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Diese Arbeit kann in der Bibliothek für Architektur, Design und Kunst (Leonardocampus 10) eingesehen werden.
Rethinking Sacred Spaces : Taking the Jakobichurch as an example : [Wintersemester 2022/2023]
(2023)
Diese Arbeit kann in der Bibliothek für Architektur, Design und Kunst (Leonardocampus 10) eingesehen werden.
Diese Arbeit kann in der Bibliothek für Architektur, Design und Kunst (Leonardocampus 10) eingesehen werden.
Diese Arbeit kann in der Bibliothek für Architektur, Design und Kunst (Leonardocampus 10) eingesehen werden.
Collective dynamic capabilities in innovation ecosystems - an analysis of the multi-actor process
(2023)
Diese Arbeit kann in der Bibliothek für Architektur, Design und Kunst (Leonardocampus 10) eingesehen werden.
Purpose: This study investigated the effectiveness of the stuttering modification intervention Kinder Dürfen Stottern (KIDS) in school-age children who stutter.
Method: Seventy-three children who stutter were included in this multicenter, two-group parallel, randomized, wait-list controlled trial with a follow-up of 12 months. Children aged 7–11 years were recruited from 34 centers for speech therapy and randomized to either the immediate-treatment group or the 3 months delayed-treatment group. KIDS was provided by 26 clinicians who followed a treatment manual. Although the primary outcome measure was the impact of stuttering (Overall Assessment of the Speaker’s Experience of Stuttering–School-Age [OASES-S]), the secondary outcomes included objective and subjective data on stuttering severity.
Results: At 3 months postrandomization, the mean score changes of the OASESS differed significantly between the experimental (n = 33) and control group (n = 29; p = .026). Furthermore, treatment outcomes up to 12 months were analyzed (n = 59), indicating large effects of time on the OASES-S score (p < .001, partial η2 = .324). This was paralleled by significant improvements in parental ratings and objective ratings (stuttering severity, frequency, and physical concomitants).
Conclusions: The significant short-term treatment effects in the OASES-S are in line with the (initial) focus of KIDS on cognitive and affective aspects of stuttering.
Over 12 months, these changes were maintained and accompanied by
behavioral improvements. The results suggest that individual treatment with KIDS is an adequate treatment option for this age group.
This study investigated the ability of electrically conductive carbon rovings to detect cracks in textile-reinforced concrete (TRC) structures. The key innovation lies in the integration of carbon rovings into the reinforcing textile, which not only contributes to the mechanical properties of the concrete structure but also eliminates the need for an additional sensory system, such as strain gauges, to monitor the structural health. Carbon rovings are integrated into a grid-like textile reinforcement that differs in binding type and dispersion concentration of the styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) coating. Ninety final samples were subjected to a four-point bending test in which the electrical changes of the carbon rovings were measured simultaneously to capture the strain. The mechanical results show that the SBR50-coated TRC samples with circular and elliptical cross-sectional shape achieved, with 1.55 kN, the highest bending tensile strength, which is also captured with a value of 0.65 Ω by the electrical impedance monitoring. The elongation and fracture of the rovings have a significant effect on the impedance mainly due to electrical resistance change. A correlation was found between the impedance change, binding type and coating. This suggests that the elongation and fracture mechanisms are affected by the number of outer and inner filaments, as well as the coating.
The Spreadsheet Energy System Model Generator (SESMG) is a tool for modeling and optimizing energy systems with a focus on urban systems. The SESMG is easily accessible as it comes with a browser-based graphical user interface, spreadsheets to provide data entry, and detailed documentation on how to use it. Programming skills are not required for the installation or application of the tool. The SESMG includes advanced modeling features such as the application of the multi-energy system (MES) approach, multi-objective optimization, model-based methods for reducing computational requirements, and automated conceptualization and result processing of urban energy systems with high spatial resolution. Due to its accessibility and the applied modeling methods, urban energy systems can be modeled and optimized with comparatively low effort.
Non-communicable diseases (NCD) are associated with high costs for healthcare systems. We evaluated changes in total costs, comprising direct and indirect costs, due to a 24-month non-randomized, controlled lifestyle intervention trial with six measurement time points aiming to improve the risk profile for NCDs. Overall, 187 individuals from the general population aged ≥18 years were assigned to either the intervention group (IG; n = 112), receiving a 10-week intensive lifestyle intervention focusing on a healthy, plant-based diet; physical activity; stress management; and community support, followed by a 22-month follow-up phase including monthly seminars, or a control group (CG; n = 75) without intervention. The complete data sets of 118 participants (IG: n = 79; CG: n = 39) were analyzed. At baseline, total costs per person amounted to 67.80 ± 69.17 EUR in the IG and 48.73 ± 54.41 EUR in the CG per week. The reduction in total costs was significantly greater in the IG compared to the CG after 10 weeks (p = 0.012) and 6 months (p = 0.004), whereas direct costs differed significantly after 10 weeks (p = 0.017), 6 months (p = 0.041) and 12 months (p = 0.012) between the groups. The HLCP-2 was able to reduce health-related economic costs, primarily due to the reduction in direct costs.
