Create workshop 2014 : Leveraging Mobile Technology and Social Media in Behavioral Research

European Health Psychologist166260-26

Untersuchungen zur Störkopplung und Schirmdämpfung von Elektro- und Hybridfahrzeugen

In Elektro- und Hybridfahrzeugen wird das konventionelle 12 V-Bordnetz um ein Hochvoltbordnetz zur Realisierung des elektrischen Traktionssystems erweitert. Durch die Integration wird die Komplexität der Fahrzeugelektronik deutlich gesteigert und eine wesentlich höhere Spannungsebene (bis 1000 V) eingeführt. Aufgrund von funktionell bedingten, schnellen Schaltvorgängen erzeugen die neuen elektronischen Hochvoltkomponenten wie beispielsweise der leistungselektronische Umrichter oder der DC-DC-Wandler Störungen, die bisher im Kraftfahrzeug nicht auftraten. Damit diese Störsignale die fehlerfreie Funktion anderer Elektroniksysteme im Fahrzeug nicht beeinflussen, wird das gesamte Hochvoltsystem u. a. als vollständig geschirmtes System in das Fahrzeug integriert. Andernfalls bietet sich zwischen beiden koexistierenden Bordnetzen ein besonders hohes Verkopplungspotential. Im Mittelpunkt des Beitrags steht die Analyse des Störpotentials von elektrischen Antriebssystemen in elektrisch betriebenen Kraftfahrzeugen. Als Ergebnis zeigt sich, dass eine hochqualitative Schirmung des HV-Systems unabdingbar ist. Diese Schirmung kann dann durch Verlegungsoptionen beeinflusst werden. Daher soll im Beitrag u. a. gezeigt werden, wodurch die Schirmdämpfung real verlegter Leitungen abhängig ist. Es werden Erfahrungen mit verschiedenen Messverfahren vorgestellt, die mit Simulationen zu "worst case" Betrachtungen gegenübergestellt werden. Die EMV-Eigenschaften des Hochvoltsystems werden entscheidend durch die Leitungen und der dazugehörigen Kontaktierungen beeinflusst. Im Beitrag werden daher des Weiteren Ergebnisse und Erfahrungen zur messtechnischen Umsetzung der Untersuchungen, u. a. zur nominellen und realen Bestimmung der Transferimpedanz von Hochvoltleitungen vorgestellt. In den Vergleich werden dabei Einflüsse mechanischer Beanspruchung (Biegeradien), aufbau-bedingter Eigenschaften (Querschnitt, Schirmaufbau) sowie Steckverbindern einbezogen. Auf Basis der Leitungsuntersuchungen und Ergebnissen von Komponenten- sowie Fahrzeugtests steht im Fazit des Beitrages die Zusammenführung des Störpotentials zur Wirkung der Schirmung von Hochvoltleitungen bzw. kompletten Hochvoltsystemen in Elektro- und Hybridfahrzeugen

Inhibition of Notch2 by Numb/Numblike controls myocardial compaction in the heart

Aims The ventricular wall of the heart is composed of trabeculated and compact layers, which are separated by yet unknown processes during embryonic development. Here, we wanted to explore the role of Notch2 and Numb/Numblike for myocardial trabeculation and compaction. Methods and results We found that Notch2 activity is specifically down-regulated in the compact layer during cardiac development in the mouse. The biological role of Notch2 down-regulation was investigated by the expression of constitutively active Notch2 in the myocardium of transgenic mice, resulting in hypertrabeculation, reduced compaction, and ventricular septum defects. To disclose the mechanism that inhibited Notch2 activity during the formation of myocardial layers, we analysed potential suppressors of Notch signalling. We unveiled that concomitant but not separate ablation of Numb and Numblike in the developing heart leads to increased Notch2 activity along with hypertrabeculation, reduced compaction, and ventricular septum defects, phenocopying effects gained by overexpression of constitutively active Notch2. Expression profiling revealed a strong up-regulation of Bmp10 in Numb/Numblike mutant hearts, which might also interfere with trabeculation and compaction. Conclusion This study identified potential novel roles of Numb/Numblike in regulating trabeculation and compaction by inhibiting Notch2 and Bmp10 signallin

