Towards Flexible Process Support on Mobile Devices

Ubiquitous computing is considered as enabler for linking everyday life with information and communication technology. However, developing pervasive and mobile applications that provide personalized user assistance still constitutes a challenge. Mobile application scenarios are diverse and encompass domains like healthcare, logistics, and sales. For their support two fundamental technologies with increasing maturity are emerging: development frameworks for mobile devices and light-weight process engines. Their integrated use, however, is in a rather premature state. Generally, the use of a process engine for supporting mobile collaboration raises many challenging issues. This paper picks up some of these challenges and shows how we have coped with them in the MARPLE project. MARPLE targets at a tight integration of process management technology with mobile computing frameworks in order to enable mobile process support in advanced application scenarios. We give insights into the MARPLE architecture and its components.In particular, we introduce the MARPLE process engine, which enables light-weight as well as flexible process support on mobile devices. This will be key for mobile user assistance in advanced application scenarios

A Personalized Sensor Support Tool for the Training of Mindful Walking

The exploitation of sensor features offered by present smart mobile devices is a trend that becomes increasingly important in various domains. In healthcare, for example, these sensors are used to cheaply gather valuable data for chronic disease management or health care. Regarding the latter, health insurers crave for effective methods that can be offered to their customers. Moreover, smart mobile devices provide many advantages compared to approaches hitherto applied in the aforementioned contexts as they can be easily used in everyday life. Thereby, when taking these advantages properly into account, new mobile application types become possible. Body sensor networks are such an application type that aim at monitoring users in vivo. Furthermore, data gathered with body sensor networks may be a valuable basis to provide user interventions. This paper presents an application that shall support users to walk mindfully. The motivation was to create a mobile tool that can make mindful walking more effective to reduce stress and to target noncommunicable diseases such as diabetes or depression. It is a mobile personalized tool that senses the walking speed and provides haptic feedback thereof. The mindful walking procedure, the technical prototype as well as preliminary study results are presented and discussed in this work. The reported user feedback and the study results indicate promising perspectives for a tool that supports a mindful walking behavior. Altogether, the use of smart mobile device sensors constitutes a promising instrument for realizing mobile applications in the context of health care and disease management

Framework For The Rapid Development And Deployment Of Customized Industrial Robotic Applications

Automation and industrial robots enable today's enterprises to increase productivity. Due to current challenges, such as a shortage of skilled workers, the trend is toward using industrial robots more and more in high-mix low-volume production. For this, enterprises must be able to develop and deploy robotic applications for various products, variants, and tasks easily and quickly. In previous works, we demonstrated the increased flexibility and efficiency of robot programming via a skills-based software framework. In this paper, we expand this framework by considering the overall development and deployment procedure of robotic applications. In addition to modular programming, we address the development of the necessary hardware for the robotic application. Here, we focus on the design of the gripper system. As an exemplary use case we present the handling and testing of variant-rich electronic products. Finally, based on the introduced framework, we show our first implementation results to realize this use case

Late Onset Postpartum Eclampsia: It is Really Never Too Late—A Case of Eclampsia 8 Weeks after Delivery

Introduction. Eclampsia is the combination of preeclampsia and seizures. Approximately one-half of all cases of eclampsia occur postpartum. Thereby late onset postpartum eclampsia is defined by its onset more than 48 hours after delivery. Summary of Case. We report a postpartum eclampsia occurring 8 weeks after delivery, which is the latest onset ever described. The course was complicated by an intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Conclusion. A late onset postpartum eclampsia even several weeks after delivery should be considered as possible diagnosis, since early treatment initiation with magnesium sulphate and antihypertensive medication prevents severe complications and reduces mortality

Implementation of electrochemical, optical and denuder-based sensors and sampling techniques on UAV for volcanic gas measurements : examples from Masaya, Turrialba and Stromboli volcanoes

