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Poster presented at BGCI Congress. Wuhan (China), 16-20 Apr 200

Separability of stereoisomers by electrokinetic chromatography in presence of a neutral selector - Fundamental aspects assessed by computer simulation.

The impact of the two essential parameters, the complexation constant and the mobility of the formed diastereomeric complex, on stereoisomer separation in presence of a neutral chiral selector was assessed by computer simulation for an electrokinetic chromatography configuration with a uniform background electrolyte and one with a cationic discontinues buffer system of isotachophoretic nature. With two enantiomers of norpseudoephedrine as model analytes, data for seven cases featuring complexation in free solution with various combinations of input values, complexation with an immobilized selector and no complexation were analyzed in a hitherto unexplored way. For the uniform buffer study, the determined differences of the effective mobilities and separation selectivities of the stereoisomers were found to be equal to those calculated with the well-known algebraic equations. For the isotachophoretic system with its Kohlrausch adjusted zones, separation is also based on differences in effective mobilities, but the mobility differences cannot be predicted with the same algebraic equation. In both techniques, chiral separations occur due to the presence of the selector and if there is inequality between the mobilities of the transient diastereomeric complexes and the mobility of the free, uncomplexed analyte. Separation of the stereoisomers is possible when complexation constants, complex mobilities or both of these parameters differ. In the isotachophoretic separation a migrating steady-state is formed in which analytes either establish consecutive zones with plateau concentrations or, if present in an insufficient amount, as a peak-like distribution that migrates within a moving steady-state boundary. Simulation data illustrate for the first time the use of a spacer compound that establishes an isotachophoretic zone between enantiomers and thereby provides complete separation of the enantiomers and the possibility of individual detection in peak-mode isotachophoresis. They demonstrate that such an approach could be employed to assess the enantiomeric purity of a chiral compound

Tracking and Fusion Methods for Extended Targets Parameterized by Center, Orientation, and Semi-axes

The improvements in sensor technology, e.g., the development of automotive Radio Detection and Ranging (RADAR) or Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR), which are able to provide a higher detail of the sensor’s environment, have introduced new opportunities but also new challenges to target tracking. In classic target tracking, targets are assumed as points. However, this assumption is no longer valid if targets occupy more than one sensor resolution cell, creating the need for extended targets, modeling the shape in addition to the kinematic parameters. Different shape models are possible and this thesis focuses on an elliptical shape, parameterized with center, orientation, and semi-axes lengths. This parameterization can be used to model rectangles as well. Furthermore, this thesis is concerned with multi-sensor fusion for extended targets, which can be used to improve the target tracking by providing information gathered from different sensors or perspectives. We also consider estimation of extended targets, i.e., to account for uncertainties, the target is modeled by a probability density, so we need to find a so-called point estimate. Extended target tracking provides a variety of challenges due to the spatial extent, which need to be handled, even for basic shapes like ellipses and rectangles. Among these challenges are the choice of the target model, e.g., how the measurements are distributed across the shape. Additional challenges arise for sensor fusion, as it is unclear how to best consider the geometric properties when combining two extended targets. Finally, the extent needs to be involved in the estimation. Traditional methods often use simple uniform distributions across the shape, which do not properly portray reality, while more complex methods require the use of optimization techniques or large amounts of data. In addition, for traditional estimation, metrics such as the Euclidean distance between state vectors are used. However, they might no longer be valid because they do not consider the geometric properties of the targets’ shapes, e.g., rotating an ellipse by 180 degree results in the same ellipse, but the Euclidean distance between them is not 0. In multi-sensor fusion, the same holds, i.e., simply combining the corresponding elements of the state vectors can lead to counter-intuitive fusion results. In this work, we compare different elliptic trackers and discuss more complex measurement distributions across the shape’s surface or contour. Furthermore, we discuss the problems which can occur when fusing extended target estimates from different sensors and how to handle them by providing a transformation into a special density. We then proceed to discuss how a different metric, namely the Gaussian Wasserstein (GW) distance, can be used to improve target estimation. We define an estimator and propose an approximation based on an extension of the square root distance. It can be applied on the posterior densities of the aforementioned trackers to incorporate the unique properties of ellipses in the estimation process. We also discuss how this can be applied to rectangular targets as well. Finally, we evaluate and discuss our approaches. We show the benefits of more complex target models in simulations and on real data and we demonstrate our estimation and fusion approaches compared to classic methods on simulated data.2022-01-2

