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Purpose — to compare the chemical elemental composition of vitreous cavity content taken from cadaveric eyes compared to samples taken from the eyes with terminal stage refractory glaucoma with decompensated intraocular pressure (IOP). Material and methods. The vitreous contents of the eyes from 2 groups were studied. The 1st group included 15 cadaveric eyes; the 2nd group included 15 eyes with refractory glaucoma in the terminal stage of the disease with decompensated IOP in patients with hypertension pain. The vitreal content samples were taken in the course of antiglaucoma surgery aimed at preserving the eye as an organ and involving employment of drainage in the vitreous cavity. The study of virtual contents was carried out on energy dispersive spectrometer Oxford X-Max 50 integrated into scanning electron microscope Zeiss EVO LS10. Results. Increased concentrations of Kalium and Phosphorus were detected in the vitreous content of cadaveric eyes compared with the vitreal content from the eyes with terminal glaucoma with decompensated IOP taken in vivo (K — 0.172/0.093; P — 0.045/0.025 mmol/L). In the vitreous cavity in the eyes with end-stage glaucoma with decompensated IOP, the concentration of Nitrogen was higher in comparison with human cadaver eyes (2.030/1.424 mmol/L). Conclusion. The increased concentrations of Kalium and Phosphorus in the vitreous content of cadaveric eyes is associated with postmortem autolytic processes and with the release of intracellular content in the destruction of cell membranes. The increased Nitrogen concentration in the vitreal contents of the eyes with terminal stage glaucoma with decompensated IOP may be associated with the presence of osmotically active nitrogen-containing compounds in the eyes with increased IOP.
Many efforts are made worldwide to establish magnetic fluid hyperthermia (MFH) as a treatment for organ-confined tumors. However, translation to clinical application hardly succeeds as it still lacks of understanding the mechanisms determining MFH cytotoxic effects. Here, we investigate the intracellular MFH efficacy with respect to different parameters and assess the intracellular cytotoxic effects in detail. For this, MiaPaCa-2 human pancreatic tumor cells and L929 murine fibroblasts were loaded with iron-oxide magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) and exposed to MFH for either 30 min or 90 min. The resulting cytotoxic effects were assessed via clonogenic assay. Our results demonstrate that cell damage depends not only on the obvious parameters bulk temperature and duration of treatment, but most importantly on cell type and thermal energy deposited per cell during MFH treatment. Tumor cell death of 95% was achieved by depositing an intracellular total thermal energy with about 50% margin to damage of healthy cells. This is attributed to combined intracellular nanoheating and extracellular bulk heating. Tumor cell damage of up to 86% was observed for MFH treatment without perceptible bulk temperature rise. Effective heating decreased by up to 65% after MNP were internalized inside cells.
Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are used as therapeutic and diagnostic agents for local delivery of heat and image contrast enhancement in diseased tissue. Besides magnetization, the most important parameter that determines their performance for these applications is their magnetic relaxation, which can be affected when MNPs immobilize and agglomerate inside tissues. In this letter, we investigate different MNP agglomeration states for their magnetic relaxation properties under excitation in alternating fields and relate this to their heating efficiency and imaging properties. With focus on magnetic fluid hyperthermia, two different trends in MNP heating efficiency are measured: an increase by up to 23% for agglomerated MNP in suspension and a decrease by up to 28% for mixed states of agglomerated and immobilized MNP, which indicates that immobilization is the dominant effect. The same comparatively moderate effects are obtained for the signal amplitude in magnetic particle spectroscopy.
A future bio-economy should not only be based on renewable raw materials but also in the raise of carbon yields of existing production routes. Microbial electrochemical technologies are gaining increased attention for this purpose. In this study, the electro-fermentative production of biobutanol with C. acetobutylicum without the use of exogenous mediators is investigated regarding the medium composition and the reactor design. It is shown that the use of an optimized synthetic culture medium allows higher product concentrations, increased biofilm formation, and higher conductivities compared to a synthetic medium supplemented with yeast extract. Moreover, the optimization of the reactor system results in a doubling of the maximum product concentrations for fermentation products. When a working electrode is polarized at −600 mV vs. Ag/AgCl, a shift from butyrate to acetone and butanol production is induced. This leads to an increased final solvent yield of Yᴀᴃᴇ = 0.202 gg⁻¹ (control 0.103 gg⁻¹), which is also reflected in a higher carbon efficiency of 37.6% compared to 23.3% (control) as well as a fourfold decrease in simplified E-factor to 0.43. The results are promising for further development of biobutanol production in bioelectrochemical systems in order to fulfil the principles of Green Chemistry.