Enabling time-resolved 2D spatial-coherence measurements using the Fourier-analysis method with an integrated curved-grating beam monitor

Direct 2D spatial-coherence measurements are increasingly gaining importance at synchrotron beamlines, especially due to present and future upgrades of synchrotron facilities to diffraction-limited storage rings. We present a method to determine the 2D spatial coherence of synchrotron radiation in a direct and particularly simple way by using the Fourier-analysis method in conjunction with curved gratings. Direct photon-beam monitoring provided by a curved grating circumvents the otherwise necessary separate determination of the illuminating intensity distribution required for the Fourier-analysis method. Hence, combining these two methods allows for time-resolved spatial-coherence measurements. As a consequence, spatial-coherence degradation effects caused by beamline optics vibrations, which is one of the key issues of state-of-the-art X-ray imaging and scattering beamlines, can be identified and analyzed. © 2020 Optical Society of America

Planning and optimising a digital intervention to protect older adults' cognitive health.

BackgroundBy 2050, worldwide dementia prevalence is expected to triple. Affordable, scalable interventions are required to support protective behaviours such as physical activity, cognitive training and healthy eating. This paper outlines the theory-, evidence- and person-based development of 'Active Brains': a multi-domain digital behaviour change intervention to reduce cognitive decline amongst older adults.MethodsDuring the initial planning phase, scoping reviews, consultation with PPI contributors and expert co-investigators and behavioural analysis collated and recorded evidence that was triangulated to inform provisional 'guiding principles' and an intervention logic model. The following optimisation phase involved qualitative think aloud and semi-structured interviews with 52 older adults with higher and lower cognitive performance scores. Data were analysed thematically and informed changes and additions to guiding principles, the behavioural analysis and the logic model which, in turn, informed changes to intervention content.ResultsScoping reviews and qualitative interviews suggested that the same intervention content may be suitable for individuals with higher and lower cognitive performance. Qualitative findings revealed that maintaining independence and enjoyment motivated engagement in intervention-targeted behaviours, whereas managing ill health was a potential barrier. Social support for engaging in such activities could provide motivation, but was not desirable for all. These findings informed development of intervention content and functionality that appeared highly acceptable amongst a sample of target users.ConclusionsA digitally delivered intervention with minimal support appears acceptable and potentially engaging to older adults with higher and lower levels of cognitive performance. As well as informing our own intervention development, insights obtained through this process may be useful for others working with, and developing interventions for, older adults and/or those with cognitive impairment

Severe T cell hyporeactivity in ventilated COVID-19 patients correlates with prolonged virus persistence and poor outcomes

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can lead to pneumonia and hyperinflammation. Here we show a sensitive method to measure polyclonal T cell activation by downstream effects on responder cells like basophils, plasmacytoid dendritic cells, monocytes and neutrophils in whole blood. We report a clear T cell hyporeactivity in hospitalized COVID-19 patients that is pronounced in ventilated patients, associated with prolonged virus persistence and reversible with clinical recovery. COVID-19-induced T cell hyporeactivity is T cell extrinsic and caused by plasma components, independent of occasional immunosuppressive medication of the patients. Monocytes respond stronger in males than females and IL-2 partially restores T cell activation. Downstream markers of T cell hyporeactivity are also visible in fresh blood samples of ventilated patients. Based on our data we developed a score to predict fatal outcomes and identify patients that may benefit from strategies to overcome T cell hyporeactivity.Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can lead to pneumonia and hyperinflammation. Here we show a sensitive method to measure polyclonal T cell activation by downstream effects on responder cells like basophils, plasmacytoid dendritic cells, monocytes and neutrophils in whole blood. We report a clear T cell hyporeactivity in hospitalized COVID-19 patients that is pronounced in ventilated patients, associated with prolonged virus persistence and reversible with clinical recovery. COVID-19-induced T cell hyporeactivity is T cell extrinsic and caused by plasma components, independent of occasional immunosuppressive medication of the patients. Monocytes respond stronger in males than females and IL-2 partially restores T cell activation. Downstream markers of T cell hyporeactivity are also visible in fresh blood samples of ventilated patients. Based on our data we developed a score to predict fatal outcomes and identify patients that may benefit from strategies to overcome T cell hyporeactivity