Refine
Year of publication
Institute
- Fachbereich Medizintechnik und Technomathematik (1941)
- Fachbereich Elektrotechnik und Informationstechnik (1156)
- Fachbereich Wirtschaftswissenschaften (1124)
- Fachbereich Energietechnik (1068)
- Fachbereich Chemie und Biotechnologie (900)
- Fachbereich Maschinenbau und Mechatronik (818)
- Fachbereich Luft- und Raumfahrttechnik (772)
- Fachbereich Bauingenieurwesen (665)
- IfB - Institut für Bioengineering (630)
- INB - Institut für Nano- und Biotechnologien (586)
Has Fulltext
- no (9363) (remove)
Language
Document Type
- Article (5513)
- Conference Proceeding (1454)
- Book (1064)
- Part of a Book (574)
- Patent (177)
- Bachelor Thesis (170)
- Conference: Meeting Abstract (83)
- Report (83)
- Doctoral Thesis (82)
- Other (67)
- Contribution to a Periodical (20)
- Master's Thesis (18)
- Review (18)
- Working Paper (13)
- Conference Poster (5)
- Habilitation (5)
- Preprint (5)
- Talk (5)
- Diploma Thesis (3)
- Part of a Periodical (2)
- Examination Thesis (1)
- Video (1)
Keywords
- Illustration (10)
- Nachhaltigkeit (10)
- Corporate Design (9)
- Erscheinungsbild (8)
- Gamification (8)
- Redesign (7)
- Animation (6)
- Datenschutz (6)
- Deutschland (6)
- Digitalisierung (6)
Da die Gesellschaft in Deutschland immer älter wird, steigt auch die Nachfrage nach Gehhilfen wie beispielsweise einem Rollator. Im Alter steigt das Erkrankungsrisiko für Krankheiten, die die Mobilität erschweren können. An diesem Punkt setzt der Rollator MORO an und bietet wieder Sicherheit beim Gehen.
Für den MORO sind Hindernisse wie Bordsteinkanten kein Problem, da er sie mit speziellen Rädern spielend überwinden kann. Zusätzlich bietet er ergonomische Handgriffe, die entsprechend der jeweiligen Krankheit angepasst und ausgetauscht werden können sowie einen Sitz und eine Rückenlehne. Da der MORO aus Carbon hergestellt wird, ist er leicht in der Handhabung und somit wird die Mitnahme im Auto oder Bus und Bahn erleichtert. Durch seine verbesserte Ergonomie, individueller Anpassung und Leichtigkeit kann man wieder selbstständig durch die Welt gehen.
To better understand what kinds of sports and exercise could be beneficial for the intervertebral disc (IVD), we performed a review to synthesise the literature on IVD adaptation with loading and exercise. The state of the literature did not permit a systematic review; therefore, we performed a narrative review. The majority of the available data come from cell or whole-disc loading models and animal exercise models. However, some studies have examined the impact of specific sports on IVD degeneration in humans and acute exercise on disc size. Based on the data available in the literature, loading types that are likely beneficial to the IVD are dynamic, axial, at slow to moderate movement speeds, and of a magnitude experienced in walking and jogging. Static loading, torsional loading, flexion with compression, rapid loading, high-impact loading and explosive tasks are likely detrimental for the IVD. Reduced physical activity and disuse appear to be detrimental for the IVD. We also consider the impact of genetics and the likelihood of a ‘critical period’ for the effect of exercise in IVD development. The current review summarises the literature to increase awareness amongst exercise, rehabilitation and ergonomic professionals regarding IVD health and provides recommendations on future directions in research.
Im Rahmen dieser Masterarbeit wird die komplexe CPQ-Branchenlösung INKAS der it-motive AG konzeptionell und gestalterisch überarbeitet. Die mehrjährige Entwicklung von INKAS und etlicher separater Komponenten hat zu einer zum Teil inkonsistenten Oberfläche geführt, die Schwierigkeiten bei der Benutzung aufweist. Das neue User Interface, welches diese Masterarbeit entwickelt, soll durch einheitliche Interaktionsprinzipien zum einen die Usability und bestehende Funktionalitäten verbessern und zum anderen neue Funktionen leichter integrierbar machen. Diese Masterarbeit demonstriert somit ein Vorgehensmodell, durch welches komplexe existierende Branchenlösungen mithilfe eines nutzerzentrierten Redesigns eine nachhaltig verbesserte Produktqualität erreichen und die Integration neuer Technologien ermöglicht. In diesem Zusammenhang wird auch exemplarisch aufgezeigt, wie Designleistungen methodisch in bestehende agile Softwareentwicklungsprozesse integriert werden können.
Statistisches Multiplexen von Sprache und Daten in TDMA-Mobilfunksystemen der dritten Generation
(1995)
Grundlagen des Mobilfunks
(2007)
Das anhaltende Wachstum wissenschaftlicher Veröffentlichungen wirft die Fragestellung auf, wie Literaturana-lysen im Rahmen von Forschungsprozessen digitalisiert und somit produktiver realisiert werden können. Insbesondere in informationstechnischen Fachgebieten ist die Forschungspraxis durch ein rasant wachsendes Publikationsaufkommen gekennzeichnet. Infolgedessen bietet sich der Einsatz von Methoden der Textanalyse (Text Analytics) an, die Textdaten automatisch vorbereiten und verarbeiten können. Erkenntnisse entstehen dabei aus Analysen von Wortarten und Subgruppen, Korrelations- sowie Zeitreihenanalysen. Dieser Beitrag stellt die Konzeption und Realisierung eines Prototypen vor, mit dem Anwender bibliographische Daten aus der etablierten Literaturdatenbank EBSCO Discovery Service mithilfe textanalytischer Methoden erschließen können. Der Prototyp basiert auf dem Analysesystem IBM Watson Explorer, das Hochschulen lizenzkostenfrei zur Verfügung steht. Potenzielle Adressaten des Prototypen sind Forschungseinrichtungen, Beratungsunternehmen sowie Entscheidungsträger in Politik und Unternehmenspraxis.
Angesichts des anhaltenden Wachstums wissenschaftlicher Veröffentlichungen werden Instrumente benötigt, um Literaturanalysen durch Digitalisierung produktiver zu gestalten. Dieser Beitrag stellt einen Ansatz vor, der bibliographische Daten aus der Literaturdatenbank EBSCO Discovery Service mithilfe von Text-Analytics-Methoden erschließt. Die Lösung basiert auf dem Textanalysesystem IBM Watson Explorer und eignet sich für explorative Literaturanalysen, um beispielsweise den Status quo emergierender Technologiefelder in der Literatur zu reflektieren. Die generierten Ergebnisse sind in den Kontext der zunehmenden Werkzeugunterstützung des Literaturrechercheprozesses einzuordnen und können für intra- sowie interinstitutionelle Wissenstransferprozesse in Forschungs- und Beratungskontexten genutzt werden.
Die Durchführung einer systematischen Literaturrecherche ist eine zentrale Kompetenz wissenschaftlichen Arbeitens und bildet daher einen festen Ausbildungsbestandteil von Bachelor- und Masterstudiengängen. In entsprechenden Lehrveranstaltungen werden Studierende zwar mit den grundlegenden Hilfsmitteln zur Suche und Verwaltung von Literatur vertraut gemacht, allerdings werden die Potenziale textanalytischer Methoden und Anwendungssysteme (Text Mining, Text Analytics) dabei zumeist nicht abgedeckt. Folglich werden Datenkompetenzen, die zur systemgestützten Analyse und Erschließung von Literaturdaten erforderlich sind, nicht hinreichend ausgeprägt. Um diese Kompetenzlücke zu adressieren, ist an der Hochschule Osnabrück eine Lehrveranstaltung konzipiert und projektorientiert umgesetzt worden, die sich insbesondere an Studierende wirtschaftswissenschaftlicher Studiengänge richtet. Dieser Beitrag dokumentiert die fachliche sowie technische Ausgestaltung dieser Veranstaltung und zeigt Potenziale für die künftige Weiterentwicklung auf.
The benefits of robotic process automation (RPA) are highly related to the usage of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) software products that can be easily implemented and customized by business units. But, how to find the best fitting RPA product for a specific situation that creates the expected benefits? This question is related to the general area of software evaluation and selection. In the face of more than 75 RPA products currently on the market, guidance considering those specifics is required. Therefore, this chapter proposes a criteria-based selection method specifically for RPA. The method includes a quantitative evaluation of costs and benefits as well as a qualitative utility analysis based on functional criteria. By using the visualization of financial implications (VOFI) method, an application-oriented structure is provided that opposes the total cost of ownership to the time savings times salary (TSTS). For the utility analysis a detailed list of functional criteria for RPA is offered. The whole method is based on a multi-vocal review of scientific and non-scholarly literature including publications by business practitioners, consultants, and vendors. The application of the method is illustrated by a concrete RPA example. The illustrated
structures, templates, and criteria can be directly utilized by practitioners in their real-life RPA implementations. In addition, a normative decision process for selecting RPA alternatives is proposed before the chapter closes with a discussion and outlook.
The continuing growth of scientific publications raises the question how research processes can be digitalized and thus realized more productively. Especially in information technology fields, research practice is characterized by a rapidly growing volume of publications. For the search process various information systems exist. However, the analysis of the published content is still a highly manual task. Therefore, we propose a text analytics system that allows a fully digitalized analysis of literature sources. We have realized a prototype by using EBSCO Discovery Service in combination with IBM Watson Explorer and demonstrated the results in real-life research projects. Potential addressees are research institutions, consulting firms, and decision-makers in politics and business practice.
Information technologies, such as big data analytics, cloud computing,
cyber physical systems, robotic process automation, and the internet of things, provide a sustainable impetus for the structural development of business sectors as well as the digitalization of markets, enterprises, and processes. Within the consulting industry, the proliferation of these technologies opened up the new segment of digital transformation, which focuses on setting up, controlling, and implementing projects for enterprises from a broad range of sectors. These recent developments raise the question, which requirements evolve for IT consultants as important success factors of those digital transformation projects. Therefore, this empirical contribution provides indications regarding the qualifications and competences necessary for IT consultants in the era of digital transformation from a labor market perspective. On the one hand, this knowledge base is interesting for the academic education of consultants, since it supports a market-oriented design of adequate training measures. On the other hand, insights into the competence requirements for consultants are considered relevant for skill and talent management processes in consulting practice. Assuming that consulting companies pursue a strategic human resource management approach, labor market information may also be useful to discover strategic behavioral patterns.
Dieser Beitrag stellt einen Bewertungsrahmen für Smart Services vor, der auf dem Konzept vollständiger Finanzpläne (VOFI) basiert. Zunächst wird eine IoT-Architektur für Smart Services eingeführt, die die Grundlage für deren Betrachtung aus Sicht der Unternehmensplanung liefert. Hierauf aufbauend wird ein Bewertungsrahmen für die finanzplanorientierte Wirtschaftlichkeitsbewertung von Smart Services geschaffen, mit dem die relevanten Zahlungsfolgen differenziert erfasst werden. Mithilfe des entwickelten VOFI-Systems wird anschließend aufgezeigt, wie mithilfe einer Risikoanalyse die Unsicherheit von Modellparametern berücksichtigt werden kann.
Auswirkungen des Forderungsverzichtes – Steuerliche Belastung und Beeinflussung der Steuerquote
(2009)
In den letzten drei bis vier Jahren unterlag der Bereich der Bilanzierung und Offenlegung von unsicheren Steuerpositionen im IFRS- und US-GAAP-Abschluss einem stetigen Wandel. Sowohl nach US-GAAP als auch nach IFRS nehmen die Anforderungen an die Bilanzierung und Offenlegung beständig zu. Schon allein dies zeigt die Bedeutung, die dem Themenbereich der Steuerrisiken beigemessen wird. Aber nicht nur im Rahmen der Berichterstattung im Jahresabschluss stehen Steuerrisiken oben auf der Agenda, auch der amerikanische Internal Revenue Service (IRS) verfolgt das Thema sehr konsequent und plant, bestimmte Unternehmen zu Angaben von Steuerrisiken im Rahmen der Steuererklärungen zu verpflichten.
Der Aufsatz befasst sich mit den neueren Entwicklungen im Bereich der Bilanzierung und Offenlegung von unsicheren Steuerpositionen in der Rechnungslegung nach IFRS, US-GAAP und HGB und der Offenlegung von Steuerrisiken im Rahmen der Steuererklärung.
Latente Steuern im Zusammenhang mit Beteiligungen an Tochterunternehmen im IFRS-Konzernabschluss
(2013)
Antibias training is increasingly demanded and practiced in academia and industry to increase employees’ sensitivity to discrimination, racism, and diversity. Under the heading of “Diversity Management,” antibias trainings are mainly offered as one-off workshops intending to raise awareness of unconscious biases, create a diversity-affirming corporate culture, promote awareness of the potential of
diversity, and ultimately enable the reflection of diversity in development processes. However, coming from childhood education, research and scientific articles on the sustainable effectiveness of antibias in adulthood, especially in academia, are very scarce. In order to fill this research gap, the article aims to explore how sustainable the effects of individual antibias trainings on participants’ behavior are. In order to investigate this, participant observation in a qualitative pre–post setting was conducted, analyzing antibias training in an academic context. Two observers actively participated in the training sessions and documented the activities and reflection processes of the participants. Overall, the results question the effectiveness of single antibias trainings and show that a target-group adaptive approach is mandatory owing to the background of the approach in early childhood education. Therefore, antibias work needs to be adapted to the target group’s needs and realities of life. Furthermore, the study reveals that single antibias trainings must be embedded in a holistic diversity management approach to stimulate sustainable reflection processes among the target group. This article is one of the first to scientifically evaluate antibias training effectiveness, especially in engineering sciences and the university context.
Die Chance der fiktionalen Literatur : Literatur der Fiktion als Anstoß für Information und Diskurs
(2022)
Der informative Charakter fiktionaler Texte sollte nicht unterschätzt werden. Mit dem Projekt wird durch „Buddenbrooks“ von Thomas Mann gezeigt, wie relevante und redebedürftige Themen in der Literatur angesprochen werden. Dafür gibt es zusätzliche Text- und Info-Impulse als ergänzendes Buch zum Roman. Neben diesen Vertiefungsbüchern gibt es eine Inszenierung des Buches mit Beispielen aus den Büchern. Die Ausstellung kann Teil eines Messestandes sein oder für sich existieren und bietet einen ersten Kontakt mit der Idee des Projektes und mit den Büchern selbst. Zusätzliches Interesse an der Arbeit wird durch Social Media Posts generiert, die den wichtigen Part des Austauschs und der Diskussion fördern, wozu das Projekt auch anregen möchte. „Die Chance der fiktionalen Literatur“ regt Leser:innen an, fiktionale Literatur anders zu betrachten und einen größeren Nutzen aus der Fiktion zu ziehen.
The utilization of phase change material (PCM) for latent heat storage and thermal control of spacecraft has been demonstrated in the past in few missions only. One limiting factor was the fact that all concepts developed so far envisioned the PCM to be applied as an additional capacitor, encapsulated in its own housing, leading to mass, efficiency and accommodation challenges. Recently, the application of PCM within the scan cavity of a GEOS type satellite has been suggested, in order to tackle thermal issues due to direct sun intrusion (Choi, M., 2014). However, the application of PCM in such complex mechanical structures is extremely challenging. A new concept to tackle this issue is currently under development at the FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences. The concept "Infused Thermal Solutions (ITS)" is based on the idea to 3D print metallic structures in their regular functional shape, but double walled with internal lattice support structures, allowing the infusion of a PCM layer directly into the voids and eliminating the need for additional parts and interfaces. Together with OHB System, FH Aachen theoretically studied the application of this technology to the Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) Infra-Red Sounder (IRS) instrument. The study focuses on the scan cavity and entrance baffling assembly (EBA) of the IRS. It consists of thermal analyses, 3D-redesign and bread boarding of a scaled and PCM infused EBA version. In the thermal design of the alternative EBA, PCM was applied directly into the EBA, simulating the worst hot case sun intrusion of the mission. By applying 4kg of PCM (to a 60kg baffle) the EBA temperature excursions during sun intrusion were limited from 140K to 30K, leading to a significant thermo-opto-elastic performance gain. This paper introduces the ITS concept development status.
High aerodynamic efficiency requires propellers with high aspect ratios, while propeller sweep potentially reduces noise. Propeller sweep and high aspect ratios increase elasticity and coupling of structural mechanics and aerodynamics, affecting the propeller performance and noise. Therefore, this paper analyzes the influence of elasticity on forward-swept, backward-swept, and unswept propellers in hover conditions. A reduced-order blade element momentum approach is coupled with a one-dimensional Timoshenko beam theory and Farassat's formulation 1A. The results of the aeroelastic simulation are used as input for the aeroacoustic calculation. The analysis shows that elasticity influences noise radiation because thickness and loading noise respond differently to deformations. In the case of the backward-swept propeller, the location of the maximum sound pressure level shifts forward by 0.5 °, while in the case of the forward-swept propeller, it shifts backward by 0.5 °. Therefore, aeroacoustic optimization requires the consideration of propeller deformation.
As a low-input crop, Miscanthus offers numerous advantages that, in addition to agricultural applications, permits its exploitation for energy, fuel, and material production. Depending on the Miscanthus genotype, season, and harvest time as well as plant component (leaf versus stem), correlations between structure and properties of the corresponding isolated lignins differ. Here, a comparative study is presented between lignins isolated from M. x giganteus, M. sinensis, M. robustus and M. nagara using a catalyst-free organosolv pulping process. The lignins from different plant constituents are also compared regarding their similarities and differences regarding monolignol ratio and important linkages. Results showed that the plant genotype has the weakest influence on monolignol content and interunit linkages. In contrast, structural differences are more significant among lignins of different harvest time and/or season. Analyses were performed using fast and simple methods such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Data was assigned to four different linkages (A: β-O-4 linkage, B: phenylcoumaran, C: resinol, D: β-unsaturated ester). In conclusion, A content is particularly high in leaf-derived lignins at just under 70% and significantly lower in stem and mixture lignins at around 60% and almost 65%. The second most common linkage pattern is D in all isolated lignins, the proportion of which is also strongly dependent on the crop portion. Both stem and mixture lignins, have a relatively high share of approximately 20% or more (maximum is M. sinensis Sin2 with over 30%). In the leaf-derived lignins, the proportions are significantly lower on average. Stem samples should be chosen if the highest possible lignin content is desired, specifically from the M. x giganteus genotype, which revealed lignin contents up to 27%. Due to the better frost resistance and higher stem stability, M. nagara offers some advantages compared to M. x giganteus. Miscanthus crops are shown to be very attractive lignocellulose feedstock (LCF) for second generation biorefineries and lignin generation in Europe.
Chromatography is the workhorse of biopharmaceutical downstream processing because it can selectively enrich a target product while removing impurities from complex feed streams. This is achieved by exploiting differences in molecular properties, such as size, charge and hydrophobicity (alone or in different combinations). Accordingly, many parameters must be tested during process development in order to maximize product purity and recovery, including resin and ligand types, conductivity, pH, gradient profiles, and the sequence of separation operations. The number of possible experimental conditions quickly becomes unmanageable. Although the range of suitable conditions can be narrowed based on experience, the time and cost of the work remain high even when using high-throughput laboratory automation. In contrast, chromatography modeling using inexpensive, parallelized computer hardware can provide expert knowledge, predicting conditions that achieve high purity and efficient recovery. The prediction of suitable conditions in silico reduces the number of empirical tests required and provides in-depth process understanding, which is recommended by regulatory authorities. In this article, we discuss the benefits and specific challenges of chromatography modeling. We describe the experimental characterization of chromatography devices and settings prior to modeling, such as the determination of column porosity. We also consider the challenges that must be overcome when models are set up and calibrated, including the cross-validation and verification of data-driven and hybrid (combined data-driven and mechanistic) models. This review will therefore support researchers intending to establish a chromatography modeling workflow in their laboratory.
Synthese der Sequenz 71—86 des Humanproinsulins, III : Synthese über die Fragmente 71—78 und 79—86
(1979)
Es wird die Synthese der Sequenz A 6–9 des Schafinsulins in der geschützten Form Boc-Cys-Cys-Ala-Gly-OBuᵗ (5) sowie das Verhalten dieses monomeren cyclischen Cystinpeptidderivates gegenüber den in der Peptidchemie gebräuchlichen Reagenzien Bortrifluorid/Eisessig, Triäthylamin und Hydrazinhydrat beschrieben.
Die Synthese der Sequenzen A2—21 (13) und A1—21 (15) der Schafinsulin-A-Kette als monomere cyclische Dicystinpeptidderivate wird beschrieben. Die intrachenaren Cystinbrücken A6—7 und A 11 —20 vermitteln die Löslichkeit dieser Derivate in Dimethylformamid und ermöglichen erstmalig die Reindarstellung vollgeschützter Insulin-A-Kettenderivate. Die während der Synthese eingesetzten Schutzgruppen lassen sich mittels Trifluoressigsäure und 2-Mercaptoäthanol quantitativ entfernen.
This Research Briefing, issued in July 2010, concluded that:
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Europe have long called for a matching legal form valid across the EU (similar to that of the European company (SE) for large firms)
- The main benefits would be the availability of uniform Europe-wide company structures, significant cost reductions for businesses and further integration of the internal market
- Given the differing national views regarding the concrete features of the new legal form there is currently no sign of an agreement being reached at the European level in the short term; however, it is possible that progress will be made in negotiations during the year
- The key issues being discussed in depth are company formation, transnationality and employee participation rights in the new European private company (SPE).
Divided government is often thought of as causing legislative deadlock. I investigate the link between divided government and economic reforms using a novel data set on welfare reforms in US states between 1978 and 2010. Panel data regressions show that, under divided government, a US state is around 25% more likely to adopt a welfare reform than under unified government. Several robustness checks confirm this counter-intuitive finding. Case study evidence suggests an explanation based on policy competition between governor, senate, and house.
Does stiffer electoral competition reduce political shirking? For a micro-analysis of this question, I construct a new data set spanning the years 2005 to 2012 covering biographical and political information about German Members of Parliament (MPs), including their attendance rates in voting sessions. For the parliament elected in 2009, I show that indeed opposition party MPs who expect to face a close race in their district show significantly and relevantly lower absence rates in parliament beforehand. MPs of governing parties seem not to react significantly to electoral competition. These results are confirmed by an analysis of the parliament elected in 2005, by several robustness checks, and also by employing an instrumental variable strategy exploiting convenient peculiarities of the German electoral system. The study also shows how MPs elected via party lists react to different levels of electoral competition.
Currently, most workflow management systems in Grid environments provide push-oriented job distribution strategies, where jobs are explicitly delegated to resources. In those scenarios the dedicated resources execute submitted jobs according to the request of a workflow engine or Grid wide scheduler. This approach has various limitations, particularly if human interactions should be integrated in workflow execution. To support human interactions with the benefit of enabling inter organizational computation and community approaches, this poster paper proposes the idea of a pull-based task distribution strategy. Here, heterogeneous resources, including human interaction, should actively select tasks for execution from a central repository. This leads to special demands regarding security issues like access control. In the established push-based job execution the resources are responsible for granting access to workflows and job initiators. In general this is done by access control lists, where users are explicitly mapped to local accounts according to their policies. In the pull-based approach the resources actively apply for job executions by sending requests to a central task repository. This means that every resource has to be able to authenticate against the repository to be authorized for task execution. In other words the authorization is relocated from the resources to the repository. The poster paper introduces current work regarding to the mentioned security aspects in the pull-based approach within the scope of the project “HiX4AGWS”.
Smart-Living-Services nur gegen Daten? Process-Mining als Möglichkeit zur Steigerung der Akzeptanz!
(2019)
Seit Jahren etablieren sich Technologien in unserem Alltag, die mit Hilfe von smarten Komponenten neue Services und Vernetzungsmöglichkeiten schaffen. Dieses Paper beschreibt die Ergebnisse einer Studie, die die Akzeptanz von IoT-gestützten, smarten Services im privaten Umfeld untersucht. Dabei wird eine zentrale Datenverarbeitung mit automatisierter Erstellung smarter Services der dezentralen Datenverarbeitung mit manueller Serviceerstellung in sieben Kategorien gegenübergestellt. Die Auswertung der Studie legt die Forschungsfrage nahe, ob das Nutzerverhalten im Kontext Smart Living nicht auch mit einem
dezentralen Lösungsansatz, und somit unabhängig von großen Unternehmen, analysiert werden kann. Hierfür wird im zweiten Teil des Papers die Anwendbarkeit von Process-Mining im Bereich Smart Living untersucht und prototypisch getestet.
Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), a strong oxidizer, is a commonly used sterilization agent employed during aseptic food processing and medical applications. To assess the sterilization efficiency with H₂O₂, bacterial spores are common microbial systems due to their remarkable robustness against a wide variety of decontamination strategies. Despite their widespread use, there is, however, only little information about the detailed time-resolved mechanism underlying the oxidative spore death by H₂O₂. In this work, we investigate chemical and morphological changes of individual Bacillus atrophaeus spores undergoing oxidative damage using optical sensing with trapping Raman microscopy in real-time. The time-resolved experiments reveal that spore death involves two distinct phases: (i) an initial phase dominated by the fast release of dipicolinic acid (DPA), a major spore biomarker, which indicates the rupture of the spore’s core; and (ii) the oxidation of the remaining spore material resulting in the subsequent fragmentation of the spores’ coat. Simultaneous observation of the spore morphology by optical microscopy corroborates these mechanisms. The dependence of the onset of DPA release and the time constant of spore fragmentation on H₂O₂ shows that the formation of reactive oxygen species from H₂O₂ is the rate-limiting factor of oxidative spore death.
To gain insight on chemical sterilization processes, the influence of temperature (up to 70 °C), intense green light, and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) concentration (up to 30% in aqueous solution) on microbial spore inactivation is evaluated by in-situ Raman spectroscopy with an optical trap. Bacillus atrophaeus is utilized as a model organism. Individual spores are isolated and their chemical makeup is monitored under dynamically changing conditions (temperature, light, and H₂O₂ concentration) to mimic industrially relevant process parameters for sterilization in the field of aseptic food processing. While isolated spores in water are highly stable, even at elevated temperatures of 70 °C, exposure to H₂O₂ leads to a loss of spore integrity characterized by the release of the key spore biomarker dipicolinic acid (DPA) in a concentration-dependent manner, which indicates damage to the inner membrane of the spore. Intensive light or heat, both of which accelerate the decomposition of H₂O₂ into reactive oxygen species (ROS), drastically shorten the spore lifetime, suggesting the formation of ROS as a rate-limiting step during sterilization. It is concluded that Raman spectroscopy can deliver mechanistic insight into the mode of action of H₂O₂-based sterilization and reveal the individual contributions of different sterilization methods acting in tandem.
Das Masterprojekt DIE STUHL hebt die Unsichtbarkeit von Gestalterinnen im Stuhldesign hervor. Es werden 108 Designerinnen aus 40 Ländern vorgestellt, die vom Beginn des 20. Jahrhunderts bis heute innovative und richtungsweisende Entwürfe von Stühlen entwickelt haben. Die Arbeit beleuchtet den Beitrag, den sie geleistet haben und stellt gleichzeitig heraus, dass viele von ihnen im internationalen Designkanon übersehen wurden. Chronologisch nach dem Erscheinungsjahr der ersten entwickelten Stühle geordnet, werden die Objekte in einem Atlas illustriert und Kurzbiografien der Protagonistinnen gezeigt. Anhand von Informationsgrafiken werden die Stühle in das soziopolitische Geschehen ihrer Zeit eingebettet. DIE STUHL würdigt die Arbeit von Gestalterinnen und stellt Fragen zur strukturellen Ungleichheit der Geschlechter. Parallel zur Publikation ist außerdem eine Skulptur entstanden, die als Zeitstrahl fungiert und in abstrakter Form alle im Atlas erwähnten Stühle aufführt. Hierbei wird das ungleiche Verhältnis der von Gestalterinnen und Gestalter entworfenen Stühle sichtbar.