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Wind energy plays a major role among renewable
energies. Its expansion is therefore important in order
to achieve the climate targets. Repowering is an
important element in the expansion of wind energy.
On the one hand, it offers a solution for many wind
turbines in Germany that are no longer subsidised due
to their age. On the other hand, modern turbines are
significantly more powerful and enable more efficient
land utilisation. This article provides an overview of
the most important aspects of onshore repowering.
There is a lot to consider when repowering wind turbines.
The legal situation for repowering aims to
be improved through simplified authorisation procedures.
Even though efforts are being made by the
government, there is still room for improvement. The
repowering potential is also dependent on the various
distance regulations to residential buildings in
the federal states. These regulations might also be
improved in the future. Another aspect is the remuneration,
which is now closer to market developments
due to the market premium model. It is also subject
to greater competition as a result of the tendering
process. At the same time, interest rates and turbine
prices have risen, which creates economic challenges
for the operators of future wind farms. Last but not
least, repowering also depends on public acceptance.
This is also to be regulated by law in the future.
The concern for the environment among European consumers is growing and in the future the need for sustainable shopping is expected to increase. Through transparent on-packaging communication with consumers, organic producers have the opportunity to show attributes of organic production system and build a strong market position. The aim of the study was to analyse voluntary packaging information on organic milk from four European markets in the context of organic food quality, i.e., Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and Poland. More specifically, the textual content of 106 organic milk packages was analysed and voluntary information on each package was categorized according to process- and product-related organic milk attributes. The assortment and content of voluntary packaging information varied across the four countries. The largest number of products was found on the German market (37) and the smallest on the Polish market (14). Dutch milk had the greatest amount of voluntary information on animal welfare, product locality, environmental protection, quality confirmation, naturalness and nutritional value. German milk had the most information on enjoyment and conditions of processing, while the Italian milk on the social perspective. The products available on the Polish market had the least voluntary information. Pasteurized organic milk had noticeably more information about organic quality attributes than micro filtrated and UHT milk.
Despite their important role in our energy system, common wind turbines have some disadvantages. Mainly, those disadvantages are connected to the intermediate conversion of wind energy in rotational energy. The resulting effects include maintenance costs and social acceptance problems. There are different technological approaches, that convert wind energy to electrical energy without its conversion to kinetic energy. As one of those technologies, the electrostatic wind energy conversion is to be discussed in this article. For this discussion, the historical development of this technology is presented. There are three important projects which will be presented to explain the technology and its different technological approaches. Those projects are the WPG, the EWICON and the SWET. Furthermore the results of those different experimental projects are collected and analyzed. On the basis of this analysis it is discussed, whether or not the electrostatic wind energy conversion could be of importance in a future energy system. Therefore the technology is set in relation to modern wind turbines. Also, important factors that influence the efficiency and energy output of those systems are outlined for further research. Due to different technological approaches a suggestion is made for the most promising system setting.
Background
Degenerative musculoskeletal disorders are among the most frequent diseases occurring in adulthood, often impairing patients' functional mobility and physical activity. The aim of the present study was to investigate and compare the impact of three frequent degenerative musculoskeletal disorders -- knee osteoarthritis (knee OA), hip osteoarthritis (hip OA) and lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) -- on patients' walking ability.
Methods
The study included 120 participants, with 30 in each patient group and 30 healthy control individuals. A uniaxial accelerometer, the StepWatch™ Activity Monitor (Orthocare Innovations, Seattle, Washington, USA), was used to determine the volume (number of gait cycles per day) and intensity (gait cycles per minute) of walking ability. Non-parametric testing was used for all statistical analyses.
Results
Both the volume and the intensity of walking ability were significantly lower among the patients in comparison with the healthy control individuals (p < 0.001). Patients with LSS spent 0.4 (IQR 2.8) min/day doing moderately intense walking (>50 gait cycles/min), which was significantly lower in comparison with patients with knee and hip OA at 2.5 (IQR 4.4) and 3.4 (IQR 16.1) min/day, respectively (p < 0.001). No correlations between demographic or anthropometric data and walking ability were found. No technical problems or measuring errors occurred with any of the measurements.
Conclusions
Patients with degenerative musculoskeletal disorders suffer limitations in their walking ability. Objective assessment of walking ability appeared to be an easy and feasible tool for measuring such limitations as it provides baseline data and objective information that are more precise than the patients' own subjective estimates. In everyday practice, objective activity assessment can provide feedback for clinicians regarding patients' performance during everyday life and the extent to which this confirms the results of clinical investigations. The method can also be used as a way of encouraging patients to develop a more active lifestyle.
As Germany aims to increase its utilization of wind
power, the potential threat to bird populations due
to this expansion is a controversial issue. This paper
aims to collect data on the magnitude of bird strikes
on wind turbines, review existing protective measures
and explore innovative solutions. After a thorough
examination of the literature, it was concluded that
although the impact on bird populations is significant,
it may be overemphasized in popular debates. This
statement is not final as further research is necessary
to assess the impact of bird strikes and explore new
solutions. Comprehensive studies on this specific topic
in Germany are limited, which makes a thorough evaluation
challenging. While there are measures in place
to protect species that may be negatively impacted, it
is possible that these measures will not be adequate
for all of them. While several innovative methods
are under examination, progress in testing and implementation
is slow. Lastly, an information problem
was identified. Since the topic is highly politicized
and polarizing, it is crucial to provide the public with
accessible and reliable information on the discussed
themes. This is currently not the case due to a lack
of data and missing information campaigns.
Assessment of noise mitigation measures during pile driving of larger offshore wind foundations
(2021)
Wind energy is an important source of electricity generation, but the construction of offshore wind foundations causes high underwater sound pressure, harming marine life. In this context limiting values for underwater noise emissions were set to protect the marine flora and fauna. Therefore, noise mitigation measures during pile driving are mandatory to comply with these limits. Current development in the wind industry lead to increasing wind turbine sizes, requiring a larger pile diameter, which leads to higher underwater noise emissions. As a result, the state of the art noise mitigation systems might not be sufficient and a combination of different technologies is necessary. This article focuses on the issue of noise mitigation during pile driving with respect to large pile sizes. First, the most tested and proven noise mitigation techniques (big bubble curtain, hydro sound damper, and IHC-noise mitigation system) are described, following an analysis of noise reduction measurements in applications at different offshore wind farm projects. In the end the suitability of current noise mitigation systems for large monopiles is evaluated, regarding their effectiveness and practicability.
The upscaling of wind turbines has been increasing in
recent years and will continue to play a significant role
in the future, as it allows for the reduction of electricity
generation costs. Various challenges arise when it
comes to upscaling. This article summarizes the technical
challenges associated with upscaling wind turbines
and presenting their problem-solving approaches
and research trends based on other reviews. It was
found that the most frequently cited challenges are
related to individual components, such as rotor blades,
drive train, generator, tower, and noise impact.
