ORD-Xplore: Bridging Open Research Data Collections through Modality Abstractions

We present ORD-Xplore, an approach to bridge gaps between digital editions, which represent valuable collections of multiple digitized research artifacts. However, digital editions often co-exist isolated, making it difficult for researchers to access, find, and re-use open research data from multiple digital editions. An ultimate goal is to unify library services across editions, even for editions with heterogeneity. In ORD-Xplore, we utilize abstraction methods from visualization research to help digital librarians identify unifying data modalities, as one important step towards standardization of heterogeneous digital editions

Potenzialflächenbewertung und -ranking zur nachhaltigen Entwicklung der Region Bonn/Rhein-Sieg/Ahrweiler

Das im Rahmen des BMBF-geförderten Projekts NEILA (Nachhaltige Entwicklung durch interkommunales Landmanagement) entwickelte Flächenbewertungs- und Rankingsystem in der Region Bonn/Rhein-Sieg/Ahrweiler basiert auf interkommunal abgestimmten Kriterien und liefert eine Entscheidungshilfe zur Priorisierung und Entwicklung von Potenzialflächen für die Siedlungsentwicklung. Die Erarbeitung des Systems fand in engem Austausch mit Planer*innen und Entscheidungsträger*innen der Region statt, um lokales Expertenwissen zu nutzen und die Akzeptanz der Flächenbewertung zu steigern. Die bewerteten Potenzialflächen sind aus verschiedenen Quellen – Monitoringsysteme der Länder, vorhandene Konzepte, Restriktionsanalyse - und im intensiven Dialog mit den Kommunalverwaltungen zusammengetragen. Das Ergebnis ist ein Flächenranking, welches den Kommunen in der Region in einem Web-GIS zur Verfügung steht. Es ist bearbeit- und erweiterbar und stellt eine Vielzahl von Informationen für die in der Region erhobenen Flächen dar. Für jede Fläche ist ersichtlich, wie die jeweiligen Kriterien (beispielsweise ÖPNV-Erreichbarkeit, Nahversorgung oder die Nähe zu Grünflächen) sowie die darauf basierenden Indikatoren (Wohn-, Gewerbeeignung, Freiraumbedeutung) ausgeprägt sind. Mithilfe des Systems lassen sich sowohl auf kommunaler als auch regionaler Ebene Flächen priorisieren und miteinander vergleichen. Es trägt dazu bei, die zukünftige regionale Siedlungsentwicklung anhand objektiver Kriterien und einer nachvollziehbaren Methodik nachhaltig zu gestalten

Impurities in commercial titanium dental implants – A mass and optical emission spectrometry elemental analysis

Objective: Titanium (Ti) is considered bioinert and is still regarded as the “gold standard” material for dental implants. However, even ‘commercial pure’ Ti will contain minor fractions of elemental impurities. Evidence demonstrating the release of Ti ions and particles from ‘passive’ implant surfaces is increasing and has been attributed to biocorrosion processes which may provoke immunological reactions. However, Ti observed in peri-implant tissues has been shown to be co-located with elements considered impurities in biomedical alloys. Accordingly, this study aimed to quantify the composition of impurities in commercial Ti dental implants. Methods: Fifteen commercial titanium dental implant systems were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Results: The elemental composition of implants manufactured from commercially pure grades of Ti, Ti-6Al-4V, and the TiZr alloy (Roxolid) conformed to the respective ISO/ASTM standards or manufacturers´ data (TiZr/Roxolid). However, all implants investigated included exogenous metal contaminants including Ni, Cr, Sb, and Nb to a variable extent. Other contaminants detected in a fraction of implants included As and the radionuclides U-238 and Th-232. Significance: Although all Ti implant studies conformed with their standard compositions, potentially allergenic, noxious metals and even radionuclides were detected. Since there are differences in the degree of contamination between the implant systems, a certain impurity fraction seems technically avoidable. The clinical relevance of these findings must be further investigated, and an adaptation of industry standards should be discussed

School principals as promoters of education for sustainable development. Report on the research project “Lead4ESD Principal Study”

Schulleitungen üben entscheidenden Einfluss auf Schulkultur oder Leistung einer Schule aus. Ihre Rolle bei der Implementation von Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung (BNE) wurde bisher jedoch kaum untersucht. Der Bericht gibt Einblick in ein Forschungsprojekt zu Aktivitäten, Kompetenzen und Einfluss von Schulleitungen im Kontext von Schulentwicklung für BNE. (DIPF/Orig.)Principals exert decisive influence regarding culture or performance of a school. Their role in the implementation of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), however, has rarely been investigated so far. The report gives an insight into a research project on activities, competencies and influence of school leaders in the context of school development for ESD. (DIPF/Orig.

Vitality of autologous retromolar bone grafts for alveolar ridge augmentation after a 3-months healing period: A prospective histomorphometrical analysis.

