Vergleichende Untersuchungen zum Einfluss des proinflammatorischen Zytokins Interleukin-1 auf hyalinen Gelenkknorpel und Faserknorpel des Meniskus im Rindermodell

Das proinflammatorische Zytokin Interleukin-1 (IL-1) hat als Mediator in den frühen Phasen sowie in der Progredienz von degenerativen Gelenkerkrankungen wie Osteoarthrose und rheumatoider Arthritis einen entscheidenden Einfluss. Das Kniegelenk mit seinen artikulierenden Gewebetypen ist dabei mit am häufigsten betroffen. Anders als im hyalinen Gelenkknorpelgewebe ist zu den IL-1-vermittelten Pathomechanismen, die an der Zerstörung der faserknorpeligen Menisken beteiligt sind, noch wenig bekannt. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wurden daher Gewebeproben (Durchmesser 3mm, Höhe 1mm) vom bovinen Meniskus und Gelenkknorpel aus dem gleichen Gelenk und unter gleichen Bedingungen 3 und 10 Tage lang mit IL-1 stimuliert. Das verwendete in vitro-Modell ermöglichte einen qualitativen und quantitativen Vergleich des Einflusses von IL-1 auf die unterschiedlichen und doch ähnlichen Gewebetypen

Feedback Loops in Opinion Dynamics of Agent-Based Models with Multiplicative Noise

We introduce an agent-based model for co-evolving opinions and social dynamics, under the influence of multiplicative noise. In this model, every agent is characterized by a position in a social space and a continuous opinion state variable. Agents’ movements are governed by the positions and opinions of other agents and similarly, the opinion dynamics are influenced by agents’ spatial proximity and their opinion similarity. Using numerical simulations and formal analyses, we study this feedback loop between opinion dynamics and the mobility of agents in a social space. We investigate the behaviour of this ABM in different regimes and explore the influence of various factors on the appearance of emerging phenomena such as group formation and opinion consensus. We study the empirical distribution, and, in the limit of infinite number of agents, we derive a corresponding reduced model given by a partial differential equation (PDE). Finally, using numerical examples, we show that a resulting PDE model is a good approximation of the original ABM

Feedback Loops in Opinion Dynamics of Agent-Based Models with Multiplicative Noise

We introduce an agent-based model for co-evolving opinions and social dynamics, under the influence of multiplicative noise. In this model, every agent is characterized by a position in a social space and a continuous opinion state variable. Agents’ movements are governed by the positions and opinions of other agents and similarly, the opinion dynamics are influenced by agents’ spatial proximity and their opinion similarity. Using numerical simulations and formal analyses, we study this feedback loop between opinion dynamics and the mobility of agents in a social space. We investigate the behaviour of this ABM in different regimes and explore the influence of various factors on the appearance of emerging phenomena such as group formation and opinion consensus. We study the empirical distribution, and, in the limit of infinite number of agents, we derive a corresponding reduced model given by a partial differential equation (PDE). Finally, using numerical examples, we show that a resulting PDE model is a good approximation of the original ABM

Feedback Loops in Opinion Dynamics of Agent-Based Models with Multiplicative Noise

We introduce an agent-based model for co-evolving opinion and social dynamics, under the influence of multiplicative noise. In this model, every agent is characterized by a position in a social space and a continuous opinion state variable. Agents' movements are governed by positions and opinions of other agents and similarly, the opinion dynamics is influenced by agents' spatial proximity and their opinion similarity. Using numerical simulations and formal analysis, we study this feedback loop between opinion dynamics and mobility of agents in a social space. We investigate the behavior of this ABM in different regimes and explore the influence of various factors on appearance of emerging phenomena such as group formation and opinion consensus. We study the empirical distribution and in the limit of infinite number of agents we derive a corresponding reduced model given by a partial differential equation (PDE). Finally, using numerical examples we show that a resulting PDE model is a good approximation of the original ABM

Dental Students in Germany throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Psychological Assessment and Cross-Sectional Survey

Multiple investigations have reported high psychological distress among students since the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak started. This survey examined the associations between psychological features, and several demographic and social factors among dental students in German universities. Dental students registered in German universities nationwide were asked to join this survey via a self-directed online questionnaire, from July 2020 to January 2021. This study assembled data on demographic statistics, the depression anxiety stress scales (DASS-21), and the impact of events scale-revised (IES-R) instrument. The relationships between demographic-related variables and mental consequences of depression, anxiety, stress, intrusion, avoidance, and hyperarousal were inspected. Two hundred and eleven students contributed to the questionnaire and conveyed overall normal or mild outcomes of depression, anxiety, stress, intrusion, avoidance, and hyperarousal. In addition, female gender, cardiovascular diseases, smoking habits, and seeing the COVID-19 outbreak as a financial risk were stated as significant related factors (p < 0.05), with increased IES-R and DASS-21 scores. These results highlight the features that should be considered to better protect dental students' mental health in German universities during the crisis

