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- Einspielen <Werkstoff> (7)
- Multimediamarkt (6)
- Rapid prototyping (5)
- avalanche (5)
- Earthquake (4)
- FEM (4)
- Finite-Elemente-Methode (4)
- LAPS (4)
- Rapid Prototyping (4)
- biosensors (4)
Living cells are complex biological systems transforming metabolites taken up from the surrounding medium. Monitoring the responses of such cells to certain substrate concentrations is a challenging task and offers possibilities to gain insight into the vitality of a community influenced by the growth environment. Cell-based sensors represent a promising platform for monitoring the metabolic activity and thus, the “welfare” of relevant organisms. In the present study, metabolic responses of the model bacterium Escherichia coli in suspension, layered onto a capacitive field-effect structure, were examined to pulses of glucose in the concentration range between 0.05 and 2 mM. It was found that acidification of the surrounding medium takes place immediately after glucose addition and follows Michaelis–Menten kinetic behavior as a function of the glucose concentration. In future, the presented setup can, therefore, be used to study substrate specificities on the enzymatic level and may as well be used to perform investigations of more complex metabolic responses. Conclusions and perspectives highlighting this system are discussed.
Commercial materials with polyvinylpolypyrrolidone and polymeric amberlites (XAD7HP, XAD16) are commonly used for the adsorptive downstream processing of polyphenols from renewable resources. In this study, beta-zeolite-based adsorbent systems were examined, and their properties were compared to organic resins. Batch adsorption experiments were conducted with synthetic solutions of major polyphenols. Adsorption isotherms and desorption characteristics of individual adsorbent were determined based on these results. Maximum adsorption capacities were calculated using the Langmuir model. For example, the zeolites had capacities up to 203.2 mg/g for ferulic acid. To extend these results to a complex system, additional experiments were performed on rapeseed meal and wheat seed extracts as representative renewable resources. HPLC analysis showed that with 7.5% w/v, which is regarded as the optimum amount of zeolites, zeolites A and B could bind 100% of the major polyphenols as well as release polyphenols at high yields. Additionally, regeneration experiments were performed with isopropyl alcohol at 99°C to evaluate how zeolites regenerate under mild conditions. The results showed only a negligible loss of adsorption capacity and no loss of desorption capacity. In summary, it was concluded that beta-zeolites were promising adsorbents for developing new processes to isolate polyphenols from renewable resources.
Optical coherence tomography : a potential tool to predict premature rupture of fetal membranes
(2013)
Einschränkung von Taluskippung und -vorschub durch Sprunggelenkorthesen nach fibularer Bandruptur
(2013)
Die fibulare Bandruptur zählt zu einer der am häufigsten auftretenden Verletzungen des
Bewegungsapparats. In den meisten Fällen wird heute die konservativ frühfunktionelle Therapie mit Sprunggelenkorthesen allgemein bevorzugt. Im Rahmen der vorliegenden Studie wurden 14 verschiedene Sprunggelenkorthesen im Hinblick auf ihre Einschränkung von Taluskippung und Talusvorschub
untersucht. Zur Simulation einer fibularen Bandruptur wurde ein Unterschenkelmodell aus Holz mit Fußteil, mit angelegten Orthesen in einen Scheuba-Halteapparat eingespannt und mit 150 N seitlich sowie anterior-posterior belastet. Anhand der erstellten "gehaltenen" Röntgenaufnahmen konnten Taluskippung und Talusvorschub jeder einzelnen Orthese eindeutig bestimmt werden. Die meisten Orthesen erreichten zufriedenstellende Ergebnisse. Es stellte sich heraus, dass vor allem eine eng anliegende, im Gelenkbereich anatomisch angepasste Form vorteilhaft zu sein scheint.