From Surviving to Living (on): A Grounded Theory Study on Coping in People with Pancreatic Cancer
(2023)
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationships between technology orientations and export performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Design/methodology/approach
A quantitative research design was adopted for this study. The paper formulates hypotheses from the literature review. These hypotheses are tested using structural equation modeling with data collected from 231 SMEs in Uganda. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23 and AMOS.
Findings
The findings of this study showed technology orientation has a positive and significant relationship with the performance of Ugandan SMEs and that supply chain agility moderates technology orientation and export performance.
Research limitations/implications
The study discusses the findings, advances limitations and managerial implications. It also suggests future research avenues. It proposes some recommendations to help Ugandan SMEs to form flexible supply chains, use the latest technology and create strong relationship ties with their partners in the supply chain.
Practical implications
The study suggests that managers of Ugandan SMEs should use the latest technology in production, marketing, logistics and supply chain management which will enable them to respond quickly to customer tastes and preferences leading to higher levels of export performance.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the literature on strategic management showing the reliability of scales used and the confirmatory of the factor structure. This study shows that in strategic management technology, orientation is critical in increasing export performance. This study has extended the resource-based view (RBV) and dynamic capabilities theories.
The Educational Journal of Renewable Energy Short Reviews (EduJRESR, formally published as `EGU Journal of Renewable Energy Short Reviews') is a teaching project rather than a regular scientific journal. To publish in this journal, it is a premise to take part in the master course wind power, hydro power and biomass usage at the department of Energy, Building Services and Environmental Engineering of the Münster University of Applied Sciences.
Students receive an equivalent of 2.5 credit points (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System - ECTS) for their engagement in the course and for publishing a short review article of at most 3000 words in this periodical. The publication process closely mimics the typical publication procedure of a regular journal. The peer-review process, however, is conducted within the group of course-participants.
Although being just an exercise, we think that publishing the outcome of this course in a citable manner is not only promoting the motivation of our students, but may also be a helpful source of introductory information for researchers and practitioners in the field of renewable energies. We encourage students to write their articles in English, but this is not mandatory. The reader will thus find a few articles in German language. To further encourage students practicing English writing, perfect grammar is not part of the assessment.
We especially thank our students for working with LaTeX on Overleaf, although LaTeX is new to some of them. In this way, the editorial workload was reduced to a minimum. We also thank our students for sharing their work under the creative commons attribution licence (CC-BY). We appreciate their contribution to scientific information, being available to every person of the world, almost without barriers. We also thank the corresponding authors and publishers of the cited work, for granting permission to reuse graphics free of charge. All other figures had to be replaced or removed prior to publication.
The use of wind power is rapidly expanding worldwide. It is important to examine the impact of wind turbines on the environment to see if they provide a net benefit and to identify potential for improving. Therefore life cycle assessments (LCA) of different wind turbine types are compared in this short review. The results are then shown side by side in tables for comparison. Overall the LCAs show that wind turbines compensate the required energy and emitted pollutants after approx. 6-16 months. The energy payback period (EPP) for 2 MW onshore wind turbines remained roughly the same since 2009 with approximately 7 months. Onshore wind turbines have a higher impact due to emissions but a shorter EPP than offshore wind turbines. The estimated service life of 20 years should be maximized to ensure a high energy yield ratio. The biggest impact on the environment results from the processes to provide the building material e.g. steel and cement. That impact could be reduced by 20 % if recycled steel would be used. It is shown that wind power is one of the cleanest energy sources. But further investigations in material processing and recycling are important to improve the eco-balance of wind turbines.
This review is about where and which tidal power systems are currently deployed. It starts with an insight into the variety of different tidal power systems. With the help of a list from the European Marine Energy Center about currently used systems for tidal power plants, it quickly becomes apparent that two systems stand out. These are the vertical and horizontal turbines. The latter are particularly common, as they are used for both tidal stream and tidal range power plants. Determining the regions with high potential for tidal power is not always easy due to the many influencing factors. Influencing factors are, for example form and conditions of the seabed, topographical features of the coast or currents in the sea [1]. Therefore, each region must be considered separately. n this paper the focus is on the UK, the literature shows that the coastal regions around the UK provide about 50 TWh/year of the European tidal power potential. This is due to the location between the oceans and the geological conditions, which act as a channel for the tides. The two areas with high potential where planning
and construction of tidal power plants is currently underway are in the north of Scotland and in the southwest of England in the Bristol Channel.
This review paper presents a short overview of current power system modelling tools especially used for analysing energy and electricity systems for the supply and demand sector. The main focus of this review lies on open source tools and models which are written and used in the programming language “Python”. The modelling tools are represented in a comprehensive table with key information. Five modelling tools with an open source license can be filtered out. The modelling tool PyPSA can be considered as a high performing tool especially as the gap between power system analysis tool (PSAT) and energy system modelling tool.
