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Shockwaves are mechanical pressure pulses generated in liquids and gases. Based on the principles of acoustics, shockwavescan propagate through fluids such as water. At interfaces of materials with different acoustic impedances, mechanical energy is dissipated, and disintegration of biological tissue can be achieved. Physical properties as well as technical requirements for shockwave generation by electrohydraulic, electromagnetic or piezoelectric energy conversion have been reported in the literature. The use of electrohydraulic shockwaves for food treatment is an emerging food processing technology, where a lack of scientific and technical knowledge has limited further advancements in process and equipment design. In scientific literature, single aspects required for process description are available, e.g., in metallurgy, mining, air purification or particle accelerators, but their combination toward a combined model is required to characterize underlying mechanisms of action. In food, most of the studies have focused on shockwave technology for treatment of meat cuts with the purpose of reducing aging time, softening of tissue and improving its tenderness. Other applications of the shockwave technology could expand to biological inactivation, targeted texture modifications and improving extractive and refining processes in agriculture industries. Total processing costs are estimated in a range of a few Euros per ton of product. Despite being a promising alternative to existing processes used for these purposes, the application of shockwave in the food industry is limited to date to research on pilot-scale prototypes.
Background
Citizen energy cooperatives (CECOs) are an important element for realising the transformation of the European energy system from a central system, dominated by a few market players to a decentralized system with the participation of many citizens, in which energy supply is largely based on renewable energy sources. This article identifies success factors that ensure a working organization that is capable of implementing projects to support the energy transition and improving the well-being of citizens.
Methods
The aim of this study is to identify success factors using the example of CECOs in north western Germany through a two-step process. The first step is a literature review to identify success factors of CECOs. Second, 12 semi-structured expert interviews with managers of CECOs are conducted and evaluated by means of a qualitative content analysis. The interviews identified the success factors and barriers of CECOs. The interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. The coding process was carried out using a qualitative data analysis software (ATLAS.ti 8.4.5,).
Results
The results show that three factors particular should be present, but can influence each other, to lead to successful CECOs: (1) the CECOs require business models with low complexity, as business models that span different stages of the value chain can overwhelm organizational managers. (2) Committed key individuals must be found and promoted. They need the support of the members. (3) Social and ecological principles are the core values of CECOs. The maintenance and strengthening of social–ecological credibility must be promoted in the public perception.
Conclusions
The results show that CECOs emerge from a strong social cohesion in a society. In addition, local "key individuals" need to be identified and supported. To this end, the framework conditions (e.g., policy, legislation, municipal support, etc.) must be adapted in such a way that these "key individuals" in CECOs are not overburdened. The analysis of the interviews also revealed that political or regulatory barriers are often cited as obstacles to the implementation of community energy projects.
In view of the rapid depletion of natural resources and the associated overloading of the biological ecosystem, the concept of circular business models (CBMs) is increasingly discussed in the literature as well as in business practice. CBMs have the potential to significantly reduce the demand for natural resources. Despite their increasing relevance, the diffusion of CBMs in business practice is largely unexplored. Consequently, this article investigates the extent to which CBMs have already been adopted by large German companies. To answer this question, the annual and sustainability reports of the members of the DAX40 are analyzed for the presence of five specific types of CBMs. Data was gathered for the years 2015 and 2020 in order to describe the development over time. The results show an increasing prevalence of CBMs in the DAX companies. In addition, it is noticeable that CBM types that serve to close material cycles are implemented more frequently than those that decelerate material cycles. In particular Sharing Platforms and Product as a Service stand out due to comparatively low adoption. Potential reasons for these findings are discussed and managerial as well as policy implications suggested.
Pregnancy loss is the most common complication in pregnancy. Yet those who experience it can find it challenging to disclose this loss and feelings associated
with it, and to seek support for psychological and physical recovery. We describe our process for
interleaving interviews, theoretical development, speculative design, and prototyping Not Alone to
explore the design space for online disclosures and
support seeking in the pregnancy loss context.
Interviews with 27 women who had experienced pregnancy loss resulted in theoretical concepts such as
“network-level reciprocal disclosure” (NLRD). We discuss how interview findings informed the design of
the Not Alone prototype, a mobile application aimed at enabling disclosure and social support exchange among those with pregnancy loss experience. The Not Alone prototype embodies concepts that facilitate NLRD: perceptions of homophily, anonymity levels, and selfdisclosure by talking about one’s experience and engaging with others’ disclosures. In future work, we will use Not Alone as a technology probe for exploring
NLRD as a design principle.
