Innovative manufacturing technologies for the disassembly of consumer goods

Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.This publication is with permission of the rights owner freely accessible due to an Alliance licence and a national licence (funded by the DFG, German Research Foundation) respectively.Ecological harmless disposal of used technical consumer products will become mandatory for producers and importing companies. This disposal policy will focus on product and material loops; used products will be disassembled and the parts and materials then recycled. Owing to environmental and legislative reasons, the importance of disassembly as a step in the process of recycling is steadily rising. The article presents developed technologies and tools for the disassembly of consumer goods. The aim is to recover materials and reusable components within a semiautomatic pilot disassembly system. Different destructive processes were optimized to disassemble washing machines

Occupational therapy intervention approaches for successful employment outcomes for individuals with an intellectual disability

“Disability is an umbrella term, covering impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. Disability is thus not just a health problem. It is a complex phenomenon, reflecting the interaction between features of a person’s body and features of the society in which he or she lives” (Boyt Schell & Gillen, 2019, pp. 1196). Disability is a natural part of the human experience, and does not inhibit an individual’s ability to successfully contribute to society. “Intellectual disability is a developmental disability that is diagnosed before the age of 18 and expected to last throughout life. It involves significant limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior” (Johnson & Blaskowtiz, 2017, p. 3). According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, persons with a disability have significantly lower employment rates than persons without a disability (2020). Disability is a natural part of the human experience, and does not inhibit an individual’s ability to successfully contribute to society. “The unemployment rate for adults with intellectual disability is more than twice as high as those without disabilities, with only 44% of adults with intellectual disability aged 21 to 64 years participating in the labor force (Johnson & Blaskowtiz, 2017, p.4). Legislation has been implemented to support individuals with intellectual disabilities including American Disability Act (ADA), Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) (Cleary & Persch, 2020)

Vergleich von SISPA und random-PCR als sequenzunabhängige Amplifikationsmethoden zum schnellen und einfachen Nachweis unbekannter DNA-Viren

Die Identifizierung unbekannter oder unvermuteter Viren in Probenmaterial stellt eine Herausforderung im Diagnostikalltag dar. Sequenzunabhängige molekulare Methoden können eine Ergänzung zu konventionellen Techniken bieten. Ziele dieser Arbeit waren die vergleichende Prüfung der sequence-independent single primer amplification (SISPA) und random-PCR als Vertreter sequenz-unabhängiger Methoden zum Nachweis doppelsträngiger DNA-Viren und die Evaluierung ihrer Tauglichkeit als universell einsetzbare, schnelle, einfache und kostengünstige Alternativen für die Routinediagnostik. Als Modell diente das Equine Herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1), das in verschiedenen Probenmaterialien in ab-steigender Konzentration bei ansteigendem Fremd-DNA-Gehalt vorlag. Durch Schritte zur physikalischen und enzymatischen Virusanreicherung, sequenz-unabhängigen Amplifikation in Kombination mit der konventionellen Sanger-Sequenzierung und einem Datenbankabgleich sollte EHV-1 wiedergefunden werden. Trotz variabler Inhibition durch Gewebebestandteile stellte sich die Enzymbehandlung unter Einsatz einer geeigneten DNase als effektive Methode zur Elimination von Fremd-DNA heraus. Die Protektion viraler Nukleinsäuren durch Viruskapsid bzw. -hülle, die die Voraussetzung für eine erfolgreiche Durch-führung darstellte, konnte in verschiedenen Materialien gezeigt werden. Weiterhin wurde ein gradueller Verlust an viraler DNA im Verlauf beider Methoden festgestellt, der eine hohe Viruslast im Ausgangsmaterial nötig macht. Sowohl die SISPA als auch die random-PCR führten zu einem vergleichbaren Erfolg beim Virusnachweis in Zellkulturüberstand, infizierten Zellen und Lebergewebe, was für ihre Anwendbarkeit in zellarmen wie auch in zellreichen Proben spricht. Der entscheidende Faktor für den Erfolg beider Methoden schien dabei vor allem die Viruslast zu sein. Ein hoher Zellgehalt in der Probe beeinflusste die Methodik hin-gegen offenbar weniger stark. Der nachgewiesene sequenzunabhängige Charakter stellte aufgrund einer damit einhergehenden erhöhten Kontaminationsanfälligkeit einen Schwachpunkt in der Methodik der random-PCR dar. In dieser Arbeit ist es gelungen, SISPA und random-PCR erfolgreich zum Nachweis doppelsträngiger DNA-Viren in Gewebe anzuwenden. Für die universelle Einsetzbarkeit zur Diagnostik unbekannter bzw. unvermuteter Viren sollten als nächstes geeignete Schritte der reversen Transkription und Zweitstrangsynthese erprobt werden.The discovery of unknown or unsuspected viruses poses a major diagnostic challenge. Sequence independent molecular strategies can be of great value in addition to conventional methods. The goals of this study were to compare two sequence independent methods, namely sequence-independent single primer amplification (SISPA) and random-PCR, for the detection of double-stranded DNA viruses and to evaluate their application in routine diagnostics as universal, fast, simple and inexpensive means of detection. This was tested on decreasing concentrations of equine herpes virus-1 (EHV-1), the virus being present in different types of samples displaying increasing amounts of DNA derived from both host and bacteria. The aim was to recover EHV-1 after physical and enzymatic steps for viral enrichment, sequence-independent amplification, conventional Sanger sequencing and database homology search. Despite variable tissue related inhibitory effects the enzymatic DNase treatment proved effective in eliminating non-viral DNA. The protection of viral nucleic acids by its capsid and envelope being a prerequisite for the successful application of both methods could be demonstrated in different types of samples. In the course of working with both methods a gradual loss of DNA was observed, thus requiring a high viral load in the original source. The recovery of virus in cell culture supernatant, infected cells as well as in liver tissue could be performed correspondingly by both SISPA and random-PCR methods. This indicates the general applicability in samples showing low and high levels of non-viral DNA. The viral load of the initial sample seemed to be the key factor for the successful application of both methods. In contrast to this, the amount of non-viral DNA apparently affected the methodology to a much lower extent than expected. In addition, the sequence-independent nature could be reproduced. However, this quality was associated with an increased susceptibility to contamination in case of the random-PCR method, which is a distinct limitation of this type of approach. This work demonstrates the successful application of SISPA and random-PCR for the detection of double-stranded DNA viruses in tissue samples. Further work should focus on appropriate steps for reverse transcription and second strand synthesis in order to provide a general tool for the detection of unknown or unsuspected viruses

