Refine
Year of publication
Institute
- Fachbereich Medizintechnik und Technomathematik (1692) (remove)
Language
- English (1692) (remove)
Document Type
- Article (1359)
- Conference Proceeding (212)
- Book (43)
- Part of a Book (43)
- Doctoral Thesis (18)
- Other (6)
- Patent (4)
- Preprint (3)
- Lecture (2)
- Habilitation (1)
Keywords
- Biosensor (25)
- Finite-Elemente-Methode (12)
- Einspielen <Werkstoff> (10)
- CAD (8)
- civil engineering (8)
- Bauingenieurwesen (7)
- FEM (6)
- Limit analysis (6)
- Shakedown analysis (6)
- shakedown analysis (6)
- Clusterion (5)
- Air purification (4)
- Hämoglobin (4)
- LAPS (4)
- Lipopolysaccharide (4)
- Luftreiniger (4)
- Natural language processing (4)
- Plasmacluster ion technology (4)
- Raumluft (4)
- hydrogen peroxide (4)
- impedance spectroscopy (4)
- limit analysis (4)
- CellDrum (3)
- Einspielanalyse (3)
- Field-effect sensor (3)
- Information extraction (3)
- Kohlenstofffaser (3)
- Label-free detection (3)
- Light-addressable potentiometric sensor (3)
- Paired sample (3)
- Shakedown (3)
- Sonde (3)
- Technische Mechanik (3)
- Traglastanalyse (3)
- biosensor (3)
- biosensors (3)
- lipopolysaccharides (3)
- shakedown (3)
- Analytischer Zulaessigkeitsnachweis (2)
- Bacillus atrophaeus (2)
- Biocomposites (2)
- Boundary integral equations (2)
- Bruchmechanik (2)
- Capacitive field-effect sensor (2)
- Clustering (2)
- Conductive boundary condition (2)
- Einspiel-Analyse (2)
- Eisschicht (2)
- Empirical process (2)
- Erythrozyt (2)
- Fibroblast (2)
- Force (2)
- Goodness-of-fit test (2)
- Incomplete data (2)
- Independence test (2)
- Iterative learning control (2)
- Machine learning (2)
- Natural fibres (2)
- Parametric bootstrap (2)
- Pflanzenphysiologie (2)
- Pflanzenscanner (2)
- Polymer-matrix composites (2)
- Potentiometry (2)
- Raman spectroscopy (2)
- Simulation (2)
- Stickstoffmonoxid (2)
- Stiffness (2)
- Stress concentrations (2)
- Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) (2)
- Traglast (2)
- Transmission eigenvalues (2)
- acetoin (2)
- biopotential electrodes (2)
- capacitive field-effect sensors (2)
- carbonized rice husk (2)
- celldrum technology (2)
- constructive alignment (2)
- damage (2)
- examination (2)
- field-effect sensor (2)
- frequency mixing magnetic detection (2)
- gas sensor (2)
- likelihood ratio test (2)
- limit load (2)
- locomotion (2)
- long-term retention (2)
- multimodal (2)
- muscle fascicle behavior (2)
- nanostructured carbonized plant parts (2)
- nanostrukturierte carbonisierte Pflanzenteile (2)
- nitric oxide gas (2)
- not identically distributed (2)
- plant scanner (2)
- practical learning (2)
- ratchetting (2)
- sterilisation (2)
- surface modification (2)
- tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) (2)
- ultrasound (2)
- ultrasound imaging (2)
- (Bio)degradation (1)
- 3-nitrofluoranthene (1)
- Acceleration (1)
- Achilles tendon (1)
- Active learning (1)
- Adaptive control (1)
- Adsorption (1)
- Afterload (1)
- Ageing (1)
- Agent-based modeling (1)
- Agent-based simulation (1)
- AlterG (1)
- Alternating plasticity (1)
- Alzheimer's disease (1)
- Analysis (1)
- Analytical models (1)
- Anastomose (1)
- Anastomosis (1)
- Anastomotic leakage (1)
- Anatomy (1)
- Annulus Fibrosus (1)
- Architectural design (1)
- Architectural gear ratio (1)
- Assistive technology (1)
- Asymptotic efficiency (1)
- Asymptotic relative efficiency (1)
- Autofluoreszenzverfahren (1)
- Autolysis (1)
- Automatic control (1)
- Axialbelastung (1)
- Axially cracked pipe (1)
- BTEX compounds (1)
- Bacillus atrophaeus spores (1)
- Bacillus sp (1)
- Bacterial cellulose (1)
- Bakterien (1)
- Balance (1)
- Basis Reduktion (1)
- Basis reduction (1)
- Bicharakteristikenverfahren (1)
- Bio-Sensors (1)
- Bioabsorbable (1)
- Biomechanical simulation (1)
- Biomechanics (1)
- Biomechanik (1)
- Biomedizinische Technik (1)
- Biomolecular logic gate (1)
- Biophoton (1)
- Bioreaktor (1)
- Biosensorik (1)
- Biosolubilization (1)
- Bladder (1)
- Blitzschutz (1)
- Blutzellenlagerung (1)
- Bone quality and biomechanics (1)
- Bone sawing (1)
- Booster Station (1)
- Bootstrap (1)
- Bootstrapping (1)
- Boundary integral equations, (1)
- Brownian Pillow (1)
- CAD ; (1)
- CNOT (1)
- CO (1)
- Calorimetric gas sensor (1)
- Capacitive field-effect (1)
- Capacitive model (1)
- Carbon sources (1)
- Cardiac myocytes (1)
- Cardiac tissue (1)
- Categorial variable (1)
- Cell permeability (1)
- Cellular force (1)
- Cellulose nanostructure (1)
- Cement infiltration (1)
- Cementoblast (1)
- Censored data (1)
- Chance constrained programming (1)
- Chemical images (1)
- Chemical imaging (1)
- Chemical imaging sensor (1)
- Chemical sensor (1)
- Circular Dichroism (1)
- Cloud Computing (1)
- Cloud Service Broker (1)
- Co-managed care (1)
- Coal (1)
- Coat protein (1)
- Coefficient of ocular rigidity (1)
- Collective risk model (1)
- Comparative simulation (1)
- Competitiveness (1)
- Complex System (1)
- Complex-valued eigenvalues (1)
- Compliance (1)
- Compression (1)
- Computational biomechanics (1)
- Concomitant (1)
- Conducing polymer (1)
- Conductive Boundary Condition (1)
- Conservation laws (1)
- Constitutive model (1)
- Contractile tension (1)
- Contractility (1)
- Convex optimization (1)
- Corneo-scleral shell (1)
- Cost-effectiveness (1)
- Coverage probability (1)
- Cramér-von-Mises statistic (1)
- Cramér-von-Mises test (1)
- Cross border adjustment mechanism (1)
- Crámer–von-Mises distance (1)
- Culture media (1)
- C–V method (1)
- DNA (1)
- DNA biosensor (1)
- DNA hybridization (1)
- DPA (dipicolinic acid) (1)
- Damage mechanics theory (1)
- Database (1)
- Dattel (1)
- Decomposition (1)
- Deep learning (1)
- Deformation (1)
- Dehydrogenase (1)
- Dekontamination (1)
- Design-by-analysis (1)
- Diaphorase (1)
- Differential tonometry (1)
- Dimensional splitting (1)
- Disc Degeneration (1)
- Discontinuous fractures (1)
- Discrete Optimization (1)
- Druckbeanspruchung (1)
- Druckbehälter (1)
- Druckbelastung (1)
- Druckgeräte (1)
- Drug simulation (1)
- Dry surfaces (1)
- E-Mobility (1)
- E. coli detection (1)
- ECT (1)
- EEG (1)
- EIS capacitive sensor (1)
- ELISA (1)
- EPN (1)
- ES-FEM (1)
- Eigenvalue trajectories (1)
- Einspiel-Kriterium (1)
- Einspielen (1)
- Elastizität (1)
- Elastodynamik (1)
- Elastostatics (1)
- Elderly (1)
- Electrolyte–insulator–semiconductor (1)
- Electromagnetism (1)
- Electromechanical modeling (1)
- Elektrodynamik (1)
- Elemental (1)
- End-to-end colorectal anastomosis (1)
- Endothelial cells (1)
- Endothelial dysfunction (1)
- Endothelzelle (1)
- Energy dispatch (1)
- Energy market (1)
- Energy market design (1)
- Energy-intensive industry (1)
- Enterprise information systems (1)
- Entropy solution (1)
- Environmental impact (1)
- Enzymatic biosensor (1)
- Enzyme biosensor (1)
- Enzyme coverage (1)
- Enzyme logic gate (1)
- Enzyme nanocarrier (1)
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (1)
- Epithel (1)
- Equivalence test (1)
- Esophageal Doppler monitor (1)
- Evolution of damage (1)
- Exact Ilyushin yield surface (1)
- Experiment (1)
- Exponential Euler scheme, (1)
- Exponential time differencing (1)
- Extension fracture (1)
- Extension strain criterion (1)
- External knee adduction moments (1)
- Eyeball (1)
- FGF23 (1)
- FS-FEM (1)
- Fall prevention (1)
- Fault approximation (1)
- Fault detection (1)
- Fehlerstellen (1)
- Festkörper (1)
- Field effect (1)
- Field-effect biosensor (1)
- Field-effect device (1)
- Finite difference methods (1)
- Finite element analysis (1)
- Finite element analysis (FEA) (1)
- Finite element method (1)
- Finite element modelling (1)
- First Order Reliabiblity Method (1)
- First-order reliability method (1)
- Fließgrenze (1)
- Floor prices (1)
- Fluorescence (1)
- Focusing (1)
- Forces (1)
- Fracture configuration (1)
- Fracture simulation (1)
- Freeze–thaw process (1)
- Frequency adaption (1)
- Frequency mixing magnetic detection (1)
- Functional Delta Method (1)
- GaAs hot electron injector (1)
- Gamma distribution (1)
- Gas sensor (1)
- Geriatric (1)
- German (1)
- Glaucoma (1)
- Global and local collapse (1)
- Glucose biosensor (1)
- Glucose oxidase (1)
- Gold nanoparticle (1)
- Gold nanoparticles (1)
- Goodness-of-fit tests for uniformity (1)
- Grenzwertberechnung (1)
- Grid Computing (1)
- Ground-level falls (1)
- Growth modelling (1)
- Gunn diode (1)
- H2 (1)
- Hadamard differentiability (1)
- Haemodialysis (1)
- Handbike (1)
- Harnleiter (1)
- Heart tissue culture (1)
- Heavy metal detection (1)
- Helmholtz equation (1)
- Hemoglobin structure (1)
- Heterostructure (1)
- High throughput experimentation (1)
- Higher-order codes (1)
- Hip fractures (1)
- Hodgkin–Huxley models (1)
- Hoeffding-Blum-Kiefer-Rosenblatt independence test (1)
- Homogenization (1)
- Hotelling’s T² test (1)
- Hotplate (1)
- Human-Computer interaction (1)
- Hydrodynamik (1)
- Hydrogel (1)
- Hydrogen peroxide (1)
- Hydrogen sensor (1)
- Hydrogenotrophic methanogens (1)
- Hämoglobinstruktur (1)