Impedance spectroscopy: A tool for real-time in situ monitoring of the degradation of biopolymers
(2013)
Investigation of the degradation kinetics of biodegradable polymers is essential for the development of implantable biomedical devices with predicted biodegradability. In this work, an impedimetric sensor has been applied for real-time and in situ monitoring of degradation processes of biopolymers. The sensor consists of two platinum thin-film electrodes covered by a polymer film to be studied. The benchmark biomedical polymer poly(D,L-lactic acid) (PDLLA) was used as a model system. PDLLA films were deposited on the sensor structure from a polymer solution by using the spin-coating method. The degradation kinetics of PDLLA films have been studied in alkaline solutions of pH 9 and 12 by means of an impedance spectroscopy (IS) method. Any changes in a polymer capacitance/resistance induced by water uptake and/or polymer degradation will modulate the global impedance of the polymer-covered sensor that can be used as an indicator of the polymer degradation. The degradation rate can be evaluated from the time-dependent impedance spectra. As expected, a faster degradation has been observed for PDLLA films exposed to pH 12 solution.
Pepräsentatives Dösen
(2013)
Our world is well ordered in measurement and number : or why natural constants are as they are
(2013)
All the important natural constants can be logically explained with and derived from the first four ordinal numbers, 1, 2, 3 and 4, its addition to ten and finally the standard values for obviously maximal feasibility Ω and the optimum in our world, the Golden Section (GS), i.e. the number sequences 273 and 618. They both are the first three numbers of irrational results by an arithmetical transformation of simple geometrical relationships by creating multiplicity out of singularity. Both of them show that the infinite is inherent in finiteness and explain in a simple way the smallest deviations and fluctuations between the physical AS-IS state and the obvious spiritual ideal behind: Wherever we look in this world, and especially in important key-positions, we regularly find these sequences. All of the above mentioned numbers so seem to be key players in our world, what can be demonstrated by the derivation of natural constants.
Purpose
To design and evaluate a modular transceiver coil array with 32 independent channels for cardiac MRI at 7.0T.
Methods
The modular coil array comprises eight independent building blocks, each containing four transceiver loop elements. Numerical simulations were used for B1+ field homogenization and radiofrequency (RF) safety validation. RF characteristics were examined in a phantom study. The array's suitability for accelerated high spatial resolution two-dimensional (2D) FLASH CINE imaging of the heart was examined in a volunteer study.
Results
Transmission field adjustments and RF characteristics were found to be suitable for the volunteer study. The signal-to-noise intrinsic to 7.0T together with the coil performance afforded a spatial resolution of 1.1 × 1.1 × 2.5 mm3 for 2D CINE FLASH MRI, which is by a factor of 6 superior to standardized CINE protocols used in clinical practice at 1.5T. The 32-channel transceiver array supports one-dimensional acceleration factors of up to R = 4 without impairing image quality significantly.
Conclusion
The modular 32-channel transceiver cardiac array supports accelerated and high spatial resolution cardiac MRI. The array is compatible with multichannel transmission and provides a technological basis for future clinical assessment of parallel transmission techniques at 7.0T.
Rapidshare Kinocharts
(2013)
DEBEDE DE HAKAPE
(2013)
The semiconductor field-effect platform represents a powerful tool for detecting the adsorption and binding of charged macromolecules with direct electrical readout. In this work, a capacitive electrolyte–insulator–semiconductor (EIS) field-effect sensor consisting of an Al-p-Si-SiO2 structure has been applied for real-time in situ electrical monitoring of the layer-by-layer formation of polyelectrolyte (PE) multilayers (PEM). The PEMs were deposited directly onto the SiO2 surface without any precursor layer or drying procedures. Anionic poly(sodium 4-styrene sulfonate) and cationic weak polyelectrolyte poly(allylamine hydrochloride) have been chosen as a model system. The effect of the ionic strength of the solution, polyelectrolyte concentration, number and polarity of the PE layers on the characteristics of the PEM-modified EIS sensors have been studied by means of capacitance–voltage and constant-capacitance methods. In addition, the thickness, surface morphology, roughness and wettabilityof the PE mono- and multilayers have been characterised by ellipsometry, atomic force microscopy and water contact-angle methods, respectively. To explain potential oscillations on the gate surface and signal behaviour of the capacitive field-effect EIS sensor modified with a PEM, a simplified electrostatic model that takes into account the reduced electrostatic screening of PE charges by mobile ions within the PEM has been proposed and discussed.