Das strikt anaerobe Bakterium Clostridium acetobutylicum bildet die Lösemittel Aceton, Butanol und Ethanol (ABE-Fermentation). Im Fall einer Eisenlimitierung kommt es zusätzlich zu einer Riboflavinsekretion (RF), was durch die gelbe Färbung des Kulturüberstands erkennbar ist. In dieser Arbeit wurde beobachtet, dass während Elektrofermentationen mit C. acetobutylicum bei –600 mV eine gelbe Färbung auftritt. Es wurde deshalb untersucht, ob eine Eisenlimitierung im bio-elektrochemischen System (BES) vorliegt. Hierzu wurden die Flavinspezien bei Kultivierungen in Medien mit einer Eisenlimitierung bzw. mit ausreichend Eisen in Serumflaschen sowie im BES mit und ohne angelegtem Potenzial verglichen. In den Serumflaschenversuchen wurden RF und Flavinadenindinukleotid (FAD)-Konzentrationen von ‡ 20 mg L⁻¹ sowie Flavinmononukleotid (FMN)-Konzentrationen von ca. 5 mg L⁻¹ detektiert. Bei ausreichender Eisenverfügbarkeit hingegen wurden in den Serumflaschen fast keine Flavine sekretiert. Im BES bei –600 mV hingegen wurde auch in diesen Kulturüberständen FMN und FAD (1–5 mg L⁻¹ ),jedoch kein RF gemessen. Diese Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Flavinbildung im BES mit angelegtem Potenzial nicht mit der Flavinbildung unter Eisenlimitierung in Serumflaschen korreliert. Andere Faktoren für eine mögliche Flavinbildung werden aktuell näher betrachtet.
In this paper, a coupled multiphase model considering both non-linearities of water retention curves and solid state modeling is proposed. The solid displacements and the pressures of both water and air phases are unknowns of the proposed model. The finite element method is used to solve the governing differential equations. The proposed method is demonstrated through simulation of seepage test and partially consolidation problem. Then, implementation of the model is done by using hypoplasticity for the solid phase and analyzing the fully saturated triaxial experiments. In integration of the constitutive law error controlling is improved and comparisons done accordingly. In this work, the advantages and limitations of the numerical model are discussed.
Synthetic mimics of natural high-performance structural materials have shown great and partly unforeseen opportunities for the design of multifunctional materials. For nacre-mimetic nanocomposites, it has remained extraordinarily challenging to make ductile materials with high stretchability at high fractions of reinforcements, which is however of crucial importance for flexible barrier materials. Here, highly ductile and tough nacre-mimetic nanocomposites are presented, by implementing weak, but many hydrogen bonds in a ternary nacre-mimetic system consisting of two polymers (poly(vinyl amine) and poly(vinyl alcohol)) and natural nanoclay (montmorillonite) to provide efficient energy dissipation and slippage at high nanoclay content (50 wt%). Tailored interactions enable exceptional combinations of ductility (close to 50% strain) and toughness (up to 27.5 MJ m⁻³). Extensive stress whitening, a clear sign of high internal dynamics at high internal cohesion, can be observed during mechanical deformation, and the materials can be folded like paper into origami planes without fracture. Overall, the new levels of ductility and toughness are unprecedented in highly reinforced bioinspired nanocomposites and are of critical importance to future applications, e.g., as barrier materials needed for encapsulation and as a printing substrate for flexible organic electronics.
The development prospects of the world markets for petroleum and other liquid fuels are diverse and partly contradictory. However, comprehensive changes for the energy supply of the future are essential. Notwithstanding the fact that there are still very large deposits of energy resources from a geological point of view, the finite nature of conventional oil reserves is indisputable. To reduce our dependence on oil, the EU, the USA, and other major economic zones rely on energy diversification. For this purpose, alternative materials and technologies are being sought, and is most obvious in the transport sector. The objective is to progressively replace fossil fuels with renewable and more sustainable fuels. In this respect, biofuels have a pre-eminent position in terms of their capability of blending with fossil fuels and being usable in existing cars without substantial modification. Ethanol can be considered as the primary renewable liquid fuel. In this chapter enzymes, micro-organisms, and processes for ethanol production based on renewable resources are described.
