AN INTERACTIVE REMOTE VISUALIZATION SYSTEM FOR MOBILE APPLICATION ACCESS

This paper introduces a remote visualization approach that enables the visualization of data sets on mobile devices or in web environments. With this approach the necessary computing power can be outsourced to a server environment. The developed system allows the rendering of 2D and 3D graphics on mobile phones or web browsers with high quality independent of the size of the original data set. Compared to known terminal server or other proprietary remote systems our approach offers a very simple way to integrate with a large variety of applications which makes it useful for real-life application scenarios in business processes

Konsumententypologisierung im elektronischen Handel : eine interkulturelle Untersuchung

In dem Spannungsfeld zwischen wachsenden globalen Absatzmärkten und individueller Nutzenerwartungen erlangt das Prinzip der differenzierten Marktbearbeitung eine hervorragende Bedeutung. Nach Überzeugung zahlreicher Vertreter der Marketing-Praxis stellen in diesem Kontext globale Konsumententypologien ein wirkungsvolles Instrument dar, um der Herausforderung gerecht zu werden, trotz globaler Marktaktivitäten verschiedenartige Verbraucher-Cluster zu identifizieren und zu bearbeiten. Obgleich sich der internationale Wettbewerb im elektronischen Handel intensiviert, existieren nur wenige Typologien von Internet-Nutzern, welche zudem ein auffallend heterogenes Bild abgeben. Angesichts des Mangels an theoretisch fundierten Internet-Nutzertypologien ist es das Erkenntnisziel der vorliegenden Studie zu untersuchen, ob es sich bei den internationalen Online-Usern um eine homogene Zielgruppe handelt, oder ob sich mittels ausgewählter Typologisierungskriterien wie psychographischer, kulturspezifischer und kaufverhaltensrelevanter Merkmale trennscharfe, praxisrelevante und bearbeitbare Segmente identifizieren lassen, die es einem Online-Anbieter ermöglichen, seine Marketingaktivitäten effizient und effektiv auf die attraktiven Verbrauchersegmente auszurichten. Mittels einer Online-Befragung, an der 1011 Probanden aus drei Ländern teilnah-men, wurde nachgewiesen, dass sich die Internet-Nutzer hinsichtlich psychographischer, kaufverhaltensrelevanter und kultureller Prädispositionen trennscharf in drei Cluster, dem „Risikoscheuen Skeptiker“, dem „Aufgeschlossenen Online-Shopper“ und dem „Verhaltenen Informationssucher“, einteilen lassen, deren Charakteristika ausführlich beschreiben werden. Implikationen aus diesem Ergebnis werden im letzten Kapitel ausgeführt. Sie können der Marketing-Praxis Anhaltspunkte zur Identifikation, Selektion und bedürfnisgerechten Bearbeitung erfolgsträchtiger Online-Konsumentensegmente geben

Production and characterization of HTC solids from lignin-rich biomass and downstream application in anaerobic digestion

Lignocellulosic biomass is mainly composed of three pseudo components, namely hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin. Of these three, lignin as a cross-linked network hydrophobic polymer has a strong resistance to biodegradation such as anaerobic digestion (Hatfield and Fukushima 2005, Fernandes, Klaasse Bos et al. 2009), but can be decomposed thermally. Hydrothermal carbonization is a promising method of processing biomass with high moisture content for value-added products. This study evaluates and compares the physicochemical characteristics of hydrochar derived from rice husk, wheat straw pellets, oil rape straw pellets and reference alkali lignin. The results indicated wide variation in the physicochemical properties and quality of hydrochar depending on biomass feedstock composition. Mass yields of lignocelluosic biomass increased with the increase of lignin content, however, higher lignin content biomass exhibited lower hydrogen/carbon ratio. The results of this study also identified that hydrochar were more acidic than biochar produced from same feedstocks, however, Kraft lignin hydrochar exhibited higher pH 9.52. The study also seeks to explain the role of biomass composition on surface functional groups of hydrochar via attenuated total reflection - Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). The ATR-FTIR spectra were used to identify the functional groups qualitatively. It would give further insight into surface functional groups of hydrochars and the changes in the chemical composition of lignin and biomass during the conversion process. Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract

Cyber equipping 4.0 – fe-simulation-based setting instructions for a rotary draw-bending machine

The tool setting process for rotary draw-bending is very complex. Only experienced machine operators know which settings lead to a good result in relation to the bending task. Up to seven individual tools can be installed, positioned and set in the process independently. A complete set of tools consists of: pressure die, mandrel, wiper die, inner and outer clamp die as well as the bend die and the collet or piston bend. [1] Furthermore there are the axis settings, which can be adjusted with the parameters distance, force, angle, torque and time. If a defect occurs after the successful set-up process the machine operator has various possibilities to solve the problem. The effects of the different setting parameters and the procedure for the fastest possible elimination of the error are often unclear. The goal is to be able to use an adjustment support for the setting process by means of physical-analytical principles and systematically constructed FE simulations at the bending machine. In order to evaluate the bending result, the condition of the bending component is examined concerning the quality characteristics, cracking, wrinkling, cross-section deformation and elastic deformation. [2] Based on performed and analyzed FE simulations, adjustment recommendations regarding the respective quality characteristics are to be established as well as predictions about possible defects. The simulation and calculation results flow into a database. This is used for the implementation of an electronic expert, who uses a visualization aid to provide the machine operator with information and recommendations on the setup settings. This avoids errors during the equipping process and saves set-up time. Machine operators and particularly trained employees are guided and supported in their work

MAD HATTER Correctly Annotates 98% of Small Molecule Tandem Mass Spectra Searching in PubChem

Metabolites provide a direct functional signature of cellular state. Untargeted metabolomics usually relies on mass spectrometry, a technology capable of detecting thousands of compounds in a biological sample. Metabolite annotation is executed using tandem mass spectrometry. Spectral library search is far from comprehensive, and numerous compounds remain unannotated. So-called in silico methods allow us to overcome the restrictions of spectral libraries, by searching in much larger molecular structure databases. Yet, after more than a decade of method development, in silico methods still do not reach the correct annotation rates that users would wish for. Here, we present a novel computational method called Mad Hatter for this task. Mad Hatter combines CSI:FingerID results with information from the searched structure database via a metascore. Compound information includes the melting point, and the number of words in the compound description starting with the letter ‘u’. We then show that Mad Hatter reaches a stunning 97.6% correct annotations when searching PubChem, one of the largest and most comprehensive molecular structure databases. Unfortunately, Mad Hatter is not a real method. Rather, we developed Mad Hatter solely for the purpose of demonstrating common issues in computational method development and evaluation. We explain what evaluation glitches were necessary for Mad Hatter to reach this annotation level, what is wrong with similar metascores in general, and why metascores may screw up not only method evaluations but also the analysis of biological experiments. This paper may serve as an example of problems in the development and evaluation of machine learning models for metabolite annotation

Skin and Systemic Inflammation in Schnitzler's Syndrome Are Associated With Neutrophil Extracellular Trap Formation

