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•Polyethylene glycol-silver nanoparticles (PEG-AgNPs) were synthesized to improve the properties of polyethersulfone (PES) membranes.•The incorporation of PEG-AgNPs into the PES membrane significantly increased its water flux from 2.87 to 172.84 L/m²·h.•The modified PES membrane with PEG-AgNPs showed improved anti-fouling properties, with increased reversible fouling and reduced irreversible fouling.•The PES/PEG-AgNPs membrane exhibited high filtration performance, achieving a water disinfection efficacy of 99.99 %.

Pre-synthesized amino-functional poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm, grafting-to) and monomer (NIPAm, grafting-from) were grafted on with polydopamine pre-functionalized porous polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membrane to fabricate thermally responsive membranes. Scanning electron microscopy revealed irregular particles and more homogeneous spherical particles on the surface of membranes fabricated by grafting-to and grafting-from, respectively. Grafting yield and chemical analyses further indicated higher grafting density for membranes prepared by grafting-from method. The lower grafting density of PNIPAm obtained by grafting-to method resulted in poor switching wettability and permeability; water contact angle and water permeance of the membrane increased from 41° to 49° and from 270 to 440 L m−2h−1bar−1when temperature. was enhanced from 25 to 45 °C and thereby passed through the lower critical solution temperature (33 °C) of PNIPAm. The membrane obtained by grafting-from method showed a switching wettability between superhydrophilic and hydrophobic properties (0° at 25 °C to 117° at 45 °C) with a higher thermal responsive factor in water permeance (200 L m−2h−1bar−1at 25 °C and 480 L m−2h−1bar−1at 45 °C). From the results it can be concluded that the grafting-from approach is better suitable to fabricate thermally responsive membranes, and the membranes can be further tuned and applied to separate mixtures containing particles of various sizes while maintaining good antifouling and thermally induced cleaning properties.

Optically levitated multiple nanoparticles have emerged as a platform for studying complex fundamental physics such as non-equilibrium phenomena, quantum entanglement, and light–matter interaction, which could be applied for sensing weak forces and torques with high sensitivity and accuracy. An optical trapping landscape of increased complexity is needed to engineer the interaction between levitated particles beyond the single harmonic trap. However, existing platforms based on spatial light modulators for studying interactions between levitated particles suffered from low efficiency, instability at focal points, the complexity of optical systems, and the scalability for sensing applications. Here, we experimentally demonstrated that a metasurface which forms two diffraction-limited focal points with a high numerical aperture (∼0.9) and high efficiency (31 %) can generate tunable optical potential wells without any intensity fluctuations. A bistable potential and double potential wells were observed in the experiment by varying the focal points’ distance, and two nanoparticles were levitated in double potential wells for hours, which could be used for investigating the levitated particles’ nonlinear dynamics, thermal dynamics and optical binding. This would pave the way for scaling the number of levitated optomechanical devices or realizing paralleled levitated sensors.

Privacy engineering is gaining momentum in industry and academia alike. So far, manifold low-level primitives and higher-level methods and strategies have successfully been established. Still, fostering adoption in real-world information systems calls for additional aspects to be consciously considered in research and practice.

Simulation-based fault injection is a widely used technique for early-stage circuit reliability analysis. However, it consumes significant time, particularly for complex circuits. This paper introduces two Machine Learning (ML) methodologies to predict simulation-based fault injection outcomes at the gate level. The initial approach employs Neural Networks (NNs), extracting structural features from synthesis reports and simulation-related characteristics from Value Change Dump (VCD) waveforms. Nevertheless, NNs are restricted to learning from individual gate attributes. To exploit the comprehensive structure of entire circuits, we propose a method to convert circuits into graphs. This facilitates the utilization of Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) as advanced models, resulting in improved prediction performance. We select six open-source circuits with diverse complexities and functions to validate these methodologies and explore their adaptability across various circuits. Our experiments demonstrate the superior performance of GNNs compared to NNs in terms of prediction accuracy, efficiency in hyperparameter search, and the ability to address imbalanced datasets. Additionally, we investigate the feasibility of deploying the trained models to predict results in new circuits. Based on the experimental outcomes, we present an approach for leveraging the proposed methodology to accelerate simulation-based fault injection.