For rotor blades, the challenges are increased flexibility,
more aeroelastic vibrations, increased wear,
interferences with radar and transportation difficulties.
Proposed solutions include the use of carbon-fiber
blades, prebending, novel paints, and for transportation,
segmented rotor blades and on-site manufacturing.
In the gearbox, torque increases, leading to
higher weight and susceptibility to errors. As a result,
the trend is moving towards gearless systems with
permanent magnet synchronous generators. Transportation
is the major issue with towers, which can
be resolved with on-site manufacturing. In terms of
noise emission, reducing aerodynamic noise plays the
most significant role.
Floating offshore wind (FOW) holds the key to 80 % of the total offshore wind resources, located in waters of 60 m and deeper in European seas, where traditional bottom-fixed offshore wind (BFOW) is not economically attractive.
Many problems affecting floating offshore wind turbines (FOWT) were quickly overcome based on previous experience with floating oil rigs and bottom-fixed offshore wind. However, this technology is still young and there are still many challenges to overcome.
This paper shows that electrical failures are amongst the most significant errors of FOWT. The most common cause was corrosion. It is also stated that the control system is most often affected, and that the Generator is frequently involved. Material corrosion is also the key factor when it comes to the most common overall reason for failures.
A particular attention must be paid to mooring line fracture. Mooring lines are especially vulnerable to extreme sea conditions and the resulting fatigue, corrosion, impact damage, and further risks.
It must be stated that the primary challenge is that of economics. Over time technological costs will decline making FOW more competitive and hence attractive for greater depth.
IntroductionAssessment of challenging behaviors in dementia is important for intervention selection. Here, we describe the technical and experimental setup and the feasibility of long-term multidimensional behavior assessment of people with dementia living in nursing homes.MethodsWe conducted 4 weeks of multimodal sensor assessment together with real-time observation of 17 residents with moderate to very severe dementia in two nursing care units. Nursing staff received extensive training on device handling and measurement procedures. Behavior of a subsample of eight participants was further recorded by videotaping during 4 weeks during day hours. Sensors were mounted on the participants' wrist and ankle and measured motion, rotation, as well as surrounding loudness level, light level, and air pressure.ResultsParticipants were in moderate to severe stages of dementia. Almost 100% of participants exhibited relevant levels of challenging behaviors. Automated quality control detected 155 potential issues. But only 11% of the recordings have been influenced by noncompliance of the participants. Qualitative debriefing of staff members suggested that implementation of the technology and observation platform in the routine procedures of the nursing home units was feasible and identified a range of user- and hardware-related implementation and handling challenges.DiscussionOur results indicate that high-quality behavior data from real-world environments can be made available for the development of intelligent assistive systems and that the problem of noncompliance seems to be manageable. Currently, we train machine-learning algorithms to detect episodes of challenging behaviors in the recorded sensor data.
Wind energy conversion systems have attracted considerable attention as a renewable energy source due to depleting fossil fuel reserves and environmental concerns as a direct consequence of using fossil fuel and nuclear energy sources. The increasing number of wind turbines increases the interest in efficient systems. The power output of a wind energy conversion system depends on the accuracy of the maximum power tracking system, as wind speed changes constantly throughout the day. Maximum power point tracking systems that do not require mechanical sensors to measure the wind speed offer several advantages over systems using mechanical sensors. In this paper four different approaches that do not use mechanical sensors to measure the wind speed will be presented; the assets and drawbacks of these systems are highlighted, and afterwards the examined algorithms will be compared based on different characteristics. Finally, based on the analysis, an evaluation is made as to which of the presented algorithms is the most promising.
Wind energy has steadily gained importance in the generation of renewable energy over the last 25 years. A wind turbine has an average life expectancy of about 25 years. After that, thermoplastic composite materials from the rotors, among other things, accumulate and have to be recycled. Previous methods, such as landfilling, incineration and pyrolysis, have not yet proven to be effective in terms of the circular economy because the recycled material cannot be reused for equivalent products. The use of thermoplastic materials can be a sensible alternative, as thermoplastic resins can be recycled almost without loss of value due to their properties. Recycling of fibreglass is also possible with less loss of stiffness. In the future, it will be crucial to scale up thermoplastic rotor blades and create a market for the recycled material.
Self-build small wind turbines are used for rural electrification in the developed and developing world as well as for educational purposes. To give an overview about self-build small wind turbines a systematic literature review was conducted. The identified literature deals with two different vertical and horizontal axis turbine designs. The vertical axis turbines are both prototypes while one of the horizontal axis designs, the design by Piggott is widely used in rural electrification projects. Different papers dealing with the optimization of the Piggott design exist. In retrospect the conduction of a holistic review was not possible due to limited resources and length of this review. Nevertheless it can give a quick overview and a starting point for further research.
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.
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.
With floating offshore wind turbines, new sources of wind energy can be used, which cannot be tapped into by bottom-fixed wind turbine systems. However, due to their design, they experience additional motion caused by wind and wave loads. The motions that are induced into the system have an oscillating course. This affects the aerodynamic properties of the wind turbine and leads to changes in the thrust force and power output of floating wind turbines compared to bottom-fixed wind turbines. Furthermore, the motions lead to an earlier breakdown of the helical wake structure behind the wind turbine and moreover lead to a decreased reliability of the rotor blades. Differences in the effects of wind and wave loads on the aerodynamic performance of floating offshore wind turbines supported by different platform systems were found.
There are many hydropower turbines for low heads or low flows on a small scale. Many technologies are unsuitable for developing countries because equipment or materials are limited, high-tech machines are to expensive or spare parts are not readily available. This review combines currently available technologies with the requirements of developing countries in small, micro and pico hydropower. In small hydropower a propeller turbine from Thailand has a high efficiency of 70 to 80 percent at calculated production costs of around $ 513 per kW. Pumps as turbines are suitable for developing countries in micro hydropower due to readily availability, low price and an large number of standard sizes. In pico-scale, a low-cost Turgo wheel can be made of spoons for $ 48 and yields acceptable values in comparison to a 3D printed Pelton wheel for $ 822. While the Turgo wheel is suitable for high heads, a homemade siphon turbine can be used for low heads. The siphon turbine generates up to 200 W, is made of materials that are available anywhere in the world, and costs less than $ 50.
