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YAWL (Yet Another Workflow Language) is an open source Business Process Management System, first released in 2003. YAWL grew out of a university research environment to become a unique system that has been deployed worldwide as a laboratory environment for research in Business Process Management and as a productive system in other scientific domains.
In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde Kraft-Lignin als Makromonomer für die Synthese von thermoplastischen Polyurethanen mit hoher molarer Masse durch acide Präzipitation aus Schwarzlauge isoliert. Die Charakterisierung des Rohstoffes bezüglich seiner Ausgangsmolmasse erfolgte mittels Gel-Permeations-Chromatographie mit Polystyren-Polymerstandard, welche sich als sehr hilfreiche Analysemethode erwies. Da das Kraft-Lignin die klassische Polyolkomponente bei der Synthese von Polyurethanen ersetzen sollte, war es notwendig, den Hydroxylgehalt des Kraft-Lignins zu bestimmen. Für diesen Zweck wurde eine bereits etablierte Prozedur zur nasschemischen Bestimmung des Hydroxylgehaltes von Polyolen für die Synthese von Polyurethanen einer Adaption unterzogen. Es wurde die Reaktionsdauer bei der Acetylierung des Kraft-Lignins variiert. Das Ergebnis war, dass die Messgenauigkeit durch eine Erhöhung der Reaktionsdauer von 1 h auf 3 h drastisch von 25,5 % auf 3,6 % reduziert werden konnte. Um abschätzen zu können, ob die erzielte Messgenauigkeit im Rahmen einer nasschemischen Prozedur mit manueller Titration liegt, wurden zusätzlich die Hydroxylgehalte von Ethandiol und Saccharose bestimmt. Diese dienten als Referenzsubstanz mit definierten und bekannten Hydroxylgehalten. Die Ermittlung der Hydroxylgehalte mit diesen Substanzen ergab für Ethandiol eine Messgenauigkeit von 2,2 % und für Saccharose eine Messgenauigkeit von 1,4 %. Eine Messgenauigkeit von 3,6 % ist in Anbetracht des Zeitaufwandes akzeptabel.
Für die Synthese von thermoplastischen Polyurethanen wurde Kraft-Lignin mit Methylendiphenyldiisocyanat in Dimethylacetamid mit Zinnoktoat als Katalysator zur Reaktion gebracht. Es wurde das NCO/OH-Verhältnis und die Reaktionsdauer variiert. Die Analyse der synthetisierten Polyurethane erfolgte mittels Ubbelohde-Kapillarviskosimetrie, Fourier-Transformations-Infrarotspektroskopie und Schmelzpunktbestimmung. Die FTIR-Spektren bestätigte eine erfolgreiche Synthese von Polyurethanen aus Kraft-Lignin und Methylendiphenyldiisocyanat und zeigte, dass die Variation des NCO/OH-Verhältnisses und der Reaktionsdauer keinerlei Einflüsse auf die chemische Grundstruktur des Polyurethans hat. Die Ubbelohde-Kapillarviskosimetrie belegte die thermoplastischen Eigenschaften des synthetisierten Polyurethans, die sich in einem thermoplastischen Nassprozess verarbeiten lassen. Sie zeigte auch die Abhängigkeit der Molmasse der synthetisierten Polyurethane von der Reaktionsdauer und vom NCO/OH-Verhältnis. So steigt die Molmasse des Polyurethans mit steigender Reaktionsdauer und sinkendem NCO/OH-Verhältnis. Letztere Beobachtung ist sogar praktisch hinsichtlich der gesundheitsgefährdenden Eigenschaft von Isocyanaten, da so der Einsatz von Isocyanaten reduziert werden kann. Um die schmelzflüssige Verarbeitbarkeit des synthetisierten Polyurethans zu untersuchen, wurden die Schmelzpunkte der Polymere bestimmt. Es konnte in einem Temperaturbereich von 25 °C-410 °C keine Aggregatzustandsänderung, sondern lediglich eine Zersetzungsreaktion beobachtet werden.