Evolutionary processes shaping natural variation in two Brassicaceae species

In natural populations genetic variation is shaped by a complex interplay of evolutionary forces. For this thesis, I investigated patterns of natural variation in two selfing Brassicaceae species with contrasting demographic histories. I addressed the following questions: i) how do complex traits evolve in selfing populations when genetic drift is maximized and recombination strongly limited? ii) how can such populations be maintained when they are severely endangered? To answer the first question, I investigated natural variation in stomatal traits and water-use efficiency in 330 European accessions of the widely distributed human commensal Arabidopsis thaliana. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) revealed that natural variation in stomata density, stomata size and water-use efficiency has a complex largely polygenic genetic basis with few major effect loci at low frequency. Moreover, I found a significant correlation between stomata size and water-use efficiency, which has a genetic basis. All traits were significantly correlated with climatic variables and excessively differentiated among populations, suggesting a role of these traits in local adaptation. To answer the second question, I investigated the distribution of genetic diversity in Arabis nemorensis, a strongly endangered floodplain species. A. nemorensis is a target species in an ecological restoration project at the Upper Rhine. To assess whether genetic diversity was maintained in the restoration process I genotyped and compared individuals from four pristine and six restored sites. Genetic analysis revealed that, in these sites, A. nemorensis co-occurs with its morphologically highly similar but ecologically divergent sibling species Arabis sagittata and that they naturally hybridize. In both species, there was no difference in the level of genetic diversity between pristine and restored sites. In A. sagittata, restoration resulted in admixture of previously isolated genotypes, suggesting that restoration can increase the adaptive potential of populations, depending on the initial structure of the donor populations. Population genetic analysis of 15 additional pristine sites in Germany in Austria revealed that A. nemorensis is frequently confused with its sibling species, A. sagittata and Arabis hirsuta, in botanical surveys, indicating that the size of its total population might be overestimated. In three populations A. nemorensis co-occurs with A. hirsuta. However, the Rhine population is the only contact zone between A. nemorensis and A. sagittata I found. Intraspecific genetic diversity was low both in A. nemorensis and A. sagittata, likely due to habitat degradation. Thus, interspecific gene-flow through hybridization could be source of novel genetic variation for both species, which could be critical for their survival. Patterns of genomic ancestries of hybrids suggest that hybrids naturally back-cross with both parents, but preferentially with A. sagittata, which might have resulted in interspecific gene-flow. To test for interspecific gene-flow, I analyzed whole-genome sequences of 35 individuals from sympatric and allopatric populations of both species and an outgroup. In both sympatric and allopatric populations, I found signatures of substantial gene-flow among parental species, which was stronger from A. nemorensis into A. sagittata than vice versa and strongest into the sympatric A. sagittata population. Haplotype network analyses suggest that gene-flow in this population was both recent and ancestral. To assess the adaptive potential of interspecific gene-flow, I investigated the phenotypic divergence of the species. I found that they significantly differ in several potentially adaptive traits: phenology, morphology, defense and flooding tolerance, highlighting the adaptive potential of interspecific gene-flow. Yet, additional studies will be needed to assess whether gene-flow is indeed adaptive