A microfluidic chip integrating amperometric enzyme sensors for the detection of glucose, glutamate and glutamine in cell-culture fermentation processes has been developed. The enzymes glucose oxidase, glutamate oxidase and glutaminase were immobilized by means of cross-linking with glutaraldehyde on platinum thin-film electrodes integrated within a microfluidic channel. The biosensor chip was coupled to a flow-injection analysis system for electrochemical characterization of the sensors. The sensors have been characterized in terms of sensitivity, linear working range and detection limit. The sensitivity evaluated from the respective peak areas was 1.47, 3.68 and 0.28 μAs/mM for the glucose, glutamate and glutamine sensor, respectively. The calibration curves were linear up to a concentration of 20 mM glucose and glutamine and up to 10 mM for glutamate. The lower detection limit amounted to be 0.05 mM for the glucose and glutamate sensor, respectively, and 0.1 mM for the glutamine sensor. Experiments in cell-culture medium have demonstrated a good correlation between the glutamate, glutamine and glucose concentrations measured with the chip-based biosensors in a differential-mode and the commercially available instrumentation. The obtained results demonstrate the feasibility of the realized microfluidic biosensor chip for monitoring of bioprocesses.
Learning- and memory-related processes are thought to result from dynamic interactions in large-scale brain networks that include lateral and mesial structures of the temporal lobes. We investigate the impact of incidental and intentional learning of verbal episodic material on functional brain networks that we derive from scalp-EEG recorded continuously from 33 subjects during a neuropsychological test schedule. Analyzing the networks' global statistical properties we observe that intentional but not incidental learning leads to a significantly increased clustering coefficient, and the average shortest path length remains unaffected. Moreover, network modifications correlate with subsequent recall performance: the more pronounced the modifications of the clustering coefficient, the higher the recall performance. Our findings provide novel insights into the relationship between topological aspects of functional brain networks and higher cognitive functions.
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.
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.
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.
Realisation of a calorimetric gas sensor on polyimide foil for applications in aseptic food industry
(2012)
A calorimetric gas sensor is presented for the monitoring of vapour-phase H2O2 at elevated temperature during sterilisation processes in aseptic food industry. The sensor was built up on a flexible polyimide foil (thickness: 25 μm) that has been chosen due to its thermal stability and low thermal conductivity. The sensor set-up consists of two temperature-sensitive platinum thin-film resistances passivated by a layer of SU-8 photo resist and catalytically activated by manganese(IV) oxide. Instead of an active heating structure, the calorimetric sensor utilises the elevated temperature of the evaporated H2O2 aerosol. In an experimental test rig, the sensor has shown a sensitivity of 4.78 °C/(%, v/v) in a H2O2 concentration range of 0%, v/v to 8%, v/v. Furthermore, the sensor possesses the same, unchanged sensor signal even at varied medium temperatures between 210 °C and 270 °C of the gas stream. At flow rates of the gas stream from 8 m3/h to 12 m3/h, the sensor has shown only a slightly reduced sensitivity at a low flow rate of 8 m3/h. The sensor characterisation demonstrates the suitability of the calorimetric gas sensor for monitoring the efficiency of industrial sterilisation processes.
The esophageal Doppler monitor (EDM) is a minimally-invasive hemodynamic device which evaluates both cardiac output (CO), and fluid status, by estimating stroke volume (SV) and calculating heart rate (HR). The measurement of these parameters is based upon a continuous and accurate approximation of distal thoracic aortic blood flow. Furthermore, the peak velocity (PV) and mean acceleration (MA), of aortic blood flow at this anatomic location, are also determined by the EDM. The purpose of this preliminary report is to examine additional clinical hemodynamic calculations of: compliance (C), kinetic energy (KE), force (F), and afterload (TSVRi). These data were derived using both velocity-based measurements, provided by the EDM, as well as other contemporaneous physiologic parameters. Data were obtained from anesthetized patients undergoing surgery or who were in a critical care unit. A graphical inspection of these measurements is presented and discussed with respect to each patient’s clinical situation. When normalized to each of their initial values, F and KE both consistently demonstrated more discriminative power than either PV or MA. The EDM offers additional applications for hemodynamic monitoring. Further research regarding the accuracy, utility, and limitations of these parameters is therefore indicated.
