Sol-gel coatings with lime repellent properties

Calcification of surfaces by hard water represents a major issue for sanitary installations. Calcium carbonate precipitates forming crusts of lime that are difficult to remove. Much effort has been undertaken to avoid scaling, most methods require chemicals or create waste. We constructed a test rig which allows for the controlled calcification of various substrates. It is found that all solid surfaces investigated calcify more or less evenly. On the other hand, surface bound poly(ethylene glycol), PEG, is known to prevent the non-specific adsorption of biomolecules. PEG coated surfaces find their use in a variety of applications. Here we show that glass and plastics, such as polyethylene, polypropylene and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, can be efficiently made lime repellent by the use of sol-gel coatings containing a PEG bearing silane. It is shown that the amount of scaling is drastically reduced. Prior to coating, plastics have to be pretreated by oxygen plasma and an adhesion promoter has to be employe

Sol-gel coatings with lime repellent properties

Erworben im Rahmen der Schweizer Nationallizenzen (http://www.nationallizenzen.ch)Calcification of surfaces by hard water represents a major issue for sanitary installations. Calcium carbonate precipitates forming crusts of lime that are difficult to remove. Much effort has been undertaken to avoid scaling, most methods require chemicals or create waste. We constructed a test rig which allows for the controlled calcification of various substrates. It is found that all solid surfaces investigated calcify more or less evenly. On the other hand, surface bound poly(ethylene glycol), PEG, is known to prevent the non-specific adsorption of biomolecules. PEG coated surfaces find their use in a variety of applications. Here we show that glass and plastics, such as polyethylene, polypropylene and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, can be efficiently made lime repellent by the use of sol-gel coatings containing a PEG bearing silane. It is shown that the amount of scaling is drastically reduced. Prior to coating, plastics have to be pretreated by oxygen plasma and an adhesion promoter has to be employed

Looking at the Others : Studies on (un)ethical behavior and social relationships in organizations

markdownabstractThis dissertation asks how social relationships matter for a person’s ethical or unethical behavior in an organization. Two observations motivate this question. First, in organizations, the network of formally prescribed and informally emerging social relationships with others constitutes the distinctive context for the behavior of the individuals. Second, (un)ethical behavior is inherently social in that the consideration of other persons is at the heart of ethics. Four independent studies each answer a specific question derived from this overarching question. The first study explores the role of social relationships in the process of spread of unethical behavior by developing a dynamic actor-oriented social network analysis framework. The second study focuses on the role of social relationships as conduits for information about unethical behavior, and empirically compares observer-reports on unethical behavior to self-reports. The third study empirically analyzes how unethical behavior by peers, which defines the descriptive norms, interacts with the formal rules, which constitute the injunctive norms, to influence individuals’ unethical behavior. The fourth study examines philosophical views which conceive social relationships as the source of ethical obligations to formulate a normative core for an individual-oriented version of stakeholder theory. Taken together, the results of this research show that social relationships can foster as well as impede unethical behavior depending on their specific constellation and on perceptions of their nature; that they are affected by unethical behavior; and that attempts to prevent unethical behavior in organizations are unlikely to be successful unless social relationships are taken into consideration

Utjecaj fibroznog tkiva lijevog atrija prije i induciranog ožiljnog tkiva nakon izolacije plućne vene na funkciju lijevog atrija otkriven pomoću MRI srca u bolesnika s fibrilacijom atrija

