Relation between color and surface morphology of electrodeposited chromium for decorative applications

Electrolytes for decorative chromium plating based on trivalent chromium salts are known since several decades. As the use of conventional, hexavalent chromium based plating baths is more and more restricted by governmental regulations, these electrolytes gain ground in electroplating industry. However, compared to hexavalent chromium electrolytes, trivalent chromium electrolytes cannot fully meet the requirements with regard to appearance of the electrodeposited chromium, and there is little knowledge about the influencing factors on the shade of color. In this paper, chromium plated from a solution of chromium(III) sulfate was characterized by colorimetry, SEM and AFM and compared to a sample plated from a chromic acid electrolyte in order to reveal correlations between visual appearance and surface morphology. A relation between an increase of grain size and a color shift from blueish to yellowish was observed. Unlike in hexavalent based systems, grain size, roughness and color depend on layer thickness as the grain growth mechanism appears to be different. A model based on the theory of light scattering at rough surfaces is provided that links roughness and reflection behavior of the chromium surface

Visualisation of Ultrasound Computer Tomography Breast Dataset

Medical visualisation plays a vital role in diagnosing and detecting early symptoms. In particular, visualising the anatomy of breast model allows doctors or practitioners to identify first signs of the breast cancer. However, despite the advancement in visualisation techniques, most standard visualisation approaches in the medical field still rely on analysing 2D images which lack spatial information. In this paper, we present an interactive web-based 3D visualisation tool for ultrasound computer tomography (USCT) breast dataset. We base our implementation on the Web-based Graphics Language (WebGL) technology that utilises the GPU parallel architecture. The tool serves as a common platform among research collaborators to analyse and share findings on their dataset. We render the data using state-of-the-art algorithms of interactive computer graphics and produce results with quality comparable to the desktop application. Aside from that, our tool enables researchers to perform arbitrary view slicing, modality thresholding and multiple rendering modes. In the evaluation, our tool maintains an interactive frame rate above 30 fps on a standard desktop

Diagnostic test accuracy in longitudinal study settings: theoretical approaches with use cases from clinical practice

Objectives In this study, we evaluate how to estimate diagnostic test accuracy (DTA) correctly in the presence of longitudinal patient data (ie, repeated test applications per patient). Study Design and Setting We used a nonparametric approach to estimate the sensitivity and specificity of three tests for different target conditions with varying characteristics (ie, episode length and disease-free intervals between episodes): 1) systemic inflammatory response syndrome (n = 36), 2) depression (n = 33), and 3) epilepsy (n = 30). DTA was estimated on the levels ‘time’, ‘block’, and ‘patient-time’ for each diagnosis, representing different research questions. The estimation was conducted for the time units per minute, per hour, and per day. Results A comparison of DTA per and across use cases showed variations in the estimates, which resulted from the used level, the time unit, the resulting number of observations per patient, and the diagnosis-specific characteristics. Intra- and inter-use-case comparisons showed that the time-level had the highest DTA, particularly the larger the time unit, and that the patient-time-level approximated 50% sensitivity and specificity. Conclusion Researchers need to predefine their choices (ie, estimation levels and time units) based on their individual research aims, estimands, and diagnosis-specific characteristics of the target outcomes to make sure that unbiased and clinically relevant measures are communicated. In cases of uncertainty, researchers could report the DTA of the test using more than one estimation level and/or time unit

Anticoagulation with edoxaban in patients with long Atrial High-Rate Episodes ≥24 hours

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Patients with long atrial high-rate episodes (AHRE) ≥ 24 hours and stroke risk factors are often treated with anticoagulation for stroke prevention. Anticoagulation has never been compared to no anticoagulation in these patients.METHODS: This secondary prespecified analysis of NOAH-AFNET 6 examined interactions between AHRE duration at baseline and anticoagulation with edoxaban compared to placebo in patients with AHRE and stroke risk factors. The primary efficacy outcome was a composite of stroke, systemic embolism, or cardiovascular death. The safety outcome was a composite of major bleeding and death. Key secondary outcomes were components of these outcomes and ECG-diagnosed atrial fibrillation.RESULTS: AHRE ≥24 hours were present at baseline in 259/2389 patients enrolled in NOAH-AFNET 6 (11%, 78 ± 7 years old, 28% women, CHA2DS2-VASc score 4). Clinical characteristics were not different from patients with shorter AHRE. During a median follow-up of 1.8 years, the primary outcome occurred in 9/132 patients with AHRE ≥24 hours (4.3%/patient-year, 2 strokes) treated with anticoagulation and in 14/127 patients treated with placebo (6.9%/patient-year, 2 strokes). AHRE duration did not interact with the efficacy (p-interaction = 0.65) or safety (p-interaction = 0.98) of anticoagulation. Analyses including AHRE as a continuous parameter confirmed this. Patients with AHRE ≥24 hours developed more ECG-diagnosed atrial fibrillation (17.0%/patient-year) than patients with shorter AHRE (8.2%/patient-year; p &lt; 0.001).CONCLUSIONS: This hypothesis-generating analysis does not find an interaction between AHRE duration and anticoagulation therapy in patients with device-detected AHRE and stroke risk factors. Further research is needed to identify patients with long AHRE at high stroke risk.</p