Reconstructive surgery and tissue replacements like ureters or bladders reconstruction have been recently studied, taking into account growth and remodelling of cells since living cells are capable of growing, adapting, remodelling or degrading and restoring in order to deform and respond to stimuli. Hence, shapes of ureters or bladders and their microstructure change during growth and these changes strongly depend on external stimuli such as training. We present the mechanical stimulation of smooth muscle cells in a tubular fibrin-PVDFA scaffold and the modelling of the growth of tissue by stimuli. To this end, mechanotransduction was performed with a kyphoplasty balloon catheter that was guided through the lumen of the tubular structure. The bursting pressure was examined to compare the stability of the incubated tissue constructs. The results showed the significant changes on tissues with training by increasing the burst pressure as a characteristic mechanical property and the smooth muscle cells were more oriented with uniformly higher density. Besides, the computational growth models also exhibited the accurate tendencies of growth of the cells under different external stimuli. Such models may lead to design standards for the better layered tissue structure in reconstructing of tubular organs characterized as composite materials such as intestines, ureters and arteries.
Untersuchungen zur Tragfähigkeit und Steifigkeit eines neuartigen Wandelements in Holzbauweisen
(2018)
Intensive poultry operation systems emit a considerable volume of inorganic and organic matter in the surrounding environment. Monitoring cleaning properties of exhaust air cleaning systems and to detect small but significant changes in emission characteristics during a fattening cycle is important for both emission and fattening process control. In the present study, we evaluated the potential of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) combined with chemometric techniques as a monitoring tool of exhaust air from poultry operation systems. To generate a high-quality data set for evaluation, the exhaust air of two poultry houses was sampled by applying state-of-the-art filter sampling protocols. The two stables were identical except for one crucial difference, the presence or absence of an exhaust air cleaning system. In total, twenty-one exhaust air samples were collected at the two sites to monitor spectral differences caused by the cleaning device, and to follow changes in exhaust air characteristics during a fattening period. The total dust load was analyzed by gravimetric determination and included as a response variable in multivariate data analysis. The filter samples were directly measured with NIR spectroscopy. Principal component analysis (PCA), linear discriminant analysis (LDA), and factor analysis (FA) were effective in classifying the NIR exhaust air spectra according to fattening day and origin. The results indicate that the dust load and the composition of exhaust air (inorganic or organic matter) substantially influence the NIR spectral patterns. In conclusion, NIR spectroscopy as a tool is a promising and very rapid way to detect differences between exhaust air samples based on still not clearly defined circumstances triggered during a fattening period and the availability of an exhaust air cleaning system.
A nonparametric goodness-of-fit test for random variables with values in a separable Hilbert space is investigated. To verify the null hypothesis that the data come from a specific distribution, an integral type test based on a Cramér-von-Mises statistic is suggested. The convergence in distribution of the test statistic under the null hypothesis is proved and the test's consistency is concluded. Moreover, properties under local alternatives are discussed. Applications are given for data of huge but finite dimension and for functional data in infinite dimensional spaces. A general approach enables the treatment of incomplete data. In simulation studies the test competes with alternative proposals.
Suspension depletion approach for exemption of infected Solanum jasminoides cells from pospiviroids
(2018)
Despite numerous studies, viroid elimination from infected plants remains a very challenging task. This study introduces for the first time a novel ‘suspension depletion’ approach for exemption of Solanum jasminoides plants from viroids. The proposed method implies initial establishment of suspension cultures of the infected plant cells. The suspended cells were then physically treated (mild thermotherapy, 33 °C), which presumably delayed the replication of the viroid. The viroid concentration in the treated biomass was monitored weekly using pospiviroid-specific PCR. After 10–12 weeks of continuous treatment, a sufficient decrease in viroid concentration was observed such that the infection became undetectable by PCR. The treated single cells then gave rise to microcolonies on a solid culture medium and the obtained viroid-negative clones were further promoted to regenerate into viroid-free plants. Three years of accumulated experimental data suggests feasibility, broad applicability, and good efficacy of the proposed approach.
Sampling of dry surfaces for microorganisms is a main component of microbiological safety and is of critical importance in many fields including epidemiology, astrobiology as well as numerous branches of medical and food manufacturing. Aspects of biofilm formation, analysis and removal in aqueous solutions have been thoroughly discussed in literature. In contrast, microbial communities on air-exposed (dry) surfaces have received significantly less attention. Diverse surface sampling methods have been developed in order to address various surfaces and microbial groups, but they notoriously show poor repeatability, low recovery rates and suffer from lack of mutual consistency. Quantitative sampling for viable microorganisms represents a particular challenge, especially on porous and irregular surfaces. Therefore, it is essential to examine in depth the factors involved in microorganisms’ recovery efficiency and accuracy depending on the sampling technique used. Microbial colonization, retention and community composition on different dry surfaces are very complex and rely on numerous physicochemical and biological factors. This study is devoted to analyze and review the (a) physical phenomena and intermolecular forces relevant for microbiological surface sampling; (b) challenges and problems faced by existing sampling methods for viable microorganisms and (c) current directions of engineering and research aimed at improvement of quality and efficiency of microbiological surface sampling.