Objectives: The aim of this study is to determine the influence of atrial fibrosis before and induced scar tissue after PVI on the left atrial function in patients with paroxysmal AF. Materials and methods: 30 patients from the cardiology department of REGIOMED Hospital in Coburg, Germany, were included in this retrospective, non-invasive and non-randomized study, using data collected between June 2021 and June 2022. Inclusion criteria comprised high-quality MRI scans, sinus rhythm during both pre-MRI and post-MRI, and initial ablation between both MRI scans. At first, we analyzed patient characteristics. For age and BMI, we calculated the mean, median and range. Furthermore, we looked at the cine sequences and measured the LA function by using CVI 42. The next step was detecting the LA fibrosis before PVI and observing the LA induced scar tissue 3 months after PVI by analyzing MRI scans. In addition, the LA volume before and after PVI was analyzed. For this, the Merisight software was used. The collected data was analyzed with JASP (Version 0.17.2.0). The distribution was measured with mean, median, skewness and kurtosis. Afterwards we correlated our measured LA fibrosis/induced scar tissue with LAEF with the Pearson´s correlation test. We measured the association between LAEF and volume, both pre- and post-PVI, with the paired sample t- test. The significance level was set to a P-value of <0.05. Results: All of our variables had an approximate normal distribution. There was no correlation observed between LAEF pre-PVI and LA fibrosis (P=0.187), nor between LAEF post-PVI and LA fibrosis (P=0.328). However, the Pearson´s correlation coefficient did suggest that larger LA fibrosis could correspond to lower LAEF and vice versa. In addition, no correlation between LAEF post PVI and LA induced scar tissue was observed (P=0.655). Furthermore, no association between EF before and after PVI was found (P=0.485). In contrast, a significant connection between LA volume (P=0.012) before and after PVI was noticed. It showed a significant decrease of volume after PVI, which may indicate an improvement of LA anatomy after PVI. Conclusions: In conclusion, this retrospective study primarily focused on exploring the correlation between atrial fibrosis/atrial induced scar tissue and atrial function. Our findings revealed no significant correlation between these factors. Consequently, our hypothesis suggesting an influence of atrial fibrosis and atrial induced scar tissue on left atrial function can be rejected. Furthermore, the analysis of the association between LAEF before and after PVI indicated no statistically significance. However, the association between LA volume before and after PVI demonstrated a significant reduction of volume, which may indicate an improvement of LA anatomy after PVI.Ciljevi: Cilj ove studije je utvrditi utjecaj atrijalne fibroze prije i inducirane ožiljne tkivu nakon PVI na funkciju lijevog atrija kod bolesnika s paroksizmalnom fibrilacijom atrija. Materijali i metode: U ovoj retrospektivnoj, neinvazivnoj i ne-randomiziranoj studiji uključeno je 30 pacijenata iz kardiološkog odjela REGIOMED bolnice u Coburgu, Njemačka, koristeći podatke prikupljene između lipnja 2021. i lipnja 2022. Kriteriji za uključivanje obuhvaćali su visokokvalitetne MRI snimke, sinusni ritam tijekom obje pre-MRI i post-MRI faze te početnu ablacija između obje MRI snimke. Prvo smo analizirali karakteristike pacijenata. Za dob i indeks tjelesne mase (BMI) izračunali smo srednju vrijednost, medijanu i raspon. Nadalje, analizirali smo filmske sekvence i mjerili funkciju lijevog atrija koristeći CVI 42. Sljedeći korak bio je detektiranje fibroze lijevog atrija prije PVI i promatranje induciranog ožiljnog tkiva 3 mjeseca nakon PVI analizom MRI snimaka. Dodatno, volumen lijevog atrija prije i poslije PVI-a je analiziran. Za to smo koristili Merisight softver. Prikupljeni podaci analizirani su uz pomoć JASP-a (verzija 0.17.2.0). Distribucija je izmjerena pomoću srednje vrijednosti, mediane, asimetrije i ekscesa. Zatim smo korelirali našu izmjerenu fibrozu lijevog atrija/inducirano ožiljno tkivo s LAEF pomoću Pearsonovog koeficijenta korelacije. Mjerili smo povezanost između LAEF i volumena, i prije i poslije PVI, pomoću uparenog uzorka t- testa. Razina značajnosti postavljena je na P-vrijednost <0,05. Rezultati: Svi naši varijable imali su približno normalnu distribuciju. Nije uočena korelacija između LAEF prije PVI i fibroze lijevog atrija (P=0,187), niti između LAEF nakon PVI i fibroze lijevog atrija (P=0,328). Međutim, Pearsonov koeficijent korelacije sugerira da veća fibroza lijevog atrija može odgovarati nižem LAEF i obrnuto. Nadalje, nije uočena korelacija između LAEF nakon PVI i induciranog ožiljnog tkiva lijevog atrija (P=0,655). Nadalje, nije pronađena povezanost između EF prije i nakon PVI (P=0,485). Nasuprot tome, primijećena je značajna veza između volumena lijevog atrija (P=0,012) prije i nakon PVI. Pokazano je značajno smanjenje volumena nakon PVI, što može ukazivati na poboljšanje anatomije lijevog atrija nakon PVI. Zaključak: U zaključku, ova retrospektivna studija prvenstveno je istraživala korelaciju između atrijalne fibroze/induciranog ožiljnog tkiva i funkcije atrija. Naši rezultati nisu pokazali značajnu korelaciju između ovih faktora. Stoga se može odbaciti naša hipoteza koja sugerira utjecaj atrijalne fibroze i induciranog ožiljnog tkiva na funkciju lijevog atrija. Nadalje, analiza povezanosti između LAEF prije i nakon PVI nije ukazala na statističku značajnost. Međutim, povezanost između volumena lijevog atrija prije i nakon PVI pokazala je značajno smanjenje volumena, što može ukazivati na poboljšanje anatomije lijevog atrija nakon PVI