Acute adverse events in cardiac MR imaging with gadolinium-based contrast agents:results from the European Society of Cardiovascular Radiology (ESCR) MRCT Registry in 72,839 patients

International audienc

results of an interrogation among women in childbed, considering a comparison between old and new federal states

Im Rahmen der "Kinderwunsch-und Wachstumsstudie (1998-2000)" war es möglich,die Einstellungen von Wöchnerinnen mit drei und mehr Kindern zum Thema Vereinbarkeit von Familie und Beruf zu erheben und darüber hinaus ihre gelebte Praxis bei der familiären Arbeitsteilung detailliert und insbesondere differenziert zu erfassen. Bei dieser Untersuchung bildete die gezielte Betrachtung der neuen und alten Bundesländer im Vergleich interessante Ergebnisse.Auffällig ist hierbei,dass sich die Zufriedenheit mit der eigenen Lebenssituation zum Zeitpunkt der Durchführung der"Kinderwunsch-und Wachstumsstudie",d.h. 10 Jahre nach der Wiedervereinigung der beiden deutschen Staaten,signifikant unterscheidet. Doch es gibt auch Übereinstimmungen hinsichtlich der Zufriedenheit mit den Möglichkeiten der privaten Kinderbetreuung,der Unzufriedenheit mit den Möglichkeiten der externen Kinderbetreuung und der Unzufriedenheit mit der staatlichen Unterstützung,wie sie in Kap.4.6 eingehend diskutiert wurden. Wie in Kap.3 ausführlich dargestellt wurde,dominieren die signifikanten Unterschiede im Vergleich der neuen und alten Bundesländer.Bereits bei der Frage der Zuständigkeit bei der Kindererziehung zeigt sich,dass mehr als zwei Drittel der Wöchnerinnen mit drei und mehr Kindern in den neuen Bundesländern sich und ihre Partner zu gleichen Teilen um die Kindererziehung kümmern werden. In den alten Bundesländern gibt über die Hälfte der befragten Wöchnerinnen an,dass die Kindererziehung vor allem ihre Aufgabe sein wird(Abb.18).Diese signifikanten Unterschiede zeigen sich ebenfalls bei der Frage ,ob die Frau auf die eigene Erwerbstätigkeit verzichten sollte,wenn noch Kleinkinder im Haushalt zu versorgen sind und der Partner genug Geld verdient,damit sein Einkommen für die Versorgung der Familie ausreicht. in den alten bundesländern ist die Zustimmung der Wöchnerinnen deutlich höher(74,3%) als in den neuen Bundesländern: Hier lehnen 43% der Wöchnerinnen die Aussage ab,dass Mütter auf ihre Erwerbsarbeit verzichten sollten,auch wenn der Partner ein ausreichendes Einkommen erzielt(Abb.19). Die ablehnende Haltung der befragten Wöchnerinnen der neuen Bundesländer zeigt sich auch in der Praxis,da die Erwerbstätigkeit bzw. die geplante Erwerbstätigkeit deutlich höher ist als bei den Wöchnerinnen der alten Bundesländer.Hier überwiegt die Zustimmung zur "traditionellen Normalfamilie",wo der Ehemann das Einkommen sichert und die Frau auf Haus-und Reproduktionsarbeit beschränkt wird.Schließlich gaben ein Drittel der Befragten in den neuen Bundesländern an,dass sie vor der Schwangerschaft-und das bedeutet mit bereits zwei Kindern-voll erwerbstätig waren.In den alten Bundesländern waren es lediglich 25,8% (Abb.11). Hierin zeigt sich die starke Erwerbsorientierung der Frauen aus den neuen Bundesländern,wie auch von anderen Untersuchungen bestätigt wird (Richter1996). Die hohe Erwerbsorientierung zeigt das Selbstverständnis der heutigen Generation an Frauen der neuen Bundesländer als arbeitende Mutter,wie es zur Zeit der ehemaligen DDR im Alltag gelebt werden konnte.Die Möglichkeiten der Vereinbarkeit von Familie und Beruf waren aufgrund der flächendeckenden Betreuungsinfrastruktur als eine parallele Vereinbarkeit lebbar und nicht,wie es in den alten Bundesländern auch heute noch der Fall ist,wo das Vereinbarkeitsmodell als Drei-Phasen-Modell gefördert wird(Dornseiff und Sackmann 2003).Bei diesem Modell steht nicht die Gleichzeitigkeit der Vereinbarkeit von Familie und Beruf im Fokus,sondern das Nacheinander von Erwerbsarbeit,Familiengründung und Wiedereinstieg in den Beruf. Auch heute ist die Betreuungsinfrastruktur in den neuen Bundesländern besser als in den alten Bundesländern.Dies zeigen Büchel und Spiess(2002)(Tab.3) als auch die Ergebnisse der "Kinderwunsch-und Wachstumsstudie" zur Frage nach der Möglichkeit der Wöchnerinnen mit drei und mehr Kindern,Beruf und Familie zu vereinbaren: Betrachtet man die Diskrepanzen zwischen der Einschätzung der allgemeinen Möglichkeit der Verinbarkeit von Familie und Beruf(Abb.20) und der persönlichen Möglichkeiten(Abb.21),so zeigen sich signifikante Unterschiede zwischen den neuen und den alten Bundesländern: Während lediglich 8,8% der Wöchnerinnen aus den neuen Bundesländern angeben,dass es ihnen nicht möglich ist,persönmlich Beruf und Familie zu vereinbaren,geben das dreimal so viele Wöchnerinnen aus den alten Bundesländern an(27,3%). Die Untersuchungsergebnisse der "Kinderwunsch- und Wachstumsstudie"lassen sich weiter wie folgt zusammenfassen: Zum Zeitpunkt