This report examines the strength of young and early age concrete that has been systematically exposed to horizontal, sinusoidal vibrations with varying vibration parameters. Specimens were subjected to vibrations of predefined vibration times (4–14 h) and the compressive strength was determined after a period of 28 days. It was found that the different parameters have no critical influence on compressive strength and that vibration prior to initial setting of the concrete can increase its strength. Additional information to examine the reasons for this increase was obtained by further investigations (nuclear magnetic resonance, x-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis).
Objectives: In recent years, the European Union has revised its regulatory framework for medical devices, primarily to improve patient safety and public health. The Medical Device Regulation (MDR) is fully applicable since May 2021, strengthening the requirements for all stakeholders. As a result, many companies are facing enormous challenges. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the MDR on the orthopaedic aids industry.
Methods: Two surveys were conducted: one shortly before the MDR became applicable (146 respondents) and a second survey almost two years later (233 respondents).
Results: Both surveys revealed that all businesses in the orthopaedic aids sector, regardless of size, have difficulty implementing the MDR. Key challenges include additional workload for technical documentation, increased resource expenditure and cost, and lack of clarity regarding the new requirements. Many companies are downsizing their product portfolio, resulting in potential supply shortages and a loss of competitive advantage and innovation for the medical device industry in Europe.
Conclusions: The full extent of the MDR’s impact on clinical practice is still unclear. However, many companies lack the necessary resources. The MDR can potentially be a bottleneck in the availability of medical devices.
The use of computational modeling and simulation (CMS) as a tool for gaining insight into the technical performance and safety of medical devices has emerged continuously over the past years. However, to rely on information and decisions derived from model predictions, it is essential to establish model credibility for the specific context of use. Limited regulatory requirements and lack of consensus on the level of verification and validation activities required result in rare use of CMS as a source of evidence in the medical device approval process. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) developed a risk-informed framework to establish appropriate credibility requirements of a computational model: the ASME V&V 40?2018 standard. This paper aims to outline the concepts of this standard and to demonstrate its application using an example from the orthotics field. The necessary steps to establish model credibility for a custom?made 3D printed wrist hand orthosis (WHO) are presented. It is shown that the credibility requirements of each verification and validation activity depend on model risk by applying two different contexts of use to the same computational model.
A communication over an Internet Protocol (IP) based network fails if an endpoint sends packets that are too big to reach their destination and if the sender is unable to detect that. The node on the path that drops these packets should respond with a Packet Too Big (PTB) message. However, multiple scenarios exist in which the sender will not receive a PTB message. Even if it does, it refrains from using the information in case it suspects that a potential attacker forged the message. In particular, we are not aware of any implementation of the secure transport protocol QUIC (e.g., used by HTTP/3) that processes PTB messages. In this paper, we present a novel parameterizable PTB detection algorithm for reliable transport protocols that does not depend on PTB messages. We further describe how to integrate our algorithm into QUIC, present results from an evaluation using the algorithm within a QUIC simulation model and, based on these results, suggest concrete parameter values.
Wastewater Generation Model to Predict Impacts of Urine Separation on Wastewater Treatment Plants
(2023)
Wastewater treatment plants are under increasing pressure to enhance resource efficiency and reduce emissions into water bodies. Separation of urine within the catchment area may be an alternative to mitigate the need for costly expansions of central wastewater treatment plant. While previous investigations assumed a spatially uniform implementation of urine separation across the catchment area, the present study introduces a modelling framework which allows to determine the influence of targeted urine separation on the operation and emissions of central wastewater treatment plants. The framework includes an adapted stochastic wastewater generation model, the Stormwater Management Model, and Activated Sludge Model No. 3 with Bio-P module (SIMBA#). The entire application is embedded in the R programming language. The model is validated by an extensive sampling and measurement campaign. Preliminary results based on observed and simulated wastewater generation and transport for a catchment area of 436 residents indicate the suitability of the model for wastewater generation and transport modelling, but also show further need for calibration.
The extended quasiparticle picture is adapted to non-Fermi systems by suggesting a Pad´e approximation which interpolates between the known small scattering-rate expansion and the deviation from the Fermi energy. The first two energy-weighted sum rules are shown to be fulfilled independent of the interpolating function for any selfenergy. For various models of one-dimensional Fermions scattering with impurities the quality of the Pad´e approximation for the spectral function is demonstrated and the reduced density matrix or momentum distribution is reproduced not possessing a jump at the Fermi energy. Though the two-fold expansion is necessary to realize the spectral function and reduced density, the extended quasiparticle approximation itself is sufficient for the description of transport properties due to cancellation of divergent terms under integration.
The T-matrix approximation leads to the delay time as the time two particles spend in a correlated state. This contributes to the reduced density matrix and to an additional part in the conductivity which is presented at zero and finite temperatures. Besides a localization at certain impurity concentrations, the conductivity shows a maximum at small temperatures interpreted as onset of superconducting behaviour triggered by impurities. The Tan contact reveals the same universal behaviour as known from electron-electron scattering.
Stormwater tree pits with storage elements enable the irrigation of urban trees and can potentially act as decentralized rainwater retention basins. This paper mainly focuses on analyzing this potential. Field tests were conducted to investigate the irrigation behavior and the storage effect of a storm water tree pit system using Perl hoses as irrigation elements over a period of two years.