Utjecaj fibroznog tkiva lijevog atrija prije i induciranog ožiljnog tkiva nakon izolacije plućne vene na funkciju lijevog atrija otkriven pomoću MRI srca u bolesnika s fibrilacijom atrija

Objectives: The aim of this study is to determine the influence of atrial fibrosis before and induced scar tissue after PVI on the left atrial function in patients with paroxysmal AF. Materials and methods: 30 patients from the cardiology department of REGIOMED Hospital in Coburg, Germany, were included in this retrospective, non-invasive and non-randomized study, using data collected between June 2021 and June 2022. Inclusion criteria comprised high-quality MRI scans, sinus rhythm during both pre-MRI and post-MRI, and initial ablation between both MRI scans. At first, we analyzed patient characteristics. For age and BMI, we calculated the mean, median and range. Furthermore, we looked at the cine sequences and measured the LA function by using CVI 42. The next step was detecting the LA fibrosis before PVI and observing the LA induced scar tissue 3 months after PVI by analyzing MRI scans. In addition, the LA volume before and after PVI was analyzed. For this, the Merisight software was used. The collected data was analyzed with JASP (Version 0.17.2.0). The distribution was measured with mean, median, skewness and kurtosis. Afterwards we correlated our measured LA fibrosis/induced scar tissue with LAEF with the Pearson´s correlation test. We measured the association between LAEF and volume, both pre- and post-PVI, with the paired sample t- test. The significance level was set to a P-value of <0.05. Results: All of our variables had an approximate normal distribution. There was no correlation observed between LAEF pre-PVI and LA fibrosis (P=0.187), nor between LAEF post-PVI and LA fibrosis (P=0.328). However, the Pearson´s correlation coefficient did suggest that larger LA fibrosis could correspond to lower LAEF and vice versa. In addition, no correlation between LAEF post PVI and LA induced scar tissue was observed (P=0.655). Furthermore, no association between EF before and after PVI was found (P=0.485). In contrast, a significant connection between LA volume (P=0.012) before and after PVI was noticed. It showed a significant decrease of volume after PVI, which may indicate an improvement of LA anatomy after PVI. Conclusions: In conclusion, this retrospective study primarily focused on exploring the correlation between atrial fibrosis/atrial induced scar tissue and atrial function. Our findings revealed no significant correlation between these factors. Consequently, our hypothesis suggesting an influence of atrial fibrosis and atrial induced scar tissue on left atrial function can be rejected. Furthermore, the analysis of the association between LAEF before and after PVI indicated no statistically significance. However, the association between LA volume before and after PVI demonstrated a significant reduction of volume, which may indicate an improvement of LA anatomy after PVI.Ciljevi: Cilj ove studije je utvrditi utjecaj