Mit Gesetz vom 29.7.2009 (BGBl 2009 I S. 2355) hat der deutsche Gesetzgeber die EU-Verbraucherkreditrichtlinie 2008/48/EG vom 23.4.2008 NWB PAAAD-28762 in nationales Recht umgesetzt. In diesem Gesetz ist auch der Immobiliardarlehensvertrag neu geregelt worden. Auf diese besondere Kreditform sind grds. die Vorschriften zum Verbraucherkredit anzuwenden, so dass der Darlehensgeber auch im Fall einer Immobilienfinanzierung zu vorvertraglicher Information des Verbrauchers verpflichtet ist. Beim finanzierten Immobilienerwerb werden Veräußerer und kreditgebende Bank häufig in Abstimmung und Zusammenarbeit tätig, so dass für die Bank besondere Aufklärungspflichten gegenüber dem Verbraucher entstehen. Im Fall der Verletzung dieser Pflichten drohen ihr Schadensersatzansprüche oder ein Widerrufsrecht des Verbrauchers.
Mit einer aktuellen Entscheidung hat der BGH, Urt. v. 11.5.2012 - V ZR 196/11, MDR 2012, 958 seine Rechtsprechung v. 5.6.2008 - V ZB 85/07 zur Entstehungsphase einer Wohnungseigentümergemeinschaft fortgeführt. In dieser Entscheidung sieht der BGH die Erwerber von Wohnungseigentum als Kostenschuldner gem. § 16 Abs. 2 WEG an, obwohl diese noch nicht im Grundbuch eingetragen sind. Eine andere Rechtslage besteht beim sog. Zweiterwerb. Die Abgrenzung von Erstund Zweierwerb ist aufgrund der völlig unterschiedlichen Rechtsfolgen für die Praxis von großer Bedeutung.
A variety of transition metals, e.g., copper, zinc, cadmium, lead, etc. are widely used in industry as components for wires, coatings, alloys, batteries, paints and so on. The inevitable presence of transition metals in industrial processes implies the ambition of developing a proper analytical technique for their adequate monitoring. Most of these elements, especially lead and cadmium, are acutely toxic for biological organisms. Quantitative determination of these metals at low activity levels in different environmental and industrial samples is therefore a vital task. A promising approach to achieve an at-side or on-line monitoring on a miniaturized and cost efficient way is the combination of a common potentiometric sensor array with heavy metal-sensitive thin-film materials, like chalcogenide glasses and polymeric materials, respectively.
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.
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.
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.
Der Deutsche Bundestag und Bundesrat haben am 2.3.2012 bzw. 30.3.2012 das Gesetz gegen Kostenfallen im Internet verabschiedet, das am 1.8.2012 in Kraft treten wird. Hiermit hat der deutsche Gesetzgeber einen ersten Schritt getan, um die neue EU-Verbraucherrechterichtlinie vom 25.10.2011 (2011/83/EU, ABl L 304/64) in nationales Recht umzusetzen. Mit dieser Umsetzung ist das drängendste Problem der Kosten- und Abo-Fallen im elektronischen Geschäftsverkehr aus dem Gesamtpaket der Verbraucherrechterichtlinie herausgelöst und in dem neugefassten § 312g BGB behandelt worden. Eile bei der Umsetzung war hier geboten, weil unseriöse Unternehmen im elektronischen Rechtsverkehr zunehmend und in großem Umfang gegenüber ihren Kunden durch irreführende Gestaltungen ihrer Internetseiten verschleiern, dass die angebotenen Leistungen entgeltpflichtig sind.
Many applications in computational science and engineering require the computation of eigenvalues and vectors of dense symmetric or Hermitian matrices. For example, in DFT (density functional theory) calculations on modern supercomputers 10% to 30% of the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of huge dense matrices have to be calculated. Therefore, performance and parallel scaling of the used eigensolvers is of upmost interest. In this article different routines of the linear algebra packages ScaLAPACK and Elemental for parallel solution of the symmetric eigenvalue problem are compared concerning their performance on the BlueGene/P supercomputer. Parameters for performance optimization are adjusted for the different data distribution methods used in the two libraries. It is found that for all test cases the new library Elemental which uses a two-dimensional element by element distribution of the matrices to the processors shows better performance than the old ScaLAPACK library which uses a block-cyclic distribution.
