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In this paper we integrate the ideas of network coding and relays into an existing practical network architecture used in a wireless network scenario. Specifically, we use the COPE architecture to test our ideas. Since previous works have focused on the communication aspect at the physical layer level, we attempt to take it one step further by including the MAC layer. Our idea is based on information theoretic concepts developed by Shannon in order to reliably apply network coding to increase the net throughput.
In the past two decades much has been published on whiplash injury, yet both the confusion regarding the condition, and the medicolegal discussion about it have increased. In this paper, functional imaging research results are summarized using MRIcroGL3D visualization software and assembled in an image comprising regions of cerebral activation and deactivation.
Um Simulationen schnell und kostengünstig sowie ergebnisträchtig durchzuführen, bedarf es einer sorgfältigen Vorbereitung. Der Artikel befaßt sich mit dem automatischen Ablauf einer Simulationstudie zum Materilafluß und erläutert die im Ablauf notwendigen Beiträge der Anwender. In den Einzelheiten wird über die automatische Vorgehensweise und Anwendung der Standard-Simulationsmodelle (SSM) sowie spezieller Simulationsmodule (SimDBC) berichtet. Entscheidend für eine breitere Anwendung von Simulationswerkzeugen ist die einfache Handhabung und leicht verständliche Definition der zu untersuchenden Szenarien.
Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) with biventricular pacing (BV) is an established therapy for heart failure (HF) patients with inter- and intraventricular conduction delay. The aim of this pilot study was to test the feasibility of both transesophageal measurement of left ventricular (LV) electrical delay and transesophageal LV pacing prior to implantation, to better select patients for CRT.
BACKGROUND:
While hearing aids for a contralateral routing of signals (CROS-HA) and bone conduction devices have been the traditional treatment for single-sided deafness (SSD) and asymmetric hearing loss (AHL), in recent years, cochlear implants (CIs) have increasingly become a viable treatment choice, particularly in countries where regulatory approval and reimbursement schemes are in place. Part of the reason for this shift is that the CI is the only device capable of restoring bilateral input to the auditory system and hence of possibly reinstating binaural hearing. Although several studies have independently shown that the CI is a safe and effective treatment for SSD and AHL, clinical outcome measures in those studies and across CI centers vary greatly. Only with a consistent use of defined and agreed-upon outcome measures across centers can high-level evidence be generated to assess the safety and efficacy of CIs and alternative treatments in recipients with SSD and AHL.
METHODS:
This paper presents a comparative study design and minimum outcome measures for the assessment of current treatment options in patients with SSD/AHL. The protocol was developed, discussed, and eventually agreed upon by expert panels that convened at the 2015 APSCI conference in Beijing, China, and at the CI 2016 conference in Toronto, Canada.
RESULTS:
A longitudinal study design comparing CROS-HA, BCD, and CI treatments is proposed. The recommended outcome measures include (1) speech in noise testing, using the same set of 3 spatial configurations to compare binaural benefits such as summation, squelch, and head shadow across devices; (2) localization testing, using stimuli that rove in both level and spectral content; (3) questionnaires to collect quality of life measures and the frequency of device use; and (4) questionnaires for assessing the impact of tinnitus before and after treatment, if applicable.
CONCLUSION:
A protocol for the assessment of treatment options and outcomes in recipients with SSD and AHL is presented. The proposed set of minimum outcome measures aims at harmonizing assessment methods across centers and thus at generating a growing body of high-level evidence for those treatment options.
The embedding of microwave devices is treated by applying the finite-difference method to three-dimensional shielded structures. A program package was developed to evaluate electromagnetic fields inside arbitrary transmission-line connecting structures and to compute the scattering matrix. The air bridge, the transition through a wall, and the bond wire are examined as interconnecting structures. Detailed results are given and discussed regarding the fundamental behavior of embedding.
The suffix-free-prefix-free hash function construction and its indifferentiability security analysis
(2012)
In this paper, we observe that in the seminal work on indifferentiability analysis of iterated hash functions by Coron et al. and in subsequent works, the initial value (IV) of hash functions is fixed. In addition, these indifferentiability results do not depend on the Merkle–Damgård (MD) strengthening in the padding functionality of the hash functions. We propose a generic n-bit-iterated hash function framework based on an n-bit compression function called suffix-free-prefix-free (SFPF) that works for arbitrary IVs and does not possess MD strengthening. We formally prove that SFPF is indifferentiable from a random oracle (RO) when the compression function is viewed as a fixed input-length random oracle (FIL-RO). We show that some hash function constructions proposed in the literature fit in the SFPF framework while others that do not fit in this framework are not indifferentiable from a RO. We also show that the SFPF hash function framework with the provision of MD strengthening generalizes any n-bit-iterated hash function based on an n-bit compression function and with an n-bit chaining value that is proven indifferentiable from a RO.
