Open Access

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are prevalent among musicians, posing challenges for both musicians and physiotherapists. Clinical Movement Analysis (CMA) permits the accurate and objective assessment of posture and movement during musical performance, which can enhance MSD diagnosis. However, tools for CMA data analysis that are tailored to physiotherapy workflows are lacking. The aim of this study was to design an interactive tool that integrates CMA data to assist physiotherapists in diagnosing musician-specific MSDs, addressing limitations of traditional diagnostic methods. Following a user-centered design process and visualization design model, the tool was iteratively refined with expert feedback. It meets six key requirements by integrating biomechanical data (i.e., joint rotation angles and muscle activity) with clinical findings to support hypothesis-driven assessments. The prototype features an intuitive, mobile-friendly interface, interactive visualizations of time-oriented data, and reference values for detecting abnormalities. It enables efficient analysis of posture and movement patterns while linking findings to diagnostic hypotheses. Preliminary evaluations have highlighted its usability, alignment with physiotherapy workflows, and potential to bridge the gap between CMA data and clinical decision-making. By enhancing MSD diagnosis and treatment planning, the tool promises to improve patient outcomes. Future work involves clinical validation, broader application to diverse musician populations, and the incorporation of advanced analytics, including machine learning, to further enhance the tool’s capabilities.

The production of duckweed (Lemnaceae) as a novel protein source could make a valuable contribution to human nutrition. The greatly reduced habitus of duckweed enables simple cultivation with extremely low space requirements, making this free-floating freshwater plant ideal for substrate-free and vertical cultivation in controlled environment agriculture. Of particular importance in the design of a plant-producing Indoor Vertical Farming process is the determination of light intensity, as artificial lighting is generally the most energy-intensive feature of daylight-independent cultivation systems. In order to make the production process both cost-effective and low emission in the future, it is, therefore, crucial to understand and mathematically describe the primary metabolism, in particular the light utilization efficiency. To achieve this, a growth model was developed that mathematically describes the combined effects of plant density and light intensity on the growth rate of Lemna minor L. and physiologically explains the intraspecific competition of plants for light through mutual shading. Furthermore, the growth model can be utilized to derive environmental and process parameters, including optimum harvest quantities and efficiency-optimized light intensities to improve the production process.

Background The national health record (ePA) was introduced January 1st, 2021 in Germany and is available to every person insured under statutory health insurance. This study investigated the acceptance and expectations of the national health record in Germany, focusing on consumer perspectives, expectations, barriers, information needs, and communication aspects. Methods An exploratory, observational, cross-sectional online survey was conducted one year after ePA introduction, followed by descriptive statistical analysis. Results The top three ePA use cases were medical document collection, simplified data exchange between medical institutions, and emergency medical information. Adoption barriers included lack of information and access, privacy concerns, and perceived lack of necessity. Participants that felt informed about the ePA, reported they received information primarily from health insurances, the media, and educational or professional sources, mainly through printed brochures, social media, or via emails. Most participants (86.5%) preferred being informed through conversations, particularly with health insurance providers (81.5%) and doctors (61.0%). Written information was highly desired (94.5%), preferably via email or information letters/flyers. However, more than half of the participants (55.6%) reported being uninformed about the ePA introduction. Conclusion The study revealed a communication gap between providers and consumers, leading to a low acceptance rate of digital health technologies. Comparisons with other countries showed low adoption rates for opt-in systems. The authors suggest changing communication strategies, given users prefer direct information from doctors or health insurance companies. Adopting an opt-out system with professional social media and marketing campaigns could increase nationwide ePA adoption.

Seit dem Beginn der Corona-Pandemie im Jahr 2020 herrscht in Deutschland ein besonders hohes Interesse an der Arbeit auf Distanz. Homeoffice und andere mobile Arbeitsformen sind aus der gegenwärtigen Unternehmenspraxis nicht mehr wegzudenken. Wie sich die unterschiedlichen Formen der Distanz auf das Verhalten und die Beziehungen zwischen den einzelnen Akteuren innerhalb einer Organisation auswirken, wird in Wissenschaft und Praxis breit diskutiert. Die Arbeit greift diese Diskussion auf und untersucht, inwiefern die Distanz einen Einfluss auf die Führungsbeziehung und die mitarbeiter- und organisationsbezogene Variable organisationales Commitment nimmt.