In dieser vorliegenden Arbeit wurde der photolytische und photokatalytische Abbau von Lignin untersucht. Eine Charakterisierung des verwendeten Photoreaktors wurde mittels Kalium-Ferrioxalat-Aktinometrie durchgeführt. Zur Analyse der abgebauten Lignine wurde eine Optimierung einer bereits bestehenden Methode zur Bestimmung des Hydroxylgehaltes erarbeitet. Die Bestimmung der Hydroxylgehalte erfolgte demnach bei Raumtemperatur nach einer Acetylierungsdauer von 72 h und zeigte eine Abnahme der Hydroxylgehalte mit andauernder UV-Bestrahlung. Selbige Beobachtung konnte mit Hilfe der ATR-IR-Spektroskopie gemacht werden. Zusätzlich konnte die Bildung von Carbonsäuren und der Abbau von aromatischen Strukturen detektiert werden. Der Abbau aromatischer Strukturen konnte ebenfalls durch UV-VIS-Spektroskopie gezeigt werden. Eine Vermutung, dass es sich bei dem Abbauprozess um einen oxidativen Mechanismus handelt, konnte mit dem Abbau von Hydroxylgruppen über eine Bildung von Carbonsäuren zu Kohlenstoffdioxid bestätigt werden. Eine Freisetzung von Kohlenstoffdioxid konnte durch eine Bestimmung des IC festgestellt werden. Die Ergebnisse der Gel-Permeations-Chromatographie zusammen mit einer TOC-Analyse zeigen einen Abbau der molaren Masse des Lignins auf. Es konnten Fragmente mit einer Molmasse ähnlich der Monomere des Lignins gefunden werden. Der eingesetzte Photokatalysator wurde via Röntgenbeugung untersucht und konnte als das hoch photokatalytisch aktive P25 von Degussa identifiziert werden. Trotz des Einsatzes verschiedener Katalysatorkonzentrationen in einem Bereich von 0-0,5 g L^(-1) konnte kein Einfluss des Photokatalysators auf den Abbauprozess des Lignins beobachtet werden.
Diese Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit der Entwicklung eines, für die kontrollierte Freisetzung hydrophiler Wirkstoffe geeigneten, Verkapselungssystems mit dem Ziel die Freisetzung osteospezifischer P2-Liganden zu verzögern, um bei der Behandlung von Knochendefekten kritischer Größe die Bildung neuen Knochengewebes zu gewährleisten. Hierfür werden, unter Anwendung der immersiven Layer-by-Layer-Beschichtung, mit den Modell-Substanzen Adenosintriphosphat und Suramin versetzte, Alginat sowie κ-Carrageen-Kapseln mit Chitosan und Lignosulfonat beschichtet und auf ihr Freisetzungsverhalten hin untersucht.
Im Rahmen der Arbeit wurde Kraft-Lignin mit Natriumsulfit demethyliert, um den Gehalt an aromatischen Hydroxygruppen zu erhöhen und damit die Reaktivität des Lignins in Bezug auf Polyurethan-Synthesen zu erhöhen. Variiert wurden die Demethylierungstemperatur (72°C, 90°C) sowie der pH-Wert zur Isolierung des Kraft-Lignins (pH 2, 3, 4 und 5). Die Analyse der demethylierten Proben erfolgte mittels differentieller UV-Spektroskopie und der OH-Gehaltbestimmung via automatischer Titration (angelehnt an ISO 14900:2001(E)). Weitere Untersuchungen umfassten Löslichkeitstests sowie Strukturanalysen via FTIR- und UV/Vis-Spektroskopie.
The development of metals tailored to the metallurgical conditions of laser-based additive manufacturing is crucial to advance the maturity of these materials for their use in structural applications. While efforts in this regard are being carried out around the globe, the use of high strength eutectic alloys have, so far, received minor attention, although previous works showed that rapid solidification techniques can result in ultrafine microstructures with excellent mechanical performance, albeit for small sample sizes. In the present work, a eutectic Ti-32.5Fe alloy has been produced by laser powder bed fusion aiming at exploiting rapid solidification and the capability to produce bulk ultrafine microstructures provided by this processing technique.
