The DZHK research platform: maximisation of scientific value by enabling access to health data and biological samples collected in cardiovascular clinical studies

The German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) is one of the German Centres for Health Research and aims to conduct early and guideline-relevant studies to develop new therapies and diagnostics that impact the lives of people with cardiovascular disease. Therefore, DZHK members designed a collaboratively organised and integrated research platform connecting all sites and partners. The overarching objectives of the research platform are the standardisation of prospective data and biological sample collections among all studies and the development of a sustainable centrally standardised storage in compliance with general legal regulations and the FAIR principles. The main elements of the DZHK infrastructure are web-based and central units for data management, LIMS, IDMS, and transfer office, embedded in a framework consisting of the DZHK Use and Access Policy, and the Ethics and Data Protection Concept. This framework is characterised by a modular design allowing a high standardisation across all studies. For studies that require even tighter criteria additional quality levels are defined. In addition, the Public Open Data strategy is an important focus of DZHK. The DZHK operates as one legal entity holding all rights of data and biological sample usage, according to the DZHK Use and Access Policy. All DZHK studies collect a basic set of data and biosamples, accompanied by specific clinical and imaging data and biobanking. The DZHK infrastructure was constructed by scientists with the focus on the needs of scientists conducting clinical studies. Through this, the DZHK enables the interdisciplinary and multiple use of data and biological samples by scientists inside and outside the DZHK. So far, 27 DZHK studies recruited well over 11,200 participants suffering from major cardiovascular disorders such as myocardial infarction or heart failure. Currently, data and samples of five DZHK studies of the DZHK Heart Bank can be applied for

Investigation of the corrosion behavior of NiVAl multilayer coatings in hot salt melts

Molten nitrate salts applied as thermal storage and heat transfer media are known to cause severe corrosion problems in concentrated solar power plants. In this context, a metallic multilayer PVD coating (NiV-Al) served as a model system in the investigation of corrosion protection for low-alloyed steel in molten salt melts. The corrosion behavior of coated and uncoated P91 steel samples was investigated in salt melt immersion tests. The tests were designed to mimic typical operation conditions ranging from continuous operation to cyclic variations that are typical for day and night service of the solar power plants. In conjunction with SEM analysis of sample cross-sections and surfaces and EDX analysis, the isothermal immersion tests revealed the corrosion promoting effect of high immersion temperatures and the chloride contaminants in the solar salt melt. Moreover, a significant reduction of corrosion rates was obtained for low-alloy steel coated with NiV-Al multilayer coatings in all test scenarios. Thermal cycling immersion tests proved the durability of the developed coatings and the subjacent steel substrate under cyclic thermal stress