68Ga-radiopharmaceuticals are common in the field of Nuclear Medicine to visualize receptor-mediated processes. In contrast to straightforward labeling procedures for clinical applications, preclinical in vitro and in vivo applications are hampered for reasons like e.g. volume
restriction, activity concentration, molar activity and osmolality. Therefore, we developed a semiautomatic system specifically to overcome these problems. A difficulty appeared unexpectedly, as intrinsic trace metals derived from eluate (Zn, Fe and Cu) are concentrated as well in amounts that influence radiochemical yield and thus lower molar activity.
A light-addressable potentiometric sensor (LAPS) is a field-effect-based potentiometric device, which detects concentration changes of an analyte solution on the sensor surface in a spatially resolved way. It uses a light source to generate electron–hole pairs inside the semiconductor, which are separated in the depletion region due to an applied bias voltage across the sensor structure and hence, a surface-potential-dependent photocurrent can be read out. However, depending on the beam angle of the light source, scattering effects can occur, which influence the recorded signal in LAPS-based differential measurements. To solve this problem, a novel illumination unit based on a field programmable gate array (FPGA) consisting of 16 small-sized tunable infrared laser-diode modules (LDMs) is developed. Due to the improved focus of the LDMs with a beam angle of only 2 mrad, undesirable scattering effects are minimized. Escherichia coli (E. coli) K12 bacteria are used as a test microorganism to study the extracellular acidification on the sensor surface. Furthermore, a salt bridge chamber is built up and integrated with the LAPS system enabling multi-chamber differential measurements with a single Ag/AgCl reference electrode.
Im Rahmen der digitalen Transformation werden innovative Technologiekonzepte, wie z. B. das Internet der Dinge und Cloud Computing als Treiber für weitreichende Veränderungen von Organisationen und Geschäftsmodellen angesehen. In diesem Kontext ist Robotic Process Automation (RPA) ein neuartiger Ansatz zur Prozessautomatisierung, bei dem manuelle Tätigkeiten durch sogenannte Softwareroboter erlernt und automatisiert ausgeführt werden. Dabei emulieren Softwareroboter die Eingaben auf der bestehenden Präsentationsschicht, so dass keine Änderungen an vorhandenen Anwendungssystemen notwendig sind. Die innovative Idee ist die Transformation der bestehenden Prozessausführung von manuell zu digital, was RPA von traditionellen Ansätzen des Business Process Managements (BPM) unterscheidet, bei denen z. B. prozessgetriebene
Anpassungen auf Ebene der Geschäftslogik notwendig sind. Am Markt werden bereits unterschiedliche RPA-Lösungen als Softwareprodukte angeboten. Gerade bei operativen Prozessen mit sich wiederholenden Verarbeitungsschritten in unterschiedlichen Anwendungssystemen sind gute Ergebnisse durch RPA dokumentiert, wie z. B. die Automatisierung von 35 % der Backoffice-Prozesse bei Telefonica. Durch den vergleichsweise niedrigen Implementierungsaufwand verbunden mit einem hohen Automatisierungspotenzial ist in der Praxis (z. B. Banken, Telekommunikation, Energieversorgung) ein hohes Interesse an RPA vorhanden. Der Beitrag diskutiert RPA als innovativen Ansatz zur
Prozessdigitalisierung und gibt konkrete Handlungsempfehlungen für die Praxis. Dazu wird zwischen modellgetriebenen und selbstlernenden Ansätzen unterschieden. Anhand von generellen Architekturen von RPA-Systemen werden Anwendungsszenarien sowie deren Automatisierungspotenziale, aber auch Einschränkungen, diskutiert. Es folgt ein strukturierter Marktüberblick ausgewählter RPA-Produkte. Anhand von drei konkreten Anwendungsbeispielen wird die Nutzung von RPA in der Praxis verdeutlicht.
Because of customer churn, strong competition, and operational inefficiencies, the telecommunications operator ME Telco (fictitious name due to confidentiality) launched a strategic transformation program that included a Business Process Management (BPM) project. Major problems were silo-oriented process management and missing cross-functional transparency. Process improvements were not consistently planned and aligned with corporate targets. Measurable inefficiencies were observed on an operational level, e.g., high lead times and reassignment rates of the incident management process.