Process energy densities between 160 J/mm³ and 180 J/mm³ resulted in a dense and crack-free material with an oxygen content of ~ 0.45 wt.% in which a hierarchical microstructure is formed by µm-sized η-Ti4Fe2Ox dendrites embedded in an ultrafine eutectic β-Ti/TiFe matrix. The microstructure was studied three-dimensionally using near-field synchrotron ptychographic X-ray computed tomography with an actual spatial resolution down to 39 nm to analyse the morphology of the eutectic and dendritic structures as well as to quantify their mass density, size and distribution. Inter-lamellar spacings down to ~ 30–50 nm were achieved, revealing the potential of laser-based additive manufacturing to generate microstructures smaller than those obtained by classical rapid solidification techniques for bulk materials. The alloy was deformed at 600 °C under compressive loading up to a strain of ~ 30% without damage formation, resulting in a compressive yield stress of ~ 800 MPa.
This study provides a first demonstration of the feasibility to produce eutectic Ti-Fe alloys with ultrafine microstructures by laser powder bed fusion that are suitable for structural applications at elevated temperature.
Development of colored surfaces by formation of nano-structured aggregates is a widely used strategy in nature to color lightweight structures (e.g. butterflies) without the use of dye pigments. The deposition of nanoscale particles mimics nature in it’s approach coloring surfaces. This work presents sol-gel modification of cellulose surfaces used to form a template for growth of Cu/Cu2O core-shell particles with defined size-distributions. Besides improving the adhesion of the deposited particulate material, the sol-gel matrix serves as a template for the control of particle sizes of the Cu/Cu2O structures, and as a consequence of particle size variation the surface color is tunable. As an example, red color was achieved with an average particle size of 35 nm, and shifts gradually to blue appearance when particles have grown to 80 nm on the sol-gel modified fabric. The copper concentration on representative fabrics is kept low to avoid modifying the textile characteristics and were all in the range of 150–170 mg per g of cellulose material. As a result of copper deposition on the surface of the material, the cellulose fabric also became electrically conductive. Remarkably, the electrical conductivity was found to be dependent on the average particle sizes of the deposits and thus related to the change in observed color. The generation of color by growth of nano-sized particles on sol-gel templates provides a highly promising approach to stain surfaces by physical effects without use of synthetic colorants, which opens a new strategy to improve environmental profile of coloration.
With increasing life expectancy, demands for dental tissue and whole-tooth regeneration are becoming more significant. Despite great progress in medicine, including regenerative therapies, the complex structure of dental tissues introduces several challenges to the field of regenerative dentistry. Interdisciplinary efforts from cellular biologists, material scientists, and clinical odontologists are being made to establish strategies and find the solutions for dental tissue regeneration and/or whole-tooth regeneration. In recent years, many significant discoveries were done regarding signaling pathways and factors shaping calcified tissue genesis, including those of tooth. Novel biocompatible scaffolds and polymer-based drug release systems are under development and may soon result in clinically applicable biomaterials with the potential to modulate signaling cascades involved in dental tissue genesis and regeneration. Approaches for whole-tooth regeneration utilizing adult stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, or tooth germ cells transplantation are emerging as promising alternatives to overcome existing in vitro tissue generation hurdles. In this interdisciplinary review, most recent advances in cellular signaling guiding dental tissue genesis, novel functionalized scaffolds and drug release material, various odontogenic cell sources, and methods for tooth regeneration are discussed thus providing a multi-faceted, up-to-date, and illustrative overview on the tooth regeneration matter, alongside hints for future directions in the challenging field of regenerative dentistry.
One of the primary current astrobiological goals is to understand the limits of microbial resistance to extraterrestrial conditions. Much attention is paid to ionizing radiation, since it can prevent the preservation and spread of life outside the Earth. The aim of this research was to study the impact of accelerated He ions (150 MeV/n, up to 1 kGy) as a component of the galactic cosmic rays on the black fungus C. antarcticus when mixed with Antarctic sandstones—the substratum of its natural habitat—and two Martian regolith simulants, which mimics two different evolutionary stages of Mars. The high dose of 1 kGy was used to assess the effect of dose accumulation in dormant cells within minerals, under long-term irradiation estimated on a geological time scale. The data obtained suggests that viable Earth-like microorganisms can be preserved in the dormant state in the near-surface scenario for approximately 322,000 and 110,000 Earth years within Martian regolith that mimic early and present Mars environmental conditions, respectively. In addition, the results of the study indicate the possibility of maintaining traces within regolith, as demonstrated by the identification of melanin pigments through UltraViolet-visible (UV-vis) spectrophotometric approach.