Routine nuclear cardiology examinations indicate heart rate, cardiac rhythm, the height of cardiac pulse and respiration rhythm. It would be of interest to study whether these data, especially if the same tests are repeated, can indicate patients’ well being in the future and perhaps patients’ life span, other factors being equal. Related old theories and suggestions are mentioned. Furthermore, some drugs like I-f channel antagonists and stress tests testing cardiac reserves could support such a study.
Chronic insomnia is defined by difficulties in falling asleep, maintaining sleep, and early morning awakening, and is coupled with daytime consequences such as fatigue, attention deficits, and mood instability. These symptoms persist over a period of at least 3 months (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 5 criteria). Chronic insomnia can be a symptom of many medical, neurological, and mental disorders. As a disorder, it incurs substantial health-care and occupational costs, and poses substantial risks for the development of cardiovascular and mental disorders, including cognitive deficits. Family and twin studies confirm that chronic insomnia can have a genetic component (heritability coefficients between 42% and 57%), whereas the investigation of autonomous and central nervous system parameters has identified hyperarousal as a final common pathway of the pathophysiology, implicating an imbalance of sleep–wake regulation consisting of either overactivity of the arousal systems, hypoactivity of the sleep-inducing systems, or both. Insomnia treatments include benzodiazepines, benzodiazepine-receptor agonists, and cognitive behavioural therapy. Treatments currently under investigation include transcranial magnetic or electrical brain stimulation, and novel methods to deliver psychological interventions.
The effect of fluctuating maskers on speech understanding of high-performing cochlear implant users
(2016)
Objective: The present study evaluated whether the poorer baseline performance of cochlear implant (CI) users or the technical and/or physiological properties of CI stimulation are responsible for the absence of masking release. Design: This study measured speech reception thresholds (SRTs) in continuous and modulated noise as a function of signal to noise ratio (SNR). Study sample: A total of 24 subjects participated: 12 normal-hearing (NH) listeners and 12 subjects provided with recent MED-EL CI systems. Results: The mean SRT of CI users in continuous noise was −3.0 ± 1.5 dB SNR (mean ± SEM), while the normal-hearing group reached −5.9 ± 0.8 dB SNR. In modulated noise, the difference across groups increased considerably. For CI users, the mean SRT worsened to −1.4 ± 2.3 dB SNR, while it improved for normal-hearing listeners to −18.9 ± 3.8 dB SNR. Conclusions: The detrimental effect of fluctuating maskers on SRTs in CI users shown by prior studies was confirmed by the current study. Concluding, the absence of masking release is mainly caused by the technical and/or physiological properties of CI stimulation, not just the poorer baseline performance of many CI users compared to normal-hearing subjects. Speech understanding in modulated noise was more robust in CI users who had a relatively large electrical dynamic range.
A laser-operated, angle-tunable transducer was employed to excite selectively elastic waves guided along the apex of a solid wedge. The propagation of wedge waves at anisotropic monocrystalline silicon edges with different symmetry properties was studied by optical detection. The reduced symmetry in crystals, as compared to isotropic media, causes a number of new features, such as the existence of supersonic leaky wedge waves, tilted spatial pulse profiles, and other peculiarities of their localization. Experimental and theoretical results are presented for three different types of symmetry configurations: the wedge symmetric about its midplane, the wedge symmetric about the plane normal to its apex line, and the wedge symmetric about one of its faces. The experiments include accurate measurements of the phase velocity and the wave field distribution, providing information on localization and coupling of wedge waves with other waves. Theoretically, the wedge waves were treated by the Laguerre function method, extended to modes that are not localized at the tip of the wedge. This approach allowed an accurate description of the observed localized and leaky wedge waves in anisotropic wedges.
Structured Innovation with TRIZ in Science and Industry - Creating Value for Customers and Society
(2016)
Streustrahlung in der Ultraschall-Computertomographie zur Verifizierung der Echtheit von Perlen
(2017)
This paper describes a new analysis method developed to distinguish real from fake
pearls using non-ionizing, non-destructive ultrasound computed tomography (USCT): In the USCT Shepp-Logan-filtered time-of-flight image, a fake pearl shows irregular, asymmetric
scattering of ultrasound, whereas the pattern in a natural pearl is regular and symmetric.