Background: This paper describes an international nursing and health research immersion program. Minority students from the USA work with an international faculty mentor in teams conducting collaborative research. The Minority Health International Research Training (MHIRT) program students become catalysts in the conduct of cross-cultural research.
Aim: To narrow the healthcare gap for disadvantaged families in the USA and partner countries.
Methods: Faculty from the USA, Germany, Italy, Colombia, England, Austria and Thailand formed an international research and education team to explore and compare family health issues, disparities in chronic illness care, social inequities and healthcare solutions. USA students in the MHIRT program complete two introductory courses followed by a 3-month research practicum in a partner country guided by faculty mentors abroad. The overall program development, student study abroad preparation, research project activities, cultural learning, and student and faculty team outcomes are explored.
Results: Cross-fertilization of research, cultural awareness and ideas about improving family health occur through education, international exchange and research immersion. Faculty research and international team collaboration provide opportunities for learning about research, health disparities, cultural influences and healthcare systems. The students are catalysts in the research effort, the dissemination of research findings and other educational endeavours. Five steps of the collaborative activities lead to programmatic success.
Conclusions: MHIRT scholars bring creativity, enthusiasm, and gain a genuine desire to conduct health research about families with chronic illness. Their cultural learning stimulates career plans that include international research and attention to vulnerable populations.
Water retention properties of wood fiber based growing media and their impact on irrigation strategy
(2024)
Distribution of water and air in growing media during ebb-and-flow irrigation depends on water storage properties (water retention curve) and water transport properties (hydraulic conductivity) of the materials. Growing media with their high number of coarse pores are known to exhibit strong hysteresis, i.e., differences in the water retention properties during drying and wetting cycles. To account for potential ecological disadvantages of peat, wood fibers are commonly used as substitutes for peat in growing media. However, the wood fibers generally have higher air capacities and hydraulic conductivities and lower water capacities compared to peat which may results in necessary adaptions of the irrigation strategy. Tools to optimize irrigation systems are physically based water transport models, such as HYDRUS-1D, which is commonly used to describe water transport in soils, but not often for growing media. In this study, white peat and pure wood fibers were used to describe differences in their water retention behavior. Water retention curves (drying cycles) and hydraulic conductivities were measured with standard analytical procedures. Hysteresis of the water retention curves was analytically determined based on their capillary rise properties. The results were used with a modified HYDRUS-1D model to test model quality against measured water contents during ebb-and-flow irrigation cycles and to optimize the irrigation strategy for the different materials. The results showed that the model quality was sufficiently good only if the strong hysteresis of the water retention curves was considered during the simulation process. Different strategies were tested to modify ebb-and-flow irrigation (irrigation frequency, irrigation duration and irrigation height) in that way that the water suction in the root zone was similar to that of the peat material. Simulation results showed that significant improvements could only be reached by increasing the flooding depth in ebb-and-flow systems to ensure an optimum water supply of plants in the wood fiber based growing media.
Evaporation from growing media significantly contributes to increasing the humidity in greenhouses. The effects of a pine bark mulch cover on substrate evaporation was evaluated with different pot experiments. The obtained data have been tested within the water balance model HYDRUS-1D, which was originally developed for mineral soils. Objective of this study was to test the performance of HYDRUS-1D to describe evaporation in plant containers and to evaluate the effect of pine bark as cover layer or layers within growing media. Application of pine bark in combination with peat substrate reduced evaporation up to 50% depending on position, thickness of mulch layer and water content of the substrate. The highest reduction in evaporation was measured in a dry substrate which is covered with 4 cm pine bark. The HYDRUS-1D model describes evaporation from growing media in combination with layers of pine bark correctly as long as hysteresis of the water retention curve and vapor flow is considered in the model.
Nostalgia is a construct that, even when rooted in lived experiences, serves the ultimate purpose of creating a desired sense of world. Fundamental cognitive competencies, including memory and imagination, are utilized by the nostalgic subject to fulfill a need for narrative coherence. A temporal or spatial distance is necessary for the occurrence of a nostalgic episode, which can be conceptualized as a “had been” state of being, as direct access to the experience is often impossible. Nostalgia may thus be viewed as a tool for sense-making rather than solely as a yearning for the past. The nostalgic narrative form is a construct that permits human subjects to comprehend their existence in the world while drawing upon their roots. These tools for sense-making serve as bridges between past experiences and current conditions. Ultimately, nostalgic identity is not just about longing for the past but also about utilizing the past as a resource for navigating the labyrinths of the present. Analyses are conducted to examine the medium of music video at three levels - auditory, visual, and linguistic - in order to investigate the strategies and techniques employed by the Iranian diaspora to create nostalgic narratives. Samples of original pieces and renditions are contrasted in order to identify elements of nostalgic narrativity. Drawing on empirical research, it is argued that the unity of a music video arises from the integration of separate layers of sensory and conceptual inputs that have been composed towards an affective resonance and narrative coherence.