atrijalne fibroze prije i inducirane ožiljne tkivu nakon PVI na funkciju lijevog atrija kod bolesnika s paroksizmalnom fibrilacijom atrija. Materijali i metode: U ovoj retrospektivnoj, neinvazivnoj i ne-randomiziranoj studiji uključeno je 30 pacijenata iz kardiološkog odjela REGIOMED bolnice u Coburgu, Njemačka, koristeći podatke prikupljene između lipnja 2021. i lipnja 2022. Kriteriji za uključivanje obuhvaćali su visokokvalitetne MRI snimke, sinusni ritam tijekom obje pre-MRI i post-MRI faze te početnu ablacija između obje MRI snimke. Prvo smo analizirali karakteristike pacijenata. Za dob i indeks tjelesne mase (BMI) izračunali smo srednju vrijednost, medijanu i raspon. Nadalje, analizirali smo filmske sekvence i mjerili funkciju lijevog atrija koristeći CVI 42. Sljedeći korak bio je detektiranje fibroze lijevog atrija prije PVI i promatranje induciranog ožiljnog tkiva 3 mjeseca nakon PVI analizom MRI snimaka. Dodatno, volumen lijevog atrija prije i poslije PVI-a je analiziran. Za to smo koristili Merisight softver. Prikupljeni podaci analizirani su uz pomoć JASP-a (verzija 0.17.2.0). Distribucija je izmjerena pomoću srednje vrijednosti, mediane, asimetrije i ekscesa. Zatim smo korelirali našu izmjerenu fibrozu lijevog atrija/inducirano ožiljno tkivo s LAEF pomoću Pearsonovog koeficijenta korelacije. Mjerili smo povezanost između LAEF i volumena, i prije i poslije PVI, pomoću uparenog uzorka t- testa. Razina značajnosti postavljena je na P-vrijednost <0,05. Rezultati: Svi naši varijable imali su približno normalnu distribuciju. Nije uočena korelacija između LAEF prije PVI i fibroze lijevog atrija (P=0,187), niti između LAEF nakon PVI i fibroze lijevog atrija (P=0,328). Međutim, Pearsonov koeficijent korelacije sugerira da veća fibroza lijevog atrija može odgovarati nižem LAEF i obrnuto. Nadalje, nije uočena korelacija između LAEF nakon PVI i induciranog ožiljnog tkiva lijevog atrija (P=0,655). Nadalje, nije pronađena povezanost između EF prije i nakon PVI (P=0,485). Nasuprot tome, primijećena je značajna veza između volumena lijevog atrija (P=0,012) prije i nakon PVI. Pokazano je značajno smanjenje volumena nakon PVI, što može ukazivati na poboljšanje anatomije lijevog atrija nakon PVI. Zaključak: U zaključku, ova retrospektivna studija prvenstveno je istraživala korelaciju između atrijalne fibroze/induciranog ožiljnog tkiva i funkcije atrija. Naši rezultati nisu pokazali značajnu korelaciju između ovih faktora. Stoga se može odbaciti naša hipoteza koja sugerira utjecaj atrijalne fibroze i induciranog ožiljnog tkiva na funkciju lijevog atrija. Nadalje, analiza povezanosti između LAEF prije i nakon PVI nije ukazala na statističku značajnost. Međutim, povezanost između volumena lijevog atrija prije i nakon PVI pokazala je značajno smanjenje volumena, što može ukazivati na poboljšanje anatomije lijevog atrija nakon PVI

Utjecaj fibroznog tkiva lijevog atrija prije i induciranog ožiljnog tkiva nakon izolacije plućne vene na funkciju lijevog atrija otkriven pomoću MRI srca u bolesnika s fibrilacijom atrija