Nanometer circuits are becoming increasingly susceptible to soft errors. Selective hardening is a less expensive technique to improve the reliability of circuits because it hardens the critical components instead of hardening an entire circuit. One challenge of selective hardening is efficiently and effectively identifying the critical parts in circuits. Simulation-based fault injection is commonly used but extremely time-consuming, especially for complex circuits. This article proposes an approach based on graph neural networks (GNNs) to identify critical flip-flops in circuits. GNNs can take advantage of the circuit’s structural features and the features of individual flip-flops. To convert the features into abstract data that can be fed into GNNs, we provide a feature extraction method that uses a graph model to represent the relevant features of the circuit. The method converts the target circuit into a graph representing its architecture. The graph also contains features of individual flip-flops extracted from the circuit’s netlist and the value change dump (VCD) waveforms of the test used for fault simulation. Additionally, we extract edge features in the graph to utilize the information on combinational gates on the path between flip-flops. Datasets generated based on two open-source RISC-V cores are used to validate the proposed approach. We compare the performance of different GNNs on them and discuss the contribution of edge features to their performance. Our experiments show that the prediction accuracy increases significantly with edge features. GraphSAGE and SAGE-GCN with edge features perform best among the selected GNNs. The highest accuracy we achieved on Ibex and RI5CY is 97.75% and 98.67%, respectively. We also provide a method to accelerate the process of critical flip-flop identification.

Understanding the genetic control of traits linked to phenology is essential to address strategies and efforts in the development of resilient cultivars capable of adapting to climate change. In this study, we performed genome‐wide association studies on a cowpea [Vigna unguiculata(L.) Walp] mini‐core collection to dissect the genetic architecture and identify genomic regions associated with days to flowering, days from flowering to pod maturity, and days to pod maturity. Phenotypic data were collected in 2 years and used to test associations with 41,533 single‐nucleotide polymorphism markers by single and multi‐trait analysis. In addition, we searched for candidate genes putatively involved in phenological traits within genome‐associated regions. The single‐trait approach identified 28 significant marker‐trait associations for the three traits, while the multi‐trait identified 18 significant associations, both evidencing pleiotropic associations. Five of these markers were associated with phenological traits reported in previous studies. Candidate genes were identified, including genes involved in phosphorylation and encoding the maternal effect embryo arrest 60, known to be associated with pod maturity and flowering, respectively. Functional validation of these genes will further improve our understanding of the variation of phenological traits in cowpea and other related crops. Substantial genetic variation for phenological traits was found in the cowpea mini‐core collection.A total of 46 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected for days to flowering, days from flowering to pod maturity, and days to pod maturity.Some SNPs were significant for two traits simultaneously, suggesting a pleiotropic effect.Gene annotation identified 39 unique genes, of which 18 were characterized according to biological processes.

One of the major shortcomings of compounding polyamide (PA), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and olefinic oils is the fact that they are incompatible. To overcome this issue, using energy radiation in the presence of oxygen leads to the breakage of the PTFE chain to generate hydrophilic functional groups (COF, COOH) and peroxy radicals. The created functional groups and radicals can be used to induce a chemical bond between PA and PTFE as well as between PTFE and olefinic oil molecules. In addition, the hardness of compounds significantly influences the application of materials as solid‐lubricant. It is well known that crystallinity affects the hardness of materials. In the presented study, the effects of the chemical bonding PA‐PTFE/PA‐PTFE‐oil on the crystallization behavior of various types of PA in chemically bonded PA‐PTFE‐oil‐chemically bonded compounds, which were prepared by reactive two‐step extrusion, were investigated via DSC and X‐ray diffraction. The crystallite size of PA46 and PA66 in PA‐PTFE‐chemically bonded (cb) compounds was significantly increased compared with pure PA. At the same time, the d‐spacings of the PA segment in PA‐PTFE compounds were significantly narrower. Due to the chemical coupling, the compounds showed a slight change in hardness compared with pure PA.

Polyamide (PA), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and olefinic oils are incompatible. High‐energy radiation in the presence of oxygen can break the PTFE chain, generating hydrophilic functional groups (COF, COOH) and peroxy‐radicals. Based on the functional groups and radicals, it is possible to establish a chemical bond between PA and PTFE as well as between PTFE and olefinic oil molecules. This study prepared PA‐PTFE‐oil‐cb compounds (cb: chemically bonded) by reactive extrusion. The compounds wetting behavior are analyzed by contact angle measurement. Additionally, the sliding properties of the compound are investigated by micro friction testing against stainless steel. Due to good fragmentation and dispersion of PTFE in PA12 matrix, the PA12‐MP1100‐cb and PA12‐MP1100‐MO‐cb compounds show a slight change in wetting behavior compared to virgin PA12. In contrast, the wetting behavior of compounds based on PA46 increases dramatically compared to virgin PA46. Moreover, due to the chemical bonding, the PA‐PTFE‐cb compound surface is significantly smoother than a physical blend used as a model compound. Similarly, the compounds based on PA12 and PA66‐matrix show improved tribological properties compared to PA46‐based compounds. COF values for PA66 and PA12‐Z7321 are 0.69 and 0.55, respectively. In comparison, PA66‐MP1100‐MO‐cb and PA12‐MP1100‐MO‐cb (Z7321) have COF value of 0.34 and 0.38, respectively.