We strongly assume that pattern recognition of the scattering of ultrasound cannot only
play an important role in verifying pearls, but also in testing other materials and tissues in
(bio-)medical engineering. Furthermore, and most importantly, this new approach could
be helpful for a variety of clinical diagnoses using high-resolution 3D-USCT, such as the
detection of X-ray-negative micro-calcifications in early breast cancer. Moreover looking
at scattering patterns in dedicated positron emission tomography systems may promote
new developments in nuclear medicine diagnostics.
Since their dawning, space communications have been among the strongest driving applications for the development of error correcting codes. Indeed, space-to-Earth telemetry (TM) links have extensively exploited advanced coding schemes, from convolutional codes to Reed-Solomon codes (also in concatenated form) and, more recently, from turbo codes to low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes. The efficiency of these schemes has been extensively proved in several papers and reports. The situation is a bit different for Earth-to-space telecommand (TC) links. Space TCs must reliably convey control information as well as software patches from Earth control centers to scientific payload instruments and engineering equipment onboard (O/B) spacecraft. The success of a mission may be compromised because of an error corrupting a TC message: a detected error causing no execution or, even worse, an undetected error causing a wrong execution. This imposes strict constraints on the maximum acceptable detected and undetected error rates.
Nachweise für die Stabilität von Regelkreisen, deren Stellgrößen an ihre Begrenzungen gelangen können und bei denen die Regler Integratoren oder andere dynamische Glieder sowie Anti-Windup-Maßnahmen enthalten, sind gewöhnlich sehr aufwändig zu führen. Bei PI-Zustandsreglern, die mittels der in [1] vorgestellten Methode in einem mehrstufigen Verfahren für Regelstrecken entworfen wurden, die bis auf die Stellgrößenbegrenzungen linear sind, lassen sich jedoch äußerst hilfreiche allgemeine Stabilitätsaussagen treffen, die den konkreten Stabilitätsnachweis für das Gesamtsystem– selbst unter Einbeziehung von Beobachtern – erheblich vereinfachen. Im vorliegenden Beitrag werden die diesbezüglichen, auf Steuerbarkeitsbetrachtungen beruhenden, Zusammenhänge für zeitdiskrete Regelkreise aufgezeigt sowie daraus exemplarisch mittels Ljapunow-Funktionen eine einfache Reglerformel für Zustandsregler abgeleitet, die auch im Begrenzungsfall stabil arbeiten. Ein Beispielaus der elektrischen Antriebstechnik illustriert die Anwendbarkeit der vorgestellten Methode.
Die Kommunikationstechnik für die Zählerfernauslesung (Smart Metering) und für die Energieerzeugungs- und -verteilnetze (Smart Grid) hat das Potenzial, zu einer der ersten hoch skalierten M2M-Anwendungen zu werden. In den vergangenen Jahren konnten zwei vielversprechende Entwicklungen im Umfeld der drahtlosen Kommunikation für die Smart-Grid-Kommunikation vorbereitet werden, die das Marktgeschehen über Deutschland und über die Versorgungstechnik hinaus beeinflussen könnten. Neben der Spezifikation der OMS-Gruppe ist die Erarbeitung eines Schutzprofils (Protection Profile, PP) sowie einer Technischen Richtlinie (TR) für die Kommunikationseinheit eines intelligenten Messsystems (Smart Meter Gateway) durch das Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik (BSI) zu nennen. Diese greifen, wie der Beitrag beschreibt, den Stand der Technik auf und geben praxisorientierte Umsetzungen vor.
Private households constitute a considerable share of Europe's electricity consumption. The current electricity distribution system treats them as effectively passive individual units. In the future, however, users of the electricity grid will be involved more actively in the grid operation and can become part of intelligent networked collaborations. They can then contribute the demand and supply flexibility that they dispose of and, as a result, help to better integrate renewable energy in-feed into the distribution grids.
Background: The electrical field (E-field) of the biventricular (BV) stimulation is important for the success of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in patients with cardiac insufficiency and widened QRS complex. The 3D modeling allows the simulation of CRT and high frequency (HF) ablation.