The rainfall, storage volumes, and soil moisture within the employed planting pit were measured.
With the help of system modeling, the retention ability of the storm water tree pit system was analyzed. The available storage volume was sufficient to irrigate trees for several days. During the measurement period, about 15% of the inflowing rainwater was fed to the root zone of the tree. With practical storage volumes of 200 to 300 m3/ha, a remarkable amount of water from heavy rainfall could be completely stored, thus significantly reducing the risk of flooding. The retention effect and irrigation behavior largely depend on the soil conditions and the technical possibilities of the equipment supplying the root area (in this case, Perl hoses). Further investigations are required to determine the influence on the growth conditions of trees and optimize of the system for discharge into the root zone.
This article explores educational media pedagogies that are predominantly non-digital, but nonetheless timely and influential. Design Thinking, Making, and Serious Play are three distinct yet interrelated approaches to problem-solving, resilience and innovation that have gained increased traction in education over the past decade. We explore the similarities and differences between these playful, experiental pedagogies and provide an overview of how these approaches can be integrated effectively into education settings. Finally, we provide transferable examples, including evaluation results, from a weeklong workshop series at Muenster University of Applied Sciences conducted in Spring 2022. The article serves as a theoretically informed practical guide for educators and practitioners seeking to select, implement and evaluate playful pedagogies. It contributes to the understanding of underlying principles, characteristics, potential impact and limitations.
A novel approach for ventilation systems is a periodically varying supply air flow rate, the so-called unsteady mode of operation. So far, useful effects of this unsteady operating mode have been observed, but the effect mechanisms are still unknown. In this manuscript, simulations using the recently proposed k-ω-ζ - f model implemented in a sensitized RANS computational framework for a cuboid room with swirl diffusers are compared and validated with PIV measurements.
In-depth analysis of customer journeys to broaden the understanding of customer behaviors and expectations in order to improve the customer experience is considered highly relevant in modern business practices. Recent studies predominantly focus on retrospective analysis of customer data, whereas more forward-directed concepts, namely predictions, are rarely addressed. Additionally, the integration of robotic process automation (RPA) to potentially increase the efficiency of customer journey analysis is not discussed in the current field of research. To fill this research gap, this paper introduces “customer journey mining”. Process mining techniques are applied to leverage digital customer data for accurate prediction of customer movements through individual journeys, creating valuable insights for improving the customer experience. Striving for improved efficiency, the potential interplay of RPA and customer journey mining is examined accordingly. The research methodology followed is based on a design science research process. An initially defined customer journey mining artifact is operationalized through an illustrative case study. This operationalization is achieved by analyzing a log file of an online travel agency functioning as an orientation for researchers and practitioners while also evaluating the initially defined framework. The data is used to train seven distinct prediction models to forecast the touchpoint a customer is most likely to visit next. Gradient-boosted trees yield the highest prediction accuracy with 43.1%. The findings further indicate technical suitability for RPA implementation, while financial viability is unlikely.
Against the setting of an increasing need for innovation and low margins, companies in the logistics
sector are facing highly competitive pressure. One field with high potential for optimization lies within
damage quotas. The use of big data analytics or data mining represents a promising approach to face
this challenge. However, within supply chain management, data mining is hardly being researched on
regarding damage quotas and thus not being utilized to its full possible extend. At the current time it
seems to predominantly be used for route and utilization optimization while the analysis of delivery
damages is hardly considered.
The aim of this research is therefore to showcase an initial approach for data mining in logistics to predict
delivery damage probabilities and to validate this by means of a multiple case study research. To create
a sound basis for evaluation, the groundwork is laid out based on CRISP-DM by the analysis of reference
data (German road-cargo market).
As a central result it is noted that data mining can systematically be used to help reducing the damages
by forecasting the probabilities of damages occurring during transport in dependence of different factors.
The approach can be utilized across different markets as long as sufficient data tracking delivery
damages is being collected within a company. Challenges arise in the field of air- and sea-freight.
For the increasingly important storage of renewably generated electricity, this review explains the construction of a surface and underground pumped storage
power plant. The problems for the construction of an underground pumped storage power plant are further listed. These are geological, environmental and
economic problems as well as a low acceptance by the population. The geological problems are concerns about leaching of minerals and heavy metals as well as the statics of the cavities. Mining companies in Germany are obligated to renaturalize the landscape areas again, which could be realised by a lake. Furthermore, care must be taken to ensure that the mine water does not come into contact with the groundwater. According to a survey by RISP on the subsequent use of the mine areas for an underground pumped
storage power plant, the acceptance of the population is over 70 percent. The economic consideration concludes that the arbitrage profit for a difference between off-peak and peak of 10 €/MWh is about 2.7 M€/a and for 100 €/MWh about 27.3 M€/a. With investment costs of about 630 M€, despite the assumption of 100 €/MWh, more than 20 years are needed for an underground pumped storage power plant to be amortized. The acceptance could be increased by creating a lake as a recreation area as well as being used as an upper storage reservoir. Thus, the cost of renaturation decrease when combined with the creation of the storage basin. The problem of ground conditions can be solved by creating new cavities by means of tunnel boring at an inclination. For static safety as well as against leaching of minerals and heavy metals, the cavity walls can be sealed with reinforced concrete. The technology of underground pumped storage power plants can be used for better utilisation of renewable energies. This is especially in flat and densely populated regions a possibility to store energy, because the main part of the power plant is underground.