The excitement sparked by the emergence of AI open platforms has encountered significant scrutiny from educators and educational planners, who have raised valid concerns about issues such as plagiarism, testing protocols, and the authenticity of content submitted by students. While these concerns are timely and crucial, it's essential not to overlook other pressing issues that often go unnoticed in the lived educational experience of learners, particularly within the field of social sciences. This paper aims to advocate for a humanistic approach with a focus on education in the generative AI Era.
Purpose
Differences between standard dysarthria treatment and the same treatment with the integration of neurodynamic techniques tailored to the severity of dysarthria in patients with Parkinson's disease were examined.
Method
In total, 10 subjects with idiopathic Parkinson's disease and rigid–hypokinetic dysarthria were enrolled in this quasi-randomized, controlled, single-blind, pre–post study. In each of 12 therapy sessions the control group (n = 5) received standard dysarthria treatment (usual care), while the intervention group (n = 5) received the same treatment with the addition of integrated neurodynamic treatment (special care).
Results
There was no significant difference between the two groups for either the pre-test (p = 0.739) or the post-test (p = 0.156) results. However, significant differences between the pre-test and post-test results within each group (intervention group p = 0.001; control group p = 0.003) were found.
Conclusions
The significant differences in the pre–post comparison within the groups may indicate a high probability of a positive effect of standard dysarthria treatment on the severity of dysarthria. In between-group comparisons, the study results indicated no evidence of a significant difference between standard dysarthria treatment with or without neurodynamics. Due to the small sample size, the effectiveness of the integration of neurodynamics into speech therapy cannot be definitively concluded for now. In order to be able to have generalized applicability, future studies with larger numbers of participants are required.
background: Musculoskeletal problems (MP) are widespread in performing artists and are due to the special demands of instrument playing, singing or dancing. Additionally, various other factors might contribute to performance-related MP. To provide a specific physiotherapeutic management for performing artists it is important to gain information about the performing art, the individual demands and contributing factors. The subjective examination (SE) is the basis of the clinical reasoning process and the hypothesis forming for further clinical examination and biomechanical analysis. In the present protocol, the SE consists of a questionnaire-based section and an interview-based section and is part of the evaluation process of the neuromusculoskeletal examination of a performing artist specific reference laboratory.
purpose: To develop a standardized SE protocol divided into a questionnaire-based section (Part 1) via web application and an interview-based SE (Part 2) to address MP of performing artists.
methods: The questionnaires for part 1 were selected based on the expertise of the research group and the psychometric properties of each possible questionnaire. A common physiotherapeutic recording of findings which addresses the relevant questions of the SE of MP was used. To adapt the anamnesis to performing-associated MP questions specific to instrument playing, singing and dancing were selected on the basis of a literature search and the expertise of the research group.
summary of content/results: Part 1 consists of three topics. (1) information about the performing art, professional level and sociodemographic data, (2) information about pain and pain processing, and (3) the anatomical location of the main MP including a body region-specific questionnaire. Part 2 is based on the five aspects of clinical practice described by Maitland and the Musculoskeletal Clinical Translation Framework by Mitchell et al. The performing arts specific part is particularly focused on performing art specific considerations, physical and psychosocial contributing factors and art-specific activities.
significance: This standardized SE protocol should help clinicians evaluating the musculoskeletal health of performing artists in a standardized and specific way.
Background: Musculoskeletal problems (MP) are widespread in performing artists and are due to the special demands of instrument playing, singing or dancing. In order to specifically evaluate these problems, a reference laboratory is under development. The evaluation covers 4 steps: a subjective examination (SE) including (1) a questionnaire-based online survey and (2) an interview-based anamnesis. On the basis of the results of the SE, hypotheses are formed for (3) an individual musculoskeletal clinical examination and a (4) biomechanical analysis. Here, the focus is on the clinical examination.
Purpose: to develop a standardized protocol for a clinical examination addressing especially musculoskeletal problems in performing artists.
Methods: A common physiotherapeutic clinical examination should be supplemented with techniques, which are specific to performance-related musculoskeletal problems and/or their risk factors. The development was based on a literature search and the clinical expertise of the physiotherapeutic research group.
Summary of content/Results: The performing arts specific clinical examination includes the common analysis of posture as well as passive/active movement capacities and specific differentiating tests in relation to the signs and symptoms of the individual artist. The examination is supplemented by a functional demonstration focusing on the special demands of playing the respective instrument, while singing or dancing. Common overuse risk factors like hypermobility, special anthropometric data or an examination of the motor control of different body regions are addressed. Optional, the various parts of the examination process could be skipped, if not relevant for the individual artist.