Purpose: The aim of the study was to model different pacing and ablation electrodes and to integrate them into a heart model for the static and dynamic simulation of atrial and BV stimulation and high frequency (HF) ablation in atrial fibrillation (AF).
Methods: The modeling and simulation was carried out using the electromagnetic simulation software CST (CST Darmstadt). Five multipolar left ventricular (LV) electrodes, one epicardial LV electrode, four bipolar right atrial (RA) electrodes, two right ventricular (RV) electrodes and one HF ablation catheter were modeled. Selected electrodes were integrated into the Offenburg heart rhythm model for the electrical field simulation. The simulation of an AV node ablation at CRT was performed with RA, RV and LV electrodes and integrated ablation catheter with an 8 mm gold tip.
Results: The right atrial stimulation was performed with an amplitude of 1.5 V with a pulse width of 0.5. The far-field potentials generated by the atrial stimulation were perceived by the right and left ventricular electrode. The far-field potential at a distance of 1 mm from the right ventricular electrode tip was 36.1 mV. The far-field potential at a distance of 1 mm from the left ventricular electrode tip was measured with 37.1 mV. The RV and LV stimulation were performed simultaneously at amplitude of 3 V at the LV electrode and 1 V at the RV electrode with a pulse width of 0.5 ms each. The far-field potentials generated by the BV stimulations could be perceived by the RA electrode. The far-field potential at the RA electrode tip was 32.86 mV. AV node ablation was simulated with an applied power of 5 W at 420 kHz and 10 W at 500 kHz at the distal 8 mm ablation electrode.
Conclusions: Virtual heart and electrode models as well as the simulations of electrical fields and temperature profiles allow the static and dynamic simulation of atrial synchronous BV stimulation and HF ablation at AF. The 3D simulation of the electrical field and temperature profile may be used to optimize the CRT and AF ablation.
Serendipities in der Medizin
(2016)
Zufälle begleiten unser Leben. Auch bei wichtigen Entdeckungen und Entwicklungen in der Medizin spielt der „Zufall“ (engl. „serendipity“) eine Rolle. Hierzu gehören u. a. die Mendelschen Gesetze, die Ermittlung der menschlichen Chromosomenzahl, die Entdeckung der DNS durch Watson und Crick, der PAP-Test oder die Entdeckung der Röntgenstrahlung und der Radioaktivität. Aber auch und gerade in der Pharmakologie gibt es viele Beispiele für Serendipitäten. Einige gehen eng mit Zufällen bei der Entdeckung der Bakteriologie einher.
We present a novel scheme for Slotted ALOHA random access systems that combines physical-layer network coding (PLNC) with multiuser detection (MUD). The PLNC and MUD are applied jointly at the physical layer to be able to extract any linear combination of messages experiencing a collision within a slot. The set of combinations extracted from a whole frame is then processed by the receiver to recover the original packets. A simple precoding stage at the transmitting terminals allows the receiver to further decrease the packet loss rate. We present results for the decoding at the physical layer as well as several performance measures at frame level, namely, throughput, packet loss rate, and energy efficiency. The results we present are promising and suggest that a cross-layer approach leveraging on the joint use of PLNC and MUD can significantly improve the performance of random access systems in the presence of slow fading.
A wide range catalyst screening with noble metal and oxide catalysts for a metal–air battery with an aqueous alkaline electrolyte was carried out. Suitable catalysts reduce overpotentials during the charge and discharge process, and therefore improve the round-trip efficiency of the battery. In this case, the electrodes will be used as optimized cathodes for a future lithium–air battery with an aqueous alkaline electrolyte. Oxide catalysts were synthesized via atmospheric plasma spraying. The screening showed that IrO2, RuO2, La0.6Ca0.4Co3, Mn3O4, and Co3O4 are promising bi-functional catalysts. Considering the high price for the noble metal catalysts further investigations of the oxide catalysts were carried out to analyze their electrochemical behavior at varied temperatures, molarities, and in case of La1−x Ca x CoO3 a varying calcium content. Additionally all catalysts were tested in a longterm test to proof cyclability at varied molarities. Further investigations showed that Co3O4 seems to be the most promising bi-functional catalyst of the tested oxide catalysts. Furthermore, it was shown that a calcium content of x = 0.4 in LCCO has the best performance.
Background: R-wave synchronised atrial pacing is an effective temporary pacing
therapy in infants with postoperative junctional ectopic tachycardia. In the technique
currently used, adverse short or long intervals between atrial pacing and ventricular
sensing (AP–VS) may be observed during routine clinical practice.