Until recently, studies regarding e-banking transactions have focused more on motivational factors that trigger the intention to accept and use the e-banking transaction, rather than the de-motivational factors that propel the action. However, in the developing countries like Sub-Sahara economies, the factors associated with the former have not been explored and are still rudimentary in the literature. Drawing from the Technology Threat Avoidance Theory (TTAT), the study seeks to examine the impact of online identity theft on customers’ willingness to engage in e-banking transactions in Ghana. A quantitative survey of 393 valid responses from retail bank customers amongst two leading commercial banks in Ghana for the analyses. Results from the PLS-SEM showed that the research constructs; perceived online identity theft’ positively and significantly predict “fear of financial loss”, “fear of reputational damage”, and “security and privacy concern” whilst the former has a negative mediated-relationship between perceived online identity theft and the intention to engage in e-banking transaction. This study is the first of its kind that has extended the application of the TTAT framework into the study of e-banking transactions. The study serves as a practical tool that will enable the banks in their quest to assess customers’ restriction/aversion towards the use of Fintech while ensuring sustainable growth of e-banking transactions in an emerging economy context. The study is limited to only banking institutions in Ghana without considering other players in the financial sub-sector. Future research direction has been suggested in the concluding part of the paper.
Technik wird in unserer Gesellschaft noch immer mit Männlichkeit assoziiert. Das Bild eines Mannes, der mit einer schweren Bohrmaschine arbeitet, erscheint uns vertrauter als das einer Frau, die dieselbe Tätigkeit ausführt. Derartige Repräsentationen von Technik und Geschlecht werden auch von den Medien verbreitet und könnten so bereits Mädchen und jungen Frauen den Zugang zu Technik erschweren. Digitalisierte Medienwelten bieten allerdings die Möglichkeit, neue Technik-Bilder zu entwerfen und dominante Vorstellungen dadurch zu verschieben. Hier könnten Öffentlichkeiten für Mädchen und Frauen entstehen, die eine Selbstverständigung über technische Interessen und damit einhergehend eine Erfahrung von Kompetenz vermitteln könnten. Anhand von fünf Gruppendiskussionen mit 12- bis 15-jährigen Gymnasiastinnen wurden deren Technikverständnis, deren Nutzung digitaler Medien zu Technikthemen, vor allem aber auch deren Ideen zu einer für sie attraktiven Vermittlung von Technikthemen erfragt. Dabei wurden insbesondere die Vorteile einer symmetrischen Kommunikation im Netz deutlich.
This work provides a short but technical introduction to the main building blocks of a blockchain. It argues that a blockchain is not a revolutionary technology but rather a clever combination of three fields: cryptography, decentralization and game theory. In addition, it summaries the differences between a public, private and federate blockchain model and the two prominent consensus mechanism Proof-of-Work (POW) and Proof-of-Stake (POS).
The motor protein myosin drives a wide range of cellular and muscular functions by generating directed movement and force, fueled through adenosine triphosphate (ATP) hydrolysis. Release of the hydrolysis product adenosine diphosphate (ADP) is a fundamental and regulatory process during force production. However, details about the molecular mechanism accompanying ADP release are scarce due to the lack of representative structures. Here we solved a novel blebbistatin-bound myosin conformation with critical structural elements in positions between the myosin pre-power stroke and rigor states. ADP in this structure is repositioned towards the surface by the phosphate-sensing P-loop, and stabilized in a partially unbound conformation via a salt-bridge between Arg131 and Glu187. A 5 Å rotation separates the mechanical converter in this conformation from the rigor position. The crystallized myosin structure thus resembles a conformation towards the end of the two-step power stroke, associated with ADP release. Computationally reconstructing ADP release from myosin by means of molecular dynamics simulations further supported the existence of an equivalent conformation along the power stroke that shows the same major characteristics in the myosin motor domain as the resolved blebbistatin-bound myosin-II·ADP crystal structure, and identified a communication hub centered on Arg232 that mediates chemomechanical energy transduction.
Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were easily and efficiently functionalised with highly cross-linked polyamines. The radical polymerisation of two bis-vinylimidazolium salts in the presence of pristine MWCNTs and azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as a radical initiator led to the formation of materials with a high functionalisation degree. The subsequent treatment with sodium borohydride gave rise to the reduction of imidazolium moieties with the concomitant formation of secondary and tertiary amino groups. The obtained materials were characterised by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), elemental analysis, solid state 13C-NMR, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), potentiometric titration, and temperature programmed desorption of carbon dioxide (CO2-TPD). One of the prepared materials was tested as a heterogeneous base catalyst in C–C bond forming reactions such as the Knoevenagel condensation and Henry reaction. Furthermore, two examples concerning a sequential one-pot approach involving two consecutive reactions, namely Knoevenagel and Michael reactions, were reported.
This work thoroughly investigates a semi-Lagrangian lattice Boltzmann (SLLBM) solver for compressible flows. In contrast to other LBM for compressible flows, the vertices are organized in cells, and interpolation polynomials up to fourth order are used to attain the off-vertex distribution function values. Differing from the recently introduced Particles on Demand (PoD) method , the method operates in a static, non-moving reference frame. Yet the SLLBM in the present formulation grants supersonic flows and exhibits a high degree of Galilean invariance. The SLLBM solver allows for an independent time step size due to the integration along characteristics and for the use of unusual velocity sets, like the D2Q25, which is constructed by the roots of the fifth-order Hermite polynomial. The properties of the present model are shown in diverse example simulations of a two-dimensional Taylor-Green vortex, a Sod shock tube, a two-dimensional Riemann problem and a shock-vortex interaction. It is shown that the cell-based interpolation and the use of Gauss-Lobatto-Chebyshev support points allow for spatially high-order solutions and minimize the mass loss caused by the interpolation. Transformed grids in the shock-vortex interaction show the general applicability to non-uniform grids.
This paper addresses long-term historical changes in solar irradiance in West Africa (3 to 20° N and 20° W to 16° E) and the implications for photovoltaic systems. Here, we use satellite irradiance (Surface Solar Radiation Data Set – Heliosat, Edition 2.1 – SARAH-2.1) and temperature data from a reanalysis (ERA5) to derive photovoltaic yields. Based on 35 years of data (1983–2017), the temporal and regional variability as well as long-term trends in global and direct horizontal irradiance are analyzed. Furthermore, a detailed time series analysis is undertaken at four locations. According to the high spatial resolution SARAH-2.1 data record (0.05°×0.05°), solar irradiance is largest (up to a 300 W m−2 daily average) in the Sahara and the Sahel zone with a positive trend (up to 5 W m−2 per decade) and a lower temporal variability (<75 W m−2 between 1983 and 2017 for daily averages). In contrast, the solar irradiance is lower in southern West Africa (between 200 W m−2 and 250 W m−2) with a negative trend (up to −5 W m−2 per decade) and a higher temporal variability (up to 150 W m−2). The positive trend in the north is mostly connected to the dry season, whereas the negative trend in the south occurs during the wet season. Both trends show 95 % significance. Photovoltaic (PV) yields show a strong meridional gradient with the lowest values of around 4 kWh kWp−1 in southern West Africa and values of more than 5.5 kWh kWp−1 in the Sahara and Sahel zone.
An internal model of self-motion provides a fundamental basis for action in our daily lives, yet little is known about its development. The ability to control self-motion develops in youth and often deteriorates with advanced age. Self-motion generates relative motion between the viewer and the environment. Thus, the smoothness of the visual motion created will vary as control improves. Here, we study the influence of the smoothness of visually simulated self-motion on an observer's ability to judge how far they have travelled over a wide range of ages. Previous studies were typically highly controlled and concentrated on university students. But are such populations representative of the general public? And are there developmental and sex effects? Here, estimates of distance travelled (visual odometry) during visually induced self-motion were obtained from 466 participants drawn from visitors to a public science museum. Participants were presented with visual motion that simulated forward linear self-motion through a field of lollipops using a head-mounted virtual reality display. They judged the distance of their simulated motion by indicating when they had reached the position of a previously presented target. The simulated visual motion was presented with or without horizontal or vertical sinusoidal jitter. Participants' responses indicated that they felt they travelled further in the presence of vertical jitter. The effectiveness of the display increased with age over all jitter conditions. The estimated time for participants to feel that they had started to move also increased slightly with age. There were no differences between the sexes. These results suggest that age should be taken into account when generating motion in a virtual reality environment. Citizen science studies like this can provide a unique and valuable insight into perceptual processes in a truly representative sample of people.