Significance: This clinical examination protocol should help clinicians evaluating the musculoskeletal health of performing artists in a standardized and specific way.
Problem-based learning (PBL) has become established as a successful didactic approach far beyond the field of medicine. Although there is no single concept of PBL, there is agreement on its objectives and implementation. Of central importance is the case that supports autonomous and reflective learning. Even before COVID-19, digital methods were used in traditional PBL. These served to support, for example, the provision of learning materials. As a result of university closures during the COVID-19 pandemic, technical solutions were made available at an unprecedented speed, which made it possible to implement the different requirements of traditional PBL in a digital PBL (DPBL). The present study results based on two scoping reviews demonstrated that PBL can be implemented digitally and that different digital methods, both asynchronous and synchronous, are available for the different steps. They show that DPBL not only leads to comparable student performance, but can also develop further competences, e.g. digital communication. With the findings, a concept for the implementation of DPBL as well as recommendations for the further development of DPBL are available.
The development of base metal electrodes that can act as active and stable oxygen generating electrodes in water electrolysis systems, especially at low pH levels, remains a challenge. The use of suspensions as electrolytes for water splitting has until recently been limited to photoelectrocatalytic approaches. A high current density (j=30 mA/cm2) for water electrolysis has been achieved at a very low oxygen evolution reaction (OER) potential (E=1.36 V vs. RHE) using a SnO2/H2SO4 suspension-based electrolyte in combination with a steel anode. More importantly, the high charge-to-oxygen conversion rate (Faraday efficiency of 88% for OER at j=10 mA/cm2 current density). Since cyclic voltammetry (CV) experiments show that oxygen evolution starts at a low, but not exceptionally low, potential, the reason for the low potential in chronoamperometry (CP) tests is an increase in the active electrode area, which has been confirmed by various experiments. For the first time, the addition of a relatively small amount of solids to a clear electrolyte has been shown to significantly reduce the overpotential of the OER in water electrolysis down to the 100 mV region, resulting in a remarkable reduction in anode wear while maintaining a high current density.
Atopic dermatitis, STAT3- and DOCK8-hyper-IgE syndromes differ in IgE-based sensitization pattern
(2014)
AIM: In this prospective longitudinal study, the physical and psychological health status of music students is assessed at the beginning of their university music study and tracked over time. Analysis strategies and interim results from the first-year cohort, including 1-year incidences, monthly prevalences, and predictors of developing musculoskeletal health complaints (MHC), are presented.
METHODS: This prospective longitudinal study is calculated to enlist a total sample of 370 participants, including musicians and non-musicians, over 5 years. Baseline measurements include a self-designed questionnaire, core strength endurance, hypermobility, finger-floor-distance, motor control, mechanosensitivity, health-related quality of life (SF36), and stress and coping inventory (SCI). The occurrence of MHC is based on monthly online questionnaires.
RESULTS: The first-year subcohort enrolled 33 music students and 30 non-music control students. The mean monthly completion rate for the questionnaire was 55.7±8.7%. At baseline, music students showed significantly more stress symptoms, reduced physical function¬ing, and increased bodily pain compared to control students. The 1-year incidence of MHC was 59% for music students and 44% for controls. Risk factors for MHC included being a music student, previous pain, reduced physical functioning, stress symptoms, reduced emotional functioning, and mechanosensitivity. Being a music student, physical functioning, sleep duration, positive thinking, and general mechanosensitivity had a predictive ability of 0.77 (ROC curve) for MHC.
CONCLUSION: A total of 63 students enrolled in the first cohort is in line with the precalculated sample size. This prospective study design enables the measurement of MHC incidence and provides insight into mechanisms in the development of MHC among music students, including the interaction of physical, psychological, and psychosocial factors.
Hypothesis/Aims of study
Many results related to the effectiveness of surgical and non-surgical proce- dures for treating urinary incontinence (UI) are reported in the literature. Following the principles of evidence based-practice, besides the interpreta- tion of study results based on statistical significance, authors should consid- er evaluating the clinical relevance of treatment effects in this field.
The minimal important difference (MID) of clinical outcomes could be used to assess the clinical relevance of interventions. MID is defined as “the small- est difference in score in the domain of interest that patients perceive as important, either beneficial or harmful, and which would lead the clinician to consider a change in the patient’s management’’[1]. One common way to obtain MID for outcomes of interest is by using anchor-based methods. These methods apply one anchor that analyzes the change in the patient's health status according to the patient’s perception.