- I3S 2005 (1)
- ISFET (1)
- Image Reconstruction (1)
- Impedance Spectroscopy (1)
- Impedance spectroscopy (1)
- Implicit methods (1)
- Induced pluripotent stem cells (1)
- Information Extraction (1)
- Inotropic compounds (1)
- Instruments (1)
- Integrated empirical distribution (survival) function (1)
- Interior Neumann eigenvalues (1)
- Interior transmission eigenvalues (1)
- Interior transmission problem (1)
- International Symposium on Sensor Science (1)
- Intervertebral Disc (1)
- Intradiscal Pressure (1)
- Inverse Scattering (1)
- Inverse dynamic problem (1)
- Inverse kinematic problem (1)
- Inverse scattering (1)
- Inverse scattering problem (1)
- Inverse spectral problem (1)
- Ion channels (1)
- Kinematics (1)
- Kinetic energy (1)
- Kinetics (1)
- Klotho (1)
- Knee (1)
- Knochen (1)
- Knochenbildung (1)
- Knochenchirugie (1)
- Knochendichte (1)
- Körpertemperatur (1)
- LED chip (1)
- LPS (1)
- Lab-on-Chip (1)
- Langevin theory (1)
- Layer-by-layer adsorption (1)
- LbL films (1)
- Level sensor (1)
- Lichtstreuungsbasierte Instrumente (1)
- Light-addressable Potentiometric Sensor (1)
- Liver (1)
- Load modeling (1)
- Long COVID (1)
- MCDA (1)
- MEMS (1)
- MOS (1)
- Magnetic nanoparticles (1)
- Main sensitivity (1)
- Manipulated variables (1)
- Marginal homogeneity (1)
- Marginal homogeneity test (1)
- Market modeling (1)
- Master stamp (1)
- Materialermüdung (1)
- Matrix exponential (1)
- Measurement (1)
- Mechanical simulation (1)
- Mechanics (1)
- Mechanische Beanspruchung (1)
- Mechanotransduction (1)
- Medusomyces gisevi (1)
- Metascintillator (1)
- Methane (1)
- Methanogenesis (1)
- Microbial adhesion (1)
- Microcirculation (1)
- Micromagnetic simulation (1)
- Microreactors (1)
- Mild cognitive impairment (1)
- Mobility (1)
- Mobility tests (1)
- Mobility transition (1)
- Model-driven software engineering (1)
- Mohr–Coulomb criterion (1)
- Monotone methods (1)
- Multi-criteria decision analysis (1)
- Multi-dimensional partial differential equations (1)
- Multi-dimensional wave propagation (1)
- Multi-sample problem (1)
- Multianalyte detection (1)
- Multicell (1)
- Multimode failure (1)
- Multiple TOF kernels (1)
- Multiplexing (1)
- Muscle (1)
- Muscle Fascicle (1)
- Muscle Force (1)
- Muscle fibers (1)
- Musculoskeletal model (1)
- Musculoskeletal system (1)
- Myocardial infarction and cardiac death (1)
- NONOate (1)
- Nano Materials (1)
- Nanomaterial (1)
- Nanoparticles (1)
- Nanopartikel (1)
- Nanostructuring (1)
- Nanotechnologie (1)
- Nanotechnology ; Microelectronics ; Biosensors ; Superconductor ; MEMS (1)
- Natriumhypochlorit (1)
- Natural Language Processing (1)
- Natural language understanding (1)
- Negative impedance convertor (1)
- Neural Network (1)
- Niacin (1)
- Nichtlineare Gleichung (1)
- Nichtlineare Optimierung (1)
- Nichtlineare Welle (1)
- Nitric Oxide (1)
- Nitric Oxide Donor (1)
- Non-linear optimization (1)
- Non-parallel fissures (1)
- Nonequilibrium dynamics (1)
- Nonlinear Dynamics (1)
- Nonlinear PDEs (1)
- Nonlinear eigenvalue problems (1)
- Nucleus Pulposus (1)
- Numerical inversion of Laplace transforms (1)
- Numerical linear algebra (1)
- Numerics (1)
- O2 plasma (1)
- Ocular blood flow (1)
- Open Data (1)
- Open source (1)
- Organic light-emitting diode display (1)
- Organkultur (1)
- Organophosphorus (1)
- Ostazine Orange (1)
- Osteoporose (1)
- Osteoporosis (1)
- PFM (1)
- PTH (1)
- Parabolic SPDEs (1)
- Paralympic sport (1)
- Passive stretching (1)
- Pelvic floor dysfunction (1)
- Pelvic muscle (1)
- Penicillin (1)
- Permeability (1)
- Permeabilität (1)
- Peroxidase (1)
- Pflanzenstress (1)
- Pharmacology (1)
- Phenylalanine determination (1)
- Phosphate (1)
- Photolithographic mimics (1)
- Physiology (1)
- Plant virus (1)
- Plastizität (1)
- Poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (1)
- Poly(d,l-lacticacid) (1)
- Polyimide (1)
- Polylactide acid (1)
- Post-COVID-19 syndrome (1)
- Potential theory (1)
- Preference assessment (1)
- Pressure loaded crack-face (1)
- Pressure-volume relationship (1)
- Prevention (1)
- Process model (1)
- Product-integration (1)
- Profile Extraction (1)
- Profile extraction (1)
- Progressive plastic deformation (1)
- Prophylaxis (1)
- Proteine (1)
- Proximal humerus fracture (1)
- Pseudomonas putida (1)
- Pulsations (1)
- Pump System (1)
- Quartz crystal microbalance (1)
- Quartz crystal nanobalance (QCN) (1)
- Quartz micro balances (1)
- Query learning (1)
- RVA (1)
- Random variable (1)
- Ratcheting (1)
- Ratchetting (1)
- Reaction-diffusion (1)
- Reaction-diffusion systems (1)
- Real distinct pole (1)
- Real-time monitoring (1)
- Recombinant activated protein C (1)
- Reconstruction (1)
- Red blood cell storage (1)
- Refining (1)
- Regionalization (1)
- Rehabilitation Technology and Prosthetics (1)
- Rehabilitation engineering (1)
- Relation classification (1)
- Reliability analysis (1)
- Reliability of structures (1)
- Renewable energy sources (1)
- Reproducible research (1)
- Resampling test (1)
- Resistive temperature detector (1)
- Resolvent Operator (1)
- Resonance-mode measurement (1)
- Retinal vessel analysis (1)
- Retinal vessels (1)
- Riboflavin (1)
- Robotic rehabilitation (1)
- Rohr (1)
- Rohrbruch (1)
- Rotator cuff (1)
- Running (1)
- S-FEM (1)
- Sampling methods (1)
- ScaLAPACK (1)
- Schwammknochen (1)
- Semi-parametric random censorship model (1)
- Sensitivity (1)
- Sepsis (1)
- Septic cardiomyopathy (1)
- Shakedown criterion (1)
- Silk fibroin (1)
- Simultaneous determination (1)
- Skeletal muscle (1)
- Sleep EEG (1)
- Small Aral Sea (1)
- Sn₃O₄ (1)
- Software and systems modeling (1)
- Solid amalgam electrodes (1)
- Source term (1)
- Spleen (1)
- Stahl (1)
- Statics (1)
- Steel industry (1)
- Sterilisation process (1)
- Stochastic programming (1)
- Strukturanalyse (1)
- Supraleiter (1)
- Surface imprinted polymer (1)
- Surface microorganisms (1)
- Surgical Navigation and Robotics (1)
- Surgical staplers (1)
- Survival analysis (1)
- Swabbing (1)
- TMV adsorption (1)
- TOF PET (1)
- Ta₂O₅ gate (1)
- Technical Operations Research (TOR) (1)
- Temperaturabhängigkeit (1)
- Tendon Rupture (1)
- Tendon properties (1)
- Tendons (1)
- Tension (1)
- Text Mining (1)
- Text mining (1)
- Thiamine (1)
- Time-series (1)
- Tin oxide (1)
- Tinetti test (1)
- Tissue Engineering (1)
- Tobacco mosaic virus (1)
- Training (1)
- Transmission Eigenvalues (1)
- Trustworthy artificial intelligence (1)
- UML (1)
- Ultrasound (1)
- Uniaxial compression test (1)
- Unified Modeling Language (1)
- Ureter (1)
- Vapnik–Čhervonenkis class (1)
- Variable height stapler design (1)
- Vascular response (1)
- Vasomotions (1)
- Velocity (1)
- Vertebroplastie (1)
- Vertebroplasty (1)
- Viscous flow (1)
- Viskose Strömung (1)
- Viskosität (1)
- Visual field asymmetry (1)
- Vitamin A (1)
- Vitamin B (1)
- Vitamin D (1)
- Volterra integral equation (1)
- Volume of confidence regions (1)
- Volume status (1)
- Volumes of confidence regions (1)
- Wafer (1)
- Wasserbrücke (1)
- Wasserstoffperoxid (1)
- Wellen (1)
- Wolff's Law (1)
- Wolffsches Gesetz (1)
- Workflow (1)
- Workflow Orchestration (1)
- Wundheilung (1)
- XOR (1)
- Zeta potential (1)
- Zug-Druck Belastung (1)
- acetoin reductase (1)
- achilles tendon (1)
- actin cytoskeleton (1)
- activated nanostructured carbon (1)
- adipose-derived stromal cells (ASCs) (1)
- adsorption (1)
- agility (1)
- aktivierte nanostrukturierte Kohlenstofffaser (1)
- alcoholic beverages (1)
- allocation (1)
- alternierend Verformbarkeit (1)
- ammonia gas sensors (1)
- amperometric biosensors (1)
- amperometric sensor (1)
- anaesthetic complications (1)
- anisotropy (1)
- annealing (1)
- antimony doped tin oxide (1)
- aortic perfusion (1)
- aquaculture (1)
- aromatic amines (1)
- artificial olfactory image (1)
- asymptotic relative efficiency (1)
- atomic layer deposition (1)
- autofluorescence-based detection system (1)
- barium strontium titanate (1)
- biaxial tensile experiment (1)
- bicharacteristics (1)
- bioburdens (1)
- biocompatible (1)
- biocompatible materials (1)
- biodegradabl (1)
- biodegradable electronic devices (1)
- biomechanics (1)
- bone density (1)
- bone structure (1)
- bootstrap (1)
- burst pressure (1)
- burst tests (1)
- calorimetric gas sensor (1)
- calorimetric gas sensor;hydrogen peroxide;wireless sensor system (1)
- cancellous bone (1)
- capacitive electrolyte–insulator–semiconductor sensors (1)
- capacitive field-effect biosensor (1)
- capacitive field-effect sensor (1)
- capillary micro-droplet cell (1)
- carbon electrodes (1)
- carcinogens (1)
- cardiomyocyte biomechanics (1)
- catalytic decomposition (1)
- catalytic metal (1)
- cell aerosolization (1)
- cell atomization (1)
- central symmetry test (1)
- cerebral small vessel disease (1)
- chance constrained programming (1)
- chemical reduction method (1)
- chemical sensor (1)
- chip-based sensor setup (1)
- cognitive impairment (1)
- community dwelling (1)
- complete block symmetry (1)
- computational fluid dynamics analysis (1)