der Wiedervereinigung unterscheiden sich die beiden deutschen Gesellschaften in vielerlei Hinsicht. Bevölkerungspolitisch verfolgten die deutschen Gesellschaften unterschiedliche Ziele: Während in der ehemaligen DDR das sozialistische Familienbild und die institutionelle Einflussnahme auf Familien politisch gewünscht wurde,versuchte der BRD-Staat wenig Einfluss auf Familien zu nehmen. Hierbei muss allerdings entschieden betont werden,dass es durchaus zu einer starken Einflussnahme durch den Staat kommt,wie z.B. die Förderung der Familie ausschließlich im Rahmen der Ehe zeigt,wo Alleinerziehende und alternative Lebensformen nicht als potentielle Familien gefördert werden. Die Ergebnisse der "Kinderwunsch- und Wachstumsstudie" zeigen,dass die Teilung in zwei unterschiedliche Staaten sich nicht allein in Politik und Wirtschaft,sondern auch in einem unterschiedlich generativen Verhalten der beiden deutschen Staaten niedergeschlagen hat: In der ehemaligen DDR lag die Kinderlosigkeit bei lediglich 10%;jede Mutter hatte mindestens ein Kind,das meistens zusammen mit dem Partner aufwuchs.Die Geburtenförderung konzentrierte sich auf eine gezielte Förderung und Unterstützung der Frauen zur Unabhängigkeit und Vereinbarkeit von Familie und Beruf.Die Investition des Staates in die Frauen und potentiellen Mütter geschah unabhängig vom familiären Status der Ehe. Anders stellt sich die Situation in den alten Bundesländern dar:Hier zeigt sich ,dass Familienförderung nach wie vor an den Status der Ehe gebunden ist:81% der Kinder unter 18 Jahren wachsen bei ihren verheirateten Eltern auf.In den neuen Bundesländern ist dieser Anteil mit 62% deutlich niedriger als in den alten Bundesländern.Auch wachsen in den alten Bundesländern lediglich 14% bei einem allein erziehenden Elternteil auf.In den neuen Bundesländern ist dieser Anteil mit 22% allein erziehenden Elternteilen um immerhin 8% höher als in den alten Bundesländern.Der Anteil der Kinder unter 18 jahren,die bei alternativen,nicht verheirateten oder gleichgeschlechtlichen Lebensgemeinschaften aufwächst,beträgt in den alten Bundesländern lediglich 5%.In den neuen Bundesländern sind es immerhin 16%(Statistisches Bundesamt 2005/vgl.Kap.4.4). Somit kommt es in den alten Bundesländern zu einer Spaltung der Bevölkerung in Kinderlose und diejenigen,die heiraten und durchschnittlich zwei Kinder zur Welt bringen. Die Fachliteratur bezeichnet dieses Phänomen als Polarisierung der Gesellschaft in Kinderlose und Nicht-Kinderlose(Dorbritz und Gärtner 1999,Dorbritz und Schwarz 1996). In den neuen Bundesländern ist dieses Phänomen der Polarisierung(noch) nicht so stark ausgeprägt wie inden alten Bundesländern. Es stellt sich also die Frage ,ob es angesichts der Angleichung der Gesetzgebung nach der Wiedervereinigung der beiden deutschen Staaten zu einer Angleichung des generativen Verhaltens der neuen Bundesländer an die Strukturen der alten Bundesländer kommen wird.Die Ergebnisse der "Kinderwunsch-und Wachstumsstudie" zeigen,dass die unterschiedlichen Erwerbs- und Vereinbarkeitsmuster in den neuen und alten Bundesländern Bestand haben.Das gesellschaftliche System der ehemaligen DDR hat in der Lebensplanung und in den Einstellungen der Wöchnerinnen seine Spuren hinterlassen.Diese Einstellungsunterschiede liegen in der starken Integration der Frauen in der ehemaligen DDR in den Arbeitsmarkt begründet.Diejenigen ,die nicht auf Berufsarbeit verzichten wollen,werden die Realisierung Ihres Kinderwunsches auf ein Kind reduzieren,anstatt wie zuzeiten der DDR mit zwei oder mehr Kindern(Richter 1996). Gleichzeitig kann durch die "Kinderwunsch-und Wachstumsstudie" gezeigt werden,dass die unterschiedlichen Erwerbs-und Vereinbarkeitsmuster in den neuen und alten Bundesländern bestand haben.So wird die starke Erwerbsorientierung der Wöchnerinnen mit drei und mehr Kindern der neuen Bundesländer nach wie vor auch heute noch von einer besseren Betreuungsinfrastruktur aus Zeiten der ehemaligen DDR unterstützt.The context of the „Study on childbearing preferences and population growth” (1998-2000) enabled detailed and, in particular, differentiated investigation of the attitude of women in childbed who have three or more children towards work-life-balance and, in addition, of the practical division of labour in families. The specific, comparative consideration of new and old federal states delivered interesting results. Noticeable at this was the significantly differing satisfaction with the own living situation at the time when the „ Study on childbearing preferences and population growth” was carried out, i.e. 10 years after the re-union of the two German states. Still, there are some affinities regarding the satisfaction about private day care opportunities for children and the dissatisfaction with external day care opportunities for children as well as the