Akzeptanz von Armprothesen im Kindes -und Jugendalter

Aufgabe dieser Arbeit ist es, objektivierbare Kriterien über die Compliance des kindlichen Prothesentrageverhaltens bei fehlenden Gliedmaßen zu finden. Dazu wurde eine retrospektive Analyse von Daten aus Krankenblättern und Fragebögen armprothetisch versorgter Patienten vorgenommen, die im Zeitraum von 1984 bis 2004 in der Klinik für Technische Orthopädie und Rehabilitation der WWU Münster behandelt worden sind. Die Daten enthalten Angaben über das Geschlecht, das Alter, das Alter bei Erstvorstellung und Erstversorgung, das Prothesentrageverhalten, die Tragedauer, Ablehnungsgründe, die Stigmatisierung der Eltern und der Kinder und das Umfeld der Kinder. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass das Geschlecht der Patienten, die jeweilige Diagnose, das Alter bei der Erstversorgung, die Verordnung, die Stigmatisierung der Eltern und der Kinder Einfluss auf deren Compliance und die daraus resultierende Akzeptanz der Prothese haben. Die Ergebnisse decken sich mit der Literatur der letzten Jahre

What a Night

Producing an audiovisual work is the ability to transform an idea, a story, a script into a tangible product, to bring it closer to the screen. After the production of any project, it is ready to be filmed. In this project, you can find the memories to carry out the production of a fiction short film entitled What A Night. This paper discusses the making of the short film by Jose Hidalgo Thormann to fulfill his thesis requirement to receive his MFA in Film and Animation from the Rochester Institute of Technolog

Biodiversity of leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in a tropical montane rainforest ecosystem assessed with DNA barcoding

The aim of the present study was the assessment of an unknown tropical insect fauna without traditional taxonomy. For this purpose, the diversity of leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in the montane rainforest of the Reserva Biológica San Francisco (RBSF) and parts of the Podocarpus National Park in southern Ecuador was investigated. Beetles were sampled at three different elevations, ’1000 m’ (Bombuscaro; 1020–1075 m a.s.l.), ’2000 m’ (Estación Científica San Francisco – ECSF; 1913–2089 m a.s.l.), and ’3000 m’ (Cajanuma; 2805–2891 m a.s.l.) with a set of different collection methods. Beetles were mainly sampled with sweep netting, beating, and hand-collection from the lower understorey vegetation of 36 sampling plots (12 per elevation, six of them in the valleys, six on the ridges) following a standardized sampling protocol. A total of 4286 leaf beetles have been collected, 1775 of these (usually one of each morphospecies per sample) were sorted into 515 different morphospecies, DNA barcoded, and assigned to molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs). The study covers aspects of community structure and its changes with increasing elevation. Methodological aspects of rapid biodiversity assessment are evaluated: Different collection methods and morphological and sequence-based methods for species delimitation are compared. General leaf beetle diversity patterns in an Andean mountain forest Leaf beetle assemblages showed patterns typical for tropical arthropods: They were species-rich, with few common species but a high percentage of rare species. 1583 specimens were sorted into 473 morphospecies, and for 1334 of them a DNA barcode could be obtained. They belong to 416 morphospecies and were grouped into 459 MOTUs. Species accumulation curves showed no saturation indicating a further increase in species numbers with additional sampling. Species number estimates ranged up to 916 morphospecies (chao2) for the 1583 analysed individuals, and 705 morphospecies, respectively 805 MOTUs for the 1334 barcoded individuals. The higher MOTU number compared to morphospecies number suggests a high level of potential cryptic diversity that was not recognized by the morphospecies approach alone. The leaf beetle community showed an uneven distribution of incidence and abundance with very few common morphospecies (5% found in more than ten samples, 10% represented by more than ten individuals) and a high percentage of uniques (morphospecies found in one single sample; 50% of all morphospecies), respectively singletons (one single individual found; 45% of all morphospecies). The singleton curve did not reach saturation. Most morphospecies were restricted to one single elevational level (91%), indicating a high turnover of communities with elevation. This pattern was even more apparent for MOTUs (96%) and haplotypes (99%). More than half of the morphospecies belonged to Alticinae (53%), 21% were Galerucinae, 14% Eumolpinae, 5% Hispinae, and 4% Cassidinae. Criocerinae, Chrysomelinae, Lamprosomatinae, and Cryptocephalinae together accounted for 3% of all morpho- species. Rank order remained the same when number of individuals was considered. Composition of the subgroups changed slightly with elevation. Diversity patterns along an elevational gradient inferred with DNA barcode data Leaf beetle assemblages from the 36 study plots were sampled and differences between the three elevations and the two microhabitats (forest on ridges and in valleys) were analysed based on DNA barcode data. The importance of small-scale topography for elevational diversity patterns was evaluated: It was tested whether elevational diversity differs between ridge and valley forests and if the species turnover between and within habitats varies with elevation and changes patterns of elevational diversity when scaling up from the local (sampling plot) to the regional (elevational belt) level. MOTUs were determined using PTP modelling and data was analysed using permutational MANOVA analysis and ordinary linear models. When study sites of both habitats were pooled, local leaf beetle diversity showed a clear mid- elevational peak pattern. However, only leaf beetle diversity in ridge forests peaked at mid- elevations, while the diversity in valley forests was similarly high at 1000 and 2000 m a.s.l. and declined at highest elevations. When scaling up to the regional scale, levels of diversity were generally similar at the two lower