Objectives: The aim of this study is to determine the influence of atrial fibrosis before and induced scar tissue after PVI on the left atrial function in patients with paroxysmal AF. Materials and methods: 30 patients from the cardiology department of REGIOMED Hospital in Coburg, Germany, were included in this retrospective, non-invasive and non-randomized study, using data collected between June 2021 and June 2022. Inclusion criteria comprised high-quality MRI scans, sinus rhythm during both pre-MRI and post-MRI, and initial ablation between both MRI scans. At first, we analyzed patient characteristics. For age and BMI, we calculated the mean, median and range. Furthermore, we looked at the cine sequences and measured the LA function by using CVI 42. The next step was detecting the LA fibrosis before PVI and observing the LA induced scar tissue 3 months after PVI by analyzing MRI scans. In addition, the LA volume before and after PVI was analyzed. For this, the Merisight software was used. The collected data was analyzed with JASP (Version 0.17.2.0). The distribution was measured with mean, median, skewness and kurtosis. Afterwards we correlated our measured LA fibrosis/induced scar tissue with LAEF with the Pearson´s correlation test. We measured the association between LAEF and volume, both pre- and post-PVI, with the paired sample t- test. The significance level was set to a P-value of <0.05. Results: All of our variables had an approximate normal distribution. There was no correlation observed between LAEF pre-PVI and LA fibrosis (P=0.187), nor between LAEF post-PVI and LA fibrosis (P=0.328). However, the Pearson´s correlation coefficient did suggest that larger LA fibrosis could correspond to lower LAEF and vice versa. In addition, no correlation between LAEF post PVI and LA induced scar tissue was observed (P=0.655). Furthermore, no association between EF before and after PVI was found (P=0.485). In contrast, a significant connection between LA volume (P=0.012) before and after PVI was noticed. It showed a significant decrease of volume after PVI, which may indicate an improvement of LA anatomy after PVI. Conclusions: In conclusion, this retrospective study primarily focused on exploring the correlation between atrial fibrosis/atrial induced scar tissue and atrial function. Our findings revealed no significant correlation between these factors. Consequently, our hypothesis suggesting an influence of atrial fibrosis and atrial induced scar tissue on left atrial function can be rejected. Furthermore, the analysis of the association between LAEF before and after PVI indicated no statistically significance. However, the association between LA volume before and after PVI demonstrated a significant reduction of volume, which may indicate an improvement of LA anatomy after PVI.Ciljevi: Cilj ove studije je utvrditi utjecaj atrijalne fibroze prije i inducirane ožiljne tkivu nakon PVI na funkciju lijevog atrija kod bolesnika s paroksizmalnom fibrilacijom atrija. Materijali i metode: U ovoj retrospektivnoj, neinvazivnoj i ne-randomiziranoj studiji uključeno je 30 pacijenata iz kardiološkog odjela REGIOMED bolnice u Coburgu, Njemačka, koristeći podatke prikupljene između lipnja 2021. i lipnja 2022. Kriteriji za uključivanje obuhvaćali su visokokvalitetne MRI snimke, sinusni ritam tijekom obje pre-MRI i post-MRI faze te početnu ablacija između obje MRI snimke. Prvo smo analizirali karakteristike pacijenata. Za dob i indeks tjelesne mase (BMI) izračunali smo srednju vrijednost, medijanu i raspon. Nadalje, analizirali smo filmske sekvence i mjerili funkciju lijevog atrija koristeći CVI 42. Sljedeći korak bio je detektiranje fibroze lijevog atrija prije PVI i promatranje induciranog ožiljnog tkiva 3 mjeseca nakon PVI analizom MRI snimaka. Dodatno, volumen lijevog atrija prije i poslije PVI-a je analiziran. Za to smo koristili Merisight softver. Prikupljeni podaci analizirani su uz pomoć JASP-a (verzija 0.17.2.0). Distribucija je izmjerena pomoću srednje vrijednosti, mediane, asimetrije i ekscesa. Zatim smo korelirali našu izmjerenu fibrozu lijevog atrija/inducirano ožiljno tkivo s LAEF pomoću Pearsonovog koeficijenta korelacije. Mjerili smo povezanost između LAEF i volumena, i prije i poslije PVI, pomoću uparenog uzorka t- testa. Razina značajnosti postavljena je na P-vrijednost <0,05. Rezultati: Svi naši varijable imali su približno normalnu distribuciju. Nije uočena korelacija između LAEF prije PVI i fibroze lijevog atrija (P=0,187), niti između LAEF nakon PVI i fibroze lijevog atrija (P=0,328). Međutim, Pearsonov koeficijent korelacije sugerira da veća fibroza lijevog atrija može odgovarati nižem LAEF i obrnuto. Nadalje, nije uočena korelacija između LAEF nakon PVI i induciranog ožiljnog tkiva lijevog atrija (P=0,655). Nadalje, nije pronađena povezanost između EF prije i nakon PVI (P=0,485). Nasuprot tome, primijećena je značajna veza između volumena lijevog atrija (P=0,012) prije i nakon PVI. Pokazano je značajno smanjenje volumena nakon PVI, što može ukazivati na poboljšanje anatomije lijevog atrija nakon PVI. Zaključak: U zaključku, ova retrospektivna studija prvenstveno je istraživala korelaciju između atrijalne fibroze/induciranog ožiljnog tkiva i funkcije atrija. Naši rezultati nisu pokazali značajnu korelaciju između ovih faktora. Stoga se može odbaciti naša hipoteza koja sugerira utjecaj atrijalne fibroze i induciranog ožiljnog tkiva na funkciju lijevog atrija. Nadalje, analiza povezanosti između LAEF prije i nakon PVI nije ukazala na statističku značajnost. Međutim, povezanost između volumena lijevog atrija prije i nakon PVI pokazala je značajno smanjenje volumena, što može ukazivati na poboljšanje anatomije lijevog atrija nakon PVI