Haiku of Maladisms
(2021)
As a salutogenic concept, “consumption corridors” aims to support what is necessary for sustainable wellbeing to be achieved in relation to the Earth system, with a deep consideration for justice and equity. Living in consumption corridors is a representation of everyday life whereby people live within limits, so that all people – now and in the future – can access what is needed to live a good life. In this special issue, a series of scholars and practitioners have come together to further develop the concept, engage with its ethodological implications, and relate it to consumption domains and policy implications. We begin by introducing how the concept emerged, in relation to the complexity of grappling with the societal transformations required for achieving more sustainable forms of consumption. We then present the different contributions, which demonstrate the importance of considering both maximum and minimum consumption standards, the relevance of human-need theories, as well as the difference between achieving wellbeing and the means necessary for doing so. We conclude by opening up to areas that merit further deliberation: how to relate consumption corridors to everyday-life dynamics, but also to the critical question of power relations at play in implementing consumption corridors.
From Surviving to Living (on): A Grounded Theory Study on Coping in People with Pancreatic Cancer
(2023)
This paper outlines the three main areas relevant
to dismantling: the rotor blades, hub and nacelle,
the tower and the foundation. The paper discusses
the dismantling procedures, including the removal of
the top structure, the tower and the foundation, and
evaluates various methods of dismantling the tower,
such as modular dismantling, collapse blasting, folding
blasting, wrecking ball demolition and hydraulic
ram demolition. The assessment of these methods
in practice and the potential challenges and considerations
for future dismantling, particularly as wind
turbine heights increase, are also addressed.
This review paper provides an initial overview of the
state of the art of common corrosion protection methods
for offshore wind turbines. The functions of the
individual corrosion protection methods and their
interaction are explained. In addition, the specific corrosion
protection of different zones and components
of an offshore wind turbine will be discussed. Finally,
some information is given on current and possible
future developments in this subject area.
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.
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)
The pursuit of Offshore Wind Energy (OWE), integral
to the German government’s ambitious renewable
energy goals raises concerns about the environmental
impact of noise emissions on marine life. This paper
delves into the theoretical background of Offshore
Wind Turbine (OWT) noise, exploring its various
phases from the survey to decommission. It examines
the types and causes of noise emissions, their effects
on marine wildlife and potential mitigation measures.
Highlighting the regulatory framework in Germany,
the paper emphasises the need for nuanced approaches
to balance renewable energy objectives with marine
ecosystem preservation.
The impact of hydro-power plants on the ecosystem was studied with focus on the fish mortality and types of damage for many years. The fish mortality have a wide range of causes. Types of damage can be different and are caused by different parts of the power plant. The most dangerous part of the system are the fast moving turbine blades. They can cause blade strike and barotrauma due to the high speeds. Different types of turbines were developed for a better survival rate. Five different types of different research groups and manufacturers are presented in this paper. By considering those newly developed turbine designs, a fish survival rate from 96 % to 100 % is achieved.
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.
Field Investigation on Hydroabrasion in High-Speed Sediment-Laden Flows at Sediment Bypass Tunnels
(2020)
Wear due to sediment particles in fluid flows, also termed hydroabrasion’ or simply ‘abrasion’, is an omnipresent issue at hydraulic structures as well as in bedrock rivers. However, interactions between flow field, particle motion, channel topography, material properties and abrasion have rarely been investigated on a prototype scale, leaving many open questions as to their quantitative interrelations. Therefore, we investigated hydroabrasion in a multi‐year field study at two Swiss Sediment Bypass Tunnels (SBTs). Abrasion depths of various invert materials, hydraulics and sediment transport conditions were determined and used to compute the abrasion coefficients kv of different abrasion models for high‐strength concrete and granite. The results reveal that these models are useful to estimate spatially averaged abrasion rates. The kv‐value is about one order of magnitude higher for granite than for high‐strength concrete, hence, using material‐specific abrasion coefficients enhances the prediction accuracy. Three‐dimensional flow structures, i.e., secondary currents occurring both, in the straight and curved sections of the tunnels cause incision channels, while also longitudinally undulating abrasion patterns were observed. Furthermore, hydroabrasion concentrated along joints and protruding edges. The maximum abrasion depths were roughly twice the mean abrasion depths, irrespective of hydraulics, sediment transport
conditions and invert material.
The construction and operation of hydropower plants
for energy generation is a major issue in sustainable
energy production. Nevertheless, hydropower plants
have a negative impact on fish populations. It is crucial
to understand the causes and consequences of fish
mortality in hydropower plants in order to find sustainable
solutions that reconcile the need for energy
with the conservation of aquatic ecosystems. This
article examines the fish protection measures that can
be implemented to reduce fish mortality and maintain
ecological balance. Based on the main literature reviewed,
this article mainly refers to Germany in terms
of studies carried out and hydropower plants.
Background
Bone mineral density (BMD) accrual during childhood and adolescence is important for attaining peak bone mass. BMD decrements have been reported in survivors of childhood bone sarcomas. However, little is known about the onset and development of bone loss during cancer treatment. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate BMD in newly diagnosed Ewing's and osteosarcoma patients by means of dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) after completion of neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
Methods
DXA measurements of the lumbar spine (L2-4), both femora and calcanei were performed perioperatively in 46 children and adolescents (mean age: 14.3 years, range: 8.6-21.5 years). Mean Z-scores, areal BMD (g/cm2), calculated volumetric BMD (g/cm3) and bone mineral content (BMC, g) were determined.
Results
Lumbar spine mean Z-score was -0.14 (95% CI: -0.46 to 0.18), areal BMD was 1.016 g/cm2 (95% CI: 0.950 to 1.082) and volumetric BMD was 0.330 g/cm3 (95% CI: 0.314 to 0.347) which is comparable to healthy peers. For patients with a lower extremity tumor (n = 36), the difference between the affected and non-affected femoral neck was 12.1% (95% CI: -16.3 to -7.9) in areal BMD. The reduction of BMD was more pronounced in the calcaneus with a difference between the affected and contralateral side of 21.7% (95% CI: -29.3 to -14.0) for areal BMD. Furthermore, significant correlations for femoral and calcaneal DXA measurements were found with Spearman-rho coefficients ranging from ρ = 0.55 to ρ = 0.80.
Conclusions
The tumor disease located in the lower extremity in combination with offloading recommendations induced diminished BMD values, indicating local osteopenia conditions. However, the results revealed no significant decrements of lumbar spine BMD in pediatric sarcoma patients after completion of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Nevertheless, it has to be taken into account that bone tumor patients may experience BMD decrements or secondary osteoporosis in later life. Furthermore, the peripheral assessment of BMD in the calcaneus via DXA is a feasible approach to quantify bone loss in the lower extremity in bone sarcoma patients and may serve as an alternative procedure, when the established assessment of femoral BMD is not practicable due to endoprosthetic replacements.
