Modelling sub-micron particle trajectories

High-tech manufacturing processes require very high accuracy and precision, whichmakes these processes extremely sensitive to contamination at ever-reducing sizescales. The use of complex mechatronic systems in manufacturing, such as dynamicrobots and moving stages, unavoidably results in the transport of particles.A numerical model will be developed and subsequently integrated into a classicalComputational Flow Dynamics tool, for more accurate prediction of sub-micronparticle trajectories in particle contamination transport. An experimental set-uphas been developed for model validation, including a visualisation tool for accuratemeasuring of particle dynamics

Vitamin K1 to slow vascular calcification in haemodialysis patients (VitaVasK trial): a rationale and study protocol

Background: Patients on haemodialysis (HD) exhibit increased cardiovascular mortality associated with accelerated vascular calcification (VC). VC is influenced by inhibitors such as matrix Gla protein (MGP), a protein activated in the presence of vitamin K. HD patients exhibit marked vitamin K deficiency, and supplementation with vitamin K reduces inactive MGP levels in these patients. The VitaVasK trial analyses whether vitamin K1 supplementation affects the progression of coronary and aortic calcification in HD patients. Methods: VitaVasK is a prospective, randomized, parallel group, multicentre trial (EudraCT No.: 2010-021264-14) that will include 348 HD patients in an open-label, two-arm design. After baseline multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) of the heart and thoracic aorta, patients with a coronary calcification volume score of at least 100 will be randomized to continue on standard care or to receive additional supplementation with 5 mg vitamin K1 orally thrice weekly. Treatment duration will be 18 months, and MSCT scans will be repeated after 12 and 18 months. Primary end points are the progression of thoracic aortic and coronary artery calcification (calculated as absolute changes in the volume scores at the 18-month MSCT versus the baseline MSCT). Secondary end points comprise changes in Agatston score, mitral and aortic valve calcification as well as major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and all-cause mortality. VitaVask also aims to record MACE and all-cause mortality in the follow-up period at 3 and 5 years after treatment initiation. This trial may lead to the identification of an inexpensive and safe treatment or prophylaxis of VC in HD patients

Проектирование автономного быстровозводимого защитного гидротехнического сооружения для местности с периодическими затоплениями

В данной выпускной квалификационной работе был проведен анализ паводковой ситуации за 20 лет. Рассмотрены инженерно-технические и организационные мероприятия по защите населения от наводнения. Исследованы современные типы быстровозводимых водоналивных дамб. Разработан проект быстровозводимого гидротехнического сооружения.In this final qualification work the analysis of a flood situation for 20 years was carried out. Technical and organizational actions for protection of the population against a flood are considered. The modern types of pre-fabricated water filling dams are investigated. The project of the pre-fabricated hydraulic engineering construction is develope

phenoPET: A dedicated PET Scanner for Plant Research based on digital SiPMs

In the frame of the German Plant Phenotyping Project (DPPN) we developed a novel PET scanner. In contrary to a clinical or preclinical PET scanner the detector rings of the Plant System are oriented in a horizontal plane. The final system will be equipped with three rings covering a Field of View (FOV) of 18 cm diameter and 20 cm axial height. One detector ring is formed by 12 modules. Each module contains four 8×8 pixel digital SiPM devices DPC-3200-22-44 (Philips Digital Photon Counting) connected to a PCB and four scintillator matrices with 16×16 individual LYSO scintillators. Crystal size is 1.85×1.85×10 mm3. The matrices are composed with both reflective and transparent contact faces between the crystals in order to optimize crystal identification. A cooling system keeps the detectors below 5°C and limits the dark count rate. Data are already preprocessed by the Cyclone FPGA (Altera) in the module and transmitted from there at 50MiB/s to the base board. The base board collects the data from all modules and allows coincidence detection performed on a Kintex-7 FPGA (Xilinx). Finally the data link to the computer system for image reconstruction is realized via an USB 3.0 connection. Due to the fast photodetectors the system is dedicated to work with rather high activities. Preliminary measurements showed a coincidence peak of 250 ps FWHM between two detector elements and an energy resolution ΔE/E = 12%. This paper will present first results from a one ring system with a FOV of 18 cm diameter and 6.5 cm axial height