Objectives: The aim of the study was to analyse outcomes of R-wave synchronised
atrial pacing and the relationship between maximum tracking rates and AP–VS
intervals.
Methods: Calculated AP–VS intervals were compared with those predicted by experienced
pediatric cardiologist.
Results: A maximum tracking rate (MTR) set 10 bpm higher than the heart rate (HR)
may result in undesirable short AP–VS intervals (minimum 83 ms). A MTR set 20 bpm
above the HR is the hemodynamically better choice (minimum 96 ms). Effects of either
setting on the AP–VS interval could not be predicted by experienced observers. In our
newly proposed technique the AP–VS interval approaches 95 ms for HR > 210 bpm
and 130 ms for HR < 130 bpm. The progression is linear and decreases strictly
(− 0.4 ms/bpm) between the two extreme levels.
Conclusions: Adjusting the AP–VS interval in the currently used technique is complex
and may imply unfavorable pacemaker settings. A new pacemaker design is advisable
to allow direct control of the AP–VS interval.
Cloud computing is the emerging technology providing IT as a utility through internet. The benefits of cloud computing are but not limited to service based, scalable, elastic, shared pool of resources, metered by use. Due to mentioned benefits the concept of cloud computing fits very well with the concept of m-learning which differs from other forms of e-learning, covers a wide range of possibilities opened up by the convergence of new mobile technologies, wireless communication structure and distance learning development. The concept of cloud computing like any other concept has not only benefits but also introduces myriad of security issues, such as transparency between cloud user and provider, lack of standards, security concerns related to identity, Service Level Agreements (SLA) inadequacy etc. Providing secure, transparent, and reliable services in cloud computing environment is an important issue. This paper introduces a secured three layered architecture with an advance Intrusion Detection System (advIDS), which overcomes different vulnerabilities on cloud deployed applications. This proposed architecture can reduce the impact of different attacks by providing timely alerts, rejecting the unauthorized access over services, and recording the new threat profiles for future verification. The goal of this research is to provide more control over data and applications to the cloud user, which are now mainly controlled by Cloud Service Provider (CSP).
Eine Regelung zur optimalen Kraftschlußausnutzung von Lokomotiven setzt das Erreichen folgender Ziele voraus: Frühzeitiges Erkennen der Schleudergrenze zur Vermeidung von Gleitvorgängen; Fahren eines optimalen Kraftschlusses vom Fahr- und Bremsbetrieb ohne Überschreitung des Kraftschlußmaximums und schnelle Anpassung an wechselnde Arbeitspunkte, zum Beispiel an wechselnde Schienenzustände. Die vorgestellte optimale Regelung der Kraftschlußausnutzung erfaßt Schleuder- und Gleitzustände, die mit bisher eingesetzten Verfahren nicht erkannt werden können und ist Basis für ein Konzept, das ein quasi permanentes Fahren in der Nähe des Kraftschlußmaximums ermöglicht.
Der Entwurf von Strukturen zum reflexionsarmen Einbetten von Halbleiterbauteilen in Mikrostreifenleitungsschaltungen gestaltet sich mit steigender Frequenz kritischer. Deshalb wird ein Verfahren vorgestellt, das es ermöglicht, das Streuverhalten solcher Strukturen unter Anwendung der dreidimensionalen Finite-Differenzen-Methode auf die Maxwellschen Gleichungen numerisch zu berechnen. Hierauf aufbauend wurde das Programmpaket F3D entwickelt. Das Streuverhalten einer Verbindung zweier GaAs-Chips durch eine dielektrische Wand wird in Abhängigkeit von Geometrieparametern diskutiert. Außerdem werden Ersatzschaltbilder unterschiedlicher Komplexität für CAD-Anwendungen vorgestellt. Diese ermöglichen zudem eine rechenzeiteffektive Optimierung dieser Struktur, die somit Filteraufgaben übernehmen kann. Dies wird am Beispiel eines Tiefpasses gezeigt.
Compact solid discharge products enable energy storage devices with high gravimetric and volumetric energy densities, but solid deposits on active surfaces can disturb charge transport and induce mechanical stress. In this Letter, we develop a nanoscale continuum model for the growth of Li2O2 crystals in lithium–oxygen batteries with organic electrolytes, based on a theory of electrochemical nonequilibrium thermodynamics originally applied to Li-ion batteries. As in the case of lithium insertion in phase-separating LiFePO4 nanoparticles, the theory predicts a transition from complex to uniform morphologies of Li2O2 with increasing current. Discrete particle growth at low discharge rates becomes suppressed at high rates, resulting in a film of electronically insulating Li2O2 that limits cell performance. We predict that the transition between these surface growth modes occurs at current densities close to the exchange current density of the cathode reaction, consistent with experimental observations.
