Writing, Calculating and Peer Feedback in a Mathematically-oriented Course for Process Engineers: Raising Motivation and Initiating Processes of Thinking and Learning

Writing assignments can be seen as an important component of learning processes. Especially in the fields of engineering and sciences, writing assignments have the potential to consolidate subject-specific skills and to enhance motivation for solving technical problems. This paper introduces readers to a revised course structure that aims to strengthen motivation and mathematical understanding through written peer feedback based on mathematical exercises with written elements. The assignment was developed for the course Computational Fluid Dynamics in Process Engineering, a mathematically-oriented course for Master students of theoretical mechanical engineering and process engineering. Since the learning content was perceived as complex, students seemed to lack motivation in preparing for the course with the provided exercises. This paper suggests – based on the collected data, consisting of answers to mathematical problems, feedback texts, evaluation results, teachers’ observation, and examination results – that the introduced assignment enhances students’ understanding and has a positive impact on students’ motivation to solve the mathematical exercises

Scenario-based Failure Analysis of Product Systems and their Environment

During the usage phase, a technical product system is in permanent interaction with its environment. This interaction can lead to failures that significantly endanger the safety of the user and negatively affect the quality and reliability of the product. Conventional methods of failure analysis focus on the technical product system. The interaction of the product with its environment in the usage phase is not sufficiently considered, resulting in undetected potential failures of the product that lead to complaints. For this purpose, a methodology for failure identification is developed, which is continuously improved through product usage scenarios. The use cases are modelled according to a systems engineering approach with four views. The linking of the product system, physical effects, events and environmental factors enable the analysis of fault chains. These four parameters are subject to great complexity and must be systematically analysed using databases and expert knowledge. The scenarios are continuously updated by field data and complaints. The new approach can identify potential failures in a more systematic and holistic way. Complaints provide direct input on the scenarios. Unknown, previously unrecognized events can be systematically identified through continuous improvement. The complexity of the relationship between the product system and its environmental factors can thus be adequately taken into account in product development. Keywords: failure analysis, methodology, product development, systems engineering, scenario analysis, scenario improvement, environmental factors, product environment, continuous improvement

Formalized Identification Of Key Factors In Safety-Relevant Failure Scenarios

This research article presents a methodical data-based approach to systematically identify key factors in safety-related failure scenarios, with a focus on complex product-environmental systems in the era of Industry 4.0. The study addresses the uncertainty arising from the growing complexity of modern products. The method uses scenario analysis and focuses on failure analysis within technical product development. The approach involves a derivation of influencing factors based on information from failure databases. The failures described here are documented individually in failure sequence diagrams and then related to each other in a relationship matrix. This creates a network of possible failure scenarios from individual failure cases that can be used in product development. To illustrate the application of the methodology, a case study of 41 Rapex safety alerts for a hair dryer is presented. The failure sequence diagrams and influencing factor relationship matrices show 46 influencing factors that lead to safety-related failures. The predominant harm is burns and electric shocks, which are highlighted by the active and passive sum diagrams. The research demonstrates a robust method for identifying key factors in safety-related failure scenarios using information from failure databases. The methodology provides valuable insights into product development and emphasizes the frequency of influencing factors and their interconnectedness

Reliability of Redundant M-Out-Of-N Architectures With Dependent Components: A Comprehensible Approach With Monte Carlo Simulation

Redundant architectures can improve the reliability of complex systems. However, component dependencies can affect the architecture and negate the benefit of redundancy. In this paper, we develop three component dependency models and analyze the reliability of different M-out-of-N configurations using Monte Carlo simulation. The first model assumes a linear component dependency. The second and third models consider common cause failures, in the latter for all components and in the second for random groups of components. As expected, the results show that interdependency degrades the reliability of parallel 1ooN systems while improving it for serial NooN systems. Interestingly, 2oo3 systems produce intermediate results that show an improvement in reliability for certain indicators and a deterioration for some others, depending on the type of dependency models. The results show nonlinear properties of MooN systems with dependent components, which suggest careful handling in applications. An online simulation platform based on Monte Carlo Simulation enables product designers to use the models efficiently and achieve tailored result

Supporting pre-service teachers in developing research competence

IntroductionTeachers need research competence to reflect on their teaching and to interpret and implement research-based recommendations. However, many pre-service teachers have critical attitudes toward research, little motivation to engage in research, and comparatively low knowledge of research methods and thereby consequently indicating a low research competence. Flexible online modules in university teaching could be a promising approach to address these issues. Online modules can potentially promote self-determined motivation, but should be sufficiently structured to support learners’ need for competence.MethodsWe designed two learning environments with different types of structure: a non-restrictive structured environment and a restrictive structured environment. A total of N = 108 pre-service biology teachers were randomly assigned to the two learning environments.Results and discussionContrary to our assumption, the restrictive type of structure of the learning environment did not lead to a higher perception of competence. This might be a consequence of external pressure, for example, the examination at the end of the course. Regarding pre-service teachers’ research competence, we found a decrease in the affective-motivational domain and an increase in the cognitive domain in both learning environments. These results suggest that fostering pre-service teachers’ research competence should focus on the affective-motivational domain. In order to positively affect this domain, care must be taken to ensure that structuring elements are not experienced as control and that given choices are meaningful to students