Indicators for the optimization of sustainable urban energy systems based on energy system modeling
(2022)
Background: Urban energy systems are responsible for 75 % of the world's energy consumption and for 70 % of the worldwide greenhouse gas emissions. Energy system models are used to optimize, benchmark and compare such energy systems with the help of energy sustainability indicators. We discuss several indicators for their basic suitability and their response to changing boundary conditions, system structures and reference values. The most suitable parameters are applied to four different supply scenarios of a real-world urban energy system.
Results: There is a number of energy sustainability indicators, but not all of them are suitable for the use in urban energy system optimization models. Shortcomings originate from the omission of upstream energy supply chains (secondary energy efficiency), from limited capabilities to compare small energy systems (energy productivity), from excessive accounting expense (regeneration rate), from unsuitable accounting methods (primary energy efficiency), from a questionable impact of some indicators on the overall system sustainability (self-sufficiency), from the lack of detailed information content (share of renewables), and more. On the other hand, indicators of absolute greenhouse gas emissions, energy costs, and final energy demand are well suitable for the use in optimization models. However, each of these indicators only represents partial aspects of energy sustainability; the use of only one indicator in the optimization process increases the risk that other important aspects will deteriorate significantly, eventually leading to suboptimal or even unrealistic scenarios in practice. Therefore, multi-criteria approaches should be used to enable a more holistic optimization and planning of sustainable urban energy systems.
Conclusion: We recommend multi-criteria optimization approaches using the indicators of absolute greenhouse gas emissions, absolute energy costs, and absolute energy demand. For benchmarking and comparison purposes, specific indicators should be used and therefore related to the final energy demand, respectively the number of inhabitants. Our example scenarios demonstrate modeling strategies to optimize sustainability of urban energy systems.
Visually induced motion sickness (VIMS) is a common side-effect of exposure to virtual reality (VR). Its unpleasant symptoms may limit the acceptance of VR technologies for training or clinical purposes. Mechanical stimulation of the mastoid and diverting attention to pleasant stimuli-like odors or music have been found to ameliorate VIMS. Chewing gum combines both in an easy-to-administer fashion and should thus be an effective countermeasure against VIMS. Our study investigated whether gustatory-motor stimulation by chewing gum leads to a reduction of VIMS symptoms. 77 subjects were assigned to three experimental groups (control, peppermint gum, and ginger gum) and completed a 15-min virtual helicopter flight, using a VR head-mounted display. Before and after VR exposure, we assessed VIMS with the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ), and during the virtual flight once every minute with the Fast Motion Sickness Scale (FMS). Chewing gum (peppermint gum: M = 2.44, SD = 2.67; ginger gum: M = 2.57, SD = 3.30) reduced the peak FMS scores by 2.05 (SE = 0.76) points as compared with the control group (M = 4.56, SD = 3.52), p < 0.01, d = 0.65. Additionally, taste ratings correlated slightly negatively with both the SSQ and the peak FMS scores, suggesting that pleasant taste of the chewing gum is associated with less VIMS. Thus, chewing gum may be useful as an affordable, accepted, and easy-to-access way to mitigate VIMS in numerous applications like education or training. Possible mechanisms behind the effect are discussed.
A new approach to determine the elements carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen (CHNO) in polymers by wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis (WDXRF) in combination with partial least squares (PLS) regression was explored. The quantification of CHNO was achieved by using the Rayleigh and Compton scattering spectra of an Rh X-ray tube from 84 different polymers. Concealed differences of the corresponding scattering spectra could be utilized to quantify CHNO in a multivariate manner. It was shown that the developed model was capable of determining these commonly non-measurable matrix elements in polymers using WDXRF. Furthermore, the influence of spectral resolution, which is given by the collimator and the crystal, on the prediction of CHNO was explored in this study. It was found that minimal spectral resolution led to the most accurate CHNO predictions. Information about matrix composition could be used to improve so-called semi-quantitative XRF methods based on fundamental parameters (FP) for the analysis of plastics, soil or other samples with high organic content.
Background The potential of adopting a healthy lifestyle to fight non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is not fully used. We hypothesised that the Healthy Lifestyle Community Programme (HLCP, cohort 1) reduces weight and other risk markers compared with baseline and control.
Methods 24-month, non-randomised, controlled intervention trial. Intervention: intensive 8-week phase with seminars, workshops and coaching focusing on a healthy lifestyle (eg, plant-based diet, physical activity, stress management) and group support followed by a 22-month alumni phase. Weight reduction as the primary outcome and other NCD risk parameters were assessed at six time points. Participants were recruited from the general population. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted.