Accelerated induction of etorphine immobilization in blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) by the addition of hyaluronidase

Wild animal capture has progressed over the years from trapping or physical capture, which was dangerous to both animal and man, to chemical immobilization. Opioids and butyrophenones are the most common classes of drugs used for ungulate immobilization; however newer drugs and drug combinations are commonly used in an attempt to reduce time to immobilization in wildlife. The enzyme hyaluronidase is often added to drug combinations in the belief that it reduces time to immobilization by improving drug absorption. The primary objective of this study was to ascertain if the addition of hyaluronidase to an etorphine and azaperone drug combination would be of value in reducing time to immobilization in blue wildebeest. The study also tried to ascertain if the added hyaluronidase enabled one to reduce the etorphine and azaperone doses required to immobilize blue wildebeest, without affecting time to immobilization. The study made use of a four-way cross-over study design, with four treatment groups, four sequences and four periods. The four treatment groups were etorphine and azaperone; etorphine, azaperone and 5000 international units (IU) hyaluronidase; etorphine, azaperone and 7500 IU hyaluronidase; and 75 % of the original etorphine dose, 75% of the original azaperone dose and 7500 IU hyaluronidase. Each animal was immobilized with each of the above four drug combinations randomly over an eight week period with a two week interval between each period. The times to first effect, first down and immobilization were recorded. The etorphine and azaperone treatment group was used as the control group. The difference in time to first effect between the control group and the etorphine, azaperone and 7500 IU hyaluronidase treatment group was statistically significant (95 seconds versus 67 seconds; p = 0.007). When compared to the time to immobilization in the control group (323 seconds) the time to immobilization in the etrophine, azaperone and 5000 IU hyaluronidase (228 seconds); etorphine, azaperone and 7500 IU hyaluronidase (210 seconds) and the low dose etorphine, low dose azaperone and 7500 IU hyaluronidase (268 seconds) groups were statistically significantly reduced (p=0.002, p=0.001 and p=0.045 respectively). It is therefore concluded that the addition of 5000 or 7500 IU hyaluronidase to an etorphine and azaperone combination significantly reduced the time to immobilization in blue wildebeest. The unexpected decrease in time to immobilization in the low dose etorphine, low dose azaperone and 7500 IU hyaluronidase treatment group requires further investigation.Dissertation (MMedVet)--University of Pretoria, 2011.Production Animal Studiesunrestricte

Vergleich von SISPA und random-PCR als sequenzunabhängige Amplifikationsmethoden zum schnellen und einfachen Nachweis unbekannter DNA-Viren