Comparative Analysis of Podocyte Foot Process Morphology in Three Species by 3D Super-Resolution Microscopy

Since the size selectivity of the filtration barrier and kidney function are highly dependent on podocyte foot process morphology, visualization of foot processes is important. However, the size of foot processes is below the optical resolution of light microscopy. Therefore, electron microcopy has been indispensable to detect changes in foot process morphology so far, but it is a sophisticated and time-consuming technique. Recently, our group has shown that 3D structured illumination microscopy (3D-SIM), a super-resolution microscopy (SRM) technique, can visualize individual foot processes in human biopsies. Moreover, we have developed a software-based approach to directly quantify the structure of podocyte foot processes named Podocyte Exact Morphology Measurement Procedure (PEMP). As shown in patients suffering from minimal change disease (MCD), PEMP allows the quantification of changes of the foot process morphology by measuring the filtration slit density (FSD). Since rodents are frequently used in basic research, we have applied PEMP to quantify foot processes of mice and rats. Comparative analysis of nephrin-stained kidneys from humans, rats, and mice showed significant differences of the FSD. The highest FSD was measured in mice (3.83 ± 0.37 μm−1; mean ± SD) followed by rats (3.36 ± 0.42 μm−1) and humans (3.11 ± 0.26 μm−1). To demonstrate that PEMP can be used to determine foot process morphology also in affected animals, we measured the FSD in palladin-knockout mice on a 129S1 genetic background compared to wild-type littermates. Taken together, we established a method for the quick and exact quantification of podocyte foot process morphology which can be applied to diagnosis and basic research

Smart and Individual Travel Assistence - Barrierfree Mobility for all

Public transport operators focus on a public transport system, which is inclusive and fair to all groups of society as required in the United Nations´s Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This requires an innovative approach reflecting both the users’ and the service providers’ perspective. From the passengers’ point of view it becomes obvious that not only the accessibility of a single mode of transportation is relevant. Furthermore, a systemic view is required as a trip from door to door most likely includes different means of transportation. The interchanges within one transportation system as well as the change-over to other means of transportation must be improved regarding the Special requirements of people with reduced mobility and/or sensory restrictions. So, in order to create a public Transportation system for all, all public transport service providers and their processes have to be linked with each other. This article describes how this objective can be achieved by a holistic approach that helps developing individual and smart solution available and useable for each passenger

Barrierfree Mobility for All by a Smart and Individual Travel Assistance

Public transport operators focus on a public transport system which is inclusive and fair to all groups of society. This requires a holistic approach, which considers the user and the service provider perspective. From the passengers’ view, it becomes obvious that not only the accessibility of a single transportation system is relevant. The interchanges within the system as well as the change-over to other systems must be improved regarding the special requirements of people with reduced mobility and/or sensory restrictions. This article describes how this objective can be achieved in the project aim4it by an individual and smart solution, which is available and useable for every passenger-group. System components are presented and first results are pointed out

Entwicklung einer anforderungsgerechten Mobilitätsassistenz für in ihrer Mobilität eingeschränkte Reisende

Der öffentliche Personennahverkehr (ÖPNV) ist einer der wichtigsten Grundpfeiler einer nachhaltigen Mobilität in Ballungsräumen. Er sichert neben der gleichberechtigten Teilhabe aller Bürgerinnen und Bürger am gesellschaftlichen Leben auch die wirtschaftliche Leistungsfähigkeit des Industriestandortes Deutschland. Alle Nutzergruppen und deren spezifische Anforderungsprofile müssen in der Planung und betrieblichen Abwicklung des öffentlichen Verkehrs Berücksichtigung finden. Insbesondere die Entwicklung neuartiger Konzepte für in ihrer Mobilität eingeschränkte Reisende erfordert eine umfassende Betrachtung ihrer spezifischen Nutzerbedürfnisse. Ausgangspunkt der Entwicklung eines solchen Reiseassistenzkonzepts für den ÖPNV, ist eine grundlegende Betrachtung der Leistungserbringung im ÖPNV. Diese Kernprozesse der Verkehrsunternehmen im ÖPNV müssen abgebildet werden um sie anschließend mit den Kundenprozessen und den aus diesen resultierenden Anforderungen zu verbinden. Dieser Artikel legt dar, wie ein solches, neu zu entwickelndes barrierefreies Mobilitätskonzept systematisch und kundenorientiert erarbeitet werden kann. Hierbei wird auf Ansätze für die Schaffung eines Abbildes des Leistungserbringungsprozesses im ÖPNV, einem Anforderungsmanagement für ÖPNV Netzwerke wie auch der Implementierung von kontinuierlichen Kundenzufriedenheitsmessungen zur Messung der Anforderungserfüllung für den ÖPNV eingegangen. Neben der Erarbeitung der neuen Methodik soll ein umfassendes, leicht übertragbares Mobilitätskonzept geschaffen werden, um bestehende Nutzungsbarrieren des ÖPNV in urbanen Räumen für alle Beteiligten nachhaltig abzubauen