Volcanoes are a natural source of several reactive gases (e.g., sulfur and halogen containing species) and nonreactive gases (e.g., carbon dioxide) to the atmosphere. The relative abundance of carbon and sulfur in volcanic gas as well as the total sulfur dioxide emission rate from a volcanic vent are established parameters in current volcanomonitoring strategies, and they oftentimes allow insights into subsurface processes. However, chemical reactions involving halogens are thought to have local to regional impact on the atmospheric chemistry around passively degassing volcanoes. In this study we demonstrate the successful deployment of a multirotor UAV (quadcopter) system with custom-made lightweight payloads for the compositional analysis and gas flux estimation of volcanic plumes. The various applications and their potential are presented and discussed in example studies at three volcanoes encompassing flight heights of 450 to 3300m and various states of volcanic activity. Field applications were performed at Stromboli volcano (Italy), Turrialba volcano (Costa Rica) and Masaya volcano (Nicaragua). Two in situ gas-measuring systems adapted for autonomous airborne measurements, based on electrochemical and optical detection principles, as well as an airborne sampling unit, are introduced. We show volcanic gas composition results including abundances of CO2, SO2 and halogen species. The new instrumental setups were compared with established instruments during ground-based measurements at Masaya volcano, which resulted in CO2 = SO2 ratios of 3.6 0.4. For total SO2 flux estimations a small differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS) system measured SO2 column amounts on transversal flights below the plume at Turrialba volcano, giving 1776 1108 T d1 and 1616 1007 T d1 of SO2 during two traverses. At Stromboli volcano, elevated CO2 = SO2 ratios were observed at spatial and temporal proximity to explosions by airborne in situ measurements. Reactive bromine to sulfur ratios of 0.19 104 to 9.8 104 were measured in situ in the plume of Stromboli volcano, down wind of the vent.Published2441-24574V. Processi pre-eruttiviJCR Journa

Advances in Bromine Speciation in Volcanic Plumes

Volcanoes are a significant halogen source to the atmosphere. After water, carbon dioxide and sulfur compounds, halogens are often the most abundant gases in volcanic plumes. In the past, less attention was given to the heavy halogens bromine and iodine. However, the discovery of bromine monoxide (BrO) in volcanic plumes led to new interest especially in volcanic bromine chemistry and its impact on atmospheric processes. The BrO detection came along with advances in volcanic remote sensing techniques, in particular, robust DOAS applications and the possibility of continuous measurements by automated instruments located at safe distances from the volcano. As one of the consequences, the volcanic community developed an increased interest to use BrO/SO2 ratios as a potential tracer of volcanic activity. BrO is a secondary volcanic gas, but the only bromine species in volcanic plumes, which has been measured by remote sensing techniques today. For a better understanding on bromine chemistry in volcanic plumes and to gain information on the original amount of emitted bromine by only measuring BrO, additional techniques were developed (alkaline traps, diffusion denuders) and adapted for drone-based sampling to determine further gaseous bromine species (i.e. Br2, HBr, HOBr, interhalogens) at various plume ages. Additionally models of plume-atmospheric chemistry were developed to help the interpretation of field-measurements. Model studies simulating plume conditions indicated that a complex atmospheric chemistry mechanism transforms emitted HBr into BrO and other reactive bromine species such as BrOH, Br2, BrCl, BrONO2 or BrNO2. To reproduce the very rapid formation of BrO observed in volcanic plumes, the volcanic emission input to the (low-temperature) plume chemistry models also needs to consider the high-temperature near-vent plume conditions, as represented by thermodynamic models. The formation of BrO and other reactive bromine species depend not only on the amount of bromine emitted but also on plume mixing processes, relative humidity, and aerosol particle acidity. However, uncertainties remain in the validation of the plume chemistry models by a lack of field-measurements. This review provides a comprehensive summary on volcanic bromine data of the last 15 years achieved from established and cutting edge measurement techniques as well as their treatment and interpretation in recent model experiments. It points out controversially discussed relation of bromine degassing to volcanic activity and puts a light on remaining uncertainties

Dynamic, reversible oxidative addition of highly polar bonds to a transition metal

The combination of Pt0 complexes and indium trihalides leads to compounds that form equilibria in solution between their In-X oxidative addition (OA) products (PtII indyl complexes) and their metal-only Lewis pair (MOLP) isomers (LnPt→InX3). The position of the equilibria can be altered reversibly by changing the solvent, while the equilibria can be reversibly and irreversibly driven towards the MOLP products by addition of further donor ligands. The results mark the first observation of an equilibrium between MOLP and OA isomers, as well as the most polar bond ever observed to undergo reversible oxidative addition to a metal complex. In addition, we present the first structural characterization of MOLP and oxidative addition isomers of the same compound. The relative energies of the MOLP and OA isomers were calculated by DFT methods, and the possibility of solvent-mediated isomerization is discussed

Prospective Multicenter Trial of Cervical Arthroplasty With the ROTAIO® Cervical Disc Prosthesis