Schnitzler's syndrome is a rare autoinflammatory disorder characterized by interleukin-1ß-mediated and neutrophil-dominated inflammation. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are web-like structures of decondensed chromatin, histones, and antimicrobial peptides released by neutrophils. NETs were initially described in the context of pathogen defense but are also involved in autoimmune-mediated skin diseases. Here, we assessed the role of neutrophil extracellular trap formation (NETosis) in Schnitzler's syndrome. Immunofluorescence co-staining of myeloperoxidase and subnucleosomal complex was performed on lesional skin samples from patients with Schnitzler's syndrome, other neutrophilic dermatoses (cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome, Sweet syndrome, and pyoderma gangrenosum), urticarial vasculitis and chronic spontaneous urticaria as well as healthy control skin. Blood neutrophils from patients with Schnitzler's syndrome and controls were isolated, and NETosis was induced by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). Also, NETosis of control neutrophils induced by symptomatic Schnitzler's syndrome sera, cytokines and sub-threshold PMA doses was studied. Immunofluorescence co-staining revealed widespread and substantial NET formation in lesional skin of Schnitzler's syndrome patients but absence of NETs in chronic spontaneous urticaria and control skin. Neutrophils undergoing NETosis were observed in the skin of other neutrophilic diseases too. Correspondingly, blood neutrophils from Schnitzler's syndrome patients showed significantly elevated NETosis rates compared to control neutrophils following stimulation with PMA. Increased NETosis correlated well with high levels of C-reactive protein (CRP). SchS patients with the lowest NETosis rates had persistent joint and bone pain despite IL-1 blockade. Stimulation of control neutrophils and sub-threshold PMA with sera of symptomatic Schnitzler's syndrome patients disclosed enhanced NETosis as compared to control sera. Our results suggest that the induction of NET formation by neutrophils contributes to skin and systemic inflammation and may support the resolution of local inflammation in Schnitzler's syndrome.</p

Developing a Mobile Game Environment to Support Disadvantaged Learners

Schmitz, B., Hoffmann, M., Klamma, R., Klemke, R., & Specht, M. (2012). Developing a Mobile Game Environment to Support Disadvantaged Learners. Proceedings of 12th IEEE International Conference on Advanced Learning Technologies (ICALT 2012) (pp. 223-227). July, 4-6, 2012, Rome, Italy: IEEE Computer Society CPS.This paper reports on the development of WeBuild, a mobile learning game designed to engage learners difficult to reach with IT learning. The development is based on a mobile game engine for the Android smart phone that was devised to support the required multiplayer and location based services. We played and tested the mobile learning game in a training facility of the building industry. The results indicate that the learners accepted the game for the low entry barriers and were motivated to use the game in an educational context. This paper describes the WeBuild prototype and the underlying game engine. Eventually, it presents results from the game session that was carried to assess interface and gameplay usability, technical functionality and motivational aspects of the game design

Accuracy of 3D Tooth Movements in the Fabrication of Manual Setup Models for Aligner Therapy

Background: The clinical outcome of aligner therapy is closely related to the precision of its setup, which can be manually or digitally fabricated. The aim of the study is to investigate the suitability of manual setups made for aligner therapy in terms of the precision of tooth movements. Methods: Six dental technicians were instructed to adjust each of eleven duplicate plaster casts of a patient models as follows: a 1 mm pure vestibular translation of tooth 11 and a 15° pure mesial rotation of tooth 23. The processed setup models were 3D scanned and matched with the reference model. The one-sample Wilcoxon signed-rank test (p < 0.05) was used for evaluation. Results: The overall precision of the translational movement covers a wide range of values from 0.25 to 2.26 mm (median: 1.09 mm). The target value for the rotation of tooth 23 was achieved with a median rotation of 9.76° in the apical-occlusal direction. Unwanted movements in the other planes also accompanied the rotation. Conclusions: A manual setup can only be fabricated with limited precision. Besides the very high variability between technicians, additional unwanted movements in other spatial planes occurred. Manually fabricated setups should not be favored for aligner therapy due to limited precision

The Use of Coronary CT Angiography for the Evaluation of Chest Pain

Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) may improve the diagnosis and management of acute and stable chest pain syndromes. The key for caregivers of patients presenting with acute chest pain is the early identification and management of life-threatening conditions, such as acute coronary syndromes, pulmonary embolism, and acute aortic dissection. The main goal in stable chest pain syndromes is to determine the extent and severity of coronary artery disease. This review article will critically evaluate the current literature supporting the evidence for the clinical use of CCTA in acute and stable chest pain syndromes, considering the latest innovations in CCTA technology and their potential impact on patient care