Impaired cerebral autoregulation and neurovascular coupling (NVC) contribute to delayed cerebral ischemia after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Retinal vessel analysis (RVA) allows non-invasive assessment of vessel dimension and NVC hereby demonstrating a predictive value in the context of various neurovascular diseases. Using RVA as a translational approach, we aimed to assess the retinal vessels in patients with SAH. RVA was performed prospectively in 24 patients with acute SAH (group A: day 5–14), in 11 patients 3 months after ictus (group B: day 90 ± 35), and in 35 age-matched healthy controls (group C). Data was acquired using a Retinal Vessel Analyzer (Imedos Systems UG, Jena) for examination of retinal vessel dimension and NVC using flicker-light excitation. Diameter of retinal vessels—central retinal arteriolar and venular equivalent—was significantly reduced in the acute phase (p < 0.001) with gradual improvement in group B (p < 0.05). Arterial NVC of group A was significantly impaired with diminished dilatation (p < 0.001) and reduced area under the curve (p < 0.01) when compared to group C. Group B showed persistent prolonged latency of arterial dilation (p < 0.05). Venous NVC was significantly delayed after SAH compared to group C (A p < 0.001; B p < 0.05). To our knowledge, this is the first clinical study to document retinal vasoconstriction and impairment of NVC in patients with SAH. Using non-invasive RVA as a translational approach, characteristic patterns of compromise were detected for the arterial and venous compartment of the neurovascular unit in a time-dependent fashion. Recruitment will continue to facilitate a correlation analysis with clinical course and outcome.
Purpose
In vivo, a loss of mesh porosity triggers scar tissue formation and restricts functionality. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the properties and configuration changes as mesh deformation and mesh shrinkage of a soft mesh implant compared with a conventional stiff mesh implant in vitro and in a porcine model.
Material and Methods
Tensile tests and digital image correlation were used to determine the textile porosity for both mesh types in vitro. A group of three pigs each were treated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) visible conventional stiff polyvinylidene fluoride meshes (PVDF) or with soft thermoplastic polyurethane meshes (TPU) (FEG Textiltechnik mbH, Aachen, Germany), respectively. MRI was performed with a pneumoperitoneum at a pressure of 0 and 15 mmHg, which resulted in bulging of the abdomen. The mesh-induced signal voids were semiautomatically segmented and the mesh areas were determined. With the deformations assessed in both mesh types at both pressure conditions, the porosity change of the meshes after 8 weeks of ingrowth was calculated as an indicator of preserved elastic properties. The explanted specimens were examined histologically for the maturity of the scar (collagen I/III ratio).
Results
In TPU, the in vitro porosity increased constantly, in PVDF, a loss of porosity was observed under mild stresses. In vivo, the mean mesh areas of TPU were 206.8 cm2 (± 5.7 cm2) at 0 mmHg pneumoperitoneum and 274.6 cm2 (± 5.2 cm2) at 15 mmHg; for PVDF the mean areas were 205.5 cm2 (± 8.8 cm2) and 221.5 cm2 (± 11.8 cm2), respectively. The pneumoperitoneum-induced pressure increase resulted in a calculated porosity increase of 8.4% for TPU and of 1.2% for PVDF. The mean collagen I/III ratio was 8.7 (± 0.5) for TPU and 4.7 (± 0.7) for PVDF.
Conclusion
The elastic properties of TPU mesh implants result in improved tissue integration compared to conventional PVDF meshes, and they adapt more efficiently to the abdominal wall. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 106B: 827–833, 2018.
Die Fallstudie FAYMONVILLE beschäftigt sich damit, wie es dem Familienunternehmen Faymonville aus Ostbelgien gelungen ist, sich zu einem der führenden Hersteller in seiner Branche zu entwickeln. Die gezielte Identifizierung neuer Märkte, die Fokussierung auf die relevanten Kundenbedürfnisse und eine konsistente Produktpolitik mit einem abgestimmten Fertigungskonzept legen die Grundsteine für den Erfolg. Das vorliegende Fallbeispiel zeigt anschaulich, wie es gelingen kann, den prinzipiellen Widerspruch zwischen wirtschaftlicher und kundenindividueller Fertigung erfolgreich aufzulösen.