Empagliflozin in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

Background The effects of empagliflozin in patients with chronic kidney disease who are at risk for disease progression are not well understood. The EMPA-KIDNEY trial was designed to assess the effects of treatment with empagliflozin in a broad range of such patients. Methods We enrolled patients with chronic kidney disease who had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of at least 20 but less than 45 ml per minute per 1.73 m(2) of body-surface area, or who had an eGFR of at least 45 but less than 90 ml per minute per 1.73 m(2) with a urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (with albumin measured in milligrams and creatinine measured in grams) of at least 200. Patients were randomly assigned to receive empagliflozin (10 mg once daily) or matching placebo. The primary outcome was a composite of progression of kidney disease (defined as end-stage kidney disease, a sustained decrease in eGFR to &lt; 10 ml per minute per 1.73 m(2), a sustained decrease in eGFR of &amp; GE;40% from baseline, or death from renal causes) or death from cardiovascular causes. Results A total of 6609 patients underwent randomization. During a median of 2.0 years of follow-up, progression of kidney disease or death from cardiovascular causes occurred in 432 of 3304 patients (13.1%) in the empagliflozin group and in 558 of 3305 patients (16.9%) in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.72; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.64 to 0.82; P &lt; 0.001). Results were consistent among patients with or without diabetes and across subgroups defined according to eGFR ranges. The rate of hospitalization from any cause was lower in the empagliflozin group than in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.78 to 0.95; P=0.003), but there were no significant between-group differences with respect to the composite outcome of hospitalization for heart failure or death from cardiovascular causes (which occurred in 4.0% in the empagliflozin group and 4.6% in the placebo group) or death from any cause (in 4.5% and 5.1%, respectively). The rates of serious adverse events were similar in the two groups. Conclusions Among a wide range of patients with chronic kidney disease who were at risk for disease progression, empagliflozin therapy led to a lower risk of progression of kidney disease or death from cardiovascular causes than placebo

Analysis of Outcomes in Ischemic vs Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation A Report From the GARFIELD-AF Registry

IMPORTANCE Congestive heart failure (CHF) is commonly associated with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF), and their combination may affect treatment strategies and outcomes