Investigation into the capturing, manipulating, calibrating and outputting of black and white images on a Xerox Docutech

It is the purpose of this investigation to determine whether or not the output quality of black and white images on a Xerox Docutech can be enhanced. The Docutech is a black and white digital printing device. In times of a growing demand for on-demand printing and publishing, the Docutech not only has to reproduce text and graphics properly but also has to cope with the increasing task of rendering images. Although there are multiple options to improve the output quality, this project focuses on the impact of image capturing on the output. As a result of this investigation, a user\u27s manual should help to achieve satisfying reproductions on the Docutech. The project goals are reached by extensive testing and a careful evaluation of the experiments by visual, densitometric and statistical means. Prior to any testing and as a prerequisite for the project, the print characteristic of the Docutech is determined. With stable printing conditions as a starting point, the impact of the scanning process is investigated. For this purpose, four different scanners ranging from flatbed, desktop devices to high-end scanning systems are used to capture two test images. Those images are manipulated within this process step to improve the rendering quality of the printed output. The printed output is analyzed finally by statistical means to base the perceived quality differences on the objective judgement of a larger audience of observers. Focusing on the results of this evaluation process, one will find that the output quality can be enhanced. Not only are adjustments found which increase the perceived qualify of the printed result but also is insight gained into the printing process and its limitations. There is no doubt that the Docutech has its restrictions but its low cost and low quality image is not justified. It is possible to improve the output quality of black and white reproductions by applying the basic rules of image reproduction. Thus, utilizing the capabilities of this digital printing device efficiently, one can achieve satisfying output quality

Effect of adhesion geometry and rigidity on cellular force distributions

The behaviour and fate of tissue cells is controlled by the rigidity and geometry of their adhesive environment, possibly through forces localized to sites of adhesion. We introduce a mechanical model that predicts cellular force distributions for cells adhering to adhesive patterns with different geometries and rigidities. For continuous adhesion along a closed contour, forces are predicted to be localized to the corners. For discrete sites of adhesion, the model predicts the forces to be mainly determined by the lateral pull of the cell contour. With increasing distance between two neighboring sites of adhesion, the adhesion force increases because cell shape results in steeper pulling directions. Softer substrates result in smaller forces. Our predictions agree well with experimental force patterns measured on pillar assays.Comment: 4 pages, Revtex with 4 figure

A kinetic model for RNA-interference of focal adhesions

Background: Focal adhesions are integrin-based cell-matrix contacts that transduce and integrate mechanical and biochemical cues from the environment. They develop from smaller and more numerous focal complexes under the influence of mechanical force and are key elements for many physiological and disease-related processes, including wound healing and metastasis. More than 150 different proteins localize to focal adhesions and have been systematically classified in the adhesome project ( http://www.adhesome.org). First RNAi-screens have been performed for focal adhesions and the effect of knockdown of many of these components on the number, size, shape and location of focal adhesions has been reported. Results: We have developed a kinetic model for RNA interference of focal adhesions which represents some of its main elements: a spatially layered structure, signaling through the small GTPases Rac and Rho, and maturation from focal complexes to focal adhesions under force. The response to force is described by two complementary scenarios corresponding to slip and catch bond behavior, respectively. Using estimated and literature values for the model parameters, three time scales of the dynamics of RNAi-influenced focal adhesions are identified: a sub-minute time scale for the assembly of focal complexes, a sub-hour time scale for the maturation to focal adhesions, and a time scale of days that controls the siRNA-mediated knockdown. Our model shows bistability between states dominated by focal complexes and focal adhesions, respectively. Catch bonding strongly extends the range of stability of the state dominated by focal adhesions. A sensitivity analysis predicts that knockdown of focal adhesion components is more efficient for focal adhesions with slip bonds or if the system is in a state dominated by focal complexes. Knockdown of Rho leads to an increase of focal complexes. Conclusions: The suggested model provides a kinetic description of the effect of RNA-interference of focal adhesions. Its predictions are in good agreement with known experimental results and can now guide the design of RNAi-experiments. In the future, it can be extended to include more components of the adhesome. It also could be extended by spatial aspects, for example by the differential activation of the Rac- and Rho-pathways in different parts of the cell

Infrared Radiation Confers Resistance to UV-Induced Apoptosis Via Reduction of DNA Damage and Upregulation of Antiapoptotic Proteins

Infrared radiation (IR) is increasingly used for wellness purposes. In this setting, it is frequently combined with UV radiation, primarily for tanning purposes. The impact of IR on UV-induced carcinogenesis is still unclear. Hence, we investigated the interplay between IR and UV with regard to UV-induced apoptosis. Pretreatment of murine keratinocytes with IR before UV reduced the apoptotic rate. Likewise, the number of sunburn cells was reduced in mice preexposed to IR before UV. The amounts of UV-induced DNA damage were reduced by IR both in vitro and in vivo. This was not observed in DNA repair-deficient mice. UV-induced downregulation of the antiapoptotic proteins FLIPL and BCL-XL was prevented by IR, whereas the proapoptotic protein BAX was downregulated. These data indicate that IR reduces UV-induced apoptosis that may be mediated by several pathways, including reduction of DNA damage and induction of antiapoptotic proteins. The antiapoptotic effects of IR may support the survival of UV-damaged cells and thus carcinogenesis. As, however, IR reduces UV-induced DNA damage, the balance between these two effects may be important. Thus, in vivo carcinogenesis studies are required to define the role of IR and its interaction with UV in photocarcinogenesis

It\u27s all about living sustainable: (A research of communicating sustainable way of living to the public)

Living sustainable, a vision that I developed at the Design Studio Schwarz, University of Liechtenstein. Living sustainable raises questions about living in balance with our natural resources. We are living on costs of next generations, so we are responsible to make the changes with architectural interventions in our society for our society. Based on „World Energy Council“ report of 2011, our planet will have 2.2 billion inhabitants more on 2050, reaching 9.2 billion, by challenging a huge demand on mobility, food, goods and building as well. In order to having a bigger impact and a better control over growing up-mentioned demands, professionals have to take the first steps on treating these issues not only in universities, schools or other institutions, but to make aware also the common people, considering as main starting point where the „problems“ or demands start from. Better communication of sustainable architecture to the common people could help to understand that humans are living in a planet with limited bio capacity and their demands will have to be reduced and controlled by professionals, which helps living and growing future settlements in balance with nature and helps reducing their ecological footprint, as one of the most important aspect of sustainability

Dispersionsverstärkte Sinterstähle hergestellt über Field Assisted Sintering

Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wurden Metallmatrix-Verbundwerkstoffe mit dem Ziel entwickelt die hohe Festigkeit und Duktilität der Metallmatrix mit guten Verschleißeigenschaften der Hartstoffe zu kombinieren. Die Materialien wurden pulvermetallurgisch hergestellt und über Field Assisted Sintering verdichtet. Untersucht wurden neben Festigkeit und tribologischen Eigenschaften auch Risszähigkeit und der Einfluss der Hartstoffe auf die Härtbarkeit der Stahlvarianten