Results 143 participants (58±12 years, 71% female) were enrolled (91 in the intervention (IG) and 52 in the control group (CG)). Groups’ baseline characteristics were comparable, except participants of IG were younger, more often females, overweight and reported lower energy intake (kcal/day). Weight significantly decreased in IG at all follow-ups by −1.5 ± 1.9 kg after 8 weeks to −1.9 ± 4.0 kg after 24 months and more than in CG (except after 24 months). Being male, in the IG or overweight at baseline and having a university degree predicted more weight loss. After the intervention, there were more participants in the IG with a ‘high’ adherence (+12%) to plant-based food patterns. The change of other risk parameters was most distinct after 8 weeks and in people at elevated risk. Diabetes-related risk parameters did not improve.
Conclusion The HLCP was able to reduce weight and to improve aspects of the NCD risk profile. Weight loss in the IG was moderate but maintained for 24 months. Participants of lower educational status might benefit from even more practical units. Future interventions should aim to include more participants at higher risk.
Trial registration number DRKS00018821.
From 2023, new minimum standards for the reuse of treated wastewater will apply in the EU. Internationally, water reuse has already been a relevant issue for some time. Rising water demand worldwide, also as a result of global climate change, is increasing the scarity of freshwater resources in some areas. Reclaimed water is increasingly considered as a valuable substitute for natural water resources. Even before the new EU regulation came into force, DWA has published an extensive report covering a variety of aspects to be considered within the scope of non-potable water reuse. This article provides an overview of that DWA Topics issue “Non-Potable Water Reuse – Development, Technologies and International Framework Conditions for Agricultural, Urban and Industrial Uses”.
Common carotid intima-media thickness (ccIMT) progression is a risk marker for cardiovascular disease (CVD), whereas healthy lifestyle habits are associated with lower ccIMT. The objective of the present study was to test whether a healthy lifestyle intervention can beneficially affect ccIMT progression. A community-based non-randomised, controlled lifestyle intervention was conducted, focusing on a predominantly plant-based diet (strongest emphasis), physical activity, stress management and social health. Assessments of ccIMT were made at baseline, 6 months and 1 year. Participants had an average age of 57 years and were recruited from the general population in rural northwest Germany (intervention: n 114; control: n 87). From baseline to 1 year, mean ccIMT significantly increased in both the intervention (0⋅026 [95 % CI 0⋅012, 0⋅039] mm) and control group (0⋅045 [95 % CI 0⋅033, 0⋅056] mm). The 1-year trajectory of mean ccIMT was lower in the intervention group (P = 0⋅022; adjusted for baseline). In a subgroup analysis with participants with high baseline mean ccIMT (≥0⋅800 mm), mean ccIMT non-significantly decreased in the intervention group (−0⋅016 [95 % CI −0⋅050, 0⋅017] mm; n 18) and significantly increased in the control group (0⋅065 [95 % CI 0⋅033, 0⋅096] mm; n 12). In the subgroup, the 1-year trajectory of mean ccIMT was significantly lower in the intervention group (between-group difference: −0⋅051 [95 % CI −0⋅075, −0⋅027] mm; P < 0⋅001; adjusted for baseline). The results indicate that healthy lifestyle changes may beneficially affect ccIMT within 1 year, particularly if baseline ccIMT is high.
Techno-Economic Assessment of Solid-Liquid Biogas Treatment Plants for the Agro-Industrial Sector
(2022)
(1) The use of renewable energy for power and heat supply is one of the strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As only 14% of German households are supplied with renewable energy, a shift is necessary. This shift should be realized with the lowest possible environmental impact. This paper assesses the environmental impacts of changes in energy generation and distribution, by integrating the life cycle assessment (LCA) method into energy system models (ESM). (2) The integrated LCA is applied to a case study of the German neighborhood of Herne, (i) to optimize the energy supply, considering different technologies, and (ii) to determine the environmental impacts of the base case (status quo), a cost-optimized scenario, and a CO2-optimized scenario. (3) The use of gas boilers in the base case is substituted with CHPs, surface water heat pumps and PV-systems in the CO2-optimized scenario, and five ground-coupled heat pumps and PV-systems for the cost-optimized scenario. This technology shift led to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of almost 40% in the cost-optimized, and more than 50% in the CO2-optimized, scenario. However, technology shifts, e.g., due to oversized battery storage, risk higher impacts in other categories, such as terrestrial eco toxicity, by around 22%. Thus, it can be recommended to use smaller battery storage systems. (4) By combining ESM and LCA, additional environmental impacts beyond GHG emissions can be quantified, and therefore trade-offs between environmental impacts can be identified. Furthermore, only applying ESM leads to an underestimation of greenhouse gas emissions of around 10%. However, combining ESM and LCA required significant effort and is not yet possible using an integrated software.