We report the fabrication and characterization of glucose-tolerant Raney-platinum cathodes for oxygen reduction in potentially implantable glucose fuel. Fabricated by extraction of aluminum from 1 μm thin platinum–aluminum bi-layers annealed at 300 °C, the novel cathodes show excellent resistance against hydrolytic and oxidative attack. This renders them superior over previous cathodes fabricated from hydrogel-bound catalyst particles. Annealing times of 60, 120, and 240 min result in approximately 400–550 nm thin porous films (roughness factors ∼100–150), which contain platinum and aluminum in a ratio of ∼9:1. Aluminum release during electrode operation can be expected to have no significant effect on physiological normal levels, which promises good biocompatibility. Annealing time has a distinct influence on the density of trenches formed in the cathode. Higher trench densities lead to lower electrode potentials in the presence of glucose. This suggests that glucose sensitivity is governed by mixed potential formation resulting from oxygen depletion within the trenches. During performance characterization the diffusion resistance to be expected from tissue capsule formation upon electrode implantation was taken into account by placing a membrane in front of the cathode. Despite the resulting limited oxygen supply, cathodes prepared by annealing for 60 min show more positive electrode potentials than previous cathodes fabricated from hydrogel-bound activated carbon. Compared to operation in phosphate buffered saline containing 3.0 mM glucose, a potential loss of approximately 120 mV occurs in artificial tissue fluid. This can be reduced to approximately 90 mV with a protective Nafion layer that is easily electro-coated onto the Raney-platinum film.
We present a novel fabrication route yielding Raney-platinum film electrodes intended as glucose oxidation anodes for potentially implantable fuel cells. Fabrication roots on thermal alloying of an extractable metal with bulk platinum at 200 °C for 48 h. In contrast to earlier works using carcinogenic nickel, we employ zinc as potentially biocompatible alloying partner. Microstructure analysis indicates that after removal of extractable zinc the porous Raney-platinum film (roughness factor ∼2700) consists predominantly of the Pt3Zn phase. Release of zinc during electrode operation can be expected to have no significant effect on physiological normal levels in blood and serum, which promises good biocompatibility. In contrast to previous anodes based on hydrogel-bound catalyst particles the novel anodes exhibit excellent resistance against hydrolytic and oxidative attack. Furthermore, they exhibit significantly lower polarization with up to approximately 100 mV more negative electrode potentials in the current density range relevant for fuel cell operation. The anodes’ amenability to surface modification with protective polymers is demonstrated by the exemplary application of an approximately 300 nm thin Nafion coating. This had only a marginal effect on the anode long-term stability and amino acid tolerance. While in physiological glucose solution after approximately 100 h of operation gradually increasing performance degradation occurs, rapid electrode polarization within 24 h is observed in artificial tissue fluid. Optimization approaches may include catalyst enhancement by adatom surface modification and the application of specifically designed protective polymers with controlled charge and mesh size.
Transcatheter aortic valve implantation is a therapy for patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction and symptomatic aortic stenosis. The aim of the study was to compare the pre-and post- transcatheter aortic valve implantation procedures to determine the QRS and QT ventricular conduction times as a potential predictor of permanent pacemaker therapy requirement after transcatheter aortic valve implantation. QRS and QT ventricular conduction times were prolonged after transcatheter aortic valve implantation in heart failure patients with permanent dual chamber pacemaker therapy after transcatheter aortic valve implantation. QRS and QT ventricular conduction times may be useful parameters to evaluate the risk of post-procedural ventricular conduction block and permanent pacemaker therapy in transcatheter aortic valve implantation.
In this paper we present a model of the discharge of a lithium–oxygen battery with aqueous electrolyte. Lithium–oxygen batteries (Li–O2) have recently received great attention due to their large theoretical specific energy. Advantages of the aqueous design include the stability of the electrolyte, the long experience with gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs), and the solubility of the reaction product lithium hydroxide. However, competitive specific energies can only be obtained if the product is allowed to precipitate. Here we present a dynamic one-dimensional model of a Li–O2 battery including a GDE and precipitation of lithium hydroxide. The model is parameterized using experimental data from the literature. We demonstrate that GDEs remove power limitations due to slow oxygen transport in solutions and that lithium hydroxide tends to precipitate on the anode side. We discuss the system architecture to engineer where nucleation and growth predominantly occurs and to optimize for discharge capacity.