OBJECTIVES The incorporation of retromolar bone grafts used for alveolar ridge augmentation is not well understood. This prospective observational study aims to supply histomorphometrical data from bone graft biopsies taken at the time of retrieval and after a 3-month healing period using patient-matched biopsies. MATERIALS AND METHODS In 17 patients, trephine biopsies of the graft were acquired at the time of graft retrieval and after a 3-month healing period. The biopsies were compared histomorphometrically regarding the number of osteocytes, appearance of osteocyte lacunae, quantity, surface area, and activity of the Haversian canals. RESULTS All grafts appeared clinically stable after screw removal and 17 implants were placed. Histomorphometric analysis revealed no significant difference in the number of osteocytes (p = .413), osteocyte lacunae (p = .611), the ratio of filled/empty osteocyte lacunae (p = .467) and active Haversian canals (p = .495) between the biopsies retrieved after a 3-months healing period with those at the time of grafting. The only significant difference was noted in the mean surface area of the Haversian canals (p = .002). Specifically, the grafts post 3-month healing showed a significantly larger mean area (0.069 mm2) compared to the time of grafting (0.029 mm2). CONCLUSION This study demonstrates, compared to other data, a high rate of vital structures in retromolar bone block grafts after 3 months of healing, exhibiting the same histological features in comparison to the biopsies from the native alveolar ridge. Standard histomorphometrical parameters, e.g., the amount of filled or empty osteocyte lacunae for the description of the vitality of the graft need to be reappraised

Prostate Cancer IRE Study (PRIS): A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Focal Therapy to Radical Treatment in Localized Prostate Cancer

The aim of focal treatments (FTs) in prostate cancer (PCa) is to treat lesions while preserving surrounding benign tissue and anatomic structures. Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a nonthermal technique that uses high-voltage electric pulses to increase membrane permeability and induce membrane disruption in cells, which potentially causes less damage to the surrounding tissue in comparison to other ablative techniques. We summarize the study protocol for the Prostate Cancer IRE Study (PRIS), which involves two parallel randomized controlled trials comparing IRE with (1) robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) or (2) radiotherapy in men with newly diagnosed intermediate-risk PCa (NCT05513443). To reduce the number of patients for inclusion and the study duration, the primary outcomes are functional outcomes: urinary incontinence in study 1 and irritative urinary symptoms in study 2. Providing evidence of the lower impact of IRE on functional outcomes will lay a foundation for the design of future multicenter studies with an oncological outcome as the primary endpoint. Erectile function, quality of life, treatment failure, adverse events, and cost effectiveness will be evaluated as secondary objectives. Patients diagnosed with Gleason score 3 + 4 or 4 + 3 PCa from a single lesion visible on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) without any Gleason grade 4 or higher in systematic biopsies outside of the target (unifocal significant disease), aged ≥40 yr, with no established extraprostatic extension on multiparametric MRI, a lesion volume of <1.5 cm3, prostate-specific antigen <20 ng/ml, and stage ≤T2b are eligible for inclusion. The study plan is to recruit 184 men

Innate Immune Pathways Promote Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cell Recruitment to the Injury Site in Adult Zebrafish Brain

The oligodendrocyte progenitors (OPCs) are at the front of the glial reaction to the traumatic brain injury. However, regulatory pathways steering the OPC reaction as well as the role of reactive OPCs remain largely unknown. Here, we compared a long-lasting, exacerbated reaction of OPCs to the adult zebrafish brain injury with a timely restricted OPC activation to identify the specific molecular mechanisms regulating OPC reactivity and their contribution to regeneration. We demonstrated that the influx of the cerebrospinal fluid into the brain parenchyma after injury simultaneously activates the toll-like receptor 2 (Tlr2) and the chemokine receptor 3 (Cxcr3) innate immunity pathways, leading to increased OPC proliferation and thereby exacerbated glial reactivity. These pathways were critical for long-lasting OPC accumulation even after the ablation of microglia and infiltrating monocytes. Importantly, interference with the Tlr1/2 and Cxcr3 pathways after injury alleviated reactive gliosis, increased new neuron recruitment, and improved tissue restoration

Natural wood-based catalytic membrane microreactors for continuous hydrogen generation

The development of controlled processes for continuous hydrogen generation from solid-state storage chemicals such as ammonia borane is central to integrating renewable hydrogen into a clean energy mix. However, to date, most reported platforms operate in batch mode, posing a challenge for controllable hydrogen release, catalyst reusability, and large-scale operation. To address these issues, we developed flow-through wood-based catalytic microreactors, characterized by inherent natural oriented microchannels. The prepared structured catalysts utilize silver-promoted palladium nanoparticles supported on metal-organic framework (MOF)-coated wood microreactors as the active phase. Catalytic tests demonstrate their highly controllable hydrogen production in continuous mode, and by adjusting the ammonia borane flow and wood species, we reach stable productivities of up to 10.4 cmH23 min-1 cmcat-3. The modular design of the structured catalysts proves readily scalable. Our versatile approach is applicable for other metals and MOF combinations, thus comprising a sustainable and scalable platform for catalytic dehydrogenations and applications in the energy-water nexus