The development of compact treatment devices with high removal efficiencies and low space requirements is a key objective of urban stormwater
treatment. Thus, many devices utilize a combination of sedimentation and upward flow filtration in a single system. This study, for the
first time, evaluates the flow field inside a combined filter-lamella separator via computational fluid dynamics. Herein, three objectives
are investigated: (i) the flow field for different structural configurations, (ii) the distribution of particulate matter along the filter bed and
(iii) the dynamic clogging in discrete filter zones, which is addressed by a clogging model derived from literature data. The results indicate
that a direct combination of a filtration stage with a lamella separator promotes a uniform flow distribution. The distribution of particulate
matter along the filter bed varies with configuration and particle size. Clogging, induced by particles in the spectrum ,63 μm, creates
gradients of hydraulic conductivity along the filter bed. After treating about half of Germany’s annual runoff-efficient precipitation at a rainfall
intensity of 5 L/(s·ha), the filtration rates increase in the front of the filter bed by þ10%. Thus, long-term operating behavior is sensitive to
efficient filter utilization in compact treatment devices.
Public catering has become increasingly important in recent years. With increasing annual customers, the sector’s impact on the environment is also growing continuously. At the same time, public catering offers a lever to promote sustainable nutrition that has rarely been used so far. Small changes in kitchen practices and food offers can thus be multiplied into a significant positive impact on environmental challenges, such as climate change or loss of biodiversity due to the large
number of servings. In contrast to private households, management decisions in public catering can influence the food-
related environmental impact of thousands of customers. This article deals with the nationwide level of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and resource use in the German public catering segment “business” and its saving potentials by different
scenarios of unsupported and supported recipe revision. In this paper, we define "unsupported" as the intuitive optimization of recipes by employees of public catering businesses. In contrast, “supported” approaches had to meet specific target goals,
for example of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ernährung; engl. German Nutrition Society or the sustainable level. Specifically, we will test how (A) an unsupported recipe revision, (B) a recipe revision based on dietary recommendations and (C)
a recipe revision using scientific guidance affect the environmental impact of a dish. As a methodological framework, an online survey of public catering companies was conducted as well as a scenario analysis at menu level and at nationwide
level. The results are based on empirical data on the one hand, and on extrapolations on the other. The results show that the nationwide implementation of recipe revision according to scientific guidance—such as concrete target goals for the GHG emissions per serving—can save up to 44% of resource use in the German business catering sector (which corresponds to 3.4 million tons of resources per year) and as much as 40% of GHG emissions (0.6 tons GHG emissions per year). Even in
the scenario of unsupported recipe revision, GHG and resource savings of up to 20% can be realized. The results show that public catering can reduce its material and carbon footprint by 20% overnight. Moreover, the findings show indications for the sustainable transformation of public catering. Nevertheless, it must be noted that these are some first steps of the transformation, which will require further changes with even greater impacts and political activities.
Mechanical ventilation of buildings is generally based on steadily operating systems. This field is well known and established. But, an approach based on time-varied supply flow rates might improve indoor air quality, comfort, and energy consumption. Typical time-scales of the variation are in the order of seconds or minutes. Until now, the effects of unsteady ventilation scenarios are not fully described and so, reliable dimensioning rules are missing. Hence, with a better understanding of the flow in unsteady ventilation, systems can be calculated and optimised. To understand the effective mechanisms and derive functional relations between the flow field and variation parameters, full-field optical flow measurements are executed with a particle image velocimetry (PIV) system. Experiments are conducted under isothermal conditions in water in a small-scale room model (1.00 m × 0.67 m × 0.46 m) with two swirl ceiling diffusers, Reynolds-scaling assures similarity. In a series of experiments, the effects of different unsteady ventilation strategies on the flow fields are investigated and compared to steady conditions with the same mean exchange rate. Mean exchange rates, signal types, periods, and amplitudes are varied. Time-averaged normalised velocity fields already indicate notable differences between steady and unsteady cases especially for lower exchange rates: the distribution is more homogeneous in unsteady scenarios compared to steady conditions, and low-velocity areas are reduced while the mean velocity of the room increases. So, unsteady ventilation might be beneficial in terms of improved ventilation and energy savings in partial-load operation. Fast Fourier Transformation (FFT) analyses of the mean velocity for each field over the whole series detect the main frequency of the volume flow variation. By dividing the velocity field into smaller areas, this main frequency is still detected especially in the upper part of the room, but side frequencies play a role in the room as well.
Single-shot all-digital approach for measuring the orbital angular momentum spectrum of light
(2022)
Light fields carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM) offer a broad variety of applications in which especially an accurate determination of the respective OAM spectrum, i.e., unraveling the content of OAM by its topological charge ℓ, has become a main subject. Even though various techniques have been proposed to measure the OAM spectrum of such modes, many of them fail if optical vortices have to be considered in perturbed or dynamically changing experimental systems. Here, we put forward a novel technique capable of determining the OAM spectrum of light by a single measurement shot, which specifically applies to those fields that have been distorted. Experimentally, our technique only requires to interfere the perturbed light field with a reference field. From the resulting intensity pattern, the accurate OAM spectrum is determined in an all-digital way. We demonstrate our novel approach by numerical simulations and a proof-of-concept experiment employing a model ball lens as an exemplary disturbing object.