- conditional excess distribution (1)
- conditional expectation principle (1)
- confidence interval (1)
- connective tissue (1)
- constitutive modeling (1)
- contactless conductivity sensor (1)
- contractile tension (1)
- correlation (1)
- coupled Néel–Brownian relaxation dynamics (1)
- covariance principle (1)
- cross sensitivity (1)
- cytosolic water diffusion (1)
- date palm tree (1)
- dental trauma (1)
- design-by-analysis (1)
- dialysis (1)
- difficult airway (1)
- direct method (1)
- distorted element (1)
- doped metal oxide (1)
- doped silicon (1)
- doping (1)
- double-lumen tube intubation (1)
- drop jump (1)
- ecological structure (1)
- eigensolvers (1)
- elastic scattering (1)
- elastic solids (1)
- electrical capacitance tomography (1)
- electrical conductivity of liquids (1)
- electro-migration (1)
- electrolyte-insulator semiconductor sensor (EIS) (1)
- electromyography (1)
- electronic nose (1)
- electronic noses dendronized polymers inverted mesa technology (1)
- encapsulation materials (1)
- endoluminal (1)
- endospores (1)
- energy absorption (1)
- energy dissipation (1)
- enzymatic (bio)degradation (1)
- enzymatic biosensor (1)
- enzymatic methods (1)
- enzyme cascade (1)
- enzyme immobilisation (1)
- enzyme immobilization (1)
- epithelization (1)
- exchangeability test (1)
- extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (1)
- fatigue analyses (1)
- fenitrothion (1)
- fibroin (1)
- field-effect structure (1)
- finite element analysis (1)
- flaw (1)
- fluidic (1)
- force generation (1)
- forecast (1)
- forehead EEG (1)
- fortschreitende plastische Deformation (1)
- frequency mixing (1)
- functional data (1)
- gait (1)
- gas sensor array (1)
- glucose (1)
- glucose oxidase (GOx) (1)
- goodness-of-fit test (1)
- graphene oxide (1)
- healthy aging (1)
- heater metallisation (1)
- heavy metals (1)
- hemoglobin (1)
- hemoglobin dynamics (1)
- hiPS cardiomyocytes (1)
- high-intensity exercise (1)
- high-k material (1)
- high-temperature stability (1)
- horseradish peroxidase (HRP) (1)
- huge dimensional data (1)
- human dermal fibroblasts (1)
- humic acid (1)
- humidity (1)
- hydrogel (1)
- hydroxylation (1)
- hyper-gravity (1)
- hyperelastic (1)
- hypo-gravity (1)
- image sensor (1)
- imaging (1)
- immobilization (1)
- in-ear EEG (1)
- in-situ monitoring (1)
- independence test (1)
- intraclass correlation coefficient (1)
- ion-selective electrodes (1)
- key performance indicators (1)
- kontraktile Spannung (1)
- konvexe Optimierung (1)
- lab-on-a-chip (1)
- lab-on-chip (1)
- lable-free detection (1)
- large language models (1)
- layer expansion (1)
- layer-by-layer technique (1)
- lenslet array (1)
- light scattering analysis (1)
- light-addressable potentiometric sensor (1)
- light-addressing technologies (1)
- lightning flash (1)
- lignite (1)
- limit and shakedown analysis (1)
- linear kinematic hardening (1)
- lipopolysaccharide (1)
- load limit (1)
- lower bound theorem (1)
- magnetic actuation (1)
- magnetic beads (1)
- magnetic biosensing (1)
- magnetic nanoparticles (1)
- magnetic particles (1)
- magnetic relaxation (1)
- magnetic sandwich immunoassay (1)
- magnetic sensing (1)
- magnetic separation (1)
- magnetic tweezers (1)
- magnetophoretic velocity (1)
- material shakedown (1)
- matrix method (1)
- mechanical buffer (1)
- mechanical waves (1)
- metagenomics (1)
- metal oxide (1)
- metal-oxide-semiconductor structure (1)
- method of fundamental solutions (1)
- microbial diversity (1)
- microfluidics (1)
- micromagnetic simulation (1)
- microreactor (1)
- microwave generation (1)
- modeling biosensor (1)
- modelling (1)
- modified electrode (1)
- multi-functional material (1)
- multi-interface measurement (1)
- multinomial distribution (1)
- multiparametric immunoassays (1)
- multivariate normal distribution (1)
- muscle mechanics (1)
- nanobelts (1)
- nanomaterials (1)
- naphtols (1)
- nitrogen oxides (1)
- non-simplex S-FEM elements (1)
- nonlinear kinematic hardening (1)
- nonlinear optimization (1)
- nonlinear solids (1)
- nonlinear tensor constitutive equation (1)
- novel photoexcitation method (1)
- optical sensor setup (1)
- optical spore trapping (1)
- optical trapping (1)
- organic PVC membranes (1)
- organosilanes (1)
- overload (1)
- pH sensors (1)
- pH-based biosensing (1)
- parabolic flight (1)
- pattern-size reduction (1)
- penicillin (1)
- penicillinase (1)
- performance analysis (1)
- performance testing (1)
- phenols (1)
- photoelectrochemistry (1)
- physiology (1)
- pipes (1)
- plant stress (1)
- plant virus detection (1)
- plasma generated ions (1)
- plug-based microfluidic device (1)
- poly(d, l-lactic acid) (1)
- polyaniline (1)
- polymer composites (1)
- porous Pt electrode (1)
- portfolio risk (1)
- prevention (1)
- principal component (1)
- probabilistic fracture mechanics (1)
- protein (1)
- psychosocial (1)
- quantum charging (1)
- random effects (1)
- random effects meta-regression model (1)
- rehabilitation (1)
- reliability (1)
- reliability analysis (1)
- reliability of structures (1)
- retinal microvasculature (1)
- retinal vessels (1)
- rhAPC (1)
- running (1)
- sEMG (1)
- sarcomere operating length (1)
- scanned light pulse technique (1)
- screen-printing (1)
- second-order reliability method (1)
- self-aligned patterning (1)
- semantic role labeling (1)
- sensing properties (1)
- sensors (1)
- separable Hilbert space (1)
- series elastic element behavior (1)
- shakedown analyses (1)
- shotgun sequencing (1)
- shoulder (1)
- silanization (1)
- simulation (1)
- smooth muscle contraction (1)
- spatial resolution (1)
- speaker attribution (1)
- sprint start (1)
- standard error of measurement (1)
- sterility tests (1)
- sterilization (1)
- sterilization conditions (1)
- sterilization efficacy (1)
- sterilization methods (1)
- stiffness (1)
- stochastic programming (1)
- strain energy function (1)
- stretch reflex (1)
- stretch-shortening cycle (1)
- subsurface ice research (1)
- subsurface probe (1)
- superparamagnetic bead (1)
- superparamagnetic nanoparticles (1)
- surface functionalization (1)
- survival (1)
- swift heavy ions (1)
- temperature (1)
- tendon rupture (1)
- tension–torsion loading (1)
- test-retest reliability (1)
- thermal ratcheting (1)
- thermometry (1)
- thick-film technology (1)
- thin-film microsensors (1)
- tilted constant illumination (1)
- titanium dioxide photoanode (1)
- training simulator (1)
- tri-lineage differentiation (1)
- turnip vein clearing virus (TVCV) (1)
- twin-fluid atomizer (1)
- ultrasonography (1)
- ultrathin gate insulators (1)
- uniformly most powerful invariant test (1)
- unloading (1)
- validation methods (1)
- vessels (1)
- videolaryngoscopy (1)
- virgin passive (1)
- virtual reality (1)
- viscoelasticity (1)
- visualization (1)
- voltammetry (1)
- wafer-level testing (1)
- walking (1)
- walking gait (1)
- water bridge phenomenon (1)
- wound healing (1)
- yield stress (1)
Pulmonary arterial cannulation is a common and effective method for percutaneous mechanical circulatory support for concurrent right heart and respiratory failure [1]. However, limited data exists to what effect the positioning of the cannula has on the oxygen perfusion throughout the pulmonary artery (PA). This study aims to evaluate, using computational fluid dynamics (CFD), the effect of different cannula positions in the PA with respect to the oxygenation of the different branching vessels in order for an optimal cannula position to be determined. The four chosen different positions (see Fig. 1) of the cannulas are, in the lower part of the main pulmonary artery (MPA), in the MPA at the junction between the right pulmonary artery (RPA) and the left pulmonary artery (LPA), in the RPA at the first branch of the RPA and in the LPA at the first branch of the LPA.
Magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) are investigated with great interest for biomedical applications in diagnostics (e.g. imaging: magnetic particle imaging (MPI)), therapeutics (e.g. hyperthermia: magnetic fluid hyperthermia (MFH)) and multi-purpose biosensing (e.g. magnetic immunoassays (MIA)). What all of these applications have in common is that they are based on the unique magnetic relaxation mechanisms of MNP in an alternating magnetic field (AMF). While MFH and MPI are currently the most prominent examples of biomedical applications, here we present results on the relatively new biosensing application of frequency mixing magnetic detection (FMMD) from a simulation perspective. In general, we ask how the key parameters of MNP (core size and magnetic anisotropy) affect the FMMD signal: by varying the core size, we investigate the effect of the magnetic volume per MNP; and by changing the effective magnetic anisotropy, we study the MNPs’ flexibility to leave its preferred magnetization direction. From this, we predict the most effective combination of MNP core size and magnetic anisotropy for maximum signal generation.