Objective Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Arthroplasty (ACDA) is an established treatment for degenerative cervical disc disease and seems to be an alternative to fusion in minimizing the risk of Adjacent Segment Disease (ASD). The ROTAIO® cervical disc prosthesis is a novel unconstrained implant with a variable center of rotation aiming at physiological motion. The objective of this multicenter prospective trial was to evaluate clinical outcome and complications within 2 years. Material and Methods 120 patients (72 females and 48 males with a median age of 43.0 years; range: 23 to 60 years) underwent ACDA (ROTAIO®, SIGNUS Medical, Alzenau, Germany) and were prospectively followed for 24 months. Preoperative complaints were mainly associated with radiculopathy (n=104) or myelopathy (n=16). There were 108 monosegmental and 12 bisegmental procedures including 6 hybrid constructs. Clinical outcome was evaluated at 3, 12 and 24 months by the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for head, neck and arm pain, the Neck Disability Index (NDI), the Work Limitation Questionnaire (WL-26), the Patient`s Satisfaction Index (PSI) and a Quality of Life Questionnaire (SF-36). The Nurick Score, the Modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association Score (mJOA) plus a Composite Success Rate have been additionally applied. Finally, complications, the patient`s overall satisfaction and the amount of analgesics were assessed. Results Highly significant clinical improvements were observed according to NDI and VAS (p<0.0001 (arm); p<0.001 (neck); p=0.002 (head)) at all postoperative time points. Analgetic medication could be reduced after 3 months in 91.3%, after 12 months in 87.1% and after 24 months in 95.2% of patients. Doctor`s visits for cervical spine problems have been reduced in 93.8% after 24 months. Patient`s overall satisfaction was high after 3, 12 and 24 months with 83.5%, 78.4% and 79.1% of patients, while 4.1%, 6.8% and 7.0% respectively were not satisfied. The composite success rate was 77.5% after 12 months and 76.9% after 24 months. There were no major complications in this series. Slight subsidence of the prosthesis was observed in 2 patients and 3 patients demonstrated fusion after 24 months. 2 patients developed symptomatic foraminal stenosis, so that implant removal and fusion was performed. Conclusion The ROTAIO® cervical disc prosthesis is a safe and efficient treatment option for symptomatic degenerative disc disease demonstrating excellent clinical results at 2 years. Outcome proves to be stable over time with very low revision rates

Stages of Concern: Vorerfahrungen, Interessen und Einstellungen von Lehrkräften in Bezug auf Lehr-Lernplattform-gestütztem Unterricht in den Naturwissenschaften

The pandemic-related measures highlighted the value of digitalization as a major issue in the education sector. Digital teaching units on teaching-learning platforms can make a decisive contribution in this field. In this study, data collected in summer 2019 on the affective-cognitive processes of examinations of science education using digitally formatted units, implemented on teaching-learning platforms and the particular usage of teaching-learning platforms themselves are re-analysed (N = 83). The study relies on the Stages of Concern (SoC) as a standardized instrument. A cluster analysis helps to identify three specific SoC-profiles in terms of the specific approach to and handling with the digital teaching-learning platforms. Common to all these profiles is that they concentrate on the impact on teaching and the students’ activities. In addition, the analysis shows a traditional use of the platforms in school (subgroup, N = 44 for teachers with access to teaching-learning platforms in school). Furthermore, correlation analyses show that there is no correlation between the type of use and the SoC-Profiles, but there is a correlation between the frequency of use and the SoC-profilesDie pandemiebedingten Maßnahmen haben den Wert der Digitalisierung im Bildungssektor deutlich gemacht. Digitale Unterrichtseinheiten auf Lehr-Lernplattformen können dazu einen entscheidenden Beitrag leisten. In der hier vorgelegten Studie werden Daten aus dem Sommer 2019 zu der affektiv-kognitiven Auseinandersetzung von naturwissenschaftlichen Lehrkräften mit digitalen Unterrichtseinheiten auf Lehr-Lernplattformen sowie deren Nutzung und Fortbildungswünsche neu analysiert (N = 83). Die Erhebung der affektiv-kognitiven Auseinandersetzung erfolgte mit dem standardisierten Instrument Stages of Concern (SoC). Mithilfe einer Clusteranalyse werden drei spezifische SoC-Profile in Bezug auf den Einsatz digitaler Unterrichtseinheiten auf einer Lehr-Lernplattform identifiziert. Dabei wird deutlich, dass allen Profilen die Beschäftigung mit der Auswirkung auf den Unterricht und auf die Schülerinnen und Schüler gemein ist. Zudem wird gezeigt, dass der Einsatz von Lehr-Lernplattformen vor der Pandemie eher traditionell geprägt war (Subgruppe, N = 44 für Lehrkräfte mit Zugang in der Schule zu einer Lehr-Lernplattform). Zusammenhangsanalysen zeigen des Weiteren, dass zwischen der Nutzungsart und den SoC-Profilen kein Zusammenhang festzustellen ist, ein solcher aber zwischen der Nutzungshäufigkeit und den SoC-Profilen besteh