Sensorik im Gesundheitswesen: Chancen und Herausforderungen (Teil 1)

Wie können digitale Technologien in der Gesundheitsversorgung und Prävention eingesetzt werden? Kann Technologie das Pflegepersonal entlasten? Und was braucht es, damit die Technologie von Patient*innen und Personal angenommen wird? Forschende der BFH Gesundheit untersuchen diese Fragen in einem Innosuisse-Projekt. In einer mehrteiligen Artikelserie geben sie einen Einblick in die Aspekte von Datennutzung und Prozessdesign bis Akzeptanz

Ultrasound screening for chromosomal anomalies in the first trimester of pregnancy

For the last 6 years, sonographic signs for excessive fluid accumulation in the backs of 10- to 12-week-old fetuses have been looked for prior to transabdominal chorionic biopsy. In 1400 pregnancies, subsequent karyotype analyses revealed 28 cases of Down syndrome. In 15 (= 54 per cent), a large fluid cushion over most of the back had been documented at the time of biopsy. Only a few chromosomally normal fetuses with the same peculiarity were observed. The cushion was also present in fetuses with trisomies 18 and 13, and in Turner syndrome. Systematic first-trimester screening for nuchal fluid accumulation seems to be a recommended method for the detection of Down syndrome and other chromosome anomalies in young pregnant women at low risk. It compares favourably with current methods of maternal serum screening performed at 16-18 weeks which require a higher number of invasive procedures

Trisomy-21 screening using AFPplus in the eastern part of Switzerland

Two years after introduction of maternal serum screening for Down's syndrome in German-speaking Switzerland, based on measurements of alpha-fetoprotein, unconjugated estriol and total beta-HCG, results were analyzed of the two cytogenetic laboratories in Zurich and of a separate collective of the Department of Obstetrics at the University of Zurich. In a total of 489 cases with increased risk for Down's syndrome (> or = 1:380 at term) 19 (1:26; approximately 4%) had an abnormal fetal karyotype from which 16 had a trisomy 21. 13 out of these 16 mothers were aged below 35 years. Thus, after ultrasound, maternal serum screening detects the highest percentage of fetuses with chromosomal abnormalities. At the Department of Obstetrics 2962 serum screening tests were performed during a period of 2 1/2 years. 14.6% of the women were > or = 35 years old, 7.6% showed increased risk and 14 fetuses had an abnormal karyotype including 10 with Down's syndrome. 7 of these 10 were detected by the serum test. Nevertheless, the limited sensitivity of serum screening, its limitation predominantly to detection of fetuses with Down's syndrome and the rather late stage of screening, make effective first trimester screening mandatory

Modellierung und Mikrosimulation von Prozessen der Familienentwicklung: Bericht aus dem Projekt "Generatives Verhalten in Nordrhein-Westfalen"

Strohmeier KP, Schulz M, Kaufmann F-X. Modellierung und Mikrosimulation von Prozessen der Familienentwicklung: Bericht aus dem Projekt "Generatives Verhalten in Nordrhein-Westfalen". In: Schmid J, Schwarz K, eds. Politische und prognostische Tragweite von Forschungen zum generativen Verhalten. Dokumentation der Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Bevölkerungswissenschaft e. V. ; 1985. Berlin: Dt. Ges. für Bevölkerungswiss.; 1985: 171-208

Integration textiler Strukturen in den Aluminium-Druckguss zur Realisierung integraler CFK-Aluminium-Verbindungen

Die Infiltrationsfähigkeit von Faserstrukturen mit Aluminium wurde anhand von metallographischen Schliffbildern und bildoptischen Auswertungstools untersucht. Der Infiltrationsgrad der Faserstrukturen ist maßgeblich von der textilen Architektur abhängig. Für die Gewebestrukturen konnte verifiziert werden, dass sowohl der Lagenaufbau (Anzahl der Lagen), als auch der Garnabstand die lokale Permeabilität und damit die Infiltrierbarkeit der Strukturen beeinflussen. Für die Herstellung von CFK-Aluminium-Übergangsstrukturen auf Basis von Glasfaserstrukturen, ist es notwendig die Charakteristik der Infiltration und Benetzung sowie die wesentlichen Parameter der textilen Architektur zu bestimmen. Daraus lassen sich Gestaltungsrichtlinien ableiten, die es dem Konstrukteur ermöglichen, eine fertigungstechnisch umsetzbare Struktur unter Ausnutzung der Eigenschaften des Verbundwerkstoffs zu entwickeln. Für hochbelastbare Strukturen sind vor allem ein hoher FVG bei gleichzeitig hohem Infiltrationsgrad entscheidend. Daher gibt es für die Anwendung einen optimalen textilen Aufbau, bei dem sich der Infiltrationsgrad der Strukturen bei gleichzeitig hohem FVG einstellen lässt. Dieser ist vorzugsweise durch einen größeren Garnabstand mit mehreren Lagen zu erzielen. Für die Anwendung von hochsteifen Keramikfasern wurde bisher eine unzureichende Infiltrationsqualität festgestellt. Eine genaue Quantifizierung des Infiltrationsgehaltes anhand der bildoptischen Verfahren wird in einem nächsten Schritt vorgenommen. Neben der Änderung der textilen Gestaltungsparameter, könnte ein Vorwärmen der Strukturen für eine bessere Infiltrationsqualität sorgen und somit den Einsatz von hochsteifen Keramikfasern in der Übergangsstruktur ermöglichen

