Development of a Shared UX Vision Based on UX Factors Ascertained Through Attribution

User experience (UX) is an important quality in differentiating products. For a product team, it is a challenge to develop a good positive user experience. A common UX vision for the product team supports the team in making goal-oriented decisions regarding the user experience. This paper presents an approach to developing a shared UX vision. This UX vision is developed by the product team while a collaborative session. To validate our approach, we conducted a first validation study. In this study, we conducted a collaborative session with two groups and a total of 37 participants. The group of participants comprised product managers, UX designers and comparable professional profiles. At the end of the collaborative session, participants had to fill out a questionnaire. Through questions and observations, we identified ten good practices and four bad practices in the application of our approach to developing a UX vision. The top 3 good practices mentioned by the participants include the definition of decision-making procedures (G1), determining the UX vision with the team (G2), and using general factors of the UX as a basis (G3). The top 3 bad practices are: providing too little time for the development of the UX vision (B1), not providing clear cluster designations (B2) and working without user data (B3). The results show that the present approach for developing a UX vision helps to promote a shared understanding of the intended UX in a quickly and simply way

Gekrümmte Beton-Leichtbauelemente mit bionisch inspirierten Krafteinleitungssystemen durch Einsatz flexibler GFK-Schalungen

Die Architektur des 21. Jahrhunderts ist geprägt von der freien Formfindung, wobei Ressourceneinsparung in Kombination mit Funktionsintegration immer stärker in den Fokus effizienter Bauweisen rücken. Klassische Werkstoffe, wie z. B. Stahlbeton, stoßen hinsichtlich organischer Formen und Funktionalisierung schnell an ihre Grenzen. Darüber hinaus sind beim Stahlbeton aufgrund der Korrosionsneigung der Stahlbewehrung hohe Betonüberdeckungen gefordert, was der Umsetzung filigraner Bauweisen mit geringen Dicken entgegensteht (s. etwa [1], [2]). Daher ist die Erforschung von neuartigen Betonstrukturen mit Leichtbaueigenschaften unter Anwendung von textilen Bewehrungen seit einigen Jahren Gegenstand intensiver wissenschaftlicher Arbeiten, z. B. in den DFG-SFB 528 und 532, im BMBF-Vorhaben C³ und zahlreichen internationalen Projekten, z. B. [1], [3]–[5]). [Aus: Ausgangsfragen und Zielsetzung]The architecture of the 21st century is characterized by free form finding, whereby saving resources in combination with functional integration are increasingly important for efficient construction methods. Classic materials, such as steel reinforced concrete, quickly reach their limits in terms of organic shapes and functionalization. In addition, due to the corrosion tendency of the steel reinforcement, high concrete coverings are required, which prevents the implementation of filigree construction methods with small thicknesses (see e.g. [1], [2]). Therefore, the research of new types of concrete structures with lightweight properties using textile reinforcement has been the subject of intensive scientific work for some years, e.g. DFG–SFB 528 and 532, BMBF project C³ and numerous international projects, e.g. [1], [3]–[5]). [Off: Initial questions and objectives

Immunomodulatory asthma therapy in the equine animal model: A dose‐response study and evaluation of a long‐term effect

Introduction Equine asthma represents a naturally occurring animal model for human allergic neutrophilic asthma. Inhalative nanoparticle‐bound cytosine‐phosphate‐guanosine (CpG‐GNP) immunotherapy, independent of specific allergens, has already shown promising clinical and immunological results in previous studies and offers the possibility to treat the underlying cause of the disease. This study analyses the relationship between dose and response, and evaluates a possible long‐term effect. Methods In the prospective, randomised, double‐blind clinical field study, 29 horses suffering from equine asthma received 10 inhalation treatments with either 187.5 µg CpG‐GNP (CpG single dose [CpGsd]; n = 11), 375 µg CpG‐GNP double dose (CpG double dose [CpGdd]; n = 9) (q48h for 20 days) or 1600 µg beclomethasone (n = 9) (q24h for 10 days). Each horse was examined three times: before the treatment (I), immediately after the 10 inhalations (II), and 8 weeks after the final inhalation (III). The three groups were compared according to clinical and laboratory parameters. The study examined the sustainability of the long‐term effect of the treatment after 8 weeks, as well as the tolerability of the formula as a double dose. Results The CpGsd resulted in a significant improvement in 82% of the parameters, the CpGdd in 72%. In the long‐term evaluation, the CpGsd showed a significant improvement in 100% of the parameters in comparison to the initial values, the CpGdd in 67%. On the immunological level, the bronchoalveolar lavage revealed a significant reduction of IL‐4, IL‐8, and interferon‐γ. Conclusion Both CpG groups displayed significant improvements in clinical and laboratory parameters, especially regarding the long‐term effect of CpGsd. Doubling the CpG dose did not result in any improvement in comparison to the original single dose. On the immunological level, an anti‐inflammatory, as well as an immunomodulatory effect, apart from a Th2‐dominated immune response, could be observed. This immunomodulatory inhalation treatment could indicate a new possibility for human allergic asthma therapy