AbstractWe provide predictions for DSGE models with incomplete information that are robust across information structures. Our approach maps an incomplete-information model into a full-information economy with time-varying expectation wedges and provides conditions that ensure the wedges are rationalizable by some information structure. Using our approach, we quantify the potential importance of information as a source of business cycle fluctuations in an otherwise frictionless model. Our approach uncovers a central role for firm-specific demand shocks in supporting aggregate confidence fluctuations. Only if firms face unobserved local demand shocks can confidence fluctuations account for a significant portion of the US business cycle. (JEL D82, D83, E13, E31, E32)

Purpose: Due to failures that occur during intubation, some authors advocate that intubation should always be done with a video laryngoscope. What makes the implementation of this recommendation difficult, especially in developing countries, is the high price of the device. Thus, the objective of this study is to present a low-cost video laryngoscope developed via additive manufacturing, being the first device to have the safety parameters duly tested according to the ISO 7673:2020standard. Methods: A video laryngoscope with a Macintosh-type rigid blade was developed. After modeling it in the CAD-3D SolidWorks® program, the prototype was printed in PLA (polylactic acid), and load and fatigue tests were carried out with the MTS 810/793 testing machine. Results: The main results were an improvement in ergonomics (with a better fixation of the camera wire and camera positioning). Load and fatigue tests showed compliance with the requirements of the ISO 7673:2020standard. The first is that when subjected to a traction force of 65 N, the center of illumination must not move more than 10 mm (the average movement was only 3.95 mm). The second is that when subjected to a traction force of 150 N, the laryngoscope blade must not break (348 N of load was applied and the piece resisted without breaking). Conclusion: It was shown that the Macintosh-type PLA video laryngoscope has the potential to become a safe and low-cost tool in the emergency intubation arsenal.

Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) have revolutionized many applications in recent years, especially in image classification, video processing, and pattern recognition. This success of CNNs has been a motivating factor for solving even more complex problems involving multiple data modalities. Traditionally, a single CNN accelerator has been optimized for just one task or has been used to perform correlated tasks. We leverage the CNNs capability to learn patterns and use one accelerator to perform multiple uncorrelated tasks from different modalities and achieve an average accuracy above 90%, which would otherwise require three accelerators. Two types of CNN architectures (i.e., fused and branched) are evaluated for three distinct tasks based on accuracy, quantization, pruning, hardware resource utilization, power, and latency. Capitalizing on this, we have further proposed a runtime reconfigurable CNN accelerator supporting fault-tolerant (FT), high-performance (HP), and de-stress (DS) modes.

The structural application of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) in rail vehicles allows significant mass reductions compared to classic metals due to the outstanding specific stiffness and strength of CFRP. However, for CFRP materials in rail vehicle technology as a quite new field of application, various challenges must be overcome, such as the development of suited design approaches for main load-bearing train parts considering all rail specific standards. In this paper the development of related design approaches is exemplary shown for a bogie frame and a pantograph platform. The achieved mass reduction is almost 50% for the bogie frame and 40% for the pantograph platform compared to the metallic reference systems. Both CFRP lightweight structures have been successfully tested under static and fatigue loading according to valid railway standards.

Resistive random access memory (RRAM)-based hardware accelerators are playing an important role in the implementation of in-memory computing (IMC) systems for artificial intelligence applications. The latter heavily rely on vector-matrix multiplication (VMM) operations that can be efficiently boosted by RRAM devices. However, the stochastic nature of the RRAM technology is still challenging real hardware implementations. To study the accuracy degradation of consecutive VMM operations, in this work we programed two RRAM subarrays composed of $8\times $ 8 one-transistor-one-resistor (1T1R) cells following two different distributions of conductive levels. We analyze their robustness against 1000 identical consecutive VMM operations and monitor the inherent devices’ nonidealities along the test. We finally quantize the accuracy loss of the operations in the digital domain and consider the trade-offs between linearly distributing the resistive states of the RRAM cells and their robustness against nonidealities for future implementation of IMC hardware systems.