Motile cilia are hair-like cell extensions present in multiple organs of the body. How cilia coordinate their regular beat in multiciliated epithelia to move fluids remains insufficiently understood, particularly due to lack of rigorous quantification. We combine here experiments, novel analysis tools, and theory to address this knowledge gap. We investigate collective dynamics of cilia in the zebrafish nose, due to its conserved properties with other ciliated tissues and its superior accessibility for non-invasive imaging. We revealed that cilia are synchronized only locally and that the size of local synchronization domains increases with the viscosity of the surrounding medium. Despite the fact that synchronization is local only, we observed global patterns of traveling metachronal waves across the multiciliated epithelium. Intriguingly, these global wave direction patterns are conserved across individual fish, but different for left and right nose, unveiling a chiral asymmetry of metachronal coordination. To understand the implications of synchronization for fluid pumping, we used a computational model of a regular array of cilia. We found that local metachronal synchronization prevents steric collisions and improves fluid pumping in dense cilia carpets, but hardly affects the direction of fluid flow. In conclusion, we show that local synchronization together with tissue-scale cilia alignment are sufficient to generate metachronal wave patterns in multiciliated epithelia, which enhance their physiological function of fluid pumping.
During rapid deceleration of the body, tendons buffer part of the elongation of the muscle-tendon unit (MTU), enabling safe energy dissipation via eccentric muscle contraction. Yet, the influence of changes in tendon stiffness within the physiological range upon these lengthening contractions is unknown. This study aimed to examine the effect of training-induced stiffening of the Achilles tendon on triceps surae muscle-tendon behavior during a landing task. Twenty-one male subjects were assigned to either a 10-week resistance-training program consisting of single-leg isometric plantarflexion (n = 11) or to a non-training control group (n = 10). Before and after the training period, plantarflexion force, peak Achilles tendon strain and stiffness were measured during isometric contractions, using a combination of dynamometry, ultrasound and kinematics data. Additionally, testing included a step-landing task, during which joint mechanics and lengths of gastrocnemius and soleus fascicles, Achilles tendon, and MTU were determined using synchronized ultrasound, kinematics and kinetics data collection. After training, plantarflexion strength and Achilles tendon stiffness increased (15 and 18%, respectively), and tendon strain during landing remained similar. Likewise, lengthening and negative work produced by the gastrocnemius MTU did not change detectably. However, in the training group, gastrocnemius fascicle length was offset (8%) to a longer length at touch down and, surprisingly, fascicle lengthening and velocity were reduced by 27 and 21%, respectively. These changes were not observed for soleus fascicles when accounting for variation in task execution between tests. These results indicate that a training-induced increase in tendon stiffness does not noticeably affect the buffering action of the tendon when the MTU is rapidly stretched. Reductions in gastrocnemius fascicle lengthening and lengthening velocity during landing occurred independently from tendon strain. Future studies are required to provide insight into the mechanisms underpinning these observations and their influence on energy dissipation.
Comparison of different training algorithms for the leg extension training with an industrial robot
(2018)
In the past, different training scenarios have been developed and implemented on robotic research platforms, but no systematic analysis and comparison have been done so far. This paper deals with the comparison of an isokinematic (motion with constant velocity) and an isotonic (motion against constant weight) training algorithm. Both algorithms are designed for a robotic research platform consisting of a 3D force plate and a high payload industrial robot, which allows leg extension training with arbitrary six-dimensional motion trajectories. In the isokinematic as well as the isotonic training algorithm, individual paths are defined i n C artesian s pace by sufficient s upport p oses. I n t he i sotonic t raining s cenario, the trajectory is adapted to the measured force as the robot should only move along the trajectory as long as the force applied by the user exceeds a minimum threshold. In the isotonic training scenario however, the robot’s acceleration is a function of the force applied by the user. To validate these findings, a simulative experiment with a simple linear trajectory is performed. For this purpose, the same force path is applied in both training scenarios. The results illustrate that the algorithms differ in the force dependent trajectory adaption.
Training-induced increase in Achilles tendon stiffness affects tendon strain pattern during running
(2019)
Background
During the stance phase of running, the elasticity of the Achilles tendon enables the utilisation of elastic energy and allows beneficial contractile conditions for the triceps surae muscles. However, the effect of changes in tendon mechanical properties induced by chronic loading is still poorly understood. We tested the hypothesis that a training-induced increase in Achilles tendon stiffness would result in reduced tendon strain during the stance phase of running, which would reduce fascicle strains in the triceps surae muscles, particularly in the mono-articular soleus.
Methods
Eleven subjects were assigned to a training group performing isometric singleleg plantarflexion contractions three times per week for ten weeks, and another ten subjects formed a control group. Before and after the training period, Achilles tendon stiffness was estimated, and muscle-tendon mechanics were assessed during running at preferred speed using ultrasonography, kinematics and kinetics.
Results
Achilles tendon stiffness increased by 18% (P <0:01) in the training group, but the associated reduction in strain seen during isometric contractions was not statistically significant. Tendon elongation during the stance phase of running was similar after training, but tendon recoil was reduced by 30% (P <0:01), while estimated tendon force remained unchanged. Neither gastrocnemius medialis nor soleus fascicle shortening during stance was affected by training.
Discussion
These results show that a training-induced increase in Achilles tendon
stiffness altered tendon behaviour during running. Despite training-induced changes in tendon mechanical properties and recoil behaviour, the data suggest that fascicle shortening patterns were preserved for the running speed that we examined. The asymmetrical changes in tendon strain patterns supports the notion that simple inseries models do not fully explain the mechanical output of the muscle-tendon unit during a complex task like running.
The MYOTONES experiment is the first to monitor changes in the basic biomechanical properties (tone, elasticity and stiffness) of the resting human myofascial system due to microgravity with a oninvasive, portable device on board the ISS. The MyotonPRO device applies several brief mechanical stimuli to the surface of the skin, and the natural oscillation signals of the tissue beneath are detected and computed by the MyotonPRO. Thus, an objective, quick and easy determination of the state of the underlying tissue is possible.
Two preflight, four inflight and four post flight measurements were performed on a male astronaut using the same 10 measurement points (MP) for each session. MPs were located on the plantar fascia, Achilles tendon, M. soleus, M. gastrocnemius, M. multifidus, M. splenius capitis, M. deltoideus anterior, M. rectus femoris, infrapatellar tendon, M. tibialis anterior. Subcutaneous tissues thickness above the MPs was measured using ultrasound imaging. Magnetic resonance images (MRI) of lower limb muscles and functional tests were also performed pre- and postflight.
Our first measurements on board the ISS confirmed increased tone and stiffness of the lumbar multifidus muscle, an important trunk stabilizer, dysfunction of which is known to be associated with back pain. Furthermore, reduced tone and stiffness of Achilles tendon and plantar fascia were observed inflight vs. preflight, confirming previous findings from terrestrial analog studies and parabolic
flights. Unexpectedly, the deltoid showed negative inflight changes in tone and stiffness, and increased elasticity, suggesting a potential risk of muscle atrophy in longer spaceflight that should be addressed by adequate inflight countermeasure protocols. Most values from limb and back MPS showed deflected patterns (in either directions) from inflight shortly after the re-entry phase on the landing day and one week later. Most parameter values then normalized to baseline after 3 weeks likely due to 1G re-adaptation and possible outcome of the reconditioning protocol. No major changes in subcutaneous tissues thickness above the MPs were found inflight vs preflight, suggesting no bias (i.e., fluid shift, extreme tissue thickening or loss). Pre- and postflight MRI and functional tests showed negligible changes in calf muscle size, power and force, which is likely due to training effects from current inflight exercise protocols.
The MYOTONES experiment is currently ongoing to collect data from further crew members. The potential impact of this research is to better understand the effects of microgravity and countermeasures over the time course of an ISS mission cycle. This will enable exercise countermeasures to be tailored
Effective training requires high muscle forces potentially leading to training-induced injuries. Thus, continuous monitoring and controlling of the loadings applied to the musculoskeletal system along the motion trajectory is required. In this paper, a norm-optimal iterative learning control algorithm for the robot-assisted training is developed. The algorithm aims at minimizing the external knee joint moment, which is commonly used to quantify the loading of the medial compartment. To estimate the external knee joint moment, a musculoskeletal lower extremity model is implemented in OpenSim and coupled with a model of an industrial robot and a force plate mounted at its end-effector. The algorithm is tested in simulation for patients with varus, normal and valgus alignment of the knee. The results show that the algorithm is able to minimize the external knee joint moment in all three cases and converges after less than seven iterations.
Neuromuscular strength training of the leg extensor muscles plays an important role in the rehabilitation and prevention of age and wealth related diseases. In this paper, we focus on the design and implementation of a Cartesian admittance control scheme for isotonic training, i.e. leg extension and flexion against a predefined weight. For preliminary testing and validation of the designed algorithm an experimental research and development platform consisting of an
industrial robot and a force plate mounted at its end-effector has been used. Linear, diagonal and arbitrary two-dimensional motion trajectories with different weights for the leg extension and flexion part are applied. The proposed algorithm is easily adaptable to trajectories consisting of arbitrary six-dimensional poses and allows the implementation of individualized trajectories.
To prevent the reduction of muscle mass and loss of strength coming along with the human aging process, regular training with e.g. a leg press is suitable. However, the risk of training-induced injuries requires the continuous monitoring and controlling of the forces applied to the musculoskeletal system as well as the velocity along the motion trajectory and the range of motion. In this paper, an adaptive norm-optimal iterative learning control algorithm to minimize the knee joint loadings during the leg extension training with an industrial robot is proposed. The response of the algorithm is tested in simulation for patients with varus, normal and valgus alignment of the knee and compared to the results of a higher-order iterative learning control algorithm, a robust iterative learning control and a recently proposed conventional norm-optimal iterative learning control algorithm. Although significant improvements in performance are made compared to the conventional norm-optimal iterative learning control algorithm with a small learning factor, for the developed approach as well as the robust iterative learning control algorithm small steady state errors occur.