University students’ mental health and well-being is a growing public health concern. There is a lack of studies assessing a broad range of mental health domains by sex and academic level of study. This cross-sectional online survey of BSc, MSc, and PhD students (n = 3353, 67% female) enrolled at one university in Germany assessed a wide scope of mental health domains, covering positive (i.e., self-rated health, self-esteem, student engagement) and negative aspects (i.e., perceived stress, irritation, and screening positive for depression, anxiety, comorbidity, and psychological distress). We evaluated differences in mental health by sex and academic level. Overall, although self-rated health did not differ by sex and academic level, females and lower academic level were associated with less favorable mental health. Males reported higher prevalence of high self-esteem, and higher engagement (all p ≤ 0.04). Conversely, mean perceived stress and cognitive/emotional irritation were higher among females, as were rates for positive screenings for anxiety, anxiety and depression comorbidity, and psychological distress (p < 0.001 for all). Likewise, lower academic level (BSc) was associated with lower rates of high self-esteem (p ≤ 0.001), increased perceived stress (p < 0.001), and higher prevalence of positive screening for depression, anxiety, comorbidity, and psychological distress (p ≤ 0.002 for all), while higher academic level (PhD) was linked to increased student engagement (p < 0.001 for all). Although the effect sizes of sex and academic level on student mental health were modest, these findings support a need for action to establish and expand early detection and prevention programs, on-campus advisory services, and peer counseling that focus on the sex-specific and academic-study-level-specific factors, as well as mental health and career development resources for students. Academics and policy makers need to consider multipronged intervention strategies to boost confidence of students and their academic career.
The effect of kinesiology tape applications on performance in amateur soccer and team handball
(2015)
Evidence supporting performance enhancing effects of kin esiotape in sports is missing . The aims of this studywere to evaluate effects of kinesiotape applications with regard to shooting and throwing performance in 26 amateursoccer and 32 handball players, and to further investigate if these effects were influenced by the players’ level ofperformance. Ball speed as the primary outcome and accuracy of soccer kicks and handball throws were analyzed withand without kinesiotape by means of radar units and video recordings. The application of kinesiotapes significantlyincreased ball speed in soccer by 1.4 km/h (p=0.047) and accuracy with a lesser di stance from the target by -6.9 cm(p=0.039). Ball velocity in handball throws also signific antly increased by 1.2 km/h (p=0.013), while accuracy wasdeteriorated with a greater distance from the target by 3.4 cm (p=0.005). Larger effects with respect to ball speed werefound in players with a lower performance level in kick ing (1.7 km/h, p=0.028) and throwing (1.8 km/h, p=0.001)compared with higher level soccer and handball players (1.2 km/h, p=0.346 and 0.5 km/h, p=0.511, respectively). Inconclusion, the applications of kinesiot ape used in this study might have beneficial effects on performance in amateursoccer, but the gain in ball speed in handball is counterac ted by a significant deterioration of accuracy. Subgroupanalyses indicate that kinesiotape may yield larger effects on ball velocity in athletes with lower kicking and throwingskills.
This study explores the intriguing relationship between personality traits, self-rated fitness (SRF), and physical activity (PA) variables among German university students (N = 4244) and sheds light on the impact of personality on adherence to PA guidelines. Employing an online cross-sectional study, the short-form of the Big Five Inventory-2 assessed five domains of personality traits (Extraversion, Negative Emotionality, Agreeableness, conscientiousness, and Open-Mindedness). PA, including sitting time, was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (short-form). SRF and muscle-strengthening activities (MSA) were assessed with one item each. Multiple linear and logistic regression analyses examined associations of individual personality trait domains and all domains combined with SFR, PA variables, and adherence to PA guidelines, controlling for sociodemographic, behavioral, and (mental) health covariates. Most reliably, Extraversion and Conscientiousness revealed positive associations with PA variables, while Negative Emotionality yielded inverse relationships with PA variables. For instance, each unit increase in Extraversion corresponded to an additional 17 min of weekly MSA. On the contrary, daily sitting time was unrelated to personality. Of note, high Open-Mindedness was associated with lower odds for adhering to current PA guidelines. The findings have implications for developing targeted interventions that promote a physically active lifestyle and support students’ well-being and academic success.
The quantum anomaly is written alternatively into a form violating conservation laws or as non-gauge invariant currents seen explicitly on the example of chiral anomaly. By reinterpreting the many-body averaging, the connection to Pauli–Villars regularization is established which gives the anomalous term a new interpretation as arising from quantum fluctuations by many-body correlations at short distances. This is exemplified using an effective many-body quantum potential which realizes quantum Slater sums by classical calculations. It is shown that these quantum potentials avoid the quantum anomaly but approach the same anomalous result by many-body correlations. Consequently, quantum anomalies might be a shortcut way of single-particle field theory to account for many-body effects. This conjecture is also supported since the chiral anomaly can be derived by a completely conserving quantum kinetic theory. A measure for the quality of quantum potentials is suggested to describe these quantum fluctuations in the mean energy. The derived quantum potentials might be used to describe quantum simulations in classical terms.
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.
Consequences of the consistent exact solution of Einstein{Cartan equation on the time dependence of Hubble parameter are discussed. The torsion leads to a space and time-dependent expansion parameter which results into nontrivial windows of Hubble parameter between diverging behavior.
Only one window shows a period of decreasing followed by increasing time dependence. Provided a known cosmological constant and the present values of Hubble and deceleration parameter this changing time can be given in the past as well as the ending time of the windows or universe. The comparison with the present experimental data allows to determine all parameters of the model.
Large-scale spatial periodic structures appear. From the metric with torsion outside matter, it is seen that torsion can feign dark matter.
Background: Currently, to the best of our knowledge, no findings exist concerning the needs of professionals in specialized pediatric palliative care (PPC) regarding electronic health records (EHRs). Several studies have highlighted benefits concerning the use of EHRs in pediatrics. However, usability is strongly affected by the degree of adaptivity to the context of application. The aim of this study is to examine the needs of professionals concerning an EHR in the specialized PPC inpatient and outpatient settings. Methods: A qualitative research design was chosen to address the complex aspects of user demands. Focus group interviews and semi-structured one-on-one interviews were conducted with PPC professionals. N = 23 participants from inpatient and N = 11 participants from outpatient settings of specialized PPC representing various professions took part in the study. Results: The findings could be grouped into four categories: (1) attitude towards the current methods of documentation, (2) attitude towards electronic documentation in general, (3) general requirements for an EHR, and (4) content requirements for an EHR. Conclusions: Professionals in specialized PPC expect and experience many benefits of using electronic documentation. Their requirements for an EHR for inpatient and outpatient settings of PPC are largely consistent with EHRs for pediatrics. However, individual specifications and adaptations are necessary for this particular setting.
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.