Nach einem schweren Zahntrauma wie beispielsweise einer Avulsion besteht die Gefahr der Pulpanekrose und Wurzelresorption. Auch wenn eine erfolgreiche endodontische Behandlung stattgefunden hat, kann eine Ersatzresorption eintreten, die zu einer dentoalveolären Ankylose führt und sich durch Infraposition des betroffenen Zahnes bemerkbar macht. Diese stellt eine ernsthafte Komplikation für den im Wachstum befindlichen Alveolarknochen des Jugendlichen dar. Da die physiologische Knochenentwicklung gestört ist, wird eine schnelle interdisziplinäre Behandlungsplanung notwendig, um spätere Rehabilitationsprobleme zu verhindern. Die Dekoronation als eine konservative chirurgische Methode ermöglicht eine Weiterentwicklung des Alveolarknochens unter Erhalt seiner sagittalen und vertikalen Dimensionen, sodass nach Wachstumsabschluss die Implantation ohne Augmentation möglich ist. Der vorliegende Fallbericht zeigt das interdisziplinäre Behandlungs- und Kontrollmanagement nach einer Avulsion mit einem Follow-up von 5 Jahren, wobei letztendlich mit einer Dekoronation als präimplantologische Maßnahme therapiert wurde.

Violence against the neck can result in a range of macromorphological and micromorphological findings. However, the forensic relevance of the carotid sinus in cases of violence against the neck remains controversial. In this follow-up study of 22 cases of suicidal and accidental strangulations, carotid bifurcations were examined histologically for morphological changes implying direct trauma, including haemorrhage and immunohistochemical expression of heat-shock proteins 27, 60, and 70 and aquaporin-3. These cases were compared with a control group (82 cases) without neck compression or head trauma and with variable causes of death. No relevant histopathological findings implying direct trauma of the carotid bifurcation were found. No cases showed positive aquaporin-3 staining and only five cases showed positive heat-shock protein-27 staining, all of which were hangings. Without massive trauma of the carotid bifurcation, histological alterations cannot be expected. Without signs of rapid death, findings of acute circulatory failure, macromorphological and micromorphological findings of neck compression, and reliable markers indicating relevant impact on the carotid bifurcation the diagnosis of a lethal reflex cannot be verified. Key pointsAmong 22 cases of strangulation causing death, there were 16 cases of hanging and 6 cases of ligature strangulationFew cases showed small haemorrhages located predominantly in the surrounding fat and connective tissues; however, the haemorrhages did not have any effects on the tissuesNeck compression had minimal effects on heat shock protein 27 expression in carotid artery tissueAquaporin-3 staining suggested it is not a useful marker for relevant neck pressure, or that there had not been any relevant neck impactOur findings suggested no direct evidence for reflex cardiac death resulting from a brief force against the neck

The superposition principle is the cornerstone of quantum mechanics, leading to a variety of genuinely quantum effects. Whether the principle applies also to macroscopic systems or, instead, there is a progressive breakdown when moving to larger scales is a fundamental and still open question. Spontaneous wavefunction collapse models predict the latter option, thus questioning the universality of quantum mechanics. Technological advances allow to increasingly challenge collapse models and the quantum superposition principle, with a variety of different experiments. Among them, non-interferometric experiments proved to be the most effective in testing these models. We provide an overview of such experiments, including cold atoms, optomechanical systems, X-ray detection, bulk heating and comparisons with cosmological observations. We also discuss avenues for future dedicated experiments, which aim at further testing collapse models and the validity of quantum mechanics.

Research into “algorithmic discrimination” has largely dismissed the fact that algorithms are often developed and used by organizations. In this article, we show that organizational sociology can contribute to a more nuanced perspective on “algorithmic decision-making.” Drawing on the concept of decision premises, we differentiate between various formal structures, particularly between different decision programs (conditional and purposive). This allows us to challenge two key assumptions, namely that human decision-makers rely heavily on algorithmically generated recommendations and that discrimination against protected groups needs to be solved mainly at the level of code.

Additive manufacturing (AM) technologies, generally called 3D printing, are widely used because their use provides a high added value in manufacturing complex-shaped components and objects. Defects may occur within the components at different time of manufacturing, and in this regard, non-destructive techniques (NDT) represent a key tool for the quality control of AM components in many industrial fields, such as aerospace, oil and gas, and power industries. In this work, the capability of active thermography and eddy current techniques to detect real imposed defects that are representative of the laser powder bed fusion process has been investigated. A 3D complex shape of defects was revealed by a µCT investigation used as reference results for the other NDT methods. The study was focused on two different types of defects: porosities generated in keyhole mode as well as in lack of fusion mode. Different thermographic and eddy current measurements were carried out on AM samples, providing the capability to detect volumetric irregularly shaped defects using non-destructive methods.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the use thermography of rewarming hands (a) for individuals without a clinical diagnosis for circulatory issues, evaluating the distal dorsal difference (DDD) and the absolute temperature after cold stress; (b) to evaluate individuals which have been previously diagnosed with primary and secondary Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP); and (c) to indicate parameters (most suitable finger and trial period) to support the RP diagnostic with thermography. Methods: We evaluated 174 individuals, 150 without specific diagnosis and 24 participants with RP. A thermal camera was used to record skin temperature following a cold stress protocol. The hands were then immersed up to the carpal level in a container with cold water. Images were recorded immediately after the emersion and every 5 min, until 20 min post-immersion. For the data analysis, normalized histograms were mapped to define the probability density function of absolute temperature and DDD. The best finger and the best analysis time were defined by the ratio between variance and chi-square, to find the best trade-off between model fitting and data separation into two distinct groups. Results: A hit rate (recall value) of 91.7% for the DDD model and 79.2% for the absolute temperature model were found using DDD ≥  − 1.0 °C for the ring finger and T≥ 25.5 °C for the index finger. Conclusion: Results show that DDD and absolute temperature models could be suitable as a RP condition exclusion criterion. Moreover, the use of multiple fingers is recommended. We recommend using at least 15 min for the rewarming analysis period to maximize the thermal differences and the inspection using the ring finger (if the metric is the DDD) and the index finger (if the used metric is the absolute temperature).