Aufgrund von EU-Regularien und Umweltinitiativen wächst der Markt für nachhaltige und abbaubare Klebstoffe stetig. Organosolv (OS)-Lignin ist ein kommerziell wenig ertragreicher Nebenstrom der Lignocellulose-Bioraffinerie. Durch das "Nachahmen" der Adhäsionseigenschaften mit strukturverwandten Muschel-Aminosäuren soll OS-Lignin in einen starkes, vollständig biobasiertes Adhäsiv umgewandelt werden. Funktionsweisend für die Adhäsion des Muschelklebstoffes ist die Catecholgruppe der Aminosäure L-DOPA. Die laccase-katalysierte Polymerisationsreaktion von Lignin und L-DOPA ist schwierig zu kontrollieren, da L-DOPA eine Ringschlussreaktion eingeht. Stattdessen wurde eine zweistufige Reaktion mit einem Diamin als Ankermolekül etabliert. Die Catecholgruppe, die im zweiten Schritt enzymatisch an das Lignin-Amin gebunden wird, kann durch Komplexbildung mit Fe(III)-Ionen sowohl zur Adhäsion als auch zur Kohäsion des Klebstoffes beitragen. Der Lignin-Catechol-Klebstoff ist frei von petrochemischen Chemikalien und biologisch abbaubar. In ersten Stirnzugversuchen konnte eine Haftkraft von 0,3 MPa erreicht werden.
Sensor positioning and thermal model for condition monitoring of pressure gas reservoirs in vehicles
(2018)
Im Rahmen des europäischen Verbundprojekts INSYSME wurden von den deutschen Partnern die Systeme IMES und INODIS zur Verbesserung des seismischen Verhaltens von ausgefachten Stahlbetonrahmen entwickelt. Ziel beider Systeme ist es, Stahlbetonrahmen und Ausfachung zu entkoppeln, anstatt die Tragfähigkeit durch aufwendige und kostspielige zusätzliche Bewehrungseinlagen zu erhöhen. Erste Ergebnisse des Systems IMES für Belastungen in und senkrecht zu der Wandebene werden vorgestellt.
Im Rahmen des europäischen Verbundprojekts INSYSME wurden von den deutschen Partnern die Systeme IMES und INODIS zur Verbesserung des seismischen Verhaltens von ausgefachten Stahlbetonrahmen entwickelt. Ziel beider Systeme ist es, Stahlbetonrahmen und Ausfachung zu entkoppeln, anstatt die Tragfähigkeit durch aufwendige und kostspielige zusätzliche Bewehrungseinlagen zu erhöhen. Erste Ergebnisse des Systems IMES für Belastungen in und senkrecht zu der Wandebene werden vorgestellt.
Reinforced concrete (RC) frames with masonry infills are frequently used in seismic regions all over the world. Generally masonry infills are considered as nonstructural elements and thus are typically neglected in the design process. However, the observations made after strong earthquakes have shown that masonry infills can modify the dynamic behavior of the structure significantly. The consequences were total collapses of buildings and loss of human lives. This paper presents the new system INODIS (Innovative Decoupled Infill System) developed within the European research project INSYSME (Innovative Systems for Earthquake Resistant Masonry Enclosures in RC Buildings). INODIS decouples the frame and the masonry infill by means of special U-shaped rubbers placed in between frame and infill. The effectiveness of the system was investigated by means of full scale tests on RC frames with masonry infills subjected to in-plane and out-of-plane loading. Furthermore small specimen tests were conducted to determine material characteristics of the components and the resistances of the connections. Finally, a micromodel was developed to simulate the in-plane behavior of RC frames infilled with AAC blocks with and without installation of the INODIS system.
Stahlbetonrahmentragwerke mit Mauerwerksausfachungen weisen nach Erdbebenereignissen häufig schwere Schäden auf, da die Ausfachungen ohne weitere konstruktive Maßnahmen mit vollem Kontakt zum Stahlbetonrahmen eingemauert werden. Durch die unplanmäßige Beteiligung am horizontalen Lastabtrag erfahren die Ausfachungen Belastungen in Wandebene und beeinflussen das globale Schwingungsverhalten der Rahmentragwerke. In Kombination mit den gleichzeitig auftretenden seismischen Trägheitskräften senkrecht zur Wand führt dies in vielen Fällen zu einem Versagen der mit niedrigen Festigkeiten ausgeführten Ausfachungen. Dies war der Anlass in dem europäischen Forschungsprojekt INSYSME ein Entkopplungssystem zu entwickeln, mit dem Rahmen und Ausfachung durch ein spezielles Profil aus Elastomeren entkoppelt werden.
Das Profil ermöglicht Relativverschiebungen zwischen Rahmen und Ausfachung und stellt gleichzeitig die Aufnahme von Belastungen senkrecht zur Wand sicher. Der Beitrag erläutert zunächst den Aufbau des Systems und gibt einen Überblick über die in Kleinbauteilversuchen ermittelten Tragfähigkeiten. Zudem werden experimentelle Untersuchungen an mit hochwärmedämmenden Mauerziegeln ausgefachten Stahlbetonrahmen mit und ohne Entkopplungssystem für getrennte und kombinierte Belastungen in und senkrecht zur Wandebene vorgestellt. Auf Grundlage einer Versuchsauswertung und eines Ergebnisvergleichs werden Wirkungsweise und Effektivität des entwickelten Entkopplungssystems demonstriert.