Achilles tendon rupture (ATR) patients have persistent functional deficits in the triceps surae muscle–tendon unit (MTU). The complex remodeling of the MTU accompanying these deficits remains poorly understood. The purpose of the present study was to associate in vivo and in silico data to investigate the relations between changes inMTU properties and strength deficits inATR patients. Methods: Elevenmale subjects who had undergone surgical repair of complete unilateral ATR were examined 4.6 ± 2.0 (mean ± SD) yr after rupture. Gastrocnemius medialis (GM) tendon stiffness, morphology, and muscle architecture were determined using ultrasonography. The force–length relation of the plantar flexor muscles was assessed at five ankle joint angles. In addition, simulations (OpenSim) of the GM MTU force–length properties were performed with various iterations of MTU properties found between the unaffected and the affected side. Results: The affected side of the patients displayed a longer, larger, and stiffer GM tendon (13% ± 10%, 105% ± 28%, and 54% ± 24%, respectively) compared with the unaffected side. The GM muscle fascicles of the affected side were shorter (32% ± 12%) and with greater pennation angles (31% ± 26%). A mean deficit in plantarflexion moment of 31% ± 10% was measured. Simulations indicate that pairing an intact muscle with a longer tendon shifts the optimal angular range of peak force outside physiological angular ranges, whereas the shorter muscle fascicles and tendon stiffening seen in the affected side decrease this shift, albeit incompletely. Conclusions: These results suggest that the substantial changes in MTU properties found in ATR patients may partly result from compensatory remodeling, although this process appears insufficient to fully restore muscle function.
Performing tasks, such as running and jumping, requires activation of the agonist and antagonist muscles before (motor unit pre-activation) and during movement performance (Santello and Mcdonagh, 1998). A well-timed and regulated muscle activation elicits a stretch-shortening cycle (SSC) response, naturally occurring in bouncing movements (Ishikawa and Komi, 2004; Taube et al., 2012). By definition, the SSC describes the stretching of a pre-activated muscle-tendon complex immediately followed by a muscle shortening in the concentric push-off phase (Komi, 1984).
Given the importance of SSC actions for human movement, it is not surprising that many studies investigated the biomechanics of this phenomenon; in particular, drop jumps (DJs) represent a good paradigm to study muscle fascicle and tendon behavior in ballistic movements involving the SSC.
Within a DJ, three main phases [pre-activation, braking, and push-off (PO; Komi, 2000)] have been recognized and extensively studied in common and challenging conditions, such as changes in load, falling height, or simulated hypo-gravity (Avela et al., 1994; Arampatzis et al., 2001; Fukashiro et al., 2005; Ishikawa et al., 2005; Sousa et al., 2007; Ritzmann et al., 2016; Helm et al., 2020).
These studies show that the timing and amount of triceps-surae muscle-tendon unit pre-activation in DJs are differentially regulated based on the load applied to the muscle, being optimal in normal “Earth” gravity conditions (Avela et al., 1994), but decreased in simulated hypo-gravity, hyper-gravity (Avela et al., 1994; Ritzmann et al., 2016), or unknown conditions (i.e., unknown falling heights; Helm et al., 2020). Some authors indicated that, when falling from heights different from the optimal one [defined as the drop height giving a maximum DJ performance indicated as peak ground reaction force (GRF) or jump high], electromyographic (EMG) activity of the plantar flexors increases from lower than optimal to higher than optimal heights (Ishikawa and Komi, 2004; Sousa et al., 2007).
These findings highlight the ability of the central nervous system to regulate the timing and amount of pre-activation according to different jumping conditions, thus regulating muscle fascicle length, tendon and joint stiffness as well as position, in order to safely land on the ground and quickly re-bounce.
Similarly, to pre-activation, also in the braking phase, the plantar flexors are differentially regulated. In optimal height (i.e., load) jumping conditions, gastrocnemius medialis (GM) fascicles shorten at early ground contact (possibly due to the intervention of the stretch reflex; Gollhofer et al., 1992) and behave quasi-isometrically in the late braking phase, enabling tendon elongation, and storage of elastic energy (Gollhofer et al., 1992; Fukashiro et al., 2005; Sousa et al., 2007). When increasing the falling height (augmenting the impact GRF), the quasi-isometric behavior of fascicles disappears, and fast fascicle lengthening occurs (Ishikawa et al., 2005; Sousa et al., 2007).
In the third and last PO phase, fascicles shorten and the tendon releases the elastic energy previously stored. Bobbert et al. (1987) reported no influence of jumping height on the work done and on the net vertical impulse assessed during PO; this observation suggests that, despite an optimal DJ performance might be achieved only in specific conditions (falling heights, loads), the central nervous system seems to be able to regulate muscle behavior in order to effectively perform the required task also in challenging situations.
Although the regulation of triceps-surae muscle-tendon unit in DJs has been extensively investigated, very few studies focused on sarcomeres behavior during the performance of this SSC movement (Kurokawa et al., 2003; Fukashiro et al., 2005, 2006). Sarcomeres represent muscle contractile units and are known to express different amounts of force depending on their length (Gordon et al., 1966; Walker and Schrodt, 1974); thus, understanding the time course of their responses during DJs is fundamental to gain further insights into muscle force-generating capacity. In vivo measurement of sarcomere length in humans has been so far been performed only in static positions and under highly controlled experimental conditions (Llewellyn et al., 2008; Sanchez et al., 2015). Instead, human sarcomere length estimation (achieved by dividing GM measured fascicle length for a fixed sarcomere number) in dynamic contractions provided an indirect measure of sarcomere operating range during squat jump, countermovement jump, and DJ (Fukashiro et al., 2005, 2006; Kurokawa et al., 2003). The results of these studies showed that sarcomeres operate in the ascending limb of their length-tension (L-T) relationship in all types of jumps, and particularly so in DJ.
However, most of the available observations on sarcomere and muscle fascicle behavior were made in condition of constant gravity. Thus, in order to understand how sarcomere and muscle fascicle length are regulated in variable gravity conditions, we performed experiments in a parabolic flight, involving variable gravity levels, ranging from about zero-g to about double the Earth’s gravity (1 g; Waldvogel et al., 2021).
Specifically, the aims of the present study were as follows:
1. To investigate the ability of the neuromuscular system in regulating fascicle length in response to conditions of variable gravity.
2. To estimate sarcomere operative length in the different DJ phases, in order to calculate its theoretical force production and its possible modulation in conditions of variable gravity.
We hypothesized that muscle fascicles would be differentially regulated in different gravity conditions compared to 1 g, particularly in anticipation of landing and re-bouncing in unknown gravity levels. In addition, we hypothesized that sarcomeres would operate in the upper part of the ascending limb of their L-T relationship, possibly lengthening during the braking phase (especially in hyper-gravity) while operating quasi-isometrically in 1 g.
The compliant nature of distal limb muscle-tendon units is traditionally considered suboptimal in explosive movements when positive joint work is required. However, during accelerative running, ankle joint net mechanical work is positive. Therefore, this study aims to investigate how plantar flexor muscle-tendon behavior is modulated during fast accelerations. Eleven female sprinters performed maximum sprint accelerations from starting blocks, while gastrocnemius muscle fascicle lengths were estimated using ultrasonography. We combined motion analysis and ground reaction force measurements to assess lower limb joint kinematics and kinetics, and to estimate gastrocnemius muscle-tendon unit length during the first two acceleration steps. Outcome variables were resampled to the stance phase and averaged across three to five trials. Relevant scalars were extracted and analyzed using one-sample and two-sample t-tests, and vector trajectories were compared using statistical parametric mapping. We found that an uncoupling of muscle fascicle behavior from muscle-tendon unit behavior is effectively used to produce net positive mechanical work at the joint during maximum sprint acceleration. Muscle fascicles shortened throughout the first and second steps, while shortening occurred earlier during the first step, where negative joint work was lower compared with the second step. Elastic strain energy may be stored during dorsiflexion after touchdown since fascicles did not lengthen at the same time to dissipate energy. Thus, net positive work generation is accommodated by the reuse of elastic strain energy along with positive gastrocnemius fascicle work. Our results show a mechanism of how muscles with high in-series compliance can contribute to net positive joint work.
The international partnership of space agencies has agreed to proceed forward to the Moon sustainably. Activities on the Lunar surface (0.16 g) will allow crewmembers to advance the exploration skills needed when expanding human presence to Mars (0.38 g). Whilst data from actual hypogravity activities are limited to the Apollo missions, simulation studies have indicated that ground reaction forces, mechanical work, muscle activation, and joint angles decrease with declining gravity level. However, these alterations in locomotion biomechanics do not necessarily scale to the gravity level, the reduction in gastrocnemius medialis activation even appears to level off around 0.2 g, while muscle activation pattern remains similar. Thus, it is difficult to predict whether gastrocnemius medialis contractile behavior during running on Moon will basically be the same as on Mars. Therefore, this study investigated lower limb joint kinematics and gastrocnemius medialis behavior during running at 1 g, simulated Martian gravity, and simulated Lunar gravity on the vertical treadmill facility. The results indicate that hypogravity-induced alterations in joint kinematics and contractile behavior still persist between simulated running on the Moon and Mars. This contrasts with the concept of a ceiling effect and should be carefully considered when evaluating exercise prescriptions and the transferability of locomotion practiced in Lunar gravity to Martian gravity.
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.
Rehabilitative body weight supported gait training aims at restoring walking function as a key element in activities of daily living. Studies demonstrated reductions in muscle and joint forces, while kinematic gait patterns appear to be preserved with up to 30% weight support. However, the influence of body weight support on muscle architecture, with respect to fascicle and series elastic element behavior is unknown, despite this having potential clinical implications for gait retraining. Eight males (31.9 ± 4.7 years) walked at 75% of the speed at which they typically transition to running, with 0% and 30% body weight support on a lower-body positive pressure treadmill. Gastrocnemius medialis fascicle lengths and pennation angles were measured via ultrasonography. Additionally, joint kinematics were analyzed to determine gastrocnemius medialis muscle–tendon unit lengths, consisting of the muscle's contractile and series elastic elements. Series elastic element length was assessed using a muscle–tendon unit model. Depending on whether data were normally distributed, a paired t-test or Wilcoxon signed rank test was performed to determine if body weight supported walking had any effects on joint kinematics and fascicle–series elastic element behavior. Walking with 30% body weight support had no statistically significant effect on joint kinematics and peak series elastic element length. Furthermore, at the time when peak series elastic element length was achieved, and on average across the entire stance phase, muscle–tendon unit length, fascicle length, pennation angle, and fascicle velocity were unchanged with respect to body weight support. In accordance with unchanged gait kinematics, preservation of fascicle–series elastic element behavior was observed during walking with 30% body weight support, which suggests transferability of gait patterns to subsequent unsupported walking.
