Corneal biomechanical properties : Measurement, modification and simulation

Esta tesis aborda la medición de las propiedades biomecánicas de la córnea. Se desarrollaron técnicas para medir la rigidez de la córnea in vitro con el fin de estudiar el comportamiento de la córnea como una función de diferentes factores (tales como la hidratación, la geometría, la presión intraocular y la rigidez de la córnea). Los datos experimentales se utilizaron para construir modelos numéricos capaces de reproducir la respuesta biomecánica observada de la córnea. Se aplicaron modelos numéricos para recuperar los parámetros biomecánicos de mediciones de deformación in vivo y para estudiar el efecto de la implantación de segmentos de anillos intraestromales. En particular, se utilizaron el método de inflación en ojos enteros y botones córneales, la extensiometría bídimensional, un soplo de aire combinado con tomografía de coherencia óptica (OCT), microscopía de Brillouin y OCT-vibrografía para las mediciones experimentales. Para el análisis numérico, se construyeron modelos de elementos finitos para estudiar la inflación de ojos enteros y botones córneales, la respuesta de la córnea después de un soplo de aire, el comportamiento del ojo bajo vibración y los cambios refractivos después de la implantación de anillos intraestromales. This thesis addresses the measurement of the corneal biomechanical properties. Techniques were developed to measure the corneal stiffness in vitro in order to study the corneal behavior as a function of different factors (such as hydration, geometry, intraocular pressure, corneal stiffness). Experimental data were used to build numerical models, which were able to reproduce the observed biomechanical response of the cornea. Numerical models were applied to retrieve biomechanical parameters from in vivo deformation measurements and to study the outcome with implantation of intrastromal ring segments. In particular whole-eye / corneal inflation, 2D extensiometry, an air-puff technique combined with optical coherence tomography (OCT), Brillouin microscopy and OCT-vibrography were used for the experimental measurements. For the numerical analysis, finite element models were built for eye inflation, corneal response following an air-puff, ocular vibration behavior and refractive changes after ICRS implantation

The BELS Pproject: an opportunity for setting collaboration links between Europe and South East Asia in the field of GNSS

In 2016 the European Global Navigation Satellite System (EGNSS) Galileo should start initial services that will make it available for practical use together with other existing Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). South East Asia (SEA), which is the Region in the world with the highest multi-GNSS coverage, but has not developed any of them, is the ideal place to promote EGNSS solutions and related technologies to facilitate business while supporting sustainable development. This paper describes the opportunities offered by the project BELS to companies, institutions, researchers from Europe and SEA working in the field of GNSS. The project is funded by the European GNSS Agency (GSA) under the European Union’s Research Framework Programme Horizon 2020.

Beschluss der STIKO zur 5. Aktualisierung der COVID-19-Impfempfehlung und die dazugehörige wissenschaftliche Begründung

Die STIKO empfiehlt die Impfung gegen COVID-19 mit einem der beiden zugelassenen mRNA-Impfstoffe (Comirnaty von BioNTech/Pfizer, COVID-19-Vaccine von Moderna) oder einem der beiden zugelassenen Vektor-basierten Impfstoffe (Vaxzevria von AstraZeneca, COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen von Janssen-Cilag International). Wie im Epidemiologischen Bulletin 19/2021 ausgeführt, werden die Impfstoffe hinsichtlich des Individualschutzes und der Bekämpfung der Pandemie als gleich geeignet beurteilt. Die beiden mRNA-Impfstoffe können in allen Alters- und Indikationsgruppen eingesetzt werden, für die sie zugelassen sind. Auf Basis der derzeit verfügbaren, allerdings noch begrenzten Evidenz und unter Berücksichtigung der gegenwärtigen pandemischen Lage empfiehlt die STIKO, Vaxzevria und COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen für Personen im Alter ≥60 Jahren zu verwenden. Der Einsatz von Vaxzevria für eine 1. oder 2. Impfstoffdosis und der COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen als einmalige Impfung unterhalb dieser Altersgrenze bleibt indes nach ärztlicher Aufklärung und bei individueller Risikoakzeptanz durch die impfwillige Person möglich

Das Lagemanagement des Robert Koch-Instituts während der COVID-19-Pandemie und der Austausch zwischen Bund und Ländern

The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) plays a central role in Germany in the management of health hazards of biological origin. The RKI's crisis management aims to contribute to protecting the health of the population in Germany in significant epidemic situations and to maintain the RKI's working ability over a long period of time even under high load. This article illustrates the crisis management of the RKI in general as well as during the COVID-19 pandemic. The generic RKI crisis management structures and the setup of the RKI emergency operations centre (EOC), their operationalisation in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting challenges as of 31 October 2020 are described in this paper. The exchange between the federal and state governments during the pandemic is also described.The COVID-19 pandemic has led to extraordinary circumstances. During the epidemic situation, good communication and coordination has been essential, both within the RKI and with other federal or state authorities and expert groups. Under great pressure, the RKI produces and regularly updates recommendations, statements and assessments on various topics. To provide operational support for all COVID-19 related activities, an EOC was activated at the RKI. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there are various challenges regarding personnel and structures. It became apparent that good preparation (e.g. existing task descriptions and premises) has an important positive impact on crisis management