However, MIDs should be provided according to appropriate calculations and methods and based on the definition of a MID. However, there are a lot of misconceptions and misunderstandings related to the MID. These mis- understandings have led to incorrect reports of these values. Moreover, it is still not known which criteria the authors considered during the analysis of the MID in the Women’s Health area. Therefore, with this preliminary re- port, we aimed to identify and report all anchor-based methods to estimate MIDs for outcomes measures related to UI available in the literature; and analyze which concepts and levels of improvement in the health status of the patient have been considered by the authors to calculate the MID.
Study design, materials and methods
This systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guide- lines. The study protocol was registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42022299686). A systematic search was performed using Ovid Med- line, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus from May to June 2021. Any study generating MIDs for UI that included women with more than 18 years, stress urinary incontinence (SUI), urgency urinary incontinence (UUI) and/ or miXed urinary incontinence (MUI) was included. The primary outcome was the MID for outcomes related to UI. No limits were applied on the data- bases for the date, language or publication range.
Studies were classified into three categories according to the level of im- provement in health status assessed by the anchor and considered by the authors during the MID calculation: 1) slight improvement: if authors in- cluded participants that evaluated their health status as “a little better” in their analysis; 2) moderate improvement: if authors considered women that reported a “better” or a “much better” status of the condition; or 3) strong imporvement: if all patients that improved (“very much better” or if authors grouped all the patients that improved in one single category) were consid- ered in one group against other group that did not report any improvement. After classifying the papers, we counted and reported how many studies were considering only the minimal level of improvement to reported the MID, according to previous definition and recommendation.
The initial electronic search resulted in a total of 1,662. After removing du- plicates (n=719), 943 were screened, and at the end of the selection stages, nine papers that reported anchor-analysis were included in this preliminary report. Seven studies included women with SUI (total sample size= 2,436), while one study included only women with UUI (n=307), and the other one evaluated women with SUI and MUI (n=288). SiX studies analyzed data and provided the MID after a non-surgical treatment of UI, while three analyzed the results after surgery to correct UI. Eleven different questionnaires to measure the patient-related outcomes related to UI with their MIDs were identified. All the tools were related to measuring the impact, distress, or quality of life of women with UI.
Different anchors were used to analyze MID, including scales that evaluated the improvement and satisfaction of the patient, and the visual analogue scale, measures of urinary leakage and questionnaires that measure the se- verity and impact of UI. The MID of siX tools was determined according to the smallest difference detected by the patients, using the Patient Global Im- pression of Improvement questionnaire and the self-reported satisfaction to assess the change of the condition. Most of the MIDs (n=28, 80%) were mis- calculated considering a moderate or a strong improvement of the patients, and not a minimal improvement as suggested by the literature (Table 1).
Interpretation of results
Although previous systematic reviews have reported the psychometric prop- erties of different questionnaires to measure UI outcomes, this is the first study to analyze methods of obtaining MIDs for UI outcomes from the pa- tients perspective (anchor based methods). All the tools with their respec- tives MIDs were related to the impact, distress, and/or quality of life of women with UI. The use of these outcomes measures is in line with the as- sociated impairments of social, psychological, financial, and sexual aspects of a women’s life produced by UI.
Most of the authors in this field did not consider the smallest difference identified by the participants to calculate the MID, which does not follow the original definition of MID proposed by Jaeschke et al.,1 This could gen- erate underestimation or over-estimation of MID, which may directly im- pact the interpretation of the findings from the clinical trials[2] and biased interpretation of the results of the clinical significance from the interven- tions used to manage female UI. Therefore, the interpretation of the clinical significance related to UI outcomes should be done with caution.
Concluding message
Few studies that aimed to calculate the MID using anchor-based methods for outcomes related to female UI were found in the literature. Eleven different questionnaires to measure the outcomes related to UI with their MIDs were identified. However, most studies had not considered the smallest change of improvement (as perceived by the patients) in their analysis, which does not follow the definition of the MID. This could impact decision making. Future research should provide clear guidelines on how to calculate, report, and interpret MIDs in this field.