Altered gastrocnemius contractile behavior in former achilles tendon rupture patients during walking
(2022)
Achilles tendon rupture (ATR) remains associated with functional limitations years after injury. Architectural remodeling of the gastrocnemius medialis (GM) muscle is typically observed in the affected leg and may compensate force deficits caused by a longer tendon. Yet patients seem to retain functional limitations during—low-force—walking gait. To explore the potential limits imposed by the remodeled GM muscle-tendon unit (MTU) on walking gait, we examined the contractile behavior of muscle fascicles during the stance phase. In a cross-sectional design, we studied nine former patients (males; age: 45 ± 9 years; height: 180 ± 7 cm; weight: 83 ± 6 kg) with a history of complete unilateral ATR, approximately 4 years post-surgery. Using ultrasonography, GM tendon morphology, muscle architecture at rest, and fascicular behavior were assessed during walking at 1.5 m⋅s–1 on a treadmill. Walking patterns were recorded with a motion capture system. The unaffected leg served as control. Lower limbs kinematics were largely similar between legs during walking. Typical features of ATR-related MTU remodeling were observed during the stance sub-phases corresponding to series elastic element (SEE) lengthening (energy storage) and SEE shortening (energy release), with shorter GM fascicles (36 and 36%, respectively) and greater pennation angles (8° and 12°, respectively). However, relative to the optimal fascicle length for force production, fascicles operated at comparable length in both legs. Similarly, when expressed relative to optimal fascicle length, fascicle contraction velocity was not different between sides, except at the time-point of peak series elastic element (SEE) length, where it was 39 ± 49% lower in the affected leg. Concomitantly, fascicles rotation during contraction was greater in the affected leg during the whole stance-phase, and architectural gear ratios (AGR) was larger during SEE lengthening. Under the present testing conditions, former ATR patients had recovered a relatively symmetrical walking gait pattern. Differences in seen AGR seem to accommodate the profound changes in MTU architecture, limiting the required fascicle shortening velocity. Overall, the contractile behavior of the GM fascicles does not restrict length- or velocity-dependent force potentials during this locomotor task.
Market abstraction of energy markets and policies - application in an agent-based modeling toolbox
(2023)
In light of emerging challenges in energy systems, markets are prone to changing dynamics and market design. Simulation models are commonly used to understand the changing dynamics of future electricity markets. However, existing market models were often created with specific use cases in mind, which limits their flexibility and usability. This can impose challenges for using a single model to compare different market designs. This paper introduces a new method of defining market designs for energy market simulations. The proposed concept makes it easy to incorporate different market designs into electricity market models by using relevant parameters derived from analyzing existing simulation tools, morphological categorization and ontologies. These parameters are then used to derive a market abstraction and integrate it into an agent-based simulation framework, allowing for a unified analysis of diverse market designs. Furthermore, we showcase the usability of integrating new types of long-term contracts and over-the-counter trading. To validate this approach, two case studies are demonstrated: a pay-as-clear market and a pay-as-bid long-term market. These examples demonstrate the capabilities of the proposed framework.
In comparison to single-analyte devices, multiplexed systems for a multianalyte detection offer a reduced assay time and sample volume, low cost, and high throughput. Herein, a multiplexing platform for an automated quasi-simultaneous characterization of multiple (up to 16) capacitive field-effect sensors by the capacitive–voltage (C–V) and the constant-capacitance (ConCap) mode is presented. The sensors are mounted in a newly designed multicell arrangement with one common reference electrode and are electrically connected to the impedance analyzer via the base station. A Python script for the automated characterization of the sensors executes the user-defined measurement protocol. The developed multiplexing system is tested for pH measurements and the label-free detection of ligand-stabilized, charged gold nanoparticles.
In this work, the bioabsorbable materials, namely fibroin, polylactide acid (PLA), magnesium and magnesium oxide are investigated for their application as transient, resistive temperature detectors (RTD). For this purpose, a thin-film magnesium-based meander-like electrode is deposited onto a flexible, bioabsorbable substrate (fibroin or PLA) and encapsulated (passivated) by additional magnesium oxide layers on top and below the magnesium-based electrode. The morphology of different layered RTDs is analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. The sensor performance and lifetime of the RTD is characterized both under ambient atmospheric conditions between 30°C and 43°C, and wet tissue-like conditions with a constant temperature regime of 37°C. The latter triggers the degradation process of the magnesium-based layers. The 3-layers RTDs on a PLA substrate could achieve a lifetime of 8.5 h. These sensors also show the best sensor performance under ambient atmospheric conditions with a mean sensitivity of 0.48 Ω/°C ± 0.01 Ω/°C.
Background
Hip fractures are a common and costly health problem, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality, as well as high costs for healthcare systems, especially for the elderly. Implementing surgical preventive strategies has the potential to improve the quality of life and reduce the burden on healthcare resources, particularly in the long term. However, there are currently limited guidelines for standardizing hip fracture prophylaxis practices.
Methods
This study used a cost-effectiveness analysis with a finite-state Markov model and cohort simulation to evaluate the primary and secondary surgical prevention of hip fractures in the elderly. Patients aged 60 to 90 years were simulated in two different models (A and B) to assess prevention at different levels. Model A assumed prophylaxis was performed during the fracture operation on the contralateral side, while Model B included individuals with high fracture risk factors. Costs were obtained from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and transition probabilities and health state utilities were derived from available literature. The baseline assumption was a 10% reduction in fracture risk after prophylaxis. A sensitivity analysis was also conducted to assess the reliability and variability of the results.
Results
With a 10% fracture risk reduction, model A costs between $8,850 and $46,940 per quality-adjusted life-year ($/QALY). Additionally, it proved most cost-effective in the age range between 61 and 81 years. The sensitivity analysis established that a reduction of ≥ 2.8% is needed for prophylaxis to be definitely cost-effective. The cost-effectiveness at the secondary prevention level was most sensitive to the cost of the contralateral side’s prophylaxis, the patient’s age, and fracture treatment cost. For high-risk patients with no fracture history, the cost-effectiveness of a preventive strategy depends on their risk profile. In the baseline analysis, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio at the primary prevention level varied between $11,000/QALY and $74,000/QALY, which is below the defined willingness to pay threshold.
Conclusion
Due to the high cost of hip fracture treatment and its increased morbidity, surgical prophylaxis strategies have demonstrated that they can significantly relieve the healthcare system. Various key assumptions facilitated the modeling, allowing for adequate room for uncertainty. Further research is needed to evaluate health-state-associated risks.
Companies often build their businesses based on product information and therefore try to automate the process of information extraction (IE). Since the information source is usually heterogeneous and non-standardized, classic extract, transform, load techniques reach their limits. Hence, companies must implement the newest findings from research to tackle the challenges of process automation. They require a flexible and robust system that is extendable and ensures the optimal processing of the different document types. This paper provides a distributed microservice architecture pattern that enables the automated generation of IE pipelines. Since their optimal design is individual for each input document, the system ensures the ad-hoc generation of pipelines depending on specific document characteristics at runtime. Furthermore, it introduces the automated quality determination of each available pipeline and controls the integration of new microservices based on their impact on the business value. The introduced system enables fast prototyping of the newest approaches from research and supports companies in automating their IE processes. Based on the automated quality determination, it ensures that the generated pipelines always meet defined business requirements when they come into productive use.
In this work, the effects of carbon sources and culture media on the production and structural properties of bacterial cellulose (BC) synthesized by Medusomyces gisevii have been studied. The culture medium was composed of different initial concentrations of glucose or sucrose dissolved in 0.4% extract of plain green tea. Parameters of the culture media (titratable acidity, substrate conversion degree etc.) were monitored daily for 20 days of cultivation. The BC pellicles produced on different carbon sources were characterized in terms of biomass yield, crystallinity and morphology by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), atomic force microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Our results showed that Medusomyces gisevii had higher BC yields in media with sugar concentrations close to 10 g L−1 after a 18–20 days incubation period. Glucose in general lead to a higher BC yield (173 g L−1) compared to sucrose (163.5 g L−1). The BC crystallinity degree and surface roughness were higher in the samples synthetized from sucrose. Obtained FE-SEM micrographs show that the BC pellicles synthesized in the sucrose media contained densely packed tangles of cellulose fibrils whereas the BC produced in the glucose media displayed rather linear geometry of the BC fibrils without noticeable aggregates.
Cell spraying has become a feasible application method for cell therapy and tissue engineering approaches. Different devices have been used with varying success. Often, twin-fluid atomizers are used, which require a high gas velocity for optimal aerosolization characteristics. To decrease the amount and velocity of required air, a custom-made atomizer was designed based on the effervescent principle. Different designs were evaluated regarding spray characteristics and their influence on human adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells. The arithmetic mean diameters of the droplets were 15.4–33.5 µm with decreasing diameters for increasing gas-to-liquid ratios. The survival rate was >90% of the control for the lowest gas-to-liquid ratio. For higher ratios, cell survival decreased to approximately 50%. Further experiments were performed with the design, which had shown the highest survival rates. After seven days, no significant differences in metabolic activity were observed. The apoptosis rates were not influenced by aerosolization, while high gas-to-liquid ratios caused increased necrosis levels. Tri-lineage differentiation potential into adipocytes, chondrocytes, and osteoblasts was not negatively influenced by aerosolization. Thus, the effervescent aerosolization principle was proven suitable for cell applications requiring reduced amounts of supplied air. This is the first time an effervescent atomizer was used for cell processing.
Exposure to prolonged periods in microgravity is associated with deconditioning of the musculoskeletal system due to chronic changes in mechanical stimulation. Given astronauts will operate on the Lunar surface for extended periods of time, it is critical to quantify both external (e.g., ground reaction forces) and internal (e.g., joint reaction forces) loads of relevant movements performed during Lunar missions. Such knowledge is key to predict musculoskeletal deconditioning and determine appropriate exercise countermeasures associated with extended exposure to hypogravity.
The growing body of political texts opens up new opportunities for rich insights into political dynamics and ideologies but also increases the workload for manual analysis. Automated speaker attribution, which detects who said what to whom in a speech event and is closely related to semantic role labeling, is an important processing step for computational text analysis. We study the potential of the large language model family Llama 2 to automate speaker attribution in German parliamentary debates from 2017-2021. We fine-tune Llama 2 with QLoRA, an efficient training strategy, and observe our approach to achieve competitive performance in the GermEval 2023 Shared Task On Speaker Attribution in German News Articles and Parliamentary Debates. Our results shed light on the capabilities of large language models in automating speaker attribution, revealing a promising avenue for computational analysis of political discourse and the development of semantic role labeling systems.