As with most high-velocity free-surface flows, stepped spillway flows become self-aerated when the drop height exceeds a critical value. Due to the step-induced macro-roughness, the flow field becomes more turbulent than on a similar smooth-invert chute. For this reason, cascades are oftentimes used as re-aeration structures in wastewater treatment. However, for stepped spillways as flood release structures downstream of deoxygenated reservoirs, gas transfer is also of crucial significance to meet ecological requirements. Prediction of mass transfer velocities becomes challenging, as the flow regime differs from typical previously studied flow conditions. In this paper, detailed air-water flow measurements are conducted on stepped spillway models with different geometry, with the aim to estimate the specific air-water interface. Re-aeration performances are determined by applying the absorption method. In contrast to earlier studies, the aerated water body is considered a continuous mixture up to a level where 75% air concentration is reached. Above this level, a homogenous surface wave field is considered, which is found to significantly affect the total air-water interface available for mass transfer. Geometrical characteristics of these surface waves are obtained from high-speed camera investigations. The results show that both the mean air concentration and the mean flow velocity have influence on the mass transfer. Finally, an empirical relationship for the mass transfer on stepped spillway models is proposed.
Field-effect-based electrolyte-insulator-semiconductor (EIS) sensors were modified with a bilayer of positively charged weak polyelectrolyte (poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH)) and probe single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and are used for the detection of complementary single-stranded target DNA (cDNA) in different test solutions. The sensing mechanism is based on the detection of the intrinsic molecular charge of target cDNA molecules after the hybridization event between cDNA and immobilized probe ssDNA. The test solutions contain synthetic cDNA oligonucleotides (with a sequence of tuberculosis mycobacteria genome) or PCR-amplified DNA (which origins from a template DNA strand that has been extracted from Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis-spiked human sputum samples), respectively. Sensor responses up to 41 mV have been measured for the test solutions with DNA, while only small signals of ∼5 mV were detected for solutions without DNA. The lower detection limit of the EIS sensors was ∼0.3 nM, and the sensitivity was ∼7.2 mV/decade. Fluorescence experiments using SybrGreen I fluorescence dye support the electrochemical results.
Motivation-based Learning: Teaching Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering with an LED Spinning Top
(2018)
Extrem hohe Blitzströme
(2018)
Blitze sind nach wie vor eine enorme Schadensquelle für Personenschäden, Brände, mechanische Zerstörungen und insbesondere auch Überspannungen. Das zeigen nicht zuletzt aktuelle Statistiken der Schadensversicherer. Immer wieder gibt es Meldungen über extrem hohe Blitzströme, die natürlich auch zu großen Schäden und Zerstörungen führen können. Dabei werden Scheitelwerte von teilweise deutlich über 300 kA genannt. Dies wirft Fragen auf, da die „klassische“ Blitzstatistik (z. B. nach CIGRE und IEC [8][10]) bisher solche Werte nicht kennt. Diese extremen Blitzströme werden meist aus den Daten von Blitzortungssystemen ermittelt.
Using the OpenSim software and verified anatomical data, a computer model for the calculation of biomechanical parameters is developed and used to determine the effect of a reattachment of the Supraspinatus muscle with a medial displacement of the muscle attachment point, which may be necessary for a rupture of the supraspinatus tendon. The results include the influence of the operation on basic biomechanical parameters such as the lever arm, as well as the calculated the muscle activations for the supraspinatus and deltoid. In addition, the influence on joint stability is examined by an analysis of the joint reaction force. The study provides a detailed description of the used model, as well as medical findings to a reattachment of the supraspinatus.
Mit der Software OpenSim und überprüften anatomischen Daten wird ein Computermodell zur Berechnung von biomechanischen Parametern entwickelt und genutzt, um den Effekt einer Refixierung des Supraspinatusmuskels mit einer medialen Verschiebung des Muskelansatzpunktes zu ermitteln, wie sie unter anderem nach einem Riss der Supraspinatussehne notwendig sein kann. Die Ergebnisse umfassen hierbei den Einfluss der Operation auf grundlegende biomechanische Parameter wie den Hebelarm sowie die berechneten Muskelaktivierungen für den Supraspinatus und Deltoideus. Zusätzlich wird der Einfluss auf die Gelenkstabilität betrachtet und durch eine Analyse der Gelenkreaktionskraft untersucht. Die Studie bietet eine detaillierte Beschreibung des genutzten Modells, sowie medizinische Erkenntnisse zu einer Refixierung des Supraspinatus.