Die Identifizierung unbekannter oder unvermuteter Viren in Probenmaterial stellt eine Herausforderung im Diagnostikalltag dar. Sequenzunabhängige molekulare Methoden können eine Ergänzung zu konventionellen Techniken bieten. Ziele dieser Arbeit waren die vergleichende Prüfung der sequence-independent single primer amplification (SISPA) und random-PCR als Vertreter sequenz-unabhängiger Methoden zum Nachweis doppelsträngiger DNA-Viren und die Evaluierung ihrer Tauglichkeit als universell einsetzbare, schnelle, einfache und kostengünstige Alternativen für die Routinediagnostik. Als Modell diente das Equine Herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1), das in verschiedenen Probenmaterialien in ab-steigender Konzentration bei ansteigendem Fremd-DNA-Gehalt vorlag. Durch Schritte zur physikalischen und enzymatischen Virusanreicherung, sequenz-unabhängigen Amplifikation in Kombination mit der konventionellen Sanger-Sequenzierung und einem Datenbankabgleich sollte EHV-1 wiedergefunden werden. Trotz variabler Inhibition durch Gewebebestandteile stellte sich die Enzymbehandlung unter Einsatz einer geeigneten DNase als effektive Methode zur Elimination von Fremd-DNA heraus. Die Protektion viraler Nukleinsäuren durch Viruskapsid bzw. -hülle, die die Voraussetzung für eine erfolgreiche Durch-führung darstellte, konnte in verschiedenen Materialien gezeigt werden. Weiterhin wurde ein gradueller Verlust an viraler DNA im Verlauf beider Methoden festgestellt, der eine hohe Viruslast im Ausgangsmaterial nötig macht. Sowohl die SISPA als auch die random-PCR führten zu einem vergleichbaren Erfolg beim Virusnachweis in Zellkulturüberstand, infizierten Zellen und Lebergewebe, was für ihre Anwendbarkeit in zellarmen wie auch in zellreichen Proben spricht. Der entscheidende Faktor für den Erfolg beider Methoden schien dabei vor allem die Viruslast zu sein. Ein hoher Zellgehalt in der Probe beeinflusste die Methodik hin-gegen offenbar weniger stark. Der nachgewiesene sequenzunabhängige Charakter stellte aufgrund einer damit einhergehenden erhöhten Kontaminationsanfälligkeit einen Schwachpunkt in der Methodik der random-PCR dar. In dieser Arbeit ist es gelungen, SISPA und random-PCR erfolgreich zum Nachweis doppelsträngiger DNA-Viren in Gewebe anzuwenden. Für die universelle Einsetzbarkeit zur Diagnostik unbekannter bzw. unvermuteter Viren sollten als nächstes geeignete Schritte der reversen Transkription und Zweitstrangsynthese erprobt werden.The discovery of unknown or unsuspected viruses poses a major diagnostic challenge. Sequence independent molecular strategies can be of great value in addition to conventional methods. The goals of this study were to compare two sequence independent methods, namely sequence-independent single primer amplification (SISPA) and random-PCR, for the detection of double-stranded DNA viruses and to evaluate their application in routine diagnostics as universal, fast, simple and inexpensive means of detection. This was tested on decreasing concentrations of equine herpes virus-1 (EHV-1), the virus being present in different types of samples displaying increasing amounts of DNA derived from both host and bacteria. The aim was to recover EHV-1 after physical and enzymatic steps for viral enrichment, sequence-independent amplification, conventional Sanger sequencing and database homology search. Despite variable tissue related inhibitory effects the enzymatic DNase treatment proved effective in eliminating non-viral DNA. The protection of viral nucleic acids by its capsid and envelope being a prerequisite for the successful application of both methods could be demonstrated in different types of samples. In the course of working with both methods a gradual loss of DNA was observed, thus requiring a high viral load in the original source. The recovery of virus in cell culture supernatant, infected cells as well as in liver tissue could be performed correspondingly by both SISPA and random-PCR methods. This indicates the general applicability in samples showing low and high levels of non-viral DNA. The viral load of the initial sample seemed to be the key factor for the successful application of both methods. In contrast to this, the amount of non-viral DNA apparently affected the methodology to a much lower extent than expected. In addition, the sequence-independent nature could be reproduced. However, this quality was associated with an increased susceptibility to contamination in case of the random-PCR method, which is a distinct limitation of this type of approach. This work demonstrates the successful application of SISPA and random-PCR for the detection of double-stranded DNA viruses in tissue samples. Further work should focus on appropriate steps for reverse transcription and second strand synthesis in order to provide a general tool for the detection of unknown or unsuspected viruses

Zugriff auf multimediale XML-Dokumente in Objekt-relationalen Datenbanksystemen

In den letzten Jahren hat die Thematik wireless-orientierter, multimedialer Content Management Systeme zunehmend an Bedeutung gewonnen. In diesem Kontext kann die Extensible Markup Language (XML) zur Verbesserung einer grossen Bandbreite möglicher Anwendungen beitragen. Diese Arbeit widmet sich der Systemkonzeption einer Schnittstelle zum jeweiligen Datenbanksystem, die eine Nutzung der objekt-relationalen Multimedia-Fähigkeit zuläßt und die Ableitung der jeweiligen anwendungs- und endgeräteabhängigen Präsentation ermöglicht. Die zugehörige XML-basierte Request-Bearbeitungs und Anfrage-Transformations-Strategien werden diskutiert

Zugriff auf multimediale XML-Dokumente in Objekt-relationalen Datenbanksystemen

In den letzten Jahren hat die Thematik wireless-orientierter, multimedialer Content Management Systeme zunehmend an Bedeutung gewonnen. In diesem Kontext kann die Extensible Markup Language (XML) zur Verbesserung einer grossen Bandbreite möglicher Anwendungen beitragen. Diese Arbeit widmet sich der Systemkonzeption einer Schnittstelle zum jeweiligen Datenbanksystem, die eine Nutzung der objekt-relationalen Multimedia-Fähigkeit zuläßt und die Ableitung der jeweiligen anwendungs- und endgeräteabhängigen Präsentation ermöglicht. Die zugehörige XML-basierte Request-Bearbeitungs und Anfrage-Transformations-Strategien werden diskutiert