW - PIV KW - physical model KW - numerical model KW - drag force KW - dam-break Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00221686.2011.639981 SN - 1814-2079 (E-Journal); 0022-1686 (Print) VL - 50 IS - 1 SP - 89 EP - 97 PB - Taylor & Francis CY - London ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Novacek, V. A1 - Tran, Thanh Ngoc A1 - Klinge, U. A1 - Tolba, R. H. A1 - Staat, Manfred A1 - Bronson, D. G. A1 - Miesse, A. M. A1 - Whiffen, J. A1 - Turquier, F. T1 - Finite element modelling of stapled colorectal end-to-end anastomosis : Advantages of variable height stapler design JF - Journal of Biomechanics N2 - The impact of surgical staplers on tissues has been studied mostly in an empirical manner. In this paper, finite element method was used to clarify the mechanics of tissue stapling and associated phenomena. Various stapling modalities and several designs of circular staplers were investigated to evaluate the impact of the device on tissues and mechanical performance of the end-to-end colorectal anastomosis. Numerical simulations demonstrated that a single row of staples is not adequate to resist leakage due to non-linear buckling and opening of the tissue layers between two adjacent staples. Compared to the single staple row configuration, significant increase in stress experienced by the tissue at the inner staple rows was observed in two and three rows designs. On the other hand, adding second and/or third staple row had no effect on strain in the tissue inside the staples. Variable height design with higher staples in outer rows significantly reduced the stresses and strains in outer rows when compared to the same configuration with flat cartridge. KW - Variable height stapler design KW - Anastomotic leakage KW - Finite element modelling KW - End-to-end colorectal anastomosis KW - Surgical staplers Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2012.07.021 SN - 1873-2380 VL - 45 IS - 115 SP - 2693 EP - 2697 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Nomdedeu, Mar Monsonis A1 - Willen, Christine A1 - Schieffer, Andre A1 - Arndt, Hartmut T1 - Temperature-dependent ranges of coexistence in a model of a two-prey-one-predator microbial food web JF - Marine Biology N2 - The objective of our study was to analyze the effects of temperature on the population dynamics of a three-species food web consisting of two prey bacteria (Pedobacter sp. and Acinetobacter johnsonii) and a protozoan predator (Tetrahymena pyriformis) as model organisms. We assessed the effects of temperature on the growth rates of all three species with the objective of developing a model with four differential equations based on the experimental data. The following hypotheses were tested at a theoretical level: Firstly, temperature changes can affect the dynamic behavior of a system by temperature-dependent parameters and interactions and secondly, food web response to temperature cannot be derived from the single species temperature response. The main outcome of the study is that temperature changes affect the parameter range where coexistence is possible within all three species. This has significant consequences on our ideas regarding the evaluation of effects of global warming. Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00227-012-1966-x SN - 1432-1793 VL - 159 IS - 11 SP - 2423 EP - 2430 PB - Springer CY - Berlin ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Nguyen, Nhu Huynh A1 - Duong, Minh Tuan A1 - Tran, Thanh Ngoc A1 - Pham, Phu Tinh A1 - Grottke, O. A1 - Tolba, R. A1 - Staat, Manfred T1 - Influence of a freeze–thaw cycle on the stress–stretch curves of tissues of porcine abdominal organs JF - Journal of Biomechanics N2 - The paper investigates both fresh porcine spleen and liver and the possible decomposition of these organs under a freeze–thaw cycle. The effect of tissue preservation condition is an important factor which should be taken into account for protracted biomechanical tests. In this work, tension tests were conducted for a large number of tissue specimens from twenty pigs divided into two groups of 10. Concretely, the first group was tested in fresh state; the other one was tested after a freeze-thaw cycle which simulates the conservation conditions before biomechanical experiments. A modified Fung model for isotropic behavior was adopted for the curve fitting of