Studi ini bertujuan untuk memvalidasi perangkat penilaian efikasi diri yang berkaitan dengan kesehatan kerja yang dikembangkan pada tahap studi pendahuluan. Skala Efikasi Diri untuk Kesehatan Kerja (SEDKK) berlandaskan konsep efikasi diri pada teori kognitif sosial yang mengukur empat faktor yang berpengaruh pada kesehatan setiap individu yang bekerja, seperti: perilaku makan dan minum, tidur, keamanan dan kesehatan kerja, serta kegiatan pemulihan dari stres bekerja. Hasil analisis faktor eksploratori menunjukan bahwa ada empat faktor yang terefleksikan dari butir-butir SEDKK. Validitas konstruk SEDKK dapat dibuktikan dengan korelasi positif antara SEDKK dan skala Efikasi Diri Umum yang sangat signifikan. Pengujian validitas kriteria dapat ditelusuri melalui efek SEDKK terhadap kondisi kesehatan umum, kepuasan akan kesehatan pribadi, keseimbangan kehidupan kerja/KKK (work life balance), perilaku sehat, dan perilaku berisiko. Namun demikian, asumsi mengenai reliabilitas tes berulang (test-retest) pada penelitian ini ditolak. Implikasi dan saran-saran untuk penelitian selanjutnya didiskusikan pada artikel ini.
Background: Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) have shown their multipotential including differentiating towards endothelial and smooth muscle cell lineages, which triggers a new interest for using hMSCs as a putative source for cardiovascular regenerative medicine. Our recent publication has shown for the first time that purinergic 2 receptors are key players during hMSC differentiation towards adipocytes and osteoblasts. Purinergic 2 receptors play an important role in cardiovascular function when they bind to extracellular nucleotides. In this study, the possible functional role of purinergic 2 receptors during MSC endothelial and smooth muscle differentiation was investigated. Methods and Results: Human MSCs were isolated from liposuction materials. Then, endothelial and smooth muscle-like cells were differentiated and characterized by specific markers via Reverse Transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR), Western blot and immunochemical stainings. Interestingly, some purinergic 2 receptor subtypes were found to be differently regulated during these specific lineage commitments: P2Y4 and P2Y14 were involved in the early stage commitment while P2Y1 was the key player in controlling MSC differentiation towards either endothelial or smooth muscle cells. The administration of natural and artificial purinergic 2 receptor agonists and antagonists had a direct influence on these differentiations. Moreover, a feedback loop via exogenous extracellular nucleotides on these particular differentiations was shown by apyrase digest. Conclusions: Purinergic 2 receptors play a crucial role during the differentiation towards endothelial and smooth muscle cell lineages. Some highly selective and potent artificial purinergic 2 ligands can control hMSC differentiation, which might improve the use of adult stem cells in cardiovascular tissue engineering in the future.
Optical gas sensors based on chiral-nematic liquid crystals (N* LCs) forming one-dimensional photonic crystals do not require electrical energy and have a considerable potential to supplement established types of sensors. A chiral-nematic phase with tunable selective reflection is induced in a nematic host LC by adding reactive chiral dopants. The selective chemical reaction between dopant and analyte is capable to vary the pitch length (the lattice constant) of the soft, self-assembled, one-dimensional photonic crystal. The progress of the ongoing chemical reaction can be observed even by naked eye because the color of the samples varies. In this work, we encapsulate the responsive N* LC in microscale polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) fibers via coaxial electrospinning. The sensor is, thus, given a solid form and has an improved stability against nonavoidable environmental influences. The reaction behavior of encapsulated and nonencapsulated N* LC toward a gaseous analyte is compared, systematically. Making use of the encapsulation is an important step to improve the applicability.