Advances in high-throughput DNA sequencing have propelled research into the human microbiome and its link to metabolic health. We explore microbiome analysis methods, specifically emphasizing metabolomics, how dietary choices impact the production of microbial metabolites, providing an overview of studies examining the connection between enterotypes and diet, and thus, improvement of personalized dietary recommendations. Acetate, propionate, and butyrate constitute more than 95% of the collective pool of short-chain fatty acids. Conflicting data on acetate’s effects may result from its dynamic signaling, which can vary depending on physiological conditions and metabolic phenotypes. Human studies suggest that propionate has overall anti-obesity effects due to its well-documented chemistry, cellular signaling mechanisms, and various clinical benefits. Butyrate, similar to propionate, has the ability to reduce obesity by stimulating the release of appetite-suppressing hormones and promoting the synthesis of leptin. Tryptophan affects systemic hormone secretion, with indole stimulating the release of GLP-1, which impacts insulin secretion, appetite suppression, and gastric emptying. Bile acids, synthesized from cholesterol in the liver and subsequently modified by gut bacteria, play an essential role in the digestion and absorption of dietary fats and fat-soluble vitamins, but they also interact directly with intestinal microbiota and their metabolites. One study using statistical methods identified primarily two groupings of enterotypes Bacteroides and Ruminococcus. The Prevotella-dominated enterotype, P-type, in humans correlates with vegetarians, high-fiber and carbohydrate-rich diets, and traditional diets. Conversely, individuals who consume diets rich in animal fats and proteins, typical in Western-style diets, often exhibit the Bacteroides-dominated, B-type, enterotype. The P-type showcases efficient hydrolytic enzymes for plant fiber degradation but has limited lipid and protein fermentation capacity. Conversely, the B-type features specialized enzymes tailored for the degradation of animal-derived carbohydrates and proteins, showcasing an enhanced saccharolytic and proteolytic potential. Generally, models excel at predictions but often struggle to fully elucidate why certain substances yield varied responses. These studies provide valuable insights into the potential for personalized dietary recommendations based on enterotypes
Diet can influence healthy aging through anti- or proinflammatory effects, partly by modulating the gut microbiome composition. This study investigated the relationships between the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII), the gut microbiome, and nutritional status in elderly individuals. Methods: This cross-sectional analysis included 114 home-dwelling individuals aged over 70 years. The Energy-adjusted DII (E-DII) was calculated from 3-day food diaries, and blood samples were taken to measure micronutrient status, glucose, and lipid metabolism. Body composition was assessed using bioimpedance, and fecal gut microbiome composition was analyzed through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The participants were categorized into maintaining an anti-inflammatory diet (AD) and a pro-inflammatory diet (PD) based on the median E-DII score. The associations of E-DII groups with blood markers and microbial diversity and composition were examined using the analysis of covariance, permutational analysis of variance, and multivariate linear models. Results: The AD (n = 57, 76 ± 3.83 years) and PD (n = 57, 75 ± 5.21 years) groups were similar in age but differed in sex distribution, with a higher proportion of females in the AD group (p = 0.02). When compared to the PD group and adjusted for sex, the AD group had a lower body mass index, fat mass, fasting insulin level, HOMA-IR (Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance), fasting triglycerides, and serum uric acid concentration (all p < 0.05), with higher concentrations of high-density lipoprotein, red-blood-cell folate (RBC), and Omega-3 index (all p < 0.05). While the microbial diversity and composition did not differ between the DII groups, folate concentrations were negatively associated with Agathobacter and positively associated with Bacteroides abundance (both q = 0.23). Lower uric acid concentrations were associated with a higher abundance of Bifidobacterium (q = 0.09) and lower abundance of Phocaeicola (q = 0.11). Discussion: The study suggests that following an anti-inflammatory diet is associated with improved nutritional status in the elderly. Dietary blood markers, rather than E-DII, were found to be associated with the gut microbiome, suggesting a potential link between the microbiome and changes in nutritional markers independent of diet. Further studies are needed to explore the causal relationship between dietary inflammatory potential, gut microbiome, and healthy aging.
Characterisation of pain in people with hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsy
(2017)
Hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsy (HNPP) has historically been considered a pain-free condition, though some people with HNPP also complain of pain. This study characterised persistent pain in people with HNPP. Participants provided cross-sectional demographic data, information on the presence of neurological and persistent pain symptoms, and the degree to which these interfered with daily life. The painDETECT and Central Sensitization Inventory questionnaires were used to indicate potential neuropathic, central sensitisation and musculoskeletal (nociceptive) pain mechanisms. Additionally, participants were asked if they thought that pain was related to/part of HNPP. 32/43 (74%) subjects with HNPP had persistent pain and experience this pain in the last week. Of those with pain, 24 (75%) were likely to have neuropathic pain and 27 (84%) were likely to have central sensitisation. All 32 participants felt that their pain could be related to/part of their HNPP. Significant negative impact of the pain was common. Pain characterisation identified neuropathic pain and/or central sensitisation as common, potential underlying processes. Pain may plausibly be directly related to the underlying pathophysiology of HNPP. Further consideration of including pain as a primary symptom of HNPP is warranted.