Flexible GFK-Schalungen zur Herstellung von doppelt gekrümmten Beton-Leichtbauelementen mit stabilisierten Abstandsgewirken

Zur effizienten Fertigung gekrümmter Freiformschalen mit großen Abmessungen wurde ein neuer konstruktiv-technologischer Lösungsansatz in Form eines flexibel formbaren, mehrschichtigen Schalungssystems aus glasfaserverstärktem Kunststoff (GFK) erarbeitet. Diese GFK-Schalungselemente gestatten unter Ausnutzung ihres anisotropiebedingten Strukturverhaltens eine gezielte Einstellung von definierten Krümmungszuständen. In umfassenden Untersuchungen zum Systemaufbau der entwickelten GFK-Schalungen und Beton-Leichtbauelemente mit stabilisierten Abstandsgewirken wurden repräsentative, gekrümmte Freiformflächen mit verschiedenen Krümmungsradien entworfen, numerisch berechnet, hergestellt sowie die Konturengenauigkeit und die belastungsgerechte Integration der Gewirke verifiziert

Droughts can reduce the nitrogen retention capacity of catchments

In 2018-2019, Central Europe experienced an unprecedented 2-year drought with severe impacts on society and ecosystems. In this study, we analyzed the impact of this drought on water quality by comparing long-Term (1997-2017) nitrate export with 2018-2019 export in a heterogeneous mesoscale catchment. We combined data-driven analysis with process-based modeling to analyze nitrogen retention and the underlying mechanisms in the soils and during subsurface transport. We found a drought-induced shift in concentration-discharge relationships, reflecting exceptionally low riverine nitrate concentrations during dry periods and exceptionally high concentrations during subsequent wet periods. Nitrate loads were up to 73ĝ€¯% higher compared to the long-Term load-discharge relationship. Model simulations confirmed that this increase was driven by decreased denitrification and plant uptake and subsequent flushing of accumulated nitrogen during rewetting. Fast transit times (20 years) inhibited a fast response but potentially contribute to a long-Term drought legacy. Overall, our study reveals that severe droughts, which are predicted to become more frequent across Europe, can reduce the nitrogen retention capacity of catchments, thereby intensifying nitrate pollution and threatening water quality

Droughts can reduce the nitrogen retention capacity of catchments

In 2018–2019, Central Europe experienced an unprecedented multi-year drought with severe impacts on society and ecosystems. In this study, we analyzed the impact of this drought on water quality by comparing long-term (1997-2017) nitrate export with 2018–2019 export in a heterogeneous mesoscale catchment. We combined data-driven analysis with process-based modelling to analyze nitrogen retention and the underlying mechanisms in the soils and during subsurface transport. We found a drought-induced shift in concentration-discharge relationships, reflecting exceptionally low riverine nitrate concentrations during dry periods and exceptionally high concentrations during subsequent wet periods. Nitrate loads were up to 70% higher compared to the long-term load-discharge relationship. Model simulations confirmed that this increase was driven by decreased denitrification and plant uptake and subsequent flushing of accumulated nitrogen during rewetting. Fast transit times (20 years) inhibited a fast response but potentially contribute to a long-term drought legacy. Overall, our study reveals that severe multi-year droughts, which are predicted to become more frequent across Europe, can reduce the nitrogen retention capacity of catchments, thereby intensifying nitrate pollution and threatening water quality

Chromatin Immunoprecipitation to Analyze DNA Binding Sites of HMGA2

BACKGROUND: HMGA2 is an architectonic transcription factor abundantly expressed during embryonic and fetal development and it is associated with the progression of malignant tumors. The protein harbours three basically charged DNA binding domains and an acidic protein binding C-terminal domain. DNA binding induces changes of DNA conformation and hence results in global overall change of gene expression patterns. Recently, using a PCR-based SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment) procedure two consensus sequences for HMGA2 binding have been identified. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In this investigation chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) experiments and bioinformatic methods were used to analyze if these binding sequences can be verified on chromatin of living cells as well. CONCLUSION: After quantification of HMGA2 protein in different cell lines the colon cancer derived cell line HCT116 was chosen for further ChIP experiments because of its 3.4-fold higher HMGA2 protein level. 49 DNA fragments were obtained by ChIP. These fragments containing HMGA2 binding sites have been analyzed for their AT-content, location in the human genome and similarities to sequences generated by a SELEX study. The sequences show a significantly higher AT-content than the average of the human genome. The artificially generated SELEX sequences and short BLAST alignments (11 and 12 bp) of the ChIP fragments from living cells show similarities in their organization. The flanking regions are AT-rich, whereas a lower conservation is present in the center of the sequences