elevations and declined at 3000 m a.s.l. The scale-dependent shift in diversity patterns was caused by a higher turnover of species communities between and within habitats at lower than at mid-elevations, suggesting more specialized herbivore communities in the more productive lower elevations. The study underscores the importance of topography and spatial scale for the inference of diversity patterns. Changes in ecosystem productivity but also area and temperature with elevation might also influence the genetic diversity within species, however, levels of genetic diversity (haplotype diversity per MOTU) did not differ among elevational levels. Biodiversity patterns along the elevational gradient were revealed by MOTUs and morphospecies in the same way. Comparison of morphospecies sorting and DNA barcoding 1475 barcoded individuals were assigned to MOTUs and the results were compared with the morphospecies sorting. The barcode approach estimated 10% higher species numbers (448 morphospecies, 493 MOTUs). This was caused by a higher number of splittings than lumpings of morphospecies. The similar numbers of morphospecies and MOTUs arose partly due to the fact that splittings and lumpings compensated one another. However, the number of perfect matches was comparatively low: 63% of all morphospecies corresponded exactly with one MOTU. Most lumpings united individuals of two morphospecies in one MOTU (76%), in some cases, individuals of up to five morphospecies (4%) were lumped. Similarly, most splittings divided a morphospecies in two networks (69%), only once a morphospecies was split into six MOTUs (1%). The subgroups most challenging for morphospecies sorting were Galerucinae and especially Alticinae. Difficulties most probably arose due to the large number of specimens and species. DNA barcoding showed to be a valuable tool in cases were morphospecies sorting is exacerbated by pronounced intraspecific variation in colour, shape, or size, and may reveal cryptic diversity. Especially in species that are small and/or lack conspicuous external characters barcoding is a useful tool to complement morphospecies sorting. Particularly in large, specimen- and species-rich data sets DNA barcoding can facilitate morphospecies sorting and can result into a more accurate species delimitation. Influence of different species delimitation methods on species richness estimates For a subset of 674 barcoded specimens, a set of four different DNA-based species delimitation methods and their influence on species richness estimates were compared. Distance-based clustering, statistical parsimony analysis, GMYC-, and PTP modelling led to highly similar results. The reason probably lies within the structure of the underlying data set: It is geographically restricted and undersampled with a high proportion of singletons what turns it insensitive against differences in species delimitation methods. Several cases of splittings and lumpings led to discrepancies between morphospecies and MOTU assignment and generally MOTU numbers were ~8% higher than morphospecies numbers. Morphospecies sorting and DNA barcoding allow similar conclusions on leaf beetle diversity: The leaf beetle fauna is species-rich with a strong turnover among elevations. Most morphospecies where found only at a single elevational level, also when singletons and doubletons have been excluded. This pattern was even more visible for MOTUs and haplotypes. The high turnover between leaf beetle communities at the different elevations is also visible in the species accumulation curves: If to the specimens of one elevation the specimens of a second elevation where added, the curves showed once more a further increase. Comparison of sampling methods Within the present study a total of 1174 samples were taken. They varied considerably in size and effort as different sampling methods were used. The focus was on standardized sampling with sweep netting, beating, and hand-collection on the sampling plots. Malaise trapping, light trapping, and additional hand-collection completed the sampling. In sweep netting-, beating-, hand-collection-, and light trap samples on average only few individuals and morphospecies were caught per single sample (less than five). In contrast, the Malaise traps were highly efficient on a per sample basis: They yielded a mean of 31 individuals and 15 morphospecies per sample. Collection efficiency for certain subgroups slightly differed between the different methods. Even after 298.5 sampling hours the species accumulation curve of the standardized plot samples showed no saturation indicating that a further increase of morphospecies number is expected with further sampling

Efficient aerodynamic derivative calculation in three-dimensional transonic flow

ABSTRACTOne key task in computational aeroelasticity is to calculate frequency response functions of aerodynamic coefficients due to structural excitation or external disturbance. Computational fluid dynamics methods are applied for this task at edge-of-envelope flow conditions. Assuming a dynamically linear response around a non-linear steady state, two computationally efficient approaches in time and frequency domain are discussed. A non-periodic, time-domain function can be used, on the one hand, to excite a broad frequency range simultaneously giving the frequency response function in a single non-linear, time-marching simulation. The frequency-domain approach, on the other hand, solves a large but sparse linear system of equations, resulting from the linearisation about the non-linear steady state for each frequency of interest successively. Results are presented for a NACA 0010 aerofoil and a generic civil aircraft configuration in very challenging transonic flow conditions with strong shock-wave/boundary-layer interaction in the pre-buffet regime. Computational cost savings of up to 1 order of magnitude are observed in the time domain for the all-frequencies-at-once approach compared with single-frequency simulations, while an additional order of magnitude is obtained for the frequency-domain method. The paper demonstrates the readiness of computational aeroelasticity tools at edge-of-envelope flow conditions.</jats:p