Nitrogen (N) pollution of groundwater bodies is often a result of high livestock densities combined with use of mineral N fertilisers in Northwest Germany, specifically in combination with sandy soils and high amounts of precipitation. Organic agriculture is discussed as an alternative management practice reducing nitrogen losses due to area-based livestock densities and waiving of mineral N fertilisers. A field trial with integrated ceramic suction cups over three years showed potential for reduced N loads under conventional management specifically with organic fertilisation. Now, the field trial is under transition into organic farming with promising additional benefits for drinking water quality and the great potential to develop optimised N management strategies.
Model Driven Architecture (MDA): Integration and Model Reuse for Open Source eLearning Platforms
(2005)
Every modern institution involved in higher education needs a Learning Management System (LMS) to handle learning and teaching processes. It is necessary to offer e.g. electronic lecture materials to the students for download via the internet. In some educational contexts, it is also necessary to offer internet tutorials to be able to give the students more personal support and accompany them through the whole lecture period. Many organisations have introduced commercial LMS and gained the experience that monolithic solutions do not fulfil the dynamic requirements of complex educational institutions and are very cost-intensive. Therefore, many universities face the decision to stick to their commercial LMS or to switch to a potentially more cost-effective and flexible solution, for instance by adopting available Open Source LMS. Since we have made profound experience in developing and operating an Open Source LMS, this contribution enlightens the main characteristics of this alternative. This paper describes a use case dealing with a full product lifecycle (development, deployment, use and evaluation) of an Open Source LMS at the University of Muenster (Germany). It identifies relevant instruments and aspects of system design which software architects in practical application domains should pay attention to.
Data warehouse systems have become a basic technological infrastructure in management decision making. Nevertheless, the overall utility of data warehouses remains unmeasured in most practical cases. As a consequence of this, IT-managers do not possess appropriate means to evaluate warehouse benefits in order to decide about investments in warehousing technology. This paper develops a controlling instrument for data warehouse systems based on the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) approach. On the basis of the technological aspects of data warehouse systems, the BSC perspectives are developed and populated with relevant objectives and measures for datawarehouse success. These perspectives are integrated into a consistent data warehouse scorecard. Finally, this instrument provides a holistic approach to drive the performance of data warehouse systems.
Oleamide is used as a lubricant in the manufacturing and application of polypropylene (PP) medical devices. Samples of PP were prepared with 0, 1500, and 15 000 ppm oleamide content as lubricant. The samples were either left non-sterile, sterilized with ethylene oxide (ETO), γ-radiation (γ) or autoclaved (A) and stored for up to 4 weeks. To determine the oleamide bulk-to-surface distribution depending on sterilization method and storage time an extraction method and a washing technique were applied. The oleamide content was determined by gas chromatography (GC-FID) and compared with the coefficient of friction (COF). The COF dependent on the measured lubricant content at the surface. The content of lubricant on the surface depends on the type of sterilization: ETO increased the lubricant content to some extent, γ-sterilization and autoclaving reduced it. After storage, no migration of the lubricant to the surface could be detected.
This textbook covers the syllabus of Financial Accounting following IFRSs. The teaching approach is to explain financial statements and their items by more than 60 international case studies which include all relevant Bookkeeping entries and accounts. Furthermore, you can download more than 300 exam tasks and solutions online, accessable through QR codes in the text. The books help you to prepare for your Accounting exam at the university.
All chapters outline their learning objectives, provide an overview, explain the contents with referring to relevant IAS/IFRS-standards and their paragraphs, introduce case studies by a data sheet box and explain the Accounting work completely by Bookkeeping entries and accounts.
The text contains How-it-is-Done sections to give you short and precise guidance for your own calculations. Every chapter ends with a sumary, working definitions for newly introduced technical Accounting terms and test-questions with solutions for checking your comprehension
Management accounting
(2020)
Management Accounting is written for students in international Business Management study programs. It covers the widely applied syllabus of Cost Accounting and Management Accounting at universities on bachelor’s and master’s level. The book is based on more than 20 years’ academic teaching experience in Germany and at international universities in South Africa, Malaysia, China, the Netherlands and South Korea.
In this text book, the application of methods and instruments comes first. Management Accounting follows a case study based approach. All cases are taken from previous exam papers and explained in detail.
The text book starts with a case study of a manufacturing company and compares Financial Accounting to Management Accounting. It covers two point of views: (1) a General Management view, with aspects of business planning, cost-volume-profit analysis, degree of operating leverage, mergers and cross-border acquisitions and risk valuation. (2) a Cost Accounting view with Management Accounting systems, flexible budgeting, cost allocations, performance measurement and monitoring, reporting, calculation, manufacturing accounting (job order and process costing), activity based costing and multi-level contribution margin Accounting.