each kind of tissues. Experimental results show strong effects of the realistic freeze–thaw cycle on the capsule of elastin-rich spleen but negligible effects on the liver which virtually contains no elastin. This different behavior could be explained by the autolysis of elastin by elastolytic enzymes during the warmer period after thawing. Realistic biomechanical properties of elastin-rich organs can only be expected if really fresh tissue is tested. The observations are supported by tests of intestines. KW - Autolysis KW - Decomposition KW - Freeze–thaw process KW - Spleen KW - Liver Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2012.07.008 SN - 1873-2380 VL - 45 IS - 14 SP - 2382 EP - 2386 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Murib, Mohammed S. A1 - Tran, Anh Quang A1 - Ceuninck, Ward de A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef A1 - Nesladek, Milos A1 - Serpengüzel, Ali A1 - Wagner, Patrick T1 - Analysis of an optical biosensor based on elastic light scattering from diamond-, glass-, and sapphire microspheres JF - Physica Status Solidi A N2 - Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and protein recognition are now standard tools in biology. In addition, the special optical properties of microsphere resonators expressed by the high quality factor (Q-factor) of whispering gallery modes (WGMs) or morphology dependent resonances (MDRs) have attracted the attention of the biophotonic community. Microsphere-based biosensors are considered as powerful candidates to achieve label-free recognition of single molecules due to the high sensitivity of their WGMs. When the microsphere surface is modified with biomolecules, the effective refractive index and the effective size of the microsphere change resulting in a resonant wavelength shift. The transverse electric (TE) and the transverse magnetic (TM) elastic light scattering intensity of electromagnetic waves at 600 and 1400 nm are numerically calculated for DNA and unspecific binding of proteins to the microsphere surface. The effect of changing the optical properties was studied for diamond (refractive index 2.34), glass (refractive index 1.50), and sapphire (refractive index 1.75) microspheres with a 50 µm radius. The mode spacing, the linewidth of WGMs, and the shift of resonant wavelength due to the change in radius and refractive index, were analyzed by numerical simulations. Preliminary results of unspecific binding of biomolecules are presented. The calculated shift in WGMs can be used for biomolecules detection. Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pssa.201100795 SN - 1862-6319 N1 - Special Issue: "Fundamentals and Applications of Diamond" VL - 209 IS - 9 SP - 1804 EP - 1810 PB - Wiley-VCH CY - Weinheim ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Mottaghy, Darius A1 - Dijkshoorn, Lydia T1 - Implementing an effective finite difference formulation for borehole heat exchangers into a heat and mass transport code JF - Renewable Energy N2 - We present an effective finite difference formulation for implementing and modeling multiple borehole heat exchangers (BHE) in the general 3-D coupled heat and flow transport code SHEMAT. The BHE with arbitrary length can be either coaxial or double U-shaped. It is particularly suitable for modeling deep BHEs which contain varying pipe diameters and materials. Usually, in numerical simulations, a fine discretization of the BHE assemblage is required, due to the large geometric aspect ratios involved. This yields large models and long simulation times. The approach avoids this problem by considering heat transport between fluid and the soil through pipes and grout via thermal resistances. Therefore, the simulation time can be significantly reduced. The coupling with SHEMAT is realized by introducing an effective heat generation. Due to this connection, it is possible to consider heterogeneous geological models, as well as the influence of groundwater flow. This is particularly interesting when studying the long term behavior of a single BHE or a BHE field. Heating and cooling loads can enter the model with an arbitrary interval, e.g. from hourly to monthly values. When dealing with large BHE fields, computing times can be further significantly reduced by focusing on the temperature field around the BHEs, without explicitly modeling inlet and outlet