Temperature-dependent ranges of coexistence in a model of a two-prey-one-predator microbial food web
(2012)
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.
Additive Manufacturing durch Aufschmelzen von Metallpulvern hat sich auf breiter Front als Herstellverfahren, auch für Endprodukte, etabliert. Besonders für die Variante des Selective Laser Melting (SLM) sind Anwendungen in der Zahntechnik bereits weit verbreitet und der Einsatz in sensitiven Branchen wie der Luftfahrt ist in greifbare Nähe gerückt. Deshalb werden auch vermehrt Anstrengungen unternommen, um bisher nicht verarbeitete Materialien zu qualifizieren. Dies sind vorzugsweise Nicht-Eisen- und Edelmetalle, die sowohl eine sehr hohe Reflektivität als auch eine sehr gute Wärmeleitfähigkeit aufweisen – beides Eigenschaften, die die Beherrschung des Laser-Schmelzprozesses erschweren und nur kleine Prozessfenster zulassen. Die Arbeitsgruppe SLM des Lehr- und Forschungsgebietes Hochleistungsverfahren der Fertigungstechnik hat sich unter der Randbedingung einer kleinen und mit geringer Laserleistung ausgestatteten SLM Maschine der Aufgabe gewidmet und am Beispiel von Silber die Parameterfelder für Einzelspuren und wenig komplexe Geometrien systematisch untersucht. Die Arbeiten wurden von FEM Simulationen begleitet und durch metallographische Untersuchungen verifiziert. Die Ergebnisse bilden die Grundlage zur schnellen Parameterfindung bei komplexen Geometrien und bei Veränderungen der Zusammensetzung, wie sie bei zukünftigen Legierungen zu erwarten sind. Die Ergebnisse werden exemplarisch auf unterschiedliche Geometrien angewandt und entsprechende Bauteile gezeigt.
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.
Im Beitrag wird zunächst das Verfahren eines dynamischen elektro-geometrischen Modells vorgestellt. Dieses arbeitet im Gegensatz zum klassischen Blitzkugel-Verfahren nicht mit konstanten Radien; vielmehr wird der Radius der Blitzkugel variiert. Dabei werden ausschließlich vorhandene und in internationalen Normen anerkannte Ergebnisse, blitzphysikalische Grundlagen und Untersuchungen verwendet, und auf deren Grundlage ein numerisches Verfahren erarbeitet. Mit dem dynamischen elektro-geometrischen Modell werden dann einige Beispiele des Schutzes mit Fangstangen, die gemäß dem klassischen Blitzkugel-Verfahren nach DIN EN 62305-3 für die Schutzklassen I – II – III – IV geplant sind, untersucht. Es wird gezeigt, dass die Einfangwirksamkeiten wesentlich höher sind als in der Normenreihe DIN EN 62305 selbst angegeben. Grund dafür ist die Tatsache, dass das Blitzkugel-Verfahren sehr konservativ aufgebaut ist und dem Planer von Blitzschutzsystemen nur die möglichen Stellen für einen Einschlag aufzeigt, ohne eine Bewertung der Einschlagshäufigkeit zu liefern. Andererseits bedeutet dies jedoch, dass man mit dem klassischen Blitzkugel-Verfahren stets auf der „sicheren Seite“ liegt.
Smartphone Forensik
(2012)
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.