dissatisfaction with state support as discussed in details in chapter 4.6. As extensively described in chapter 3, significant differences dominate the comparison between old and new federal states. Even the question of responsibility for child rearing displays, that more than two third of the women in childbed with three or more children in the new federal states intend to rear their children in equal share between both partners. In the old federal states, more than half of the interrogated women in childbed consider it to be mainly their own task to rear their children (figure 18). These significant differences are demonstrated also by the question whether a woman should not work as long as there are small children in the family and her life partner earns enough to keep the family. The approval among the women in childbed in the old federal states is remarkably higher (74.3%) than in the new federal states: Here, 34% of the women in childbed disagree to the statement that mothers should not work, even if the partner earns enough (figure 19). The negative attitude of the interrogated women in childbed in the new federal states is even visible in practise, as there are much more women in childbed who work or intend to work than among the women in childbed in the old federal states. There, a majority approves the “traditional normal family” model where the husband is responsible for the family income and women are reduced to housework and reproduction. Finally, one third of the interrogated persons in the new federal states stated that they have been fully employed prior to their pregnancy, i.e. with already two children. This applies only for 25.8% in the old federal states (figure 11). These relations display the strong job orientation of women from the new federal states which has also been confirmed by other investigations (RICHTER 1996). This strong job orientation displays the self-image of the current generation of women in the new federal states as working mothers, related to what they experienced at times of the former GDR in everyday life. Work-life-balance was possible then due to a nationwide day care infrastructure that enabled a parallel compatibility of both, job and family, while in the old federal states, until today, the 3-stage-model has been supported (DORNSEIFF and SACKMANN 2003). This model does not aim to combine job and family simultaneously but to a consecutive sequence job – starting a family – job re-entry. Even today, the day care situation in the new federal states is better than in the old federal states as shown by BÜCHEL und SPIESS (2002) (table 3) but also by the results of the “Study on childbearing preferences and population growth” regarding the question on work-life-balance of women in childbed with three and more children. Considering the discrepancies between the evaluation of general work-life-balance opportunities (figure 20) and personal opportunities (figure 21), significant differences between old and new federal states become evident: While only 8.8% of the women in childbed from the new federal states state an impossibility to combine job and family, the triple amount of women in childbed from the old federal states agrees to this (27.3%). The results of the “Study on childbearing preferences and population growth” can be summarized as follows: At the time of the re-union, the two German societies differ in many regards. The aims of demographic policy of both German societies were different: While a socialist family image and institutional influence on families were politically requested in the former GDR, the FRG- state tried to keep the influence on families very low. It has be stressed, that there was still a strong influence of the state, such as by promoting family only as the institution “marriage” where single parents and alternative modes of living remained without promotion as potential families. The results of the “Study on childbearing preferences and population growth” display effects of the separation into two different states not only on policy and economy but also on the different behaviour of the generations in the two German states: The rate of childlessness in the former GDR amounted to only 10%; every mother had at least one child, in most cases risen together with the partner. Child rate boosting focused on a systematic promotion and support for women to encourage independence and work-life-balance. State support for women and potential mothers was provided independent from the social status marriage. A different situation was observed in the old federal states: Here, the family support is still connected to the married status: 81% of the children under 18 grow up with their married parents. This share in the new federal states is, with 61%, significantly lower than in the old federal states. Only 14% of the