Immunosorbent turnip vein clearing virus (TVCV) particles displaying the IgG-binding domains D and E of Staphylococcus aureus protein A (PA) on every coat protein (CP) subunit (TVCVPA) were purified from plants via optimized and new protocols. The latter used polyethylene glycol (PEG) raw precipitates, from which virions were selectively re-solubilized in reverse PEG concentration gradients. This procedure improved the integrity of both TVCVPA and the wild-type subgroup 3 tobamovirus. TVCVPA could be loaded with more than 500 IgGs per virion, which mediated the immunocapture of fluorescent dyes, GFP, and active enzymes. Bi-enzyme ensembles of cooperating glucose oxidase and horseradish peroxidase were tethered together on the TVCVPA carriers via a single antibody type, with one enzyme conjugated chemically to its Fc region, and the other one bound as a target, yielding synthetic multi-enzyme complexes. In microtiter plates, the TVCVPA-displayed sugar-sensing system possessed a considerably increased reusability upon repeated testing, compared to the IgG-bound enzyme pair in the absence of the virus. A high coverage of the viral adapters was also achieved on Ta2O5 sensor chip surfaces coated with a polyelectrolyte interlayer, as a prerequisite for durable TVCVPA-assisted electrochemical biosensing via modularly IgG-assembled sensor enzymes.
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.
Selected problems in the field of multivariate statistical analysis are treated. Thereby, one focus is on the paired sample case. Among other things, statistical testing problems of marginal homogeneity are under consideration. In detail, properties of Hotelling‘s T² test in a special parametric situation are obtained. Moreover, the nonparametric problem of marginal homogeneity is discussed on the basis of possibly incomplete data. In the bivariate data case, properties of the Hoeffding-Blum-Kiefer-Rosenblatt independence test statistic on the basis of partly not identically distributed data are investigated. Similar testing problems are treated within the scope of the application of a result for the empirical process of the concomitants for partly categorial data. Furthermore, testing changes in the modeled solvency capital requirement of an insurance company by means of a paired sample from an internal risk model is discussed. Beyond the paired sample case, a new asymptotic relative efficiency concept based on the expected volumes of multidimensional confidence regions is introduced. Besides, a new approach for the treatment of the multi-sample goodness-of-fit problem is presented. Finally, a consistent test for the treatment of the goodness-of-fit problem is developed for the background of huge or infinite dimensional data.
Lead and nickel, as heavy metals, are still used in industrial processes, and are classified as “environmental health hazards” due to their toxicity and polluting potential. The detection of heavy metals can prevent environmental pollution at toxic levels that are critical to human health. In this sense, the electrolyte–insulator–semiconductor (EIS) field-effect sensor is an attractive sensing platform concerning the fabrication of reusable and robust sensors to detect such substances. This study is aimed to fabricate a sensing unit on an EIS device based on Sn₃O₄ nanobelts embedded in a polyelectrolyte matrix of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and polyacrylic acid (PAA) using the layer-by-layer (LbL) technique. The EIS-Sn₃O₄ sensor exhibited enhanced electrochemical performance for detecting Pb²⁺ and Ni²⁺ ions, revealing a higher affinity for Pb²⁺ ions, with sensitivities of ca. 25.8 mV/decade and 2.4 mV/decade, respectively. Such results indicate that Sn₃O₄ nanobelts can contemplate a feasible proof-of-concept capacitive field-effect sensor for heavy metal detection, envisaging other future studies focusing on environmental monitoring.
A method for detecting and approximating fault lines or surfaces, respectively, or decision curves in two and three dimensions with guaranteed accuracy is presented. Reformulated as a classification problem, our method starts from a set of scattered points along with the corresponding classification algorithm to construct a representation of a decision curve by points with prescribed maximal distance to the true decision curve. Hereby, our algorithm ensures that the representing point set covers the decision curve in its entire extent and features local refinement based on the geometric properties of the decision curve. We demonstrate applications of our method to problems related to the detection of faults, to multi-criteria decision aid and, in combination with Kirsch’s factorization method, to solving an inverse acoustic scattering problem. In all applications we considered in this work, our method requires significantly less pointwise classifications than previously employed algorithms.
Background
Post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS) is a lingering disease with ongoing symptoms such as fatigue and cognitive impairment resulting in a high impact on the daily life of patients. Understanding the pathophysiology of PCS is a public health priority, as it still poses a diagnostic and treatment challenge for physicians.
Methods
In this prospective observational cohort study, we analyzed the retinal microcirculation using Retinal Vessel Analysis (RVA) in a cohort of patients with PCS and compared it to an age- and gender-matched healthy cohort (n = 41, matched out of n = 204).
Measurements and main results
PCS patients exhibit persistent endothelial dysfunction (ED), as indicated by significantly lower venular flicker-induced dilation (vFID; 3.42% ± 1.77% vs. 4.64% ± 2.59%; p = 0.02), narrower central retinal artery equivalent (CRAE; 178.1 [167.5–190.2] vs. 189.1 [179.4–197.2], p = 0.01) and lower arteriolar-venular ratio (AVR; (0.84 [0.8–0.9] vs. 0.88 [0.8–0.9], p = 0.007). When combining AVR and vFID, predicted scores reached good ability to discriminate groups (area under the curve: 0.75). Higher PCS severity scores correlated with lower AVR (R = − 0.37 p = 0.017). The association of microvascular changes with PCS severity were amplified in PCS patients exhibiting higher levels of inflammatory parameters.
Conclusion
Our results demonstrate that prolonged endothelial dysfunction is a hallmark of PCS, and impairments of the microcirculation seem to explain ongoing symptoms in patients. As potential therapies for PCS emerge, RVA parameters may become relevant as clinical biomarkers for diagnosis and therapy management.
In recent years, the development of large pretrained language models, such as BERT and GPT, significantly improved information extraction systems on various tasks, including relation classification. State-of-the-art systems are highly accurate on scientific benchmarks. A lack of explainability is currently a complicating factor in many real-world applications. Comprehensible systems are necessary to prevent biased, counterintuitive, or harmful decisions.
We introduce semantic extents, a concept to analyze decision patterns for the relation classification task. Semantic extents are the most influential parts of texts concerning classification decisions. Our definition allows similar procedures to determine semantic extents for humans and models. We provide an annotation tool and a software framework to determine semantic extents for humans and models conveniently and reproducibly. Comparing both reveals that models tend to learn shortcut patterns from data. These patterns are hard to detect with current interpretability methods, such as input reductions. Our approach can help detect and eliminate spurious decision patterns during model development. Semantic extents can increase the reliability and security of natural language processing systems. Semantic extents are an essential step in enabling applications in critical areas like healthcare or finance. Moreover, our work opens new research directions for developing methods to explain deep learning models.
Supervised machine learning and deep learning require a large amount of labeled data, which data scientists obtain in a manual, and time-consuming annotation process. To mitigate this challenge, Active Learning (AL) proposes promising data points to annotators they annotate next instead of a subsequent or random sample. This method is supposed to save annotation effort while maintaining model performance.
However, practitioners face many AL strategies for different tasks and need an empirical basis to choose between them. Surveys categorize AL strategies into taxonomies without performance indications. Presentations of novel AL strategies compare the performance to a small subset of strategies. Our contribution addresses the empirical basis by introducing a reproducible active learning evaluation (ALE) framework for the comparative evaluation of AL strategies in NLP.
The framework allows the implementation of AL strategies with low effort and a fair data-driven comparison through defining and tracking experiment parameters (e.g., initial dataset size, number of data points per query step, and the budget). ALE helps practitioners to make more informed decisions, and researchers can focus on developing new, effective AL strategies and deriving best practices for specific use cases. With best practices, practitioners can lower their annotation costs. We present a case study to illustrate how to use the framework.
Messenger apps like WhatsApp and Telegram are frequently used for everyday communication, but they can also be utilized as a platform for illegal activity. Telegram allows public groups with up to 200.000 participants. Criminals use these public groups for trading illegal commodities and services, which becomes a concern for law enforcement agencies, who manually monitor suspicious activity in these chat rooms. This research demonstrates how natural language processing (NLP) can assist in analyzing these chat rooms, providing an explorative overview of the domain and facilitating purposeful analyses of user behavior. We provide a publicly available corpus of annotated text messages with entities and relations from four self-proclaimed black market chat rooms. Our pipeline approach aggregates the extracted product attributes from user messages to profiles and uses these with their sold products as features for clustering. The extracted structured information is the foundation for further data exploration, such as identifying the top vendors or fine-granular price analyses. Our evaluation shows that pretrained word vectors perform better for unsupervised clustering than state-of-the-art transformer models, while the latter is still superior for sequence labeling.
Using scenarios is vital in identifying and specifying measures for successfully transforming the energy system. Such transformations can be particularly challenging and require the support of a broader set of stakeholders. Otherwise, there will be opposition in the form of reluctance to adopt the necessary technologies. Usually, processes for considering stakeholders' perspectives are very time-consuming and costly. In particular, there are uncertainties about how to deal with modifications in the scenarios. In principle, new consulting processes will be required. In our study, we show how multi-criteria decision analysis can be used to analyze stakeholders' attitudes toward transition paths. Since stakeholders differ regarding their preferences and time horizons, we employ a multi-criteria decision analysis approach to identify which stakeholders will support or oppose a transition path. We provide a flexible template for analyzing stakeholder preferences toward transition paths. This flexibility comes from the fact that our multi-criteria decision aid-based approach does not involve intensive empirical work with stakeholders. Instead, it involves subjecting assumptions to robustness analysis, which can help identify options to influence stakeholders' attitudes toward transitions.
This study evaluates neuromechanical control and muscle-tendon interaction during energy storage and dissipation tasks in hypergravity. During parabolic flights, while 17 subjects performed drop jumps (DJs) and drop landings (DLs), electromyography (EMG) of the lower limb muscles was combined with in vivo fascicle dynamics of the gastrocnemius medialis, two-dimensional (2D) kinematics, and kinetics to measure and analyze changes in energy management. Comparisons were made between movement modalities executed in hypergravity (1.8 G) and gravity on ground (1 G). In 1.8 G, ankle dorsiflexion, knee joint flexion, and vertical center of mass (COM) displacement are lower in DJs than in DLs; within each movement modality, joint flexion amplitudes and COM displacement demonstrate higher values in 1.8 G than in 1 G. Concomitantly, negative peak ankle joint power, vertical ground reaction forces, and leg stiffness are similar between both movement modalities (1.8 G). In DJs, EMG activity in 1.8 G is lower during the COM deceleration phase than in 1 G, thus impairing quasi-isometric fascicle behavior. In DLs, EMG activity before and during the COM deceleration phase is higher, and fascicles are stretched less in 1.8 G than in 1 G. Compared with the situation in 1 G, highly task-specific neuromuscular activity is diminished in 1.8 G, resulting in fascicle lengthening in both movement modalities. Specifically, in DJs, a high magnitude of neuromuscular activity is impaired, resulting in altered energy storage. In contrast, in DLs, linear stiffening of the system due to higher neuromuscular activity combined with lower fascicle stretch enhances the buffering function of the tendon, and thus the capacity to safely dissipate energy.
Magnetic detection structure for Lab-on-Chip applications based on the frequency mixing technique
(2018)
A magnetic frequency mixing technique with a set of miniaturized planar coils was investigated for use with a completely integrated Lab-on-Chip (LoC) pathogen sensing system. The system allows the detection and quantification of superparamagnetic beads. Additionally, in terms of magnetic nanoparticle characterization ability, the system can be used for immunoassays using the beads as markers. Analytical calculations and simulations for both excitation and pick-up coils are presented; the goal was to investigate the miniaturization of simple and cost-effective planar spiral coils. Following these calculations, a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) prototype was designed, manufactured, and tested for limit of detection, linear response, and validation of theoretical concepts. Using the magnetic frequency mixing technique, a limit of detection of 15 µg/mL of 20 nm core-sized nanoparticles was achieved without any shielding.
The movement of magnetic beads due to a magnetic field gradient is of great interest in different application fields. In this report we present a technique based on a magnetic tweezers setup to measure the velocity factor of magnetically actuated individual superparamagnetic beads in a fluidic environment. Several beads can be tracked simultaneously in order to gain and improve statistics. Furthermore we show our results for different beads with hydrodynamic diameters between 200 and 1000 nm from diverse manufacturers. These measurement data can, for example, be used to determine design parameters for a magnetic separation system, like maximum flow rate and minimum separation time, or to select suitable beads for fixed experimental requirements.
For performing point-of-care molecular diagnostics, magnetic immunoassays constitute a promising alternative to established enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) because they are fast, robust and sensitive. Simultaneous detection of multiple biomolecular targets from one body fluid sample is desired. The aim of this work is to show that multiplex magnetic immunodetection based on magnetic frequency mixing by means of modular immunofiltration columns prepared for different targets is feasible. By calculations of the magnetic response signal, the required spacing between the modules was determined. Immunofiltration columns were manufactured by 3D printing and antibody immobilization was performed in a batch approach. It was shown experimentally that two different target molecules in a sample solution could be individually detected in a single assaying step with magnetic measurements of the corresponding immobilization filters. The arrangement order of the filters and of a negative control did not influence the results. Thus, a simple and reliable approach to multi-target magnetic immunodetection was demonstrated.
In modern bioanalytical methods, it is often desired to detect several targets in one sample within one measurement. Immunological methods including those that use superparamagnetic beads are an important group of techniques for these applications. The goal of this work is to investigate the feasibility of simultaneously detecting different superparamagnetic beads acting as markers using the magnetic frequency mixing technique. The frequency of the magnetic excitation field is scanned while the lower driving frequency is kept constant. Due to the particles’ nonlinear magnetization, mixing frequencies are generated. To record their amplitude and phase information, a direct digitization of the pickup-coil’s signal with subsequent Fast Fourier Transformation is performed. By synchronizing both magnetic beads using frequency scanning in magnetic frequency mixing technique magnetic fields, a stable phase information is gained. In this research, it is shown that the amplitude of the dominant mixing component is proportional to the amount of superparamagnetic beads inside a sample. Additionally, it is shown that the phase does not show this behaviour. Excitation frequency scans of different bead types were performed, showing different phases, without correlation to their diverse amplitudes. Two commercially available beads were selected and a determination of their amount in a mixture is performed as a demonstration for multiplex measurements.
Sensitive and rapid detection of cholera toxin subunit B using magnetic frequency mixing detection
(2019)
Cholera is a life-threatening disease caused by the cholera toxin (CT) as produced by some Vibrio cholerae serogroups. In this research we present a method which directly detects the toxin’s B subunit (CTB) in drinking water. For this purpose we performed a magnetic sandwich immunoassay inside a 3D immunofiltration column. We used two different commercially available antibodies to capture CTB and for binding to superparamagnetic beads. ELISA experiments were performed to select the antibody combination. The beads act as labels for the magnetic frequency mixing detection technique. We show that the limit of detection depends on the type of magnetic beads. A nonlinear Hill curve was fitted to the calibration measurements by means of a custom-written python software. We achieved a sensitive and rapid detection of CTB within a broad concentration range from 0.2 ng/ml to more
than 700 ng/ml.
Herein, fibroin, polylactide (PLA), and carbon are investigated for their suitability as biocompatible and biodegradable materials for amperometric biosensors. For this purpose, screen-printed carbon electrodes on the biodegradable substrates fibroin and PLA are modified with a glucose oxidase membrane and then encapsulated with the biocompatible material Ecoflex. The influence of different curing parameters of the carbon electrodes on the resulting biosensor characteristics is studied. The morphology of the electrodes is investigated by scanning electron microscopy, and the biosensor performance is examined by amperometric measurements of glucose (0.5–10 mM) in phosphate buffer solution, pH 7.4, at an applied potential of 1.2 V versus a Ag/AgCl reference electrode. Instead of Ecoflex, fibroin, PLA, and wound adhesive are tested as alternative encapsulation compounds: a series of swelling tests with different fibroin compositions, PLA, and Ecoflex has been performed before characterizing the most promising candidates by chronoamperometry. Therefore, the carbon electrodes are completely covered with the particular encapsulation material. Chronoamperometric measurements with H2O2 concentrations between 0.5 and 10 mM enable studying the leakage current behavior.
It has been shown that muscle fascicle curvature increases with increasing contraction level and decreasing muscle–tendon complex length. The analyses were done with limited examination windows concerning contraction level, muscle–tendon complex length, and/or intramuscular position of ultrasound imaging. With this study we aimed to investigate the correlation between fascicle arching and contraction, muscle–tendon complex length and their associated architectural parameters in gastrocnemius muscles to develop hypotheses concerning the fundamental mechanism of fascicle curving. Twelve participants were tested in five different positions (90°/105°*, 90°/90°*, 135°/90°*, 170°/90°*, and 170°/75°*; *knee/ankle angle). They performed isometric contractions at four different contraction levels (5%, 25%, 50%, and 75% of maximum voluntary contraction) in each position. Panoramic ultrasound images of gastrocnemius muscles were collected at rest and during constant contraction. Aponeuroses and fascicles were tracked in all ultrasound images and the parameters fascicle curvature, muscle–tendon complex strain, contraction level, pennation angle, fascicle length, fascicle strain, intramuscular position, sex and age group were analyzed by linear mixed effect models. Mean fascicle curvature of the medial gastrocnemius increased with contraction level (+5 m−1 from 0% to 100%; p = 0.006). Muscle–tendon complex length had no significant impact on mean fascicle curvature. Mean pennation angle (2.2 m−1 per 10°; p < 0.001), inverse mean fascicle length (20 m−1 per cm−1; p = 0.003), and mean fascicle strain (−0.07 m−1 per +10%; p = 0.004) correlated with mean fascicle curvature. Evidence has also been found for intermuscular, intramuscular, and sex-specific intramuscular differences of fascicle curving. Pennation angle and the inverse fascicle length show the highest predictive capacities for fascicle curving. Due to the strong correlations between pennation angle and fascicle curvature and the intramuscular pattern of curving we suggest for future studies to examine correlations between fascicle curvature and intramuscular fluid pressure.
Germany is a frontrunner in setting frameworks for the transition to a low-carbon system. The mobility sector plays a significant role in this shift, affecting different people and groups on multiple levels. Without acceptance from these stakeholders, emission targets are out of reach. This research analyzes how the heterogeneous preferences of various stakeholders align with the transformation of the mobility sector, looking at the extent to which the German transformation paths are supported and where stakeholders are located.
Under the research objective of comparing stakeholders' preferences to identify which car segments require additional support for a successful climate transition, a status quo of stakeholders and car performance criteria is the foundation for the analysis. Stakeholders' hidden preferences hinder the derivation of criteria weightings from stakeholders; therefore, a ranking from observed preferences is used. This study's inverse multi-criteria decision analysis means that weightings can be predicted and used together with a recalibrated performance matrix to explore future preferences toward car segments.
Results show that stakeholders prefer medium-sized cars, with the trend pointing towards the increased potential for alternative propulsion technologies and electrified vehicles. These insights can guide the improved targeting of policy supporting the energy and mobility transformation. Additionally, the method proposed in this work can fully handle subjective approaches while incorporating a priori information. A software implementation of the proposed method completes this work and is made publicly available.
Useful market simulations are key to the evaluation of diferent market designs existing of multiple market mechanisms or rules. Yet a simulation framework which has a comparison of diferent market mechanisms in mind was not found. The need to create an objective view on different sets of market rules while investigating meaningful agent strategies concludes that such a simulation framework is needed to advance the research on this subject. An overview of diferent existing market simulation models is given which also shows the research gap and the missing capabilities of those systems. Finally, a methodology is outlined how a novel market simulation which can answer the research questions can be developed.
On the applicability of several tests to models with not identically distributed random effects
(2023)
We consider Kolmogorov–Smirnov and Cramér–von-Mises type tests for testing central symmetry, exchangeability, and independence. In the standard case, the tests are intended for the application to independent and identically distributed data with unknown distribution. The tests are available for multivariate data and bootstrap procedures are suitable to obtain critical values. We discuss the applicability of the tests to random effects models, where the random effects are independent but not necessarily identically distributed and with possibly unknown distributions. Theoretical results show the adequacy of the tests in this situation. The quality of the tests in models with random effects is investigated by simulations. Empirical results obtained confirm the theoretical findings. A real data example illustrates the application.
Direct methods comprising limit and shakedown analysis is a branch of computational mechanics. It plays a significant role in mechanical and civil engineering design. The concept of direct method aims to determinate the ultimate load bearing capacity of structures beyond the elastic range. For practical problems, the direct methods lead to nonlinear convex optimization problems with a large number of variables and onstraints. If strength and loading are random quantities, the problem of shakedown analysis is considered as stochastic programming. This paper presents a method so called chance constrained programming, an effective method of stochastic programming, to solve shakedown analysis problem under random condition of strength. In this our investigation, the loading is deterministic, the strength is distributed as normal or lognormal variables.