The generation of lymphoid tissues during embryogenesis relies on group 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3) displaying lymphoid tissue inducer (LTi) activity and expressing the master transcription factor RORγt. Accordingly, RORγt-deficient mice lack ILC3 and lymphoid structures, including lymph nodes (LN). Whereas T-bet affects differentiation and functions of ILC3 postnatally, the role of T-bet in regulating fetal ILC3 and LN formation remains completely unknown. Using multiple mouse models and single-cell analyses of fetal ILCs and ILC progenitors (ILCP), here we identify a key role for T-bet during embryogenesis and show that its deficiency rescues LN formation in RORγt-deficient mice. Mechanistically, T-bet deletion skews the differentiation fate of fetal ILCs and promotes the accumulation of PLZFhiILCP expressing central LTi molecules in a RORα-dependent fashion. Our data unveil an unexpected role for T-bet and RORα during embryonic ILC function and highlight that RORγt is crucial in counteracting the suppressive effects of T-bet.

Purpose: To describe the development process of wrist, hand, and finger orthoses for children with cerebral palsy using low-cost additive manufacturing and also consider the perspective of caregivers and occupational therapists to evaluate the potential of applying this process. Methods: Four cases of study were conducted of orthoses developed for children with cerebral palsy, all of whom were indicated for the use of orthoses. The applied development process has 8 stages: data collection, client preferences, acquisition of anatomy, 3D scanning, 3D cad modelling, 3D printing, finishing, and delivery and evaluation. There was the participation of caregivers and occupational therapists in the evaluation of the process and of the product development. An adaptation of QUEST was used in order to assess satisfaction at the time of product delivery. One year after delivery, OTs who monitored the cases completed a questionnaire. Results: As a result, it was identified that it is possible to use the proposed process. Furthermore, the four hand and finger wrist orthoses were produced for children with cerebral palsy using low-cost materials and methods. By evaluating with professionals and stakeholders, the products were considered to be light weight and aesthetically pleasing. The OTs considered the orthoses to be clinically adequate and corresponding to the therapeutic objective. Conclusion: It is concluded that the low-cost additive manufacturing process used to produce customized wrist, hand, and finger orthoses for children with cerebral palsy is feasible. The generated orthoses were considered adequate from the perspective of caregivers and therapists.

Cake layer formation is the dominant ultrafiltration membrane fouling mechanism after long-term operation. However, precisely analyzing the cake-layer structure still remains a challenge due to its thinness (micro/nano scale). Herein, based on the excellent depth-resolution and foulant-discrimination of time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry, a three-dimensional analysis of the cake-layer structure caused by natural organic matter was achieved at lower nanoscale for the first time. When humic substances or polysaccharides coexisted with proteins separately, a homogeneous cake layer was formed due to their interactions. Consequently, membrane fouling resistances induced by proteins were reduced by humic substances or polysaccharides, leading to a high flux. However, when humic substances and polysaccharides coexisted, a sandwich-like cake layer was formed owing to the asynchronous deposition based on molecular dynamics simulations. As a result, membrane fouling resistances were superimposed, and the flux was low. Furthermore, it is interesting that cake-layer structures were relatively stable under common UF operating conditions (i.e., concentration and stirring). These findings better elucidate membrane fouling mechanisms of different natural-organic-matter mixtures. Moreover, it is demonstrated that membrane fouling seems lower with a more homogeneous cake layer, and humic substances or polysaccharides play a critical role. Therefore, regulating the cake-layer structure by feed pretreatment scientifically based on proven mechanisms should be an efficient membrane-fouling-control strategy.