Toward a notation for modeling value driver trees: Classification development and research agenda
(2024)
A synthesis is made of 10 topics within climate research, where there have been significant advances since January 2020. The insights are based on input from an international open call with broad disciplinary scope. Findings include: (1) the options to still keep global warming below 1.5 °C; (2) the impact of non-CO2 factors in global warming; (3) a new dimension of fire extremes forced by climate change; (4) the increasing pressure on interconnected climate tipping elements; (5) the dimensions of climate justice; (6) political challenges impeding the effectiveness of carbon pricing; (7) demand-side solutions as vehicles of climate mitigation; (8) the potentials and caveats of nature-based solutions; (9) how building resilience of marine ecosystems is possible; and (10) that the costs of climate change mitigation policies can be more than justified by the benefits to the health of humans and nature.
Originally this article was supposed to be a comparison between the technological differences of bottom-fixed offshore wind turbines (BOWT) and floating offshore wind turbines (FOWT). However, several authors already contributed to this topic and came to the conclusion that the higher levelized costs of energy (LCOE) prevent FOWTs from successfully entering the energy market. Multiple sources seem to agree on this conclusion but often do not provide the reader with further information regarding the LCOE. This is the reason why this article understands itself as an in depth cost comparison between BOWTs and FOWTs. For this purpose, individual LCOE are calculated for the upcoming FOWT technologies such as spar-buoy (SPAR), tension-leg platform (TLP) and semi-submersible platform (semi-sub) as well as conventional BOWTs using the wind turbines hours of full utilization (HOFU). The resulting functions are visualized graphically in order to determine break-even points between BOWTs and FOWTs. Finally, a sensitivity analysis is carried out to determine the influence of the weighted average costs of capital (WACC).
Food-processing companies are controlled by societal influences and economic interests, but their efforts with regard to reducing food loss and waste are very different. This qualitative study aims to identify basic recommendations of good practice for the food-processing industry in order to prevent and handle food loss and waste. For this purpose, a comprehensive literature review was conducted in the field of food waste prevention and data was collected from thirteen German companies. The findings summarize the recommendations of good practice, which cover the entire supply chain from supplier to consumer and beyond. The analysis showed that the participating companies are already partially aware of operational measures, even if they are applied or mentioned without a systematic approach. Furthermore, the analysis revealed that most activities relate to internal matters, like processing, employees and utilization. However, the responsibility of foodprocessing companies does not end with internal processes to reduce food waste. The results show that some companies are already aware of their responsibility to be involved along the entire supply chain. Finally, the results show that the needs of consumers and suppliers must also be considered in order to reduce food waste, in addition to direct reduction measures. This paper highlights nine important stages and 53 basic recommendations for companies to address food loss and waste in order to improve their practices.
This document presents a comparative analysis of
horizontal and vertical small wind turbines for urban
areas in three power classes up to 10 kW in different
categories. The main objective was to conduct a market
analysis to assess the marketability of these wind
energy systems. The aim was to make it easier for
potential customers to make a decision. However, due
to the limited availability of data, the project encountered
considerable difficulties. As a result, the study
became a comparative assessment, which led to results
that may not be readily transferable to urban environments,
slightly missing the original objective of the
study. The results underline the difficulties associated
with conducting a comprehensive market analysis in
this sector and highlight the need for an independent
series of tests under specific conditions. The paper
concludes with a plea for future research efforts to
adapt data collection methods to urban conditions in
order to improve the relevance and applicability of
such studies in practice.
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.
The annual wastewater flow that is treated by public
wastewater treatment plants in Germany amounts
to approx. 10 ∗ 10^9 m3/a and forms an ”artificial” hydropower
potential that can be used for energy generation
or recovery. In the context of this paper, energy
recovery in the outlet of wastewater treatment plants
is examined using the specific example of the water
wheel at the Warendorf central wastewater treatment
plant. The ”artificial” hydropower potential can be
roughly estimated at up to 20 to 105 GWh/a , whereby
this is largely dependent on the hydraulic gradient.
The strong variance results, among other things, from
the findings of the water wheel operation in Warendorf.
The decisive aspect here is the differential factor,
which describes the deviation between the theoretical
and actual energy yield of the water wheel. The
factor includes maintenance work, downtimes and insufficient
inflows, which are associated with a loss of
output. In the case study, the annual energy recovery
amounts to approx. 2 % of the annual electricity consumption
of the wastewater treatment plant and can
be estimated to 23,500 kWh (2022). In the context
of the economic analysis, it can be seen that despite
the ”low” yield, economic operation is possible if the
system is viewed as a long-term investment - payback
period of the example is approx. 14,5 years. The
27-year operation (1996 - 2023) of the water wheel
at the Warendorf central wastewater treatment plant
confirms this and important findings on successful
practical operation can be shown in the context of
this paper.
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.
When simulating and optimizing urban energy systems, the focus is usually on minimizing financial costs or greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. As energy systems transition towards a growing share of renewable energy sources and technological complexity, environmental impacts that affect more than just GHG emissions, such as resource extractions, water and land use impacts or impacts on human health, are becoming increasingly relevant.
To address this gap, this thesis introduces an automated coupling procedure for energy system modeling (ESM) and life cycle assessment (LCA). The implementation includes general recommendations and a practical coupling of the Open Energy Modelling Framework (oemof) based Spreadsheet Energy System Model Generator (SESMG) with a suitable LCA software.
The LCA procedure involves goal and scope definition, inventory analysis, impact assessment, and interpretation. To adapt these steps to different energy system models, the LCA should be attributional, process-based and territorial. Further, the openLCA software by Green-Delta serves as a suitable soft-linking tool. The main challenge of the coupling procedure is the inventory analysis. Data collection faces limitations, reasoned by the commercialization and high maintenance efforts in open-source databases. After evaluating free databases, the Prozessorientierte Basisdaten für Umweltmanagement-Instrumente (ProBas) database of the Umweltbundesamt emerged as the most suitable choice for the coupling. However, also this database lacks traceability of datasets or compatibility with a comprehensive impact assessment.
A generalized framework for the LCA application of energy systems was developed. The framework is based on an ex-post LCA assessment that considers the combination of the two approaches within every step of the procedure. Main considerations of this framework include automatic calculations of the inventory analysis and the impact assessment for different energy technologies, as well as calculations summed up for all technologies of energy system scenarios. Further, technology mapping and data harmonization are essential considerations for the automatic coupling and double counting of impacts needs to be avoided.
Subsequently, the framework is realized with the adaption of the SESMG. Its database-independent realization allows compatibility with different databases in openLCA. For the selected ProBas database, the tool can be used with different available energy technologies. The use of unit processes is encouraged for data harmonization. Result interpretation of the LCA (in general or with the SESMG) should not solely focus on the absolute values of the impact categories, but rather on the comparative strengths among scenarios and technologies.