In this article, we report on the heat-transfer resistance at interfaces as a novel, denaturation-based method to detect single-nucleotide polymorphisms in DNA. We observed that a molecular brush of double-stranded DNA grafted onto synthetic diamond surfaces does not notably affect the heat-transfer resistance at the solid-to-liquid interface. In contrast to this, molecular brushes of single-stranded DNA cause, surprisingly, a substantially higher heat-transfer resistance and behave like a thermally insulating layer. This effect can be utilized to identify ds-DNA melting temperatures via the switching from low- to high heat-transfer resistance. The melting temperatures identified with this method for different DNA duplexes (29 base pairs without and with built-in mutations) correlate nicely with data calculated by modeling. The method is fast, label-free (without the need for fluorescent or radioactive markers), allows for repetitive measurements, and can also be extended toward array formats. Reference measurements by confocal fluorescence microscopy and impedance spectroscopy confirm that the switching of heat-transfer resistance upon denaturation is indeed related to the thermal on-chip denaturation of DNA.
Betriebskostenabrechnung - Die Pflicht des Vermieters zur Beachtung des Wirtschaftlichkeitsgebots
(2012)
Mit seiner aktuellen Entscheidung (BGH v. 6.11.2011 – VIII ZR 340/10, MDR 2011, 1095 = MietRB MDR 2011, 337) hat der BGH die Darlegungs- und Beweislast für einen Verstoß gegen das Gebot der Wirtschaftlichkeit bei der Abrechnung von Betriebskosten konkretisiert. Der Beitrag erläutert anhand der Hintergründe des Gebotes der Wirtschaftlichkeit die Konsequenzen für die Praxis.
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.
This paper describes the implementation of topographic curvature effects within the RApid Mass MovementS (RAMMS) snow avalanche simulation toolbox. RAMMS is based on a model similar to shallow water equations with a Coulomb friction relation and the velocity dependent Voellmy drag. It is used for snow avalanche risk assessment in Switzerland. The snow avalanche simulation relies on back calculation of observed avalanches. The calibration of the friction parameters depends on characteristics of the avalanche track. The topographic curvature terms are not yet included in the above mentioned classical model. Here, we fundamentally improve this model by mathematically and physically including the topographic curvature effects. By decomposing the velocity dependent friction into a topography dependent term that accounts for a curvature enhancement in the Coulomb friction, and a topography independent contribution similar to the classical Voellmy drag, we construct a general curvature dependent frictional resistance, and thus propose new extended model equations. With three site-specific examples, we compare the apparent frictional resistance of the new approach, which includes topographic curvature effects, to the classical one. Our simulation results demonstrate substantial effects of the curvature on the flow dynamics e.g., the dynamic pressure distribution along the slope. The comparison of resistance coefficients between the two models demonstrates that the physically based extension presents an improvement to the classical approach. Furthermore a practical example highlights its influence on the pressure outline in the run out zone of the avalanche. Snow avalanche dynamics modeling natural terrain curvature centrifugal force friction coefficients.
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.
Although Selective Laser Melting (SLM) process is an innovative manufacturing method, there are challenges such as inferior mechanical properties of fabricated objects. Regarding this, buckling deformation which is caused by thermal stress is one of the undesired mechanical properties which must be alleviated. As buckling deformation is more observable in hard to process materials, silver is selected to be studied theoretically and experimentally for this paper. Different scanning strategies are utilized and a Finite Element Method (FEM) is applied to calculate the temperature gradient in order to determine its effect on the buckling deformation of the objects from experiments.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Auswahl der Herniennetze nach der “effektiven Porosität” - warum das Gewicht weniger wichtig ist
(2012)
Cell-based sensors for the detection of gases have long been underrepresented, due to the cellular requirement of being cultured in a liquid environment. In this work we established a cell-based gas biosensor for the detection of toxic substances in air, by adapting a commercial sensor chip (Bionas®), previously used for the measurement of pollutants in liquids. Cells of the respiratory tract (A549, RPMI 2650, V79), which survive at a gas phase in a natural context, are used as biological receptors. The physiological cell parameters acidification, respiration and morphology are continuously monitored in parallel. Ammonia was used as a highly water-soluble model gas to test the feasibility of the sensor system. Infrared measurements confirmed the sufficiency of the medium draining method. This sensor system provides a basis for many sensor applications such as environmental monitoring, building technology and public security.