Am Beispiel einer jahrelang in Präsenz gelehrten Veranstaltung mit Vorlesungen, Übungen und Laborpraktika wird gezeigt, wie die Vermittlung prüfungsrelevanter Kompetenzen auch „online“ gelang. Das passende „Setting“ des Lehr- und Lernprozesses unter Beachtung von Handlungsempfehlungen ist auch für die Zukunft relevant.
The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic threatens global health thereby causing unprecedented social, economic, and political disruptions. One way to prevent such a pandemic is through interventions at the human-animal-environment interface by using an integrated One Health (OH) approach. This systematic literature review documented the three coronavirus outbreaks, i.e. SARS, MERS, COVID-19, to evaluate the evolution of the OH approach, including the identification of key OH actions taken for prevention, response, and control.
The OH understandings identified were categorized into three distinct patterns: institutional coordination and collaboration, OH in action/implementation, and extended OH (i.e. a clear involvement of the environmental domain). Across all studies, OH was most often framed as OH in action/implementation and least often in its extended meaning. Utilizing OH as institutional coordination and collaboration and the extended OH both increased over time. OH actions were classified into twelve sub-groups and further categorized as classical OH actions (i.e. at the human-animal interface), classical OH actions with outcomes to the environment, and extended OH actions.
The majority of studies focused on human-animal interaction, giving less attention to the natural and built environment. Different understandings of the OH approach in practice and several practical limitations might hinder current efforts to achieve the operationalization of OH by combining institutional coordination and collaboration with specific OH actions. The actions identified here are a valuable starting point for evaluating the stage of OH development in different settings. This study showed that by moving beyond the classical OH approach and its actions towards a more extended understanding, OH can unfold its entire capacity thereby improving preparedness and mitigating the impacts of the next outbreak.
The development of sustainable, environmentally friendly insulation materials with a reduced carbon footprint is attracting increased interest. One alternative to conventional insulation materials are foamed geopolymers. Similar to foamed concrete, the mechanical properties of geopolymer foams can also be improved by using fibers for reinforcement. This paper presents an overview of the latest research findings in the field of fiber-reinforced geopolymer foam concrete with special focus on natural fibers reinforcement. Furthermore, some basic and background information of natural fibers and geopolymer foams are reported. In most of the research, foams are produced either through chemical foaming with hydrogen peroxide or aluminum powder, or through mechanical foaming which includes a foaming agent. However, previous reviews have not sufficiently addresses the fabrication of geopolymer foams by syntactic foams. Finally, recent efforts to reduce the fiber degradation in geopolymer concrete are discussed along with challenges for natural fiber reinforced-geopolymer foam concrete.
Risk-based Authentication (RBA) is an adaptive security measure to strengthen password-based authentication. RBA monitors additional features during login, and when observed feature values differ significantly from previously seen ones, users have to provide additional authentication factors such as a verification code. RBA has the potential to offer more usable authentication, but the usability and the security perceptions of RBA are not studied well.
We present the results of a between-group lab study (n=65) to evaluate usability and security perceptions of two RBA variants, one 2FA variant, and password-only authentication. Our study shows with significant results that RBA is considered to be more usable than the studied 2FA variants, while it is perceived as more secure than password-only authentication in general and comparably secure to 2FA in a variety of application types. We also observed RBA usability problems and provide recommendations for mitigation. Our contribution provides a first deeper understanding of the users' perception of RBA and helps to improve RBA implementations for a broader user acceptance.
Long-term variability of solar irradiance and its implications for photovoltaic power in West Africa
(2020)
This paper addresses long-term changes in solar irradiance for West Africa (3° N to 20° N and 20° W to 16° E) and its implications for photovoltaic power systems. Here we use satellite irradiance (Surface Solar Radiation Data Set-Heliosat, Edition 2.1, SARAH-2.1) to derive photovoltaic yields. Based on 35 years of data (1983–2017) the temporal and regional variability as well as long-term trends of global and direct horizontal irradiance are analyzed. Furthermore, at four locations a detailed time series analysis is undertaken. The dry and the wet season are considered separately.