The successful application to a reference single-family building using the ProBas database revealed varied environmental impacts, in relation with a higher reduction in GHG emissions, with an increase of 11 % in terrestrial acidification impacts in the emission-optimized scenario. These findings emphasize a more comprehensive perspective on environmental impacts and provide a valuable validation of the developed methodology.
Future research should include the improvement of data harmonization, the inclusion of more datasets for a more customized analysis of energy systems and more applications. The coupled approach offers a promising avenue for gaining deeper insights into optimizing urban energy systems.
Introduction: Moving towards a more plant-based dietary pattern would likely be beneficial in terms of a variety of sustainability dimensions.
Methodology: We conducted a 2-year intervention study with six measurement time points (baseline, 10 weeks, 6 months, 1 year, 1½ years, 2 years) in rural northwest Germany. The intervention consisted of a lifestyle programme, and dietary recommendations were to move towards a healthy, plant-based diet. The control group received no intervention. Diet quality was assessed with the healthful plant-based diet index (hPDI).
Results: In the intervention group (n = 67), the 2-year trajectory of hPDI was significantly higher compared to control (n = 39; p 0.001; between-group difference: 5.7 (95% CI 4.0, 7.3) food portions/day; adjusted for baseline). The 2-year trajectory of meat intake was significantly lower in the intervention group (n = 79) compared to control (n = 40; p 0.001; between-group difference: -0.7 (95% CI -0.9, -0.5) portions/day; adjusted for baseline).
Conclusion: Our study confirms that plant-based nutrition education in the general population is likely to result in at least modest dietary improvements in terms of general healthfulness and meat reduction.
Local and regional energy systems are becoming increasingly entangled. Therefore, models for optimizing these energy systems are becoming more and more complex and the required computing resources (run-time and random access memory usage) are increasing rapidly. The computational requirements can basically be reduced solver-based (mathematical optimization of the solving process) or model-based (simplification of the real-world problem in the model). This paper deals with identifying how the required computational requirements for solving optimization models of multi-energy systems with high spatial resolution change with increasing model complexity and which model-based approaches enable to reduce the requirements with the lowest possible model deviations. A total of 12 temporal model reductions (reduction of the number of modeled time steps), nine techno-spatial model reductions (reduction of possible solutions), and five combined reduction schemes were theoretically analyzed and practically applied to a test case. The improvement in reducing the usage of computational resources and the impact on the quality of the results were quantified by comparing the results with a non-simplified reference case. The results show, that the run-time to solve a model increases quadratically and memory usage increases linearly with increasing model complexity. The application of various model adaption methods have enabled a reduction of the run-time by over 99% and the memory usage by up to 88%. At the same time, however, some of the methods led to significant deviations of the model results. Other methods require a profound prior knowledge and understanding of the investigated energy systems to be applied. In order to reduce the run-time and memory requirements for investment optimization, while maintaining good quality results, we recommend the application of (1) a pre-model that is used to (1a) perform technological pre-selection and (1b) define reasonable technological boundaries, (2) spatial sub-modeling along network nodes, and 3) temporal simplification by only modeling every nth day (temporal slicing), where at least 20% of the original time steps are modeled. Further simplifications such as spatial clustering or larger temporal simplification can further reduce the computational effort, but also result in significant model deviations.
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.
This study identifies supply options for sustainable urban energy systems, which are robust to external system changes. A multi-criteria optimization model is used to minimize greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and financial costs of a reference system. Sensitivity analyses examine the impact of changing boundary conditions related to GHG emissions, energy prices, energy demands, and population density. Options that align with both financial and emission reduction and are robust to system changes are called “no-regret” options. Options sensitive to system changes are labeled as “potential-risk” options.
There is a conflict between minimizing GHG emissions and financial costs. In the reference case, the emission-optimized scenario enables a reduction of GHG emissions (-93%), but involves higher costs (+160%) compared to the financially-optimized scenario.
No-regret options include photovoltaic systems, decentralized heat pumps, thermal storages, electricity exchange between sub-systems and with higher-level systems, and reducing energy demands through building insulation, behavioral changes, or the decrease of living space per inhabitant. Potential-risk options include solar thermal systems, natural gas technologies, high-capacity battery storages, and hydrogen for building energy supply.
When energy prices rise, financially-optimized systems approach the least-emission system design. The maximum profitability of natural gas technologies was already reached before the 2022 European energy crisis.
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.
Wastewater generation model to predict impacts of urine separation on wastewater treatment plants
(2024)
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are under increasing pressure to enhance resource efficiency and reduce emissions into water bodies. The separation of urine within the catchment area may be an alternative to mitigate the need for costly expansions of central WWTPs. While previous investigations assumed a spatially uniform implementation of urine separation across the catchment area, the present study focuses on an adapted stochastic wastewater generation model, which allows the simulation of various wastewater streams (e.g., urine) on a household level. This enables the non-uniform separation of urine across a catchment area. The model is part of a holistic modelling framework to determine the influence of targeted urine separation in catchments on the operation and emissions of central WWTPs, which will be briefly introduced. The wastewater generation model is validated through an extensive sampling and measurement series.
Results based on observed and simulated wastewater quantity and quality for a catchment area of 366 residents for two dry weather days indicate the suitability of the model for wastewater generation and transport modelling. Based on this, four scenarios for urine separation were defined. The results indicate a potential influence of spatial distribution on the peaks of total nitrogen and total phosphorus.