Electric arc furnaces (EAF) are complex industrial plants whose actual behavior depends upon numerous factors. Due to its energy intensive operation, the EAF process has always been subject to optimization efforts. For these reasons, several models have been proposed in literature to analyze and predict different modes of operation. Most of these models focused on the processes inside the vessel itself. The present paper introduces a dynamic, physics-based model of a complete EAF plant which consists of the four subsystems vessel, electric system, electrode regulation, and off-gas system. Furthermore the solid phase is not treated to be homogenous but a simple spatial discretization is employed. Hence it is possible to simulate the energy input by electric arcs and fossil fuel burners depending on the state of the melting progress. The model is implemented in object-oriented, equation-based language Modelica. The simulation results are compared to literature data.
Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC) are energy efficient and environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional energy conversion systems in many yet emerging applications. In order to enable prediction of their performance and durability, it is crucial to gain a deeper understanding of the relevant operation phenomena, e.g., electrochemistry, transport phenomena, thermodynamics as well as the mechanisms leading to the degradation of cell components. Achieving the goal of providing predictive tools to model PEMFC performance, durability and degradation is a challenging task requiring the development of detailed and realistic models reaching from the atomic/molecular scale over the meso scale of structures and materials up to components, stack and system level. In addition an appropriate way of coupling the different scales is required.
This review provides a comprehensive overview of the state of the art in modeling of PEMFC, covering all relevant scales from atomistic up to system level as well as the coupling between these scales. Furthermore, it focuses on the modeling of PEMFC degradation mechanisms and on the coupling between performance and degradation models.
The ability to detect a target signal masked by noise is improved in normal-hearing listeners when interaural phase differences (IPDs) between the ear signals exist either in the masker or in the signal. To improve binaural hearing in bilaterally implanted cochlear implant (BiCI) users, a coding strategy providing the best possible access to IPD is highly desirable. In this study, we compared two coding strategies in BiCI users provided with CI systems from MED-EL (Innsbruck, Austria). The CI systems were bilaterally programmed either with the fine structure processing strategy FS4 or with the constant rate strategy high definition continuous interleaved sampling (HDCIS). Familiarization periods between 6 and 12 weeks were considered. The effect of IPD was measured in two types of experiments: (a) IPD detection thresholds with tonal signals addressing mainly one apical interaural electrode pair and (b) with speech in noise in terms of binaural speech intelligibility level differences (BILD) addressing multiple electrodes bilaterally. The results in (a) showed improved IPD detection thresholds with FS4 compared with HDCIS in four out of the seven BiCI users. In contrast, 12 BiCI users in (b) showed similar BILD with FS4 (0.6 ± 1.9 dB) and HDCIS (0.5 ± 2.0 dB). However, no correlation between results in (a) and (b) both obtained with FS4 was found. In conclusion, the degree of IPD sensitivity determined on an apical interaural electrode pair was not an indicator for BILD based on bilateral multielectrode stimulation.
Cardiac contractility modulation (CCM) is a device-based therapy for the treatment of systolic left ventricular chronic heart failure. Unlike other device-based therapies for heart failure, CCM delivers non-excitatory pacing signals to the myocardium. This leads to an extension of the action potential and to an improved contractility of the heart. The modeling and simulation was done with the electromagnetic simulation software CST. Three CCM electrodes were inserted into the Offenburg heart rhythm model and subsequently simulated the electric field propagation in CCM therapy.
In addition, simulations of CCM have been performed with electrodes from other device-based therapies, such as cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) and implantable cardioverter / defibrillator (ICD) therapy. At the same distance to the simulation electrode, the electric field is slightly stronger in CCM therapy than in CCM therapy with additionally implanted CRT or ICD electrodes. In addition, there is a change in the electric field propagation at the electrodes of the CRT and the shock electrode of the ICD.
By simulating several different therapy procedures on the heart, it is possible to check how they affect their behavior during normal operation. CCM heart rhythm model simulation allows the evaluation the individual electrical pacing and sensing field during CCM.