Im Folgenden sollen Anlass und Inhalt einer Due Diligence erläutert werden. Im Rahmen einer Checkliste werden Beratern und Unternehmen Hinweise zu möglichen Prüfungsgebieten sowie zu vorzuhaltenden oder zu prüfenden Unterlagen gegeben. Entstanden ist die Checkliste aus der langjährigen praktischen Tätigkeit der Autoren bei einer großen Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft bzw. einer deutschen Großbank.
Characterisation of polymeric materials as passivation layer for calorimetric H2O2 gas sensors
(2012)
Calorimetric gas sensors for monitoring the H₂O₂ concentration at elevated temperatures in industrial sterilisation processes have been presented in previous works. These sensors are built up in form of a differential set-up of a catalytically active and passive temperature-sensitive structure. Although, various types of catalytically active dispersions have been studied, the passivation layer has to be established and therefore, chemically as well as physically characterised. In the present work, fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), perfluoralkoxy (PFA) and epoxy-based SU-8 photoresist as temperature-stable polymeric materials have been investigated for sensor passivation in terms of their chemical inertness against H₂O₂, their hygroscopic properties as well as their morphology. The polymeric materials were deposited via spin-coating on the temperature-sensitive structure, wherein spin-coated FEP and PFA show slight agglomerates. However, they possess a low absorption of humidity due to their hydrophobic surface, whereas the SU-8 layer has a closed surface but shows a slightly higher absorption of water. All of them were inert against gaseous H₂O₂ during the characterisation in H₂O₂ atmosphere that demonstrates their suitability as passivation layer for calorimetric H₂O₂ gas sensors.
If we think about applications for modern Power MOSFETs using trench technology, running them in linear mode may not be top of the priority list. Yet there are multiple uses for Trench Power MOSFETs in linear mode. In fact, even turning the device on and off in switching applications is a form of linear operation. Also, these components can be run in linear mode to protect the device against voltage surges. This article will illustrate the factors that need to be considered for linear operation and show how Trench Power MOSFETs are suited to it.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Im Rahmen des Exzellenzclusters „Integrative Produktionstechnik für Hochlohnländer“ der RWTHAachen University werden derzeit alternative Verfahren zur Herstellung von Metall/Kunststoff- Verbindungen untersucht. Eines davon ist das thermische Direktfügen, das eine stoffschlüssige Verbindung zwischen Kunststoff und Metall ermöglicht und ohne die Verwendung von Klebstoffen, Haftvermittlern oder mechanischen Verbindungshilfen auskommt.
Selective laser melting of metals: desktop machines open up new chances even for small companies
(2012)
Additive manufacturing (AM) of metal parts by using Selective Laser Melting (SLM) has become a powerful tool mostly in the area of automotive, aerospace engineering and others. Especially in the field of dentistry, jewelry and related branches that require individualized or even one-of-a-kind products, the direct digital manufacturing process opens up new ways of design and manufacturing. In these fields, mostly small and medium sized businesses (SME) are operating which do not have sufficient human and economic resources to invest in this technology. But to stay competitive, the application of AM can be regarded as a necessity. In this situation a new desktop machine (Realizer SLM 50) was introduced that cost about 1/3 of a shop floor SLM machine and promises small quality parts. To find out whether the machine really is an alternative for SMEs the University of Applied Science, Aachen, Germany, designed, build and optimized typical parts from the dentistry and the jewelry branches using CoCr and silver material, the latter being new with this application. The paper describes the SLM procedure and how to find and optimize the most important parameters. The test is accompanied by digital simulation in order to verify the build parameters and to plan future builds. The procedure is shown as well as the resulting parts made from CoCr and silver material.
Außerbilanzielle Korrekturen
(2012)
In this study we observed courses of micturition symptoms and differentiated degrees of symptoms for each point in time while also considering the impact of bothersomeness. Our data show that not only significantly more patients who have undergone BT suffer from OAB than those who have undergone RP, but also that those affected show significantly higher values for severity of OAB symptoms throughout the whole observation period of 36 months. Our data analysis further shows that variability of OAB symptoms as well as fluctuation of severity of OAB symptoms vary to a significantly higher degree after BT than after RP. Looking only at mean figures at a given point in time clearly underestimates the underlying problem. This fact is not reflected in the literature.
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.
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.