temperatures. This allows to determine the possible migration of cold and warm plumes due to groundwater flow, which is of particular importance in urban areas with a high BHE installation density. The model is validated against the existing BHE modeling codes EWS and EED. A comparison with monitoring data from a deep BHE in Switzerland shows a good agreement. Synthetic examples demonstrate the field of application of this model. KW - Borehole heat exchanger KW - Finite differences KW - Heat transport Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2012.02.013 SN - 0960-1481 VL - 45 SP - 59 EP - 71 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Miyamoto, Ko-ichiro A1 - Kaneko, Kazumi A1 - Matsuo, Akira A1 - Wagner, Torsten A1 - Kanoh, Shiníchiro A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef A1 - Yoshinobu, Tatsuo T1 - Miniaturized chemical imaging sensor system using an OLED display panel JF - Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical N2 - The chemical imaging sensor is a semiconductor-based chemical sensor that can visualize the two-dimensional distribution of specific ions or molecules in the solution. In this study, we developed a miniaturized chemical imaging sensor system with an OLED display panel as a light source that scans the sensor plate. In the proposed configuration, the display panel is placed directly below the sensor plate and illuminates the back surface. The measured area defined by illumination can be arbitrarily customized to fit the size and the shape of the sample to be measured. The waveform of the generated photocurrent, the current–voltage characteristics and the pH sensitivity were investigated and pH imaging with this miniaturized system was demonstrated. KW - LAPS KW - Light-addressable potentiometric sensor KW - Chemical imaging sensor KW - Organic light-emitting diode display Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2011.02.029 SN - 0925-4005 N1 - Part of special issue "Eurosensors XXIV, 2010" VL - 170 SP - 82 EP - 87 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Miyamoto, K. A1 - Ichimura, H. A1 - Wagner, Torsten A1 - Yoshinobu, T. A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef T1 - Chemical Imaging of ion Diffusion in a Microfluidic Channel JF - Procedia Engineering N2 - The chemical imaging sensor is a chemical sensor which is capable of visualizing the spatial distribution of chemical species in sample solution. In this study, a novel measurement system based on the chemical imaging sensor was developed to observe the inside of a Y-shaped microfluidic channel while injecting two sample solutions from two branches. From the collected chemical images, it was clearly observed that the injected solutions formed laminar flows in the microfluidic channel. In addition, ion diffusion across the laminar flows was observed. This label-free method can acquire quantitative data of ion distribution and diffusion in microfluidic devices, which can be used to determine the diffusion coefficients, and therefore, the molecular weights of chemical species in the sample solution. Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2012.09.289 SN - 1877-7058 N1 - Part of special issue "26th European Conference on Solid-State Transducers, EUROSENSOR 2012" IS - 47 SP - 886 EP - 889 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Mansurov, Z. A1 - Digel, Ilya A1 - Biisenbaev, M. A1 - Savistkaya, I. A1 - Kistaubaeva, A. A1 - Akimbekov, N. A1 - Zhubanova, A. T1 - Bio-composite material on the basis of carbonized rice husk in biomedicine and environmental applications JF - Eurasian Chemico-Technological Journal Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.18321/ectj105 SN - 2522-4867 VL - 14 IS - 2 SP - 115 EP - 131 PB - Institute of Combustion Problems CY - Almaty ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Lustfeld, H. A1 - Pithan, C. A1 - Reißel, Martin T1 - Metallic electrolyte composites in the framework of the brick-layer model JF - Journal of the European Ceramic Society N2 - It is well known that the already large dielectric constants of some electrolytes like BaTiO₃ can be enhanced further by adding metallic (e.g. Ni, Cu or Ag) nanoparticles. The enhancement can be quite large, a factor of more than 1000 is possible. The consequences for the properties will be discussed in the present paper applying a brick-layer model (BLM) for calculating dc-resistivities of thin layers and a modified one (PBLM) that includes percolation for calculating dielectric properties of these materials. The PBLM results in an at least qualitative description and understanding of the physical phenomena: This model gives an explanation for the steep increase of the dielectric constant below the percolation threshold and why this increase is connected to a dramatic decrease of the breakdown voltage as well as the ability of storing electrical energy. We conclude that metallic electrolyte composites like BaTiO₃ are not appropriate for energy storage. Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2011.10.017 SN - 0955-2219 VL - 32 IS - 4 SP - 859 EP - 864 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Loeb, Horst Wolfgang A1 - Schartner, Karl-Heinz A1 - Dachwald, Bernd A1 - Ohndorf, Andreas A1 - Seboldt, Wolfgang T1 - Interstellar heliopause probe JF - Труды МАИ N2 - There is common agreement within the scientific community that in order to understand our local galactic environment it will be necessary to send a spacecraft into the region beyond the solar wind termination shock. Considering distances of 200 AU for a new mission, one needs a spacecraft traveling at a speed of close to 10 AU/yr in order to keep the mission duration in the range of less than 25 yrs, a transfer time postulated by European Space Agency (ESA). Two propulsion options for the mission have been proposed and discussed so far: the solar sail propulsion and the ballistic/radioisotope-electric propulsion (REP). As a further alternative, we here investigate a combination of solar-electric propulsion (SEP) and REP. The SEP stage consists of six 22-cms diameter RIT-22 ion thrusters working with a high specific impulse of 7377 s corresponding to a positive grid voltage of 5 kV. Solar power of 53 kW at begin of mission (BOM) is provided by a lightweight solar array. Y1 - 2012 IS - 60 SP - 2 EP - 2 PB - Moskauer Staatliches Luftfahrtinstitut (МАИ) CY - Moskau ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Leurs, Ulrike A1 - Mezo, Gabor A1 - Öhlschläger, Peter A1 - Orban, Erika A1 - Marquard, Andrea A1 - Manea, Marilena T1 - Design, synthesis, in vitro stability and cytostatic effect of multifunctional anticancer drug-bioconjugates containing GnRH-III as a targeting moiety JF - Peptide Science N2 - Bioconjugates containing the GnRH-III hormone decapeptide as a targeting moiety are able to deliver chemotherapeutic agents specifically to cancer cells expressing GnRH receptors, thereby increasing their local efficacy while limiting the peripheral toxicity. However, the number of GnRH receptors on cancer cells is limited and they desensitize under continuous hormone treatment. A possible approach to increase the receptor mediated tumor targeting and consequently the cytostatic effect of the bioconjugates would be the attachment of more than one chemotherapeutic agent to one GnRH-III molecule. Here we report on the design, synthesis and biochemical characterization of multifunctional bioconjugates containing GnRH-III as a targeting moiety and daunorubicin as a chemotherapeutic agent. Two different drug design approaches were pursued. The first one was based on the bifunctional [4Lys]-GnRH-III (Glp-His-Trp-Lys-His-Asp-Trp-Lys-Pro-Gly-NH2) containing two lysine residues in positions 4 and 8, whose ϵ-amino groups were used for the coupling of daunorubicin. In the second drug design, the native GnRH-III (Glp-His-Trp-Ser-His-Asp-Trp-Lys-Pro-Gly-NH2) was used as a scaffold; an additional lysine residue was coupled to the ϵ-amino group of 8Lys in order to generate two free amino groups available for conjugation of daunorubicin. The in vitro stability/degradation of all synthesized compounds was investigated in human serum, as well as in the presence of rat liver lysosomal homogenate. Their cellular uptake was determined on human breast cancer cells and the cytostatic effect was evaluated on human breast, colon and prostate cancer cell lines. Compared with a monofunctional compound, both drug design approaches resulted in multifunctional bioconjugates with increased cytostatic effect. Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/bip.21640 SN - 1097-0282 VL - 98 IS - 1 SP - 1 EP - 10 PB - Wiley CY - New York, NY ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Lempiäinen, Harri A1 - Couttet, Philippe A1 - Bolognani, Federico A1 - Müller, Arne A1 - Dubost, Valérie A1 - Luisier, Raphaëlle A1 - Rio-Espinola, Alberto del A1 - Vitry, Veronique A1 - Unterberger, Elif B. A1 - Thomson, John P. A1 - Treindl, Fridolin A1 - Metzger, Ute A1 - Wrzodek, Clemens A1 - Hahne, Florian A1 - Zollinger, Tulipan A1 - Brasa, Sarah A1 - Kalteis, Magdalena A1 - Marcellin, Magali A1 - Giudicelli, Fanny A1 - Braeuning, Albert A1 - Morawiec, Laurent A1 - Zamurovic, Natasa A1 - Längle, Ulrich A1 - Scheer, Nico A1 - Schübeler, Dirk A1 - Goodman, Jay A1 - Chibout, Salah-Dine A1 - Marlowe, Jennifer A1 - Theil, Dietlinde A1 - Heard, David J. A1 - Grenet, Olivier A1 - Zell, Andreas A1 - Templin, Markus F. A1 - Meehan, Richard R. A1 - Wolf, Roland C. A1 - Elcombe, Clifford R. A1 - Schwarz, Michael A1 - Moulin, Pierre A1 - Terranova, Rémi A1 - Moggs, Jonathan G. T1 - Identification of Dlk1-Dio3 imprinted gene cluster non-coding RNAs as novel candidate biomarkers for liver tumor promotion JF - Toxicological Sciences N2 - The molecular events during nongenotoxic carcinogenesis and their temporal order are poorly understood but thought to include long-lasting perturbations of gene expression. Here, we have investigated the temporal sequence of molecular and pathological perturbations at early stages of phenobarbital (PB) mediated liver tumor promotion in vivo. Molecular profiling (mRNA, microRNA [miRNA], DNA methylation, and proteins) of mouse liver during 13 weeks of PB treatment revealed progressive increases in hepatic expression of long noncoding RNAs and miRNAs originating from the Dlk1-Dio3 imprinted gene cluster, a locus that has recently been associated with stem cell pluripotency in mice and various neoplasms in humans. PB induction of the Dlk1-Dio3 cluster noncoding RNA (ncRNA) Meg3 was localized to glutamine synthetase-positive hypertrophic perivenous hepatocytes, sug- gesting a role for β-catenin signaling in the dysregulation of Dlk1-Dio3 ncRNAs. The carcinogenic relevance of Dlk1-Dio3 locus ncRNA induction was further supported by in vivo genetic dependence on constitutive androstane receptor and β-catenin pathways. Our data identify Dlk1-Dio3 ncRNAs as novel candidate early biomarkers for mouse liver tumor promotion and provide new opportunities for assessing the carcinogenic potential of novel compounds. Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/toxsci/kfs303 SN - 1094-2025 VL - 131 IS - 2 SP - 375 EP - 386 PB - Oxford University Press CY - Oxford ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Leidinger, Rafael A1 - Noisten, Thomas A1 - Wollert, Jörg T1 - Realtime automation networks in moVing industrial environments JF - Journal of systemics, cybernetics and informatics N2 - The radio-based wireless data communication has made the realization of new technical solutions possible in many fields of the automation technology (AT). For about ten years, a constant disproportionate growth of wireless technologies can be observed in the automation technology. However, it shows that especially for the AT, conventional technologies of office automation are unsuitable and/or not manageable. The employment of mobile services in the industrial automation technology has the potential of significant cost and time savings. This leads to an increased productivity in various fields of the AT, for example in the factory and process automation or in production logistics. In this paper technologies and solutions for an automation-suited supply of mobile wireless services will be introduced under the criteria of real time suitability, IT-security and service orientation. Emphasis will be put on the investigation and development of wireless convergence layers for different radio technologies, on the central provision of support services for an easy-to-use, central, backup enabled management of combined wired / wireless networks and on the study on integrability in a Profinet real-time Ethernet network. KW - PROFINET KW - Distributed Control Systems, KW - Industrial Automation Technology, KW - 802.15.4 KW - Bluetooth KW - Wireless Networks Y1 - 2012 SN - 1690-4532 VL - Vol. 10 IS - Iss. 2 SP - 52 EP - 56 PB - IIIC CY - Orlando ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kurulgan Demirci, Eylem A1 - Demirci, Taylan A1 - Linder, Peter A1 - Trzewik, Jürgen A1 - Gierkowski, Jessica Ricarda A1 - Gossmann, Matthias A1 - Kayser, Peter A1 - Porst, Dariusz A1 - Digel, Ilya A1 - Artmann, Gerhard A1 - Temiz Artmann, Aysegül T1 - rhAPC reduces the endothelial cell permeability via a decrease of contractile tensions induced by endothelial cells JF - Journal of Bioscience and Bioengineering N2 - All cells generate contractile tension. This strain is crucial for mechanically controlling the cell shape, function and survival. In this study, the CellDrum technology quantifying cell's (the cellular) mechanical tension on a pico-scale was used to investigate the effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on human aortic endothelial cell (HAoEC) tension. The LPS effect during gram-negative sepsis on endothelial cells is cell contraction causing endothelium permeability increase. The aim was to finding out whether recombinant activated protein C (rhAPC) would reverse the endothelial cell response in an in-vitro sepsis model. In this study, the established in-vitro sepsis model was confirmed by interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels at the proteomic and genomic levels by ELISA, real time-PCR and reactive oxygen species (ROS) activation by florescence staining. The thrombin cellular contraction effect on endothelial cells was used as a positive control when the CellDrum technology was applied. Additionally, the Ras homolog gene family, member A (RhoA) mRNA expression level was checked by real time-PCR to support contractile tension results. According to contractile tension results, the mechanical predominance of actin stress fibers was a reason of the increased endothelial contractile tension leading to enhanced endothelium contractility and thus permeability enhancement. The originality of this data supports firstly the basic measurement principles of the CellDrum technology and secondly that rhAPC has a beneficial effect on sepsis influenced cellular tension. The technology presented here is promising for future high-throughput cellular tension analysis that will help identify pathological contractile tension responses of cells and prove further cell in-vitro models. KW - Cell permeability KW - Cellular force KW - Endothelial cells KW - Recombinant activated protein C KW - Lipopolysaccharide KW - Contractile tension KW - CellDrum Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiosc.2012.03.019 SN - 1347-4421 VL - 113 IS - 2 SP - 212 EP - 219 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kotliar, Konstantin A1 - Lanzl, Ines M. A1 - Hanssen, Henner A1 - Eberhardt, Karla A1 - Vilser, Walthard A1 - Halle, Martin A1 - Heemann, Uwe A1 - Schmidt-Trucksäss, Arno A1 - Baumann, Marcus T1 - Does increased blood pressure rather than aging influence retinal pulse wave velocity? JF - Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, IOVS N2 - Purpose: It was demonstrated previously that retinal pulse wave velocity (rPWV) as a measure of retinal arterial stiffness is increased in aged anamnestically healthy volunteers compared with young healthy subjects. Using novel methodology of rPWV assessment this finding was confirmed and investigated whether it might relate to the increased blood pressure usually accompanying the aging process, rather than to the aging itself. Methods: A total of 12 young 25.5-year-old (24.0–28.8) [median(1st quartile–3rd quartile)] and 12 senior 68.5-year-old (63.8–71.8) anamnestically healthy volunteers; and 12 senior 63.0-year-old (60.8–65.0) validated healthy volunteers and 12 young 33.0-year-old (29.5–35.0) hypertensive patients were examined. Time-dependent alterations of vessel diameter were assessed by the Dynamic Vessel Analyzer in a retinal artery of each subject. The data were filtered and processed using mathematical signal analysis and rPWVs were calculated. Results: rPWV amounted to 1200 (990-1470) RU (relative units)/s in the hypertensive group and to 1040 (700-2230) RU/s in anamnestically healthy seniors. These differed significantly from rPWVs in young healthy group (410 [280–500] RU/s) and in validated healthy seniors (400 [320–510] RU/s). rPWV associated with age and mean arterial pressure (MAP) in the pooled cohort excluded validated healthy seniors. In a regression model these associations remain when alternately adjusted for MAP and age. When including validated healthy seniors in the pooled cohort only association with MAP remains. Conclusions: Both aging (with not excluded cardiovascular risk factors) and mild hypertension are associated with elevated rPWV. rPWV increases to a similar extent both in young mildly hypertensive subjects and in aged anamnestically healthy persons. Healthy aging is not associated with increased rPWV. Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1167/iovs.11-8815 SN - 0146-0404 VL - 53 IS - 4 SP - 2119 EP - 2126 PB - ARVO CY - Rockville, Md. ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kobus, Thiele A1 - Bitz, Andreas A1 - Uden, Mark J. van A1 - Lagemaat, Miram W. A1 - Rothgang, Eva A1 - Orzada, Stephan A1 - Heerschap, Arend A1 - Scheenen, Tom W. J. T1 - In vivo 31P MR spectroscopic imaging of the human prostate at 7 T: safety and feasibility JF - Magnetic Resonance in Medicine N2 - 31P MR spectroscopic imaging of the human prostate provides information about phosphorylated metabolites that could be used for prostate cancer characterization. The sensitivity of a magnetic field strength of 7 T might enable 3D 31P MR spectroscopic imaging with relevant spatial resolution in a clinically acceptable measurement time. To this end, a 31P endorectal coil was developed and combined with an eight-channel 1H body-array coil to relate metabolic information to anatomical location. An extensive safety validation was performed to evaluate the specific absorption rate, the radiofrequency field distribution, and the temperature distribution of both coils. This validation consisted of detailed Finite Integration Technique simulations, confirmed by MR thermometry and Burn:x-wiley:07403194:media:MRM24175:tex2gif-stack-1 measurements in a phantom and in vivo temperature measurements. The safety studies demonstrated that the presence of the 31P endorectal coil had no influence on the specific absorption rate levels and temperature distribution of the external eight-channel 1H array coil. To stay within a 10 g averaged local specific absorption rate of 10 W/kg, a maximum time-averaged input power of 33 W for the 1H array coil was allowed. For transmitting with the 31P endorectal coil, our safety limit of less than 1°C temperature increase in vivo during a 15-min MR spectroscopic imaging experiment was reached at a time-averaged input power of 1.9 W. With this power setting, a second in vivo measurement was performed on a healthy volunteer. Using adiabatic excitation, 3D 31P MR spectroscopic imaging produced spectra from the entire prostate in 18 min with a spatial resolution of 4 cm3. The spectral resolution enabled the separate detection of phosphocholine, phosphoethanolamine, inorganic phosphate, and other metabolites that could play an important role in the characterization of prostate cancer. Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/mrm.24175 SN - 1522-2594 VL - 68 IS - 6 SP - 1683 EP - 1695 PB - Wiley-Liss CY - New York ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kirstein, Simon A1 - Müller, Karsten A1 - Walecki-Mingers, Mark A1 - Deserno, Thomas M. T1 - Robust adaptive flow line detection in sewer pipes JF - Automation in construction N2 - As part of a novel approach to automatic sewer inspection, this paper presents a robust algorithm for automatic flow line detection. A large image repository is obtained from about 50,000 m sewers to represent the high variability of real world sewer systems. Automatic image processing combines Canny edge detection, Hough transform for straight lines and cost minimization using Dijkstra's shortest path algorithm. Assuming that flow lines are mostly smoothly connected horizontal structures, piecewise flow line delineation is reduced to a process of selecting adjacent line candidates. Costs are derived from the gap between adjacent candidates and their reliability. A single parameter α enables simple control of the algorithm. The detected flow line may precisely follow the segmented edges (α = 0.0) or minimize gaps at joints (α = 1.0). Both, manual and ground truth-based analysis indicate that α = 0.8 is optimal and independent of the sewer's material. The algorithm forms an essential step to further automation of sewer inspection. Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2011.05.009 SN - 1872-7891 (E-Journal) ; 0926-5805 (Print) IS - 21 SP - 24 EP - 31 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER -