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We study the possibility to fabricate an arbitrary phase mask in a one-step laser-writing process inside the volume of an optical glass substrate. We derive the phase mask from a Gerchberg–Saxton-type algorithm as an array and create each individual phase shift using a refractive index modification of variable axial length. We realize the variable axial length by superimposing refractive index modifications induced by an ultra-short pulsed laser at different focusing depth. Each single modification is created by applying 1000 pulses with 15 μJ pulse energy at 100 kHz to a fixed spot of 25 μm diameter and the focus is then shifted axially in steps of 10 μm. With several proof-of-principle examples, we show the feasibility of our method. In particular, we identify the induced refractive index change to about a value of Δn=1.5⋅10−3. We also determine our current limitations by calculating the overlap in the form of a scalar product and we discuss possible future improvements.
Image reconstruction analysis for positron emission tomography with heterostructured scintillators
(2022)
The concept of structure engineering has been proposed for exploring the next generation of radiation detectors with improved performance. A TOF-PET geometry with heterostructured scintillators with a pixel size of 3.0×3.1×15 mm3 was simulated using Monte Carlo. The heterostructures consisted of alternating layers of BGO as a dense material with high stopping power and plastic (EJ232) as a fast light emitter. The detector time resolution was calculated as a function of the deposited and shared energy in both materials on an event-by-event basis. While sensitivity was reduced to 32% for 100 μm thick plastic layers and 52% for 50 μm, the CTR distribution improved to 204±49 ps and 220±41 ps respectively, compared to 276 ps that we considered for bulk BGO. The complex distribution of timing resolutions was accounted for in the reconstruction. We divided the events into three groups based on their CTR and modeled them with different Gaussian TOF kernels. On a NEMA IQ phantom, the heterostructures had better contrast recovery in early iterations. On the other hand, BGO achieved a better contrast to noise ratio (CNR) after the 15th iteration due to the higher sensitivity. The developed simulation and reconstruction methods constitute new tools for evaluating different detector designs with complex time responses.
Die neu erschienenen „Empfehlungen zum Einsatz von Verkehrsnachfragemodellen für den Personenverkehr“ liefern erstmals als Empfehlungspapier der Forschungsgesellschaft für Straßen- und Verkehrswesen einen umfassenden Überblick zu den verschiedenen Aspekten der Modellierung und geben dem Fachplaner konkrete Hilfestellung für die Konzeption von Nachfragemodellen. Das Empfehlungspapier zielt unter anderem darauf ab, die Erwartungen und das Anspruchsniveau in Hinblick auf Sachgerechtigkeit der Modelle, die erzielbare Modellqualität und den Detaillierungsgrad der Modellaussagen zu harmonisieren.
In der Praxis bestehen vielfältige Einsatzbereiche für Verkehrsnachfragemodelle. Mit ihnen können Kenngrößen des Verkehrsangebots und der Verkehrsnachfrage für den heutigen Zustand wie auch für zukünftige Zustände bereitgestellt werden, um so die Grundlagen für verkehrsplanerische Entscheidungen zu liefern. Die neuen „Empfehlungen zum Einsatz von Verkehrsnachfragemodellen für den Personenverkehr“ (EVNM-PV) (FGSV 2022) veranschaulichen anhand von typischen Planungsaufgaben, welche differenzierten Anforderungen daraus für die Modellkonzeption und -erstellung resultieren. Vor dem Hintergrund der konkreten Aufgabenstellung sowie deren spezifischer planerischer Anforderungen bildet die abzuleitende Modellspezifikation die verabredete Grundlage zwischen Auftraggeber und Modellersteller für die konkrete inhaltliche, fachliche Ausgestaltung des Verkehrsmodells.
Stützen und Träger aus Stahlprofilen können in Fundamente oder Wände aus Stahlbeton einbetoniert werden. Diese Anschlüsse wirken in der Regel wie Einspannungen, die eine ausreichende Einspanntiefe erfordern. Im Folgenden wird eine verallgemeinerte Berechnungsmethode für in Stahlbetonkonstruktionen eingespannte Stahlprofile aus gewalzten I-Profilen, geschweißten I-Profilen, runden Hohlprofilen, eckigen Hohlprofilen und einzelligen Kastenquerschnitten vorgestellt. Für Beanspruchungen infolge einachsiger Biegung um die starke und schwache Profilachse werden der profilabhängige Ansatz der Betondruckspannungen im Einspannbereich und die Ermittlung der Einspanntiefe behandelt. Unter Berücksichtigung der Normalkraft werden an den maßgebenden Stellen Tragfähigkeitsnachweise für die Stahlprofile geführt. Als Ergänzung zu den Berechnungsformeln werden Bemessungshilfen zur Verfügung gestellt, die die Wahl der mitwirkenden Breiten und der Einspanntiefen erleichtert.
On the basis of bivariate data, assumed to be observations of independent copies of a random vector (S,N), we consider testing the hypothesis that the distribution of (S,N) belongs to the parametric class of distributions that arise with the compound Poisson exponential model. Typically, this model is used in stochastic hydrology, with N as the number of raindays, and S as total rainfall amount during a certain time period, or in actuarial science, with N as the number of losses, and S as total loss expenditure during a certain time period. The compound Poisson exponential model is characterized in the way that a specific transform associated with the distribution of (S,N) satisfies a certain differential equation. Mimicking the function part of this equation by substituting the empirical counterparts of the transform we obtain an expression the weighted integral of the square of which is used as test statistic. We deal with two variants of the latter, one of which being invariant under scale transformations of the S-part by fixed positive constants. Critical values are obtained by using a parametric bootstrap procedure. The asymptotic behavior of the tests is discussed. A simulation study demonstrates the performance of the tests in the finite sample case. The procedure is applied to rainfall data and to an actuarial dataset. A multivariate extension is also discussed.
Introduction: In peripheral percutaneous (VA) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) procedures the femoral arteries perfusion route has inherent disadvantages regarding poor upper body perfusion due to watershed. With the advent of new long flexible cannulas an advancement of the tip up to the ascending aorta has become feasible. To investigate the impact of such long endoluminal cannulas on upper body perfusion, a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) study was performed considering different support levels and three cannula positions.
Methods: An idealized literature-based- and a real patient proximal aortic geometry including an endoluminal cannula were constructed. The blood flow was considered continuous. Oxygen saturation was set to 80% for the blood coming from the heart and to 100% for the blood leaving the cannula. 50% and 90% venoarterial support levels from the total blood flow rate of 6 l/min were investigated for three different positions of the cannula in the aortic arch.
Results: For both geometries, the placement of the cannula in the ascending aorta led to a superior oxygenation of all aortic blood vessels except for the left coronary artery. Cannula placements at the aortic arch and descending aorta could support supra-aortic arteries, but not the coronary arteries. All positions were able to support all branches with saturated blood at 90% flow volume.
Conclusions: In accordance with clinical observations CFD analysis reveals, that retrograde advancement of a long endoluminal cannula can considerably improve the oxygenation of the upper body and lead to oxygen saturation distributions similar to those of a central cannulation.
Orthodontic treatments are concomitant with mechanical forces and thereby cause teeth movements. The applied forces are transmitted to the tooth root and the periodontal ligaments which is compressed on one side and tensed up on the other side. Indeed, strong forces can lead to tooth root resorption and the crown-to-tooth ratio is reduced with the potential for significant clinical impact. The cementum, which covers the tooth root, is a thin mineralized tissue of the periodontium that connects the periodontal ligament with the tooth and is build up by cementoblasts. The impact of tension and compression on these cells is investigated in several in vivo and in vitro studies demonstrating differences in protein expression and signaling pathways. In summary, osteogenic marker changes indicate that cyclic tensile forces support whereas static tension inhibits cementogenesis. Furthermore, cementogenesis experiences the same protein expression changes in static conditions as static tension, but cyclic compression leads to the exact opposite of cyclic tension. Consistent with marker expression changes, the singaling pathways of Wnt/ß-catenin and RANKL/OPG show that tissue compression leads to cementum degradation and tension forces to cementogenesis. However, the cementum, and in particular its cementoblasts, remain a research area which should be explored in more detail to understand the underlying mechanism of bone resorption and remodeling after orthodontic treatments.
Eye movement modelling examples (EMME) are instructional videos that display a
teacher’s eye movements as “gaze cursor” (e.g. a moving dot) superimposed on the
learning task. This study investigated if previous findings on the beneficial effects of EMME would extend to online lecture videos and compared the effects of displaying the teacher’s gaze cursor with displaying the more traditional mouse cursor as a tool to guide learners’ attention. Novices (N = 124) studied a pre-recorded video lecture on how to model business processes in a 2 (mouse cursor absent/present) × 2 (gaze cursor absent/present) between-subjects design. Unexpectedly, we did not find significant effects of the presence of gaze or mouse cursors on mental effort and learning. However, participants who watched videos with the gaze cursor found it easier to follow the teacher. Overall, participants responded positively to the gaze cursor, especially when the mouse cursor was not displayed in the video.
In this study, the performance of an integrated body-imaging array for 7 T with 32 radiofrequency (RF) channels under consideration of local specific absorption rate (SAR), tissue temperature, and thermal dose limits was evaluated and the imaging performance was compared with a clinical 3 T body coil.
Thirty-two transmit elements were placed in three rings between the bore liner and RF shield of the gradient coil. Slice-selective RF pulse optimizations for B1 shimming and spokes were performed for differently oriented slices in the body under consideration of realistic constraints for power and local SAR. To improve the B1+ homogeneity, safety assessments based on temperature and thermal dose were performed to possibly allow for higher input power for the pulse optimization than permissible with SAR limits.
The results showed that using two spokes, the 7 T array outperformed the 3 T birdcage in all the considered regions of interest. However, a significantly higher SAR or lower duty cycle at 7 T is necessary in some cases to achieve similar B1+ homogeneity as at 3 T. The homogeneity in up to 50 cm-long coronal slices can particularly benefit from the high RF shim performance provided by the 32 RF channels. The thermal dose approach increases the allowable input power and the corresponding local SAR, in one example up to 100 W/kg, without limiting the exposure time necessary for an MR examination.
In conclusion, the integrated antenna array at 7 T enables a clinical workflow for body imaging and comparable imaging performance to a conventional 3 T clinical body coil.
Automated driving is now possible in diverse road and traffic conditions. However, there are still situations that automated vehicles cannot handle safely and efficiently. In this case, a Transition of Control (ToC) is necessary so that the driver takes control of the driving. Executing a ToC requires the driver to get full situation awareness of the driving environment. If the driver fails to get back the control in a limited time, a Minimum Risk Maneuver (MRM) is executed to bring the vehicle into a safe state (e.g., decelerating to full stop). The execution of ToCs requires some time and can cause traffic disruption and safety risks that increase if several vehicles execute ToCs/MRMs at similar times and in the same area. This study proposes to use novel C-ITS traffic management measures where the infrastructure exploits V2X communications to assist Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAVs) in the execution of ToCs. The infrastructure can suggest a spatial distribution of ToCs, and inform vehicles of the locations where they could execute a safe stop in case of MRM. This paper reports the first field operational tests that validate the feasibility and quantify the benefits of the proposed infrastructure-assisted ToC and MRM management. The paper also presents the CAV and roadside infrastructure prototypes implemented and used in the trials. The conducted field trials demonstrate that infrastructure-assisted traffic management solutions can reduce safety risks and traffic disruptions.
Providing healthcare services frequently involves cognitively demanding tasks, including diagnoses and analyses as well as complex decisions about treatments and therapy. From a global perspective, ethically significant inequalities exist between regions where the expert knowledge required for these tasks is scarce or abundant. One possible strategy to diminish such inequalities and increase healthcare opportunities in expert-scarce settings is to provide healthcare solutions involving digital technologies that do not necessarily require the presence of a human expert, e.g., in the form of artificial intelligent decision-support systems (AI-DSS). Such algorithmic decision-making, however, is mostly developed in resource- and expert-abundant settings to support healthcare experts in their work. As a practical consequence, the normative standards and requirements for such algorithmic decision-making in healthcare require the technology to be at least as explainable as the decisions made by the experts themselves. The goal of providing healthcare in settings where resources and expertise are scarce might come with a normative pull to lower the normative standards of using digital technologies in order to provide at least some healthcare in the first place. We scrutinize this tendency to lower standards in particular settings from a normative perspective, distinguish between different types of absolute and relative, local and global standards of explainability, and conclude by defending an ambitious and practicable standard of local relative explainability.
This study aims to quantify the kinematics, kinetics and muscular activity of all-out handcycling exercise and examine their alterations during the course of a 15-s sprint test. Twelve able-bodied competitive triathletes performed a 15-s all-out sprint test in a recumbent racing handcycle that was attached to an ergometer. During the sprint test, tangential crank kinetics, 3D joint kinematics and muscular activity of 10 muscles of the upper extremity and trunk were examined using a power metre, motion capturing and surface electromyography (sEMG), respectively. Parameters were compared between revolution one (R1), revolution two (R2), the average of revolution 3 to 13 (R3) and the average of the remaining revolutions (R4). Shoulder abduction and internal-rotation increased, whereas maximal shoulder retroversion decreased during the sprint. Except for the wrist angles, angular velocity increased for every joint of the upper extremity. Several muscles demonstrated an increase in muscular activation, an earlier onset of muscular activation in crank cycle and an increased range of activation. During the course of a 15-s all-out sprint test in handcycling, the shoulder muscles and the muscles associated to the push phase demonstrate indications for short-duration fatigue. These findings are helpful to prevent injuries and improve performance in all-out handcycling.
Objective
Hemodialysis patients show an approximately threefold higher prevalence of cognitive impairment compared to the age-matched general population. Impaired microcirculatory function is one of the assumed causes. Dynamic retinal vessel analysis is a quantitative method for measuring neurovascular coupling and microvascular endothelial function. We hypothesize that cognitive impairment is associated with altered microcirculation of retinal vessels.
Methods
152 chronic hemodialysis patients underwent cognitive testing using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Retinal microcirculation was assessed by Dynamic Retinal Vessel Analysis, which carries out an examination recording retinal vessels' reaction to a flicker light stimulus under standardized conditions.
Results
In unadjusted as well as in adjusted linear regression analyses a significant association between the visuospatial executive function domain score of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment and the maximum arteriolar dilation as response of retinal arterioles to the flicker light stimulation was obtained.
Conclusion
This is the first study determining retinal microvascular function as surrogate for cerebral microvascular function and cognition in hemodialysis patients. The relationship between impairment in executive function and reduced arteriolar reaction to flicker light stimulation supports the involvement of cerebral small vessel disease as contributing factor for the development of cognitive impairment in this patient population and might be a target for noninvasive disease monitoring and therapeutic intervention.
Retinal vessels are similar to cerebral vessels in their structure and function. Moderately low oscillation frequencies of around 0.1 Hz have been reported as the driving force for paravascular drainage in gray matter in mice and are known as the frequencies of lymphatic vessels in humans. We aimed to elucidate whether retinal vessel oscillations are altered in Alzheimer's disease (AD) at the stage of dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Seventeen patients with mild-to-moderate dementia due to AD (ADD); 23 patients with MCI due to AD, and 18 cognitively healthy controls (HC) were examined using Dynamic Retinal Vessel Analyzer. Oscillatory temporal changes of retinal vessel diameters were evaluated using mathematical signal analysis. Especially at moderately low frequencies around 0.1 Hz, arterial oscillations in ADD and MCI significantly prevailed over HC oscillations and correlated with disease severity. The pronounced retinal arterial vasomotion at moderately low frequencies in the ADD and MCI groups would be compatible with the view of a compensatory upregulation of paravascular drainage in AD and strengthen the amyloid clearance hypothesis.
Dynamic retinal vessel analysis (DVA) provides a non-invasive way to assess microvascular function in patients and potentially to improve predictions of individual cardiovascular (CV) risk. The aim of our study was to use untargeted machine learning on DVA in order to improve CV mortality prediction and identify corresponding response alterations.
Biocompatibility, flexibility and durability make polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membranes top candidates in biomedical applications. CellDrum technology uses large area, <10 µm thin membranes as mechanical stress sensors of thin cell layers. For this to be successful, the properties (thickness, temperature, dust, wrinkles, etc.) must be precisely controlled. The following parameters of membrane fabrication by means of the Floating-on-Water (FoW) method were investigated: (1) PDMS volume, (2) ambient temperature, (3) membrane deflection and (4) membrane mechanical compliance. Significant differences were found between all PDMS volumes and thicknesses tested (p < 0.01). They also differed from the calculated values. At room temperatures between 22 and 26 °C, significant differences in average thickness values were found, as well as a continuous decrease in thicknesses within a 4 °C temperature elevation. No correlation was found between the membrane thickness groups (between 3–4 µm) in terms of deflection and compliance. We successfully present a fabrication method for thin bio-functionalized membranes in conjunction with a four-step quality management system. The results highlight the importance of tight regulation of production parameters through quality control. The use of membranes described here could also become the basis for material testing on thin, viscous layers such as polymers, dyes and adhesives, which goes far beyond biological applications.
Sleep spindles are neurophysiological phenomena that appear to be linked to memory formation and other functions of the central nervous system, and that can be observed in electroencephalographic recordings (EEG) during sleep. Manually identified spindle annotations in EEG recordings suffer from substantial intra- and inter-rater variability, even if raters have been highly trained, which reduces the reliability of spindle measures as a research and diagnostic tool. The Massive Online Data Annotation (MODA) project has recently addressed this problem by forming a consensus from multiple such rating experts, thus providing a corpus of spindle annotations of enhanced quality. Based on this dataset, we present a U-Net-type deep neural network model to automatically detect sleep spindles. Our model’s performance exceeds that of the state-of-the-art detector and of most experts in the MODA dataset. We observed improved detection accuracy in subjects of all ages, including older individuals whose spindles are particularly challenging to detect reliably. Our results underline the potential of automated methods to do repetitive cumbersome tasks with super-human performance.
The recently discovered first hyperbolic objects passing through the Solar System, 1I/’Oumuamua and 2I/Borisov, have raised the question about near term missions to Interstellar Objects. In situ spacecraft exploration of these objects will allow the direct determination of both their structure and their chemical and isotopic composition, enabling an entirely new way of studying small bodies from outside our solar system. In this paper, we map various Interstellar Object classes to mission types, demonstrating that missions to a range of Interstellar Object classes are feasible, using existing or near-term technology. We describe flyby, rendezvous and sample return missions to interstellar objects, showing various ways to explore these bodies characterizing their surface, dynamics, structure and composition. Their direct exploration will constrain their formation and history, situating them within the dynamical and chemical evolution of the Galaxy. These mission types also provide the opportunity to explore solar system bodies and perform measurements in the far outer solar system.