Integrated optical sensors for disposable microfluidics

Optical chemical sensors are established process monitoring tools in industry and research laboratories. Optical chemical sensors basically comprise of luminescent indicator dye based in a host polymer. They are easy to integrate, non-invasive, do not need any reference element and can be read-out contactless from outside. However, to fully exploit the potential in microfluidic or organ-on- chip devices, the sensors have to fulfil several demands including high brightness, capability to be applied as thin film, excellent photo-stability, cheap and accurate read-out systems, ease in use (simple calibration and drift free), simple mass production compatible preparation steps, compatibility with the chip materials, resistance towards γ-sterilisation and no toxicity. We present sensors for oxygen and pH fulfilling these demands. Our sensors can be excited with red-light and emit light in the near infra-red range (\u3c700 nm). This suppresses background fluorescence and scattering from biological material. Sensor layers or spots are deposited with inkjet-based micro-dispensing or air-brush spraying with good adherence on glass or polymeric materials. A modified miniaturized phase-fluorimeter in a foot-print of a memory stick enables the read-out of sensor sizes below 100 micrometers. The sensor enable dynamic cell culturing and monitoring of cell metabolism in a microfluidic environment. We will give examples of oxygen sensors in a organ-on-chip model and pH sensors in cell cultures. Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract

States in non-associative quantum mechanics: Uncertainty relations and semiclassical evolution

A non-associative algebra of observables cannot be represented as operators on a Hilbert space, but it may appear in certain physical situations. This article employs algebraic methods in order to derive uncertainty relations and semiclassical equations, based on general properties of quantum moments.Comment: 23 page

Group Theoretical Quantization and the Example of a Phase Space S1×R+S^{1} \times R^{+}

The group theoretical quantization scheme is reconsidered by means of elementary systems. Already the quantization of a particle on a circle shows that the standard procedure has to be supplemented by an additional condition on the admissibility of group actions. A systematic strategy for finding admissible group actions for particular subbundles of cotangent spaces is developed, two-dimensional prototypes of which are T^*R^+ and S^1 x R^+ (interpreted as restrictions of T^*R and T^*S^1 to positive coordinate and momentum, respectively). In this framework (and under an additional, natural condition) an SO_+(1,2)-action on S^1 x R^+ results as the unique admissible group action. For symplectic manifolds which are (specific) parts of phase spaces with known quantum theory a simple projection method of quantization is formulated. For T^*R^+ and S^1 x R^+ equivalent results to those of more established (but more involved) quantization schemes are obtained. The approach may be of interest, e.g., in attempts to quantize gravity theories where demanding nondegenerate metrics of a fixed signature imposes similar constraints

Symplectic Cuts and Projection Quantization

The recently proposed projection quantization, which is a method to quantize particular subspaces of systems with known quantum theory, is shown to yield a genuine quantization in several cases. This may be inferred from exact results established within symplectic cutting.Comment: 12 pages, v2: additional examples and a new reference to related wor

Lie algebroid morphisms, Poisson Sigma Models, and off-shell closed gauge symmetries

Chern-Simons gauge theories in 3 dimensions and the Poisson Sigma Model (PSM) in 2 dimensions are examples of the same theory, if their field equations are interpreted as morphisms of Lie algebroids and their symmetries (on-shell) as homotopies of such morphisms. We point out that the (off-shell) gauge symmetries of the PSM in the literature are not globally well-defined for non-parallelizable Poisson manifolds and propose a covariant definition of them as left action of some finite-dimensional Lie algebroid. Our approach allows to avoid complications arising in the infinite dimensional super-geometry of the BV- and AKSZ-formalism. This preprint is a starting point in a series of papers meant to introduce Yang-Mills type gauge theories of Lie algebroids, which include and generalize the standard YM theory, the PSM, and gerbes.Comment: 24 page

Quantity over quality? How economic factors and welfare state interventions affected job insecurity and job quality before, during and after the economic crises