The vaginal prolapse after hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) is often associated with the prolapse of the vaginal vault, rectum, bladder, urethra or small bowel. Minimally
invasive surgery such as laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy and pectopexy are widely performed for the treatment of the vaginal prolapse with weakly supported vaginal vault after hysterectomy using prosthetic mesh implants to support (or strengthen) lax apical ligaments. Implants of different shape, size and polymers are selected depending on the patient’s anatomy and the surgeon’s preference. In this computational study on pectopexy, DynaMesh®-PRP soft, GYNECARE GYNEMESH® PS Nonabsorbable PROLENE® soft and Ultrapro® are tested in a 3D finite element model of the female pelvic floor. The mesh model is implanted into the extraperitoneal space and sutured to the vaginal stump with a bilateral fixation to the iliopectineal ligament at both sides. Numerical simulations are conducted at rest, after surgery and during Valsalva maneuver with weakened tissues modeled by reduced tissue stiffness. Tissues and prosthetic meshes are modeled as incompressible, isotropic hyperelastic materials. The positions of the organs are calculated with respect to the pubococcygeal line (PCL) for female pelvic floor at rest, after repair and during Valsalva maneuver using the three meshes.
After menopause, decreased levels of estrogen and progesterone remodel the collagen of the soft tissues thereby reducing their stiffness. Stress urinary incontinence is associated with involuntary urine leakage due to pathological movement of the pelvic organs resulting from lax suspension system, fasciae, and ligaments. This study compares the changes in the orientation and position of the female pelvic organs due to weakened fasciae, ligaments, and their combined laxity. A mixture theory weighted by respective volume fraction of elastin-collagen fibre compound (5%), adipose tissue (85%), and smooth muscle (5%) is adopted to characterize the mechanical behaviour of the fascia. The load carrying response (other than the functional response to the pelvic organs) of each fascia component, pelvic organs, muscles, and ligaments are assumed to be isotropic, hyperelastic, and incompressible. Finite element simulations are conducted during Valsalva manoeuvre with weakened tissues modelled by reduced tissue stiffness. A significant dislocation of the urethrovesical junction is observed due to weakness of the fascia (13.89 mm) compared to the ligaments (5.47 mm). The dynamics of the pelvic floor observed in this study during Valsalva manoeuvre is associated with urethral-bladder hypermobility, greater levator plate angulation, and positive Q-tip test which are observed in incontinent females.
For pelvic floor disorders that cannot be treated with non-surgical procedures, minimally invasive surgery has become a more frequent and safer repair procedure. More than 20 million prosthetic meshes are implanted each year worldwide. The simple selection of a single synthetic mesh construction for any level and type of pelvic floor dysfunctions without adopting the design to specific requirements increase the risks for mesh related complications. Adverse events are closely related to chronic foreign body reaction, with enhanced formation of scar tissue around the surgical meshes, manifested as pain, mesh erosion in adjacent structures (with organ tissue cut), mesh shrinkage, mesh rejection and eventually recurrence. Such events, especially scar formation depend on effective porosity of the mesh, which decreases discontinuously at a critical stretch when pore areas decrease making the surgical reconstruction ineffective that further augments the re-operation costs. The extent of fibrotic reaction is increased with higher amount of foreign body material, larger surface, small pore size or with inadequate textile elasticity. Standardized studies of different meshes are essential to evaluate influencing factors for the failure and success of the reconstruction. Measurements of elasticity and tensile strength have to consider the mesh anisotropy as result of the textile structure. An appropriate mesh then should show some integration with limited scar reaction and preserved pores that are filled with local fat tissue. This chapter reviews various tissue reactions to different monofilament mesh implants that are used for incontinence and hernia repairs and study their mechanical behavior. This helps to predict the functional and biological outcomes after tissue reinforcement with meshes and permits further optimization of the meshes for the specific indications to improve the success of the surgical treatment.
Prosthetic textile implants of different shapes, sizes and polymers are used to correct the apical prolapse after hysterectomy (removal of the uterus). The selection of the implant before or during minimally invasive surgery depends on the patient’s anatomical defect, intended function after reconstruction and most importantly the surgeon’s preference. Weakness or damage of the supporting tissues during childbirth, menopause or previous pelvic surgeries may put females in higher risk of prolapse. Numerical simulations of reconstructed pelvic floor with weakened tissues and organ supported by textile product models: DynaMesh®-PRS soft, DynaMesh®-PRP soft and DynaMesh®-CESA from FEG Textiletechnik mbH, Germany are compared.