On the UVK website, numerous exam tasks and complete solutions thereto are available in English.
This textbook covers the IAS/IFRS-syllabus of financial accounting on bachelor's and master's level. It covers how to prepare financial statements and tackles special problems in IFRSs-accounting, like asset revaluations, manufacturing accounting, share issues, financial instruments, group statements etc. The content is explained by more than 60 case studies completely illustrated with bookkeeping entries and financial statements.
All chapters outline the learning objectives, provide an overview, cover the contents of relevant IAS/IFRS-standards, include case studies and how-it-is-done-paragraphs. They end with a summary, the explanation of new technical terms and a question bank with solutions for checking your learning progress. On the internet, you can find further cases linked to the textbook by QR-codes and more than 350 exam tasks including solutions as well as youtube-videos from the author.
The textbook helps you to learn IFRSs and to familiarise yourself with international accounting in English. It is an accurate translation of the textbook Bilanzen from the same author.
This textbook introduces you to international bookkeeping and accounting. It is designed as self study materials and covers the syllabus of an introductory class in accounting. After studying the Basics, you are well prepared to keep bookkeeping records and prepare financial statements like the balance sheet, the income statement, the cash flow statement and the statement of changes in equity.
All chapters outline the learning objectives, provide an overview, include case studies and how-it-is-done-paragraphs. They end with a summary, the explanation of new technical terms and a question bank with solutions for checking your learning progress. On the internet, you can find more than 350 exam tasks including solutions as well as youtube-videos from the author.
The textbook prepares you to study accounting and assists you with the transition from German bookkeeping to international accounting when qualifying for IFRSs.
Basics of Accounting targets students in international business study programs. It covers the widely applied syllabus of Accounting at universities on bachelor’s and master’s level. In this book, the application of the methods comes first. The Basics teach how to do Accounting by a case study based approach. All cases were taken from former exam papers at international universities and calculated completely and illustrated understandably.
Bookkeeping and Financial Accounting covers the preparation of financial statements based on IFRS. Bookkeeping is taught as far as it is required for the understanding by managers – more formal aspects about how to keep financial records are cut short to the minimum.
Managerial accounting
(2018)
Basics of Accounting targets students in international business study programs. It covers the widely applied syllabus of Accounting at universities on bachelor’s and master’s level. In this book, the application of the methods comes first. The Basics teach how to do Accounting by a case study based approach. All cases were taken from former exam papers at international universities and calculated completely and illustrated understandably.
Managerial Accounting is about Accounting for managers. It is linked to General Management where companies are seen as a whole as well as to Cost Accounting which comprises all methods/instruments applicable for calculations, budgeting and cost monitoring in business.
In this paper, we introduce a framework to identify domain specific use cases for smart glasses in the domain of logistics services. We further present and evaluate our framework through its application in a single case study in a wholesale warehouse. We contribute to theory and practice by presenting an approach to identify, define and describe application scenarios for the adoption of smart glasses in the logistics domain, and by enriching the current body of knowledge on digitalization, service support systems and wearables. Therefore, our research falls into line with the second topic. We directly address current challenges in logistics, one of Germany’s major economic sectors, regarding the implementation of new or advanced services with smart glasses. The presented case study is embedded in the digitalization project Glasshouse. The processes of two logistics services providers are the main research subjects in this project. In contrast to this, we focus on a third logistic service provider in this paper, to evaluate the transferability of our findings.
The development of augmented reality glasses is still ongoing and faces barriers in diffusion and concerns about their impact on users, organizations and society. The study aims to find sufficient solutions for this struggling digital innovation and to provide guidance for the implementation of augmented reality glasses in design-oriented projects. During a 3-year consortium research, acceptance and privacy have been identified as major phenomena that influence the adoption of augmented reality glasses in the logistics domain. To forge ahead digital innovation research, the focus of the presented research lies on the diffusion of this technology with design knowledge for the development of augmented reality glasses-based systems. Evidence and artifacts contribute to the still limited knowledge of system design based on augmented reality glasses from a domain-specific instantiation and an implementation framework.
Design knowledge on smart glasses-based systems is scarce. Utilizing literature analysis on software development publications, insights from the design and implementation of four smart glasses-based systems and expert interviews, we elicited 16 design principles to provide guidance in the development of future service support systems. Heuristic Theorizing is an abductive Design Science Research method, hitherto far too little known or little noticed, which was applied to conduct the research. We contribute to theory and practice with applicable design principles to support the development of smart glasses-based systems. Phenomena known to have an impact on the adoption of smart glasses are addressed by these design principles.