children are risen by a single parent in the old federal states while the share in the new federal states amounts to 22% and, thus, is at least 8% higher than in the old federal states. The share of children under 18 that grow up in alternative, unmarried or same-sex communities amounts to only 5% in the old federal states, in the new federal states it is 16% (FEDERAL STATISTICAL OFFICE 2005/ see chapter 4.4.). Thus, the population of the old federal states is divided into childless persons and those who marry and get two children in average. Scientific literature refers to this phenomenon as polarization into childless and not childless persons (DORBRITZ und GÄRTNER 1999, DORBRITZ und SCHWARZ 1996). This phenomenon of polarization is (still) not that distinctive in the new federal states as in the old federal states. From this, the question derives whether the equalization of legislation after the re-union of the two German states will result into an equalisation of the generative behaviour in the new federal states with the structures in the old federal states. The results of the “Study on childbearing preferences and population growth” display a constancy of the differing earning and compatibility models in the old and new federal states. The social system of the former GDR left its marks in plans for life and attitudes of the women in childbed. These differences in attitude result from the strong integration of women in the former GDR into the job market. Those who wished to continue with their job, reduced their number of children to one instead of the two or more children at GDR times (RICHTER 1996) In addition, the “Study on childbearing preferences and population growth” displays a constancy of the differing earning and compatibility models in new and old federal states. Thus, the strong job orientation of women in childbed with three and more children in the new federal states is still supported by a better child-care infrastructure in the former GDR. In a Europe-wide competition, Germany is far behind most of the European countries regarding child-care offers while the share of private family work is particularly high here. There is a legal claim only regarding half-day child care from the age of 3. Child care offers for children under the age of 3 amount to 10% in average in Germany. There is also the fact of unequal distribution in urban and rural areas as well as new and old federal states. The current claims of the Minister of Family Affairs URSULA VON DER LEYEN for extended child-care offers for children under 3 address this situation; but even in case these plans will be implemented, there will be only child-care places for 35% of the toddlers. Concluding can be stated that the claims of the Minister of Family Affairs, URSULA VON DER LEYEN, for new child-care places for toddlers and a modification of the parental split are indeed up to date and adapted to nowadays reality. Most of the young people do not want to decide between job and family. A majority of them prefers the model of parallel occupation of both partners today (GERMAN SHELL-YOUTH STUDY 2000). While in the middle of the 20th century, the motto of the German chancellor Konrad Adenauer “People get children anyway” was still considered to be a natural process, children are just an option nowadays so that the number of born children is mostly lower than the desired amount. Chapter 4.3 specifies, that while Germans still wished to have two children in 1992, this figure has decreased to 1.7 in average. However, chapter 4.2.2 displays an average birth rate per women of 1.4 children in Germany. German do not only want less children, they also get less children (BIB 2004). The question how to finance the extension of child- care offers in Germany is functionalized, once more, to block long overdue reforms which, as positive examples of pronatalistic demographic policy, have been long implemented in the European neighbouring countries. Still, family policy is more than offering kindergarden places or increasing the child benefits. What Germany needs is an overall concept that supports working mothers who do not want to decide between job and family. 90% of the women get their first child after having started their professional career. An “as well as” implies, of course, the freedom of choice to stay at home and take exclusively care of one’s own children. But considering the low share of child care offers for toddlers, there is no real freedom of choice between family and job in Germany. Thus, one should take the words of Horst Köhler, German President of the Confederation, seriously: In his opening speech of the Second conference with the title “Forum of demographic change” in 1999 in Berlin he demanded to prepare the way for a new family image, to avoid that family itself becomes a “discontinued model”