The impact of bias correcting regional climate model results on hydrological indicators for Bavarian catchments

Study region: The Mindel river catchment, gauge Offingen, Bavaria, Germany. Study focus: The study investigates the potential interference of climate change signals (CCS) in hydrological indicators due to the application of bias correction (BC) of regional climate models (RCM). A validated setup of the hydrological model WaSiM was used for runoff modeling. The CCS, gained by the application of three RCMs (CCLM, REMO-UBA, RACMO2) for a reference period (1971–2000) and a scenario period (2021–2050), are evaluated according to eight hydrological indicators derived from modeled runoff. Three different BC techniques (linear scaling, quantile mapping, local intensity scaling) are applied.New hydrological insights for the region: Runoff indicators are calculated for the investigated catchment using bias corrected RCM data. The quantile mapping approach proves superior to linear scaling and local intensity scaling and is recommended as the bias correction method of choice when assessing climate change impacts on catchment hydrology. Extreme flow indicators (high flows), however, are poorly represented by any bias corrected model results, as current approaches fail to properly capture extreme value statistics. The CCS of mean hydrological indicator values (e.g. mean flow) is well preserved by almost every BC technique. For extreme indicator values (e.g. high flows), the CCS shows distinct differences between the original RCM and BC data. Keywords: Bias correction, Regional climate model, Climate change signal, Hydrological modeling, Runoff indicators, Bavari

Intrinsic aluminum CFRP hybrid composites produced in high pressure die casting with polymer based decoupling layer

Combining aluminum and carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) has been a key focus in realizing lightweight hybrid concepts. Yet for hybrid composites of these materials, the solutions to date have relied on conventionally mechanical or adhesive joining techniques. The direct joining of these two materials is problematic, due to their electrochemical intolerance and the resulting corrosive degradation. The joining technology therefore is at the center of this challenge and is investigated within a DFG-sponsored joint research project at the University of Bremen. It aims at combining aluminum and thermoplastic CFRP into an intrinsic hybrid composite. This is to be achieved in a single-step primary shaping process, avoiding conventional joining techniques like adhesive bonding or riveting. To this end, CFRP structures are to be recast with aluminum by high pressure die casting (HPDC), creating an electrochemically decoupling layer between the two materials. This decoupling layer can therefore be considered as a key factor for realizing hybrid composites. It also needs to have a high process reliability and be long-term and mechanically stable. Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) thermoplast was identified as a suitable material for that purpose, given its stability at high temperatures and electrochemical insulation effect. First test results show the possibility of incorporating CFRP accordingly by HPDC, resulting in a continuous intact decoupling layer of PEEK. The trend indicated that different thermal treatments as well as different aluminum thicknesses of the hybrid casted sample influence the joint strength. On average, in tensile shear tests a joint strength approximately in the range of current single lap adhesive bonds could be achieved

Process concepts for the manufacturing of hybrid composites made from aluminum and CFRP with a polymer-based decoupling layer

Currently, conventional mechanical or adhesive joining technologies are used for the production of hybrid composites consisting of the light construction materials aluminum (Al) and carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP). A direct joining of these materials is, however, problematic due to their electro chemical in compatibility and the resulting corrosive degradation. The aim of the new collaborative research project “Hybrid Casting” funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) is to join Al and CFRP in novel ways using the aluminum high pressure die casting (HPDC) process to create an intrinsic hybrid composite with a decoupling and adhesive layer made from thermoplastic polyether etherketone (PEEK). Two process concepts to produce such a hybrid composite are the primary focus in this investigation

Conservation of the Folding Mechanism between Designed Primordial (βα)₈-Barrel Proteins and Their Modern Descendant

The (βα)₈-barrel is among the most ancient, frequent, and versatile enzyme structures. It was proposed that modern (βα)₈-barrel proteins have evolved from an ancestral (βα)₄-half-barrel by gene duplication and fusion. We explored whether the mechanism of protein folding has remained conserved during this long-lasting evolutionary process. For this purpose, potential primordial (βα)₈-barrel proteins were constructed by the duplication of a (βα)₄ element of a modern (βα)₈-barrel protein, imidazole glycerol phosphate synthase (HisF), followed by the optimization of the initial construct. The symmetric variant Sym1 was less stable than HisF and its crystal structure showed disorder in the contact regions between the half-barrels. The next generation variant Sym2 was more stable than HisF, and the contact regions were well resolved. Remarkably, both artificial (βα)₈-barrels show the same refolding mechanism as HisF and other modern (βα)₈-barrel proteins. Early in folding, they all equilibrate rapidly with an off-pathway species. On the productive folding path, they form closely related intermediates and reach the folded state with almost identical rates. The high energy barrier that synchronizes folding is thus conserved. The strong differences in stability between these proteins develop only after this barrier and lead to major changes in the unfolding rates. We conclude that the refolding mechanism of (βα)₈-barrel proteins is robust. It evolved early and, apparently, has remained conserved upon the diversification of sequences and functions that have taken place within this large protein family