The famous violin virtuoso Nicolò Paganini (born on 27 October 1782 in Genoa, died on 27 May 1840 in Nice) left us with many puzzles. An interesting aspect is his hair: In the 19th century, hair given away as a token of friendship or romantic love became very popular, and Paganini also seems to have made use of this fad. In 2009, a lock of hair, purportedly that of Paganini, kept in a locked presentation box together with a bilingual autograph inscription saying: "Alla Signora Chatterton avec les compliments de Nicolò Paganini" was bought at an auction. From this hair lock a sample was taken and was investigated morphologically by using digital light microscopy (digital microscope VHX-100, Keyence) in reflected and transmitted light with and without polarization at different magnifications up to 1:5,000. The sample was then compared with a hair sample from the possession of the Paganini family, which had been microscopically examined in 2012 by the co-author of this paper yielding numerous figures with measurement results that had been stored and could be retrieved for direct comparison. The hair sample consisted of ten strands of hair or hair fragments and was investigated with great effort for the following parameters: exogenous hair damage, especially feeding traces caused by parasites, modeling and angulation of hairs, hair thickness, medulla and pigmentation, curling and mercury load on the trace material. After evaluation of all findings not only a non-exclusion of identity can be determined, but due to the broad match of also rare findings there is no reasonable doubt about their identity. In addition, the findings suggest that the studied hair samples are in fact from Paganini's head. The present case of Nicolò Paganini's hair lock is also an excellent starting point for reflections on the probative value of trace hair investigations. This point is also critically discussed in the paper. Finally, this study shows that said lock of hair had probably really been dedicated and given to Eliza Davenport Latham (born on 25 November 1806, died on 9 January 1877), the future wife of the, at that time, best-known and most famous English harpist John Balsir Chatterton (born on 25 November 1804, died on 9 April 1871). Paganini must have met her on his concert tour 1831/32, where he had travelled to Paris, London, the rest of England, Scotland and Ireland.
This paper presents new measurements of a bronze cast from the right hand of the famous Italian violin virtuoso Nicolò Paganini (1782-1840). These are compared to anthropometric standard values. In addition, detailed dorsal and palmar views of the cast are shown. With a middle finger length of 75 mm, the palm width is 60 mm and the hand length 152 mm, which is significantly below the 5% percentile of today's standard values. Also the finger length index (0.55), the ratio of finger length to palm length (0.98) and the ratio of finger length to palm width (1.25) are significantly above normal limits. Hence, Paganini had abnormal hand measurements with a very small palm and relatively "long" fingers. This remarkable constellation, among others, could have been advantageous for his amazing skills as a violinist.
The flow field-flow fractionation (FIFFF) technique is a promising method for separating and analysing particles and large size macromolecules from a few nanometers to approximately 50 μm. A new fractionation channel is described featuring well defined flow conditions even for low channel heights with convenient assembling and operations features. The application of the new flow field-flow fractionation channel is proved by the analysis of pigments and other small particles of technical interest in the submicrometer range. The experimental results including multimodal size distributions are presented and discussed.
The study from Mehrazin et al. in HJNM 2011; 14(3): 243-50 on the neuropsychology, morphological computerized tomography (CT) and functional neuroimaging with 99mTc-labelled ethylene cystein-ate dimer single-photon emission tomography (SPET) in mild trau-matic brain injury (MTBI) is an interesting new approach to a disease condition which is often neglected or denied. Related to the above, we may note that the French composer Maurice Ravel (1875-1937), who suffered from Pick ́s disease with primary progressive apha-sia, had a taxi accident in 1932, with a mild concussion, perhaps an MTBI. Apart from the dysphasia and beginning apraxia, which Rav-el had already 5 years prior to the taxi accident, these symptoms exacerbated-the dysphasia became a progressive aphasia-and he developed additional severe deficits in concentration and atten-tion after the accident. It has also been suspected that this accident may have triggered Ravel ́s agraphia the unability to write down any new composition beyond the date of the taxi accident, a condi-tion that Ravel himself described as unacceptable and which made him feel very sad as his mind was full of ideas. Due to the deterio-ration of his health, which can also be seen in his appearance on late photographs, Ravel consulted the famous neurosurgeon Prof. Clovis Vincent. Vincent, who suspected a hydrocephalus, opened Ravel ́s skull on December 19, 1937, showing a normal brain. Soon after surgery Ravel died. In conclusion, a SPET/CT approach com-bined with a brain perfusion analysis using statistical parametric mapping might be the recommendable approach today for mild traumatic brain injury.