Background: The pediatric relative fat mass (RFM) has been recently presented and validated as an index for estimating percentage body fat (%BF) in North American children and adolescents. Similar to body mass index (BMI) and tri-ponderal mass index (TMI), RFM uses anthropometric measures (i.e., weight, height and waist circumference) to estimate body composition. The primary purpose of this study was to validate the newly developed RFM equation for %BF prediction in Southern Brazilian adolescents; as secondary objective, we compared %BF estimation from BMI- and TMI-derived equations. Methods: A total of 631 individuals (434 boys) aged 11 to 18 were analyzed. Bland–Altman analyses were used to determine concordance between predicted equations and %BF measured by DXA; results are presented using mean difference (i.e., bias) and standard deviation. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for %BF percentile classifications. Results: RFM underestimated %BF in 65.2% of boys (− 4.3 ± 2.8%) and 84.8% of girls (− 5.3 ± 2.7%). In contrast, TMI overestimated %BF in 62.9% of boys (4.0 ± 2.9%) and 56.3% (3.5 ± 3.0%) of girls. The performance of BMI showed mixed results; %BF was overestimated in 68.4% of boys (5.0 ± 4.0%) and underestimated in 67.5% of girls (− 3.9 ± 2.6%), all p< 0.001. Although, RFM had the highest specificity for %BF percentile classifications, sensitivity was low and inferior to BMI and TMI. Conclusion: TMI was superior to RFM and BMI in predicting %BF in Southern Brazilian adolescents. Using RFM, BMI or TMI equations for %BF prediction without a population-specific correction factor may lead to incorrect interpretations. We suggest that correction factors should be investigated to improve the accuracy of these surrogate indices for body composition assessment. Level of evidence: Level V, cross sectional descriptive study.

In der Wissenschaft existiert eine lebhafte Diskussion darüber, wer rechtspopulistische Parteien wählt und warum sie unterstützt werden. Ziel des Beitrags ist es zu verstehen, wie sich das „Begriffenwerden“ des Elektorats von rechtspopulistischen Parteien anhand der Modernisierungsverlierer-These seit den 1990er entwickelt hat. Mit Hilfe dieser kurzen Begriffsgeschichte zu der wissenschaftlichen Kategorie der Modernisierungsverlierer soll ein Grundstein zum besseren Verständnis für das wechselseitige konstituierende Verhältnis von Wissenschaft und Gesellschaft bezüglich der Modernisierungsverlierer gelegt werden.

Amphiphilic polyethyleneoxide‐b‐poly(isopropyl methacrylate) (PEO‐b‐PiPMA) diblock copolymers (BCP) with different molar masses are synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). For that functionalized PEO monomethyl ether with two different molar masses, 10 and 20 kDa, are used as macroinitiator to obtain BCP in a molar mass range relevant for membrane fabrication. The BCP are used in the nonsolvent induced phase separation (NIPS) with the aim to obtain isoporous ultrafiltration membranes due to combination with its self‐assembling properties (SNIPS). In various experiments, a strong effect of PEO homopolymer (hPEO) on the membrane formation process can be proven in which fractions of BCP with low molar mass might also play a role. These impurities are left in the BCP after ATRP due to incomplete purification. Under specific conditions, they induce formation of void‐like superstructures on the membrane surface and in the cross section by a templating mechanism. Probably, large compound micelles play a key role in this scenario hindering the favored SNIPS process. The superstructure formation can be avoided by extensive purification of the BCP via dialysis or extraction. From the purified polymers, self‐supported ultrafiltration membranes with an integrated hydrophilic component are successfully fabricated. Although they do not lead to isoporous surfaces after semiempirical determination of suitable solvent systems for the SNIPS process, there are convincing indications that the trade‐off relation between selectivity and permeability can be overcome. © 2020 The Authors. Journal of Polymer Sciencepublished by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. , 2020, 58, 2561–2574 Poly(ethylene oxide)‐b‐poly(isopropyl methacrylate) is synthesized via an atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and utilized for the fabrication of ultrafiltration membranes by non‐solvent induced phase separation. It is the aim to combine the self‐assembly of the amphiphilic block copolymer (BCP) and the conventional macrophase separation to obtain high‐performance membranes. The authors report the strong effect of homo‐PEO, which is left in the BCP after ATRP on the membrane formation process, and the importance of using properly purified polymers.