Despite the enormous number of assistive technologies (ATs) in dementia care, the management of challenging behavior (CB) of persons with dementia (PwD) by informal caregivers in home care is widely disregarded. The first-line strategy to manage CB is to support the understanding of the underlying causes of CB to formulate individualized nonpharmacological interventions. App- and sensor-based approaches combining multimodal sensors (actimetry and other modalities) and caregiver information are innovative ways to support the understanding of CB for family caregivers. The main aim of this study is to describe the design of a feasibility study consisting of an outcome and a process evaluation of a newly developed app- and sensor-based intervention to manage CB of PwD for family caregivers at home. In this feasibility study, we perform an outcome and a process evaluation with a pre-post descriptive design over an 8-week intervention period. The Medical Research Council framework guides the design of this feasibility study. The data on 20 dyads (primary caregiver and PwD) are gathered through standardized questionnaires, protocols, and log files as well as semistructured qualitative interviews. The outcome measures (neuropsychiatric inventory and Cohen-Mansfield agitation inventory) are analyzed by using descriptive statistics and statistical tests relevant to the individual assessments (eg, chi-square test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test). For the analysis of the process data, the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology is used. Log files are analyzed by using descriptive statistics, protocols are analyzed by using documentary analysis, and semistructured interviews are analyzed deductively using content analysis. The newly developed app- and sensor-based AT has been developed and was evaluated until July in 2018. The recruitment of dyads started in September 2017 and was concluded in March 2018. The data collection was completed at the end of July 2018. This study presents the protocol of the first feasibility study to encompass an outcome and process evaluation to assess a complex app- and sensor-based AT combining multimodal actimetry sensors for informal caregivers to manage CB. The feasibility study will provide in-depth information about the study procedure and on how to optimize the design of the intervention and its delivery. DERR1-10.2196/11630
Background: Electronic medical records (EMRs) offer a promising approach to mapping and documenting the complex information gathered in paediatric palliative care (PPC). However, if they are not well developed, poorly implemented EMRs have unintended consequences that may cause harm to patients. One approach to preventing such harm is the involvement of users in the participatory design to ensure user acceptance and patient safety. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the acceptance of a novel patient chart module (PCM) as part of an EMR from the perspective of potential users in PPC and to involve these professionals in the design process. Methods: A qualitative observational study with N = 16 PPC professionals (n = 10 nurses, n = 6 physicians) was conducted, including concurrent think aloud (CTA) and semi-structured interviews. A structured content analysis based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology was applied. Results: The results can be summarized in terms of general observations, performance expectancy, effort expectancy and facilitating conditions, all of which are likely to have a positive influence on acceptance of the PCM from the user perspective in the context of PPC. Conclusions: The involvement of users in the development of EMRs is important for meeting the requirements in PPC. Further software adaptations are necessary to implement these requirements.
Adhärenz digitaler Interventionen im Gesundheitswesen: Definitionen, Methoden und offene Fragen
(2021)
AbstractMany digital interventions rely on the participation of their users to have a positive impact. In various areas it can be observed that the use of digital interventions is often reduced or fully discontinued by the users after a short period of time. This is seen as one of the main factors that can limit the effectiveness of digital interventions. In this context, the concept of adherence to digital interventions is becoming increasingly important. Adherence to digital interventions is roughly defined as “the degree to which the user followed the program as it was designed,” which can also be paraphrased as “intended use” or “use as it is designed.” However, both the theoretical–conceptual and practical discussions regarding adherence to digital interventions still receive too little attention.The aim of this narrative review article is to shed more light on the concept of adherence to digital interventions and to distinguish it from related concepts. It also discusses the methods and metrics that can be used to operationalize adherence and the predictors that positively influence adherence. Finally, needs for action to better address adherence are considered critically.
Experimental results are presented of a test of the theory of local turbulent heat transfer measurements proposed by Mocikat and Herwig in 2007. A miniaturized multi-layer heat transfer sensor was developed and employed in this study. The new heat transfer sensor was designed to work in air and liquids, and this capability enabled the simultaneous investigation of different Prandtl numbers. Two basic configurations, namely the flow past a blunt plate and the flow past an inclined square cylinder, were investigated in test sections of wind and water tunnels. Convective heat transfer coefficients were obtained through conventional testing (i.e., employing thoroughly heated test objects) and using the new miniaturized sensor approach (i.e., utilizing cold test objects without heating). The main prediction of the Mocikat-Herwig theory that a specific thermal adjustment coefficient of the employed actual miniaturized heat transfer sensor should exist in the fully turbulent flow regime was proven for developed two-dimensional flow. The observed effect of the Prandtl number on this coefficient was in good agreement with the prediction of the asymptotic expansion method. The square cylinder results indicated the inherent limits of the local turbulent heat transfer measurement approach, as suggested by Mocikat and Herwig.
Oxidative stress plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of chronic diseases. Therefore, improvement of oxidative stress status through lifestyle intervention can play a vital role in preventing and treating chronic diseases. This systematic review aims to provide an overview of articles published in the last decade examining the association between lifestyle intervention and oxidative stress biomarkers in the context of non-communicable diseases. The electronic databases PubMed and Web of Science were searched for relevant studies, following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. This systematic review focused on the four important oxidative stress biomarkers; glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and malondialdehyde. 671 articles were identified, of which nine met the inclusion criteria. A trend emerged, showing that lifestyle modifications that focus on diet and physical health can improve oxidative stress in the form of an increase in superoxide dismutase and CAT levels and a decrease in Malondialdehyde levels in participants with non-communicable diseases (NCDs), GSH levels were not affected. However, the results are difficult to compare because of the heterogeneity of the methods of the biomarkers studied. Our review indicates that oxidative stress can be influenced by lifestyle modifications and may be an effective tool for the prevention and management of non-communicable diseases. This review also elucidated the importance of analyzing multiple oxidative stress biomarkers to evaluate oxidative stress, it further highlights the need to conduct long-term lifestyle intervention studies on oxidative stress biomarkers to understand the connection between oxidative stress biomarkers, NCDs and Lifestyle intervention.
Because of the rapid expansion and widespread application of wind energy the overall environmental impacts of wind power plants have increased as well. For the further development of wind power, methods to lessen the adverse effects wind power has on avian populations have to be implemented. This review aims to find effective methods to reduce avian collision rates with wind turbines and that therefore can reduce bird fatality rates.
For the assessment the different mitigation methods, for which concrete data was found, are compared with each other regarding the hypothetical effort of implementation and effectiveness in reducing avian collision rates with wind turbines.
These methods are:
(a) Coloring of rotor blades
(b) Coloring of the tower base
(c) Ultraviolet/violet lightning
(d) Temporary shut-down of wind turbines
(e) Auditory warning signals
(f) Repowering
All of the mentioned methods report influence on reducing avian collision rates or at least the behavior of birds in flight.
This review found the following three methods to be most effective:
(a) Coloring of rotor blades
(b) Temporary shut-downs of wind turbines
(c) Repowering
The most effective method to reduce avian collision rates at horizontal axis wind turbines is to paint one of the rotor blades black and consequently increasing the visibility of the rotor blades. The presented study reports 71,9 percent reduction of found carcasses of birds at the treated turbines. For this method the effort of implementation is low while the effectiveness is high.
The effectiveness of the found mitigation methods has been proven and they are suited for application. The method of using lightning or sound fields require more testing to determine their effectiveness. Another topic for research could be how different mitigation methods interact with each other. Is there a significant advantage to be had if multiple mitigation methods are applied at the same wind power plant or turbine? Furthermore the environmental impacts of wind turbines are not limited to birds. Other animals like bats are affected too and might require different methods of mitigation.
The first oscillating water column was invented in 1940. In the past decades the need of wave energy systems has significantly increased. This article quickly describes the Wells turbine and possibilities to enhance its performance and should answer the question: what are the design parameters that can be optimized?