The PAQAF – the Pan-African Quality Assurance and Accreditation Framework – is an overarching framework for several action lines and instruments related to the convergence of the African Higher Education sector, and more specifically quality assurance and accreditation. It was adopted by the Specialized Technical Committee (STC) on Education, Science and Technology of the African Union Assembly in 2016. The implementation of some of the PAQAF’s action lines and the development of some of its instruments has been supported by the HAQAA initiative from 2015 to 2018 and is currently continued in the context of HAAQA2. Module 1 gives an overview of the PAQAF's deveopment and action lines.
Study Programme Development
(2022)
Basics of Project Management
(2022)
Food production is responsible for approximately 17% of Germany's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. After retail, out-of-home catering is the second largest food sales channel in Germany. A variety of means on both the supply and demand side are necessary to stimulate, facilitate and encourage a more sustainable development and minimise GHG emissions in this sector. Nudges are one of these. This paper's focus lies on the demand side. Set in real-world laboratories, we use a standardised empirical approach to compare different nudging interventions belonging to the area of physical environment and consumers’ choice making process. We compare the effects of the same intervention across different settings and the effect of different, sequential nudging interventions in the same setting. Data was collected in eight workplace and school cafeterias in Germany over two project iterations (2016/2017; 2019/2020). A similar intervention design was applied. Comparability was assured by a harmonised menu. The first project iteration revealed that only one nudge (top menu position, +22.5%) led to significant increases in sustainable food choices, while results from the second iteration showed that all nudge interventions (best counter position, +11.6%; top menu position, +6,9%; label plus information, +15.9%) positively influenced consumer choice. Possible explanations such as the stricter compliance to the experimental design in the cafeterias but also societal developments such as the appearance of the Fridays for Future movement are discussed. As results vary between specific locations and settings, our findings suggest that nudges need to be adjusted to situational conditions for achieving highest efficacy.
Ecosystem Emergence and Founding Conditions - Lessions Learned from an Imprinting Perspective
(2022)
The rise of ecosystem prominence has provided several definitions of how we understand ecosystems nowadays. In this context, several scholars have considered influencing factors for ecosystem emergence. This paper addresses this consideration and analyzes the salient characteristics of different ecosystem types and their potential persistence since ecosystem founding to improve the understanding of emergence. We applied a three-step approach (1) identifying ecosystem types based on bibliometric analysis, (2) exploring salient characteristics per ecosystem type using qualitative content analysis and (3) deriving founding conditions from the salient characteristics following a conceptual approach. Based on a bibliometric analysis, we identified business/innovation, entrepreneurial and service ecosystems. In a second step, we developed salient characteristics within the themes of structure, power constellation/interdependencies and governance by inductive coding. As we identified a significant difference in alignment structure, we analyzed if alignment structure persists since ecosystem origin and explains why ecosystems differ. We analyzed potential pairings between alignment structure and their respective founding condition for every ecosystem type. With the alignment structures’ persistence, we can better understand why ecosystem types differ.
To deepen our understanding of how project leaders can lead effectively in different community-academic health partnerships (CAHPs), we conducted an inductive, qualitative study through semi-structured interviews (N = 32) and analyzed the data with Grounded Theory approaches. By presenting a process model illustrating the cycle of effective leaders(hip) in CAHP projects, we contribute to the literature on CAHP, leadership development, and complexity leadership theory in three ways. Firstly, the model depicts the strategies enabling leaders to navigate typical project challenges and perform leadership tasks effectively. Secondly, we distill four beneficial qualities (i.e., adopting a proactive attitude, having an open and adaptive mindset, relying on peer learning and support, and emphasizing self-growth and reflexivity) which CAHP project leaders require to develop themselves into effective leaders. Thirdly, we illustrate leaders' dynamic developmental logics and processes of effective leadership and their contributions to better project functioning in diverse CAHPs.
Purpose
Combining the goal-setting and job demands-resources (JD-R) theories, we examine how two project resources, collaborative project leadership and financial project resources, enhance high project performance in community-academic health partnerships.
Design/methodology/approach
With a sequential explanatory mixed-method research design, data were collected through a survey (N = 318) and semi-structured interviews (N = 21). A hypothesised three-path mediation model was tested using structural equation modelling with bootstrapping. Qualitative data were examined using thematic analysis.
Findings
Project workers’ hope, goal-commitment and -stress: (1) fully mediate the hypothesised relationship between highly collaborative project leadership and high project performance; and (2) partially mediate the relationship between financial project resources and high project performance. The qualitative data corroborate and deepen these findings, revealing the crucial role of hope as a cognitive-motivational facilitator in project workers’ ability to cope with challenges.
Practical implications
Project leaders should promote project workers’ goal commitment, reduce their goal stress and boost project performance by securing financial project resources or reinforcing workers’ hope, e.g. by fostering collaborative project leadership.
Originality/value
The findings contribute to the project management and JD-R literature by considering the joint effects of project workers’ hope and two commonly studied project resources (collaborative project leadership and financial project resources) on high project performance. Moreover, we demonstrate the importance of the goal-setting and JD-R theories for understanding complex health-promotion projects connecting academic to community work.