Pervasive applications of the vehicle simulation technology are a powerful motivation for the development of modern automobile industry. As basic parameters of road vehicle, vehicle dynamic parameters can significantly influence the ride comfort and dynamics of vehicle, and therefore have to be calculated accurately to obtain reliable vehicle simulation results. Aiming to develop a general solution, which is applicable to diverse test rigs with different mechanisms, a novel model-based parameter identification approach using optimized excitation trajectory is proposed in this paper to identify the vehicle dynamic parameters precisely and efficiently. The proposed approach is first verified against a virtual test rig using a universal mechanism. The simulation verification consists of four sections: (a) kinematic analysis, including the analysis of forward/inverse kinematic and singularity architecture; (b) dynamic modeling, in which three kinds of dynamic modeling method are used to derive the dynamic models for parameter identification; (c) trajectory optimization, which aims to search for the optimal trajectory to minimize the sensitivity of parameter identification to measurement noise; and (d) multibody simulation, by which vehicle dynamic parameters are identified based on the virtual test rig in the simulation environment. In addition to the simulation verification, the proposed parameter identification approach is applied to the real test rig (vehicle inertia measuring machine) in laboratory subsequently. Despite the mechanism difference between the virtual test rig and vehicle inertia measuring machine, this approach has shown an excellent portability. The experimental results indicate that the proposed parameter identification approach can effectively identify the vehicle dynamic parameters without a high requirement of movement accuracy.

The serine protease kallikrein-related peptidase 7 (KLK7) is a member of the human tissue kallikreins. Its dysregulation leads to pathophysiological inflammatory processes in the skin. Furthermore, it plays a role in several types of cancer. For the treatment of KLK7-associated diseases, coumarinic esters have been developed as small-molecule enzyme inhibitors. To characterize the inhibition mode of these inhibitors, we analyzed structures of the inhibited protease by X-ray crystallography. Electron density shows the inhibitors covalently attached to His57 of the catalytic triad. This confirms the irreversible character of the inhibition process. Upon inhibitor binding, His57 undergoes an outward rotation; thus, the catalytic triad of the protease is disrupted. Besides, the halophenyl moiety of the inhibitor was absent in the final enzyme–inhibitor complex due to the hydrolysis of the ester linkage. With these results, we analyze the structural basis of KLK7 inhibition by the covalent attachment of aromatic coumarinic esters.

Single room heaters are usually type tested with constant draft and are allowed under these conditions. However, the mode of operation of the user’s firing usually deviates significantly from these conditions of approval, since these are operated in most cases by natural draft and not by constant draft. Since the repeatability of natural draft is hardly given due to the changing environmental conditions, a simulation has been developed, which can simulate the natural draft with high accuracy. Thus, it is basically possible to replicate the natural draft with constant environmental conditions and to use it for test bench measurements. It is a purely physical simulation that does not require any calibration parameters. Chimney geometry and environmental boundary conditions, such as the outside temperature, can be chosen freely. In addition, the cost of the necessary hardware is very low, since the system only needs cheap thermocouples, pressure sensors, and a small USB module for data acquisition.

Durch den großflächigen Einsatz der Computertomographie (CT) in unterschiedlichen Industriebereichen steigen auch die Anforderungen an die quantitative Bildanalyse. Subjektive Bildwahrnehmung muss durch objektive Algorithmen ersetzt werden. In diesem Artikel stellt die Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM), die seit den 1980er Jahren an der Entwicklung der industriellen CT beteiligt ist, anhand ausgewählter Beispiele den aktuellen Stand ihrer Analysemethoden an verschiedenen Anwendungsbeispielen der CT vor.

Study Design: Prospective cohort study.Objective: To evaluate the long-term effectiveness of a posterior dynamic spine stabilization (PDS) System called PercuDyn system as a treatment for low back pain (LBP) in patients with degenerative disc disease who have failed conservative treatment.Methods: Thirty-five patients (21 males, 14 females, mean age 36 years) with chronic LBP due to degenerative disc disease underwent percutaneous facet augmentation with the PercuDyn system. Indications for implanting the PercuDyn device were chronic LBP without sciatica, significant disc degeneration, and who failed conservative treatment. Follow-up after surgery ranged from 4 to 8 years. Patients were clinically evaluated using visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) questionnaire, and the EQ-5D3L.Results: The VAS scale and ODI scores improved at 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, and 4 to 8 years in comparison with the baseline values (P< .001 and P< .01, respectively). Equally, data from the EQ-5D-3L questionnaire suggested improvements in all domains, including pain and discomfort, over the follow-up period. However, during follow-up, 16 patients (46%) have had unsatisfactory outcome including failure of implant to resolve symptoms (n = 8), developed symptomatic disc protrusion (n = 4), and loosening of the screws (n = 4).Conclusion: Our clinical experience highlights the rather high overall failure rate of this system. Although, some patients show significant improvement in their symptoms, we believe that patients with LBP related to degenerative disc disease are a poor indication for this PDS device.However, large scale studies, with optimised selection criteria are needed to demonstrate the exact role of this device in spinal patients.