This article uses multilevel analysis of 24 European countries to examine the effects of macroeconomic variables (GDP and unemployment) and welfare state interventions (active and passive labour market policies) on job insecurity and job quality in Europe from the mid‐1990s until the last 2021 COVID crisis. The paper makes a distinction between the crisis of the welfare state and the reaction of welfare states to crises and connects the job quality literature with that on the transformation of the welfare state. The article introduces several innovations to the literature by looking at the impact of welfare state interventions on multidimensional job quality, distinguishing between different types of active labour market policy spending and considering the generosity of benefits. The findings show that active labour market policies (ALMPs) and passive labour market policies (PLMPs) have a positive effect in reducing job insecurity across skill groups. ALMPs and PLMPs also improved several dimensions of job quality, but mostly among manual/low‐skilled workers, while they have a negative effect on work pressure which mostly affects medium‐ and high‐skilled workers. The article concludes by discussing how, due to the reach of ALMP and PLMP interventions, the positive effects of the welfare state on job quality are concentrated among lower‐skilled workers, thereby limiting the ambition of contemporary welfare states to generate positive spillover effects on the quality of work for all workers

Goals of patients with rehabilitation needs in acute hospitals: goal achivement is an indicator for improved functioning

OBJECTIVE: To identify goals of patients with rehabilitation needs in the acute hospital setting using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), to examine association of goal achievement with improvement in overall functioning, and to examine whether ICF Core Sets for the acute hospital cover patients goals. DESIGN: Multi-centre cohort study. PATIENTS: A total of 397 patients (50 female, mean age 63 years) from 5 hospitals in Austria, Switzerland and Germany. METHODS: A semi-structured questionnaire was used to assess patient goals and goal achievement. Overall functioning from the patients' and health professionals' perspective was assessed on a numerical rating scale. Improvement in functioning was calculated using a residualized gain score. Association between goal achievement and improvement in overall functioning was assessed with logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 397 patients reported achievement of at least 1 goal. Eighty-eight percent of the goals were translated into categories of the ICF. Logistic regression analyses revealed significant association between goal achievement and overall functioning. CONCLUSION: The ICF might be useful to identify and structure patient's goals in acute hospital care. The association between goal achievement and improved functioning underlines that it is essential to involve the patient in the process of planning rehabilitation interventions in acute hospitals

Patient goals in post-acute geriatric rehabilitation: goal attainment is an indicator for improved functioning

OBJECTIVE: To identify goals of older patients in geriatric rehabilitation and to measure their improvement in overall functioning. DESIGN: A prospective multi-centre cohort study. METHODS: A semi-structured questionnaire was used to identify patient goals and to assess improvement in overall functioning from patients' and health professionals' perspectives. Patients' goals were linked to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Using a residualized change score, we identified patients who improved more than statistically expected. RESULTS: A total of 209 patients gave 476 statements. Of these, 346 (72.7) statements were linked to 58 different ICF categories. More than 90 of the ICF categories were part of the comprehensive geriatric ICF Core Set. "Walking", "getting rid of pain", "autonomy" and "returning home" were the most frequently reported goals. Multivariable analysis identified shorter length of inpatient stay and goal attainment to be significant predictors for an improvement in overall functioning from the patients' perspective. CONCLUSION: The ICF can be used to identify and structure patients' goals in geriatric rehabilitation. The association between goal attainment and improved overall functioning underlines the necessity of considering the patients' perspective in the rehabilitation process

Identification of aspects of functioning, disability and health relevant to patients experiencing vertigo: a qualitative study using the international classification of functioning, disability and health

Purpose: Aims of this study were to identify aspects of functioning and health relevant to patients with vertigo expressed by ICF categories and to explore the potential of the ICF to describe the patient perspective in vertigo. Methods: We conducted a series of qualitative semi-structured face-to-face interviews using a descriptive approach. Data was analyzed using the meaning condensation procedure and then linked to categories of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Results: From May to July 2010 12 interviews were carried out until saturation was reached. Four hundred and seventy-one single concepts were extracted which were linked to 142 different ICF categories. 40 of those belonged to the component body functions, 62 to the component activity and participation, and 40 to the component environmental factors. Besides the most prominent aspect "dizziness" most participants reported problems within "Emotional functions (b152), problems related to mobility and carrying out the daily routine. Almost all participants reported "Immediate family (e310)" as a relevant modifying environmental factor. Conclusions: From the patients' perspective, vertigo has impact on multifaceted aspects of functioning and disability, mainly body functions and activities and participation. Modifying contextual factors have to be taken into account to cover the complex interaction between the health condition of vertigo on the individuals' daily life. The results of this study will contribute to developing standards for the measurement of functioning, disability and health relevant for patients suffering from vertigo