Furthermore it gives a small outlook about the history of oscillating Water Columns.
In order to avoid optical damage and non-linear effects, high-power, high-energy lasers of the petawatt class like PHELIX (petawatt high-energy laser for heavy-ion experiments) use large-aperture optics. Usually, chromatic aberration associated with these optical elements is neglected. By means of numerical simulations, we show how the chromatic aberration affects the focal intensity pattern. In particular, we make quantitative predictions of how chromatic aberration decreases the focused peak intensity. Furthermore, we prove the feasibility of a new interferometer that measures the temporal pulse front distortions which arise from expansion telescopes. We also propose a scheme that pre-compensates these distortions.
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.
Consumption Corridors: Living a Good Life within Sustainable Limits
explores how to enhance peoples’ chances to live a good life in a world of ecological and social limits.
Rejecting familiar recitations of problems of ecological decline
and planetary boundaries, this compact book instead offers a spirited explication of what everyone desires: a good life. Fundamental
concepts of the good life are explained and explored, as are forces
that threaten the good life for all. The remedy, says the book’s seven
international authors, lies with the concept of consumption corridors, enabled by mechanisms of citizen engagement and deliberative
democracy.
Across fve concise chapters, readers are invited into conversation about how wellbeing can be enriched by social change that joins
“needs satisfaction” with consumerist restraint, social justice, and
environmental sustainability. In this endeavour, lower limits of consumption that ensure minimal needs satisfaction for all are important, and enjoy ample precedent. But upper limits to consumption,
argue the authors, are equally essential, and attainable, especially in those domains where limits enhance rather than undermine essential
freedoms.
The preservation of water bodies continuity is fundamental
for aquatic communities, particularly for fish
populations. Various structures impede watercourse
continuity, impacting fish migration and habitat distribution.
Conventional fish passages often fall short
in diverse scenarios, prompting the development of
specialized solutions. This article proposes a criteria
catalog for these special fish passage solutions based
on DWA leaflet DWA-A 509. It discusses the need
for these solutions, presents a selection of specialized
options, and outlines criteria from DWA-M 509, construction
guidelines, and economic perspectives. It
scrutinizes criteria ranging from target fish species to
cost considerations. Three examples, including the
Runserau fish lift, the bristle ramp fish lock, and the
Fishcon sluice, illustrate these specialized solutions,
their functionalities, advantages, and drawbacks. Additionally,
the article compiles criteria from industry
standards and guidelines into a comprehensive evaluation
catalog. The criteria, when applied, assist in the
selection of suitable fish passage solutions based on
specific site conditions and fish species requirements.
This holistic approach aims to optimize fishway selection,
fostering the ecological sustainability of watercourses.
However, this catalog remains dynamic
and open to expansion with evolving research and
practical application, urging further exploration and
validation of these criteria through diverse case studies
and technological advancements in the field.
This paper presents a seminar concept for the development of communication competence in pre-service vocational education teachers with the aid of video annotations, feedback, and peer microteaching. The seminar is offered within a teacher training program for students taking a master’s degree (MEd) in vocational education at the FH Münster University of Applied Sciences, Germany, and has been conducted three times. The advantages of the seminar concept are manifold. On the one hand, we create a learning environment in which students individually prepare and conduct five peer microteaching lessons in a row and receive prompt and constructive peer feedback on every performance. On the other hand, the quality of feedback improves so that our students are professional feedback providers by the end of the seminar. The provision of teacher feedback alone does not help our students become successful feedback providers. Nor, given the resources available at the university, is it a realistic alternative in terms of time constraints. In addition, due to recordings, the students gain a better insight into their teaching skills since their lessons can be observed and approached from an outside perspective.
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.
(1) Background: Schools report a high number of schoolchildren with poor attention and hyperactive behavior, with 5% being diagnosed with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This causes specific problems during homework and classroom times, and the extension of all-day schooling in German primary schools makes this a challenge for support staff working in the after-school programs. Such staff have a very wide variety of qualifications, ranging from no formal teacher training to full teaching qualifications. (2) Methods: This study documents the knowledge of 196 support staff working in all-day primary schools about ADHD, and their subjective view of whether they feel competent with regard to homework situations in general and ADHD in particular. (3) Results: Those with an educational background have significantly more knowledge than those without such a background, staff feel less prepared to supervise children with ADHD, and there is a small but significant correlation here with knowledge about ADHD. (4) Conclusions: The importance of trained pedagogical staff in the supervision of children with concentration problems is emphasized.
Potential and risks of water reuse in Brandenburg (Germany) – an interdisciplinary case study
(2024)
For Brandenburg, a region in Germany with increasing water shortage and drought events, water reuse can counteract competition scenarios between drinking water supply, agricultural irrigation, and industrial use. Centralized and decentralized sources for reclaimed water are found to potentially substitute 245 or 28% of irrigation water, respectively, in agriculture production in Brandenburg. For such a reuse scenario, the
fate of organic micropollutants is examined for diatrizoate (DZA) and carbamazepine (CBZ). Retention in local sandy soil and transfer into roots and leaves of arugula are analyzed in lysimeter studies and greenhouse pot experiments. Vertical transport was found for DZA and accumulation in or on arugula roots with a root concentration factor of 1,925+34% but a low bioconcentration factor due to intrinsic molecule properties. CBZ was not found to be mobile in the sandy soil but accumulates in arugula roots and leaves by factors of 70+7% and 155+12%, respectively. Further research on potential plant uptake and groundwater enrichment for more substances is highly recommended as well as tertiary wastewater treatment prior to water reuse.
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 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.
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.
Background: Pediatric palliative care (PPC) patients experience years of multisectoral and professional care. An electronic cross-facility health record (ECHR) system can support the immediate exchange of information among PPC professionals. Based on a needs assessment, a prototype ECHR system was developed. Methods: To evaluate potential users’ perspective regarding the system, a qualitative observational study was conducted consisting of a concurrent think-aloud session and a semi-structured qualitative interview. Results: Twenty PPC professionals (nurses, physicians) from specialized outpatient PPC teams, a PPC unit, and medical offices rated the ECHR system as a helpful tool to improve the exchange and collection of information, communication between PPC professionals, and treatment planning. From the user’s point of view, the basic logic of the ECHR system should be further adapted to improve the interaction of data remirrored from patient records of outpatient and inpatient care with those entered via the system. The users wished for further functions (text search) and content (information on therapies). Some content, such as the treatment process, needs to be further adapted. Conclusion: The developed ECHR system needs to be more specific in some features by offering all available information; while for other features, be less specific to offer a quick overview. The ability to share information promptly and automatically was seen as a tremendous improvement to the quality of care for PPC patients.