Mechanochemically synthesized metal–organic framework material HKUST-1 in combination with acrylonitrile butadiene styrene polymer was used to form a polymer metal–organic framework composite material by a simple extruder. This composite filament was used for 3D printing. X-ray diffraction measurements were used to prove the homogeneous distribution of the metal–organic framework in the polymer on a centimeter scale, whereas X-ray Absorption Edge Tomography using a synchrotron radiation source was able to evaluate the 3D distribution of the metal–organic framework material both in the filament and the resultant printed sample with a resolution of a few μm. Our very first data indicate that, apart from a few clusters having significantly higher Cu concentration, HKUST-1 is distributed homogeneously down to the 100 μm length scale in both polymer bulk materials in the form of clusters with a size of a few μm. Absorption Edge Tomography in combination with data fusion also allows for the calculation of the metal–organic framework amount located on the external polymer surface.

The article depicts symbolic boundary making in the German discourse on immigration. The analysis addresses the question of how wanted and unwanted immigrants are socially constructed and thereby differentiated in this discourse. The media analysis from 2008 to 2014 of so-called poverty migration from Rumania and Bulgaria and so-called new guest workers from Greece, Italy and Spain suggest that boundary making against these immigrants shifts from ethnicity and religion to an individual class-based approach. In this respect, the article discusses how a strong human rights discourse makes a dominant individualistic class-based definition of (un-)wanted immigration more likely. However, the analysis also shows that this construction of desirability refers to the ethnicity of the immigrants. In this sense, ethnic boundary making is stable in a liberal-universalistic context.

Angesichts des gegenwärtigen Reformprozesses der Datenschutzpolitik in der EU und Deutschland untersucht dieser Beitrag, in welchem Maße die deutsche Datenschutzaufsichtspraxis von föderaler Vielfalt geprägt ist. Denn während Datenschutzrecht vorrangig auf der EU-Ebene gesetzt wird, findet die Rechtsdurchsetzung weiterhin auf nationaler, oder, wie im Bundesdeutschen Fall, auf der Landesebene statt.

•Membrane technology greatly improved water treatment efficiency was illustrated.•Ex situcharacterization techniques enhanced membrane behaviors was reviewed.•In situcharacterization techniques for behavior enhancement were discussed.

The correlation between the optical and morphological properties of an anthracene-containing poly(phenylene ethynylene)-alt-(phenylenevinylene) statistical copolymer (AnE-PVstat) in solution has been investigated. As a function of temperature, the molecular aggregation in chloroform/chlorobenzene (CF:CB) solution was examined by means of absorbance and photoluminescence measurements. The study of the evolution of the 0–0 to the 0–1 photoluminescence (PL) ratio with temperature in the framework of the HJ-aggregate model unveiled the presence of both H- and J-like behaviors at room temperature. Upon increasing temperature, the interchain intermolecular coupling decreases, leading to a dissociation of H-aggregates. Hence, molecular torsions are facilitated, polymer planarity is reduced, and the intrachain electronic coupling decreases.

•Fabrication of thin-film composites using chemical and polyelectrolyte complex cross-linking•Nanofiltration membranes with polyanion microgel and polycation in cross-linked neutral polymer•Tunable single salt rejection toward values that are independent of cation or anion valency

Nowadays, hydrogen fuel is becoming more popular, and it is attracting significant attention as a sustainable and environmentally benign energy source owing to its zero emission of harmful substances and high energy density. Hydrogen generation through the electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) employs economically inexpensive and self-supported electrocatalysts that hold immense potential to provide a sustainable and cost-effective fuel in the future energy scenario. A self-supported NiO@TiO2nanofiber composite on Ti-foil is synthesized via a hydrothermal approach, and it is used as an electrocatalyst in the HER under alkaline conditions. The surface morphology, crystalline structure, and chemical composition of the electrode are analyzed by using high-resolution scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, which confirms that NiO nanoparticles are anchored to the surface of TiO2nanofibers. Investigation of the electrocatalytic properties of the NiO@TiO2nanofiber composite in a 1 M KOH electrolyte solution for the HER showed an overpotential of 144 mV at 10 mA cm–2with a Tafel slope of 152.34 mV dec–1. The NiO that is anchored to the TiO2nanofibers creates more catalytically active sites, which increases the surface area and enhances the HER performance. The charge transfer resistance of Rct= 41.6 Ω is determined from the electrode kinetics analyzed by using an electrochemical impedance spectroscopy Nyquist plot. The chronopotentiometric stability test confirms that the NiO@TiO2composite electrode shows a robust production of H2gas with only 7.6% potential deviation after 12 h of electrocatalytic activity. Furthermore, a Faradaic efficiency of 86% for hydrogen is achieved after 100 min of the HER. The results confirm that the NiO@TiO2nanofiber composite is a promising candidate material for the electrocatalysis of the HER.