Oral Health Attitudes among Preclinical and Clinical Dental Students in Germany

Oral health care providers are expected to show good examples of oral health behaviours and attitudes to their community. Previous studies displayed the constructive effect of dental education on oral hygiene manners of undergraduate students. The aim of this survey was to assess and compare aspects of oral health attitudes and behaviours between preclinical and clinical dental students in German universities. The German-language version of the HU-DBI was distributed to preclinical and clinical students from different German universities. Dichotomized (agree/disagree) responses to 20 HU-DBI items were provided in this study, with a maximum possible score of 19. A quantitative estimate of oral health attitudes and behaviours was provided by the total of appropriate answers given to every statement by each group. Data were analysed statistically. The overall mean score of answers favouring good oral hygiene was marginally higher in preclinical (14.62) than clinical students (14.31) but showed no statistical significance. Similarly, the analysis of each item individually displayed no statistically significant differences between preclinical and clinical participants, except in a single item of the survey. This study showed no effective differences in oral hygiene attitudes and behaviour between preclinical and clinical students in German universities. This reveals a weak effect of dental education on improving students' oral health attitudes in Germany and might demand the introduction of more courses emphasizing the importance of correct oral health behaviour of health care providers

The Psychological Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Dentists in Germany

Since the announcement of the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak as a pandemic, several studies reported increased psychological distress among healthcare workers. In this investigation, we examined the association between psychological outcomes and various factors among German dentists. Dentists from all German federal states were invited to participate in this study through a self-administered online questionnaire between July and November 2020. This questionnaire collected information on demographics, Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21), and the Impact of Events Scale-Revised (IES-R) instrument. The associations displayed between demographic and psychological outcomes of depression, anxiety, stress, intrusion, avoidance, and hyperarousal were evaluated. Seven-hundred-and-thirty-two dentists participated in the survey and reported overall scores of (4.88 ± 4.85), (2.88 ± 3.57), (7.08 ± 5.04), (9.12 ± 8.44), (10.68 ± 8.88) and (10.35 ± 8.68) for depression, anxiety, stress, intrusion, avoidance, and hyperarousal, respectively. For females, being between 50-59 years of age, being immune deficient or chronically ill, working at a dental practice, and considering the COVID-19 pandemic a financial hazard were reported as significant associated factors (p < 0.05) with higher DASS-21 and IES-R scores. These findings underline the aspects which need to be taken into attention to protect the mental wellbeing of dentists in Germany during the crisis

Bender – An Educational Game for Teaching Agile Hardware Development

Within this paper, an educational game is presented that transfers Agile principles for the development of physical systems. The training leverages elements of Learning Factories (LF) to simulate an Agile hardware development project within two days. By doing so, the challenges of applying Agile within the hardware domain are realistically reflected. The training revolves around a physical wire bending machine, which a development team of four participants needs to modify within a realistic engineering and production setting. A trial with mechanical engineering students was conducted to validate the training design. The participants showed a positive attitude towards the active learning approach. Furthermore, the students expressed that they perceived the game to improve their learning regarding Agile hardware development

Enabling non-engineers to use engineering tools: introducing product development to pupils using knowledge-integrating systems

Many engineering tasks are supported by tools based on innovative technologies. Powerful tools for computer aided design, simulations or programming permit a wide range of possibilities for engineers in solving complex problems. However, using these tools commonly requires extensive training or specific skills. Specialized systems that enable tool and technology usage could support novices in solving engineering tasks using embedded knowledge, lowering the hurdle of expertise required for operation. In the presented case study, knowledge-integrating systems inspired by knowledge-based engineering were developed to allow pupils to solve an engineering challenge without existing skills or prior training. To provide a realistic application context, a teaching module was developed, introducing high school students to product engineering in the form of a conceive-design-implement-operate experience with the learning goal to engage them in the STEM field. Solving the included engineering challenge required the creation, test and iteration of designs for laser cut and additive manufacturing, and code processing sensor signals for motor actuation. To evaluate the knowledge-integrating systems in their use qualitatively, a trial run was conducted. Participants were enabled to fulfil basic product engineering tasks and expressed engagement in product development and overall satisfaction. The module’s key element is an educational exoskeleton that can be controlled by electromyography signals. It is modified to eventually support a fictional character suffering from monoplegia. The module was realized accompanying the CYBATHLON, a championship for people with physical disabilities in solving everyday tasks assisted by state-of-the-art technical systems

Teaching agile hardware development with an open‐source engineering simulator: An evaluation with industry participants

Educational games are increasingly used to teach Agile development approaches to practitioners. Most of these training modules simplify the development environment, for example, by using LEGO bricks or playing cards. This oversimplification has been shown to result in limited transferability of learning to industrial practice. Furthermore, there is a lack of teaching modules that specifically address the challenges of applying Agile to physical products. In this paper, we present an open-source educational game that realistically simulates a hardware development project to teach Agile principles. Over 2 days, participants design, manufacture, and test modifications for a physical wire bending machine within an authentic engineering and production setting. The training mimics the typical roles, processes, and tools of industrial engineering teams to reflect the challenges of Agile hardware development. The module was evaluated with 44 industry professionals regarding perceived learning and user reaction. A combination of quantitative and qualitative methods was used for the experimental evaluation. The results showed a positive learning effect as the participants\u27 average agreement with Agile principles increased through the training. Concerning user reaction, respondents reported a high degree of relevance, interaction, and confidence, indicating that the realistic simulation of the hardware development appropriately balanced the degree of realism with simplicity. The study showcases the opportunities of properly aligning game components to provoke learning situations targeted by the instructors. It contributes to the extant literature by providing a design framework (product, process, setting, and instruction) and open-source access to the tools used for implementation