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Background Previous experience with repair of the regurgitant bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) has shown a strong influence of commissural orientation on repair durability. We have modified commissural orientation by asymmetric plication of the fused sinuses. We analyzed the results of the modified technique. Methods Between 2009 and 2014, 35 patients with BAV and commissural orientation of no more than 160° underwent aortic valve repair, including plication of the fused sinuses and circular annuloplasty. The control group consisted of 21 historic controls undergoing operations between 2000 and 2008 but without sinus plication; subcommissural plication was used as annuloplasty. The groups were similar in most respects; differences existed in preoperative annular diameter, prevalence of complete fusion, use of a pericardial patch, and plication of the fused cusp. Results At discharge the degree of aortic regurgitation (AR) was significantly lower in the study group ( p = 0.004). Survival after 5 years was 100% in the study group and 95.2% in the control group after 5 and 10 years. Five-year freedom from reoperation in the study group was 93.0% and 57.1% in the control group ( p = 0.0013); freedom from valve replacement was 95.8% and 79.3% ( p = 0.036). Freedom from recurrent AR grade II or higher was 67.1% in the study group and 33.3% in the control group ( p = 0.0024). Mean postoperative peak gradient was significantly lower in the study group (14.3 ± 6.5 mm Hg versus 28.9 ± 18.5 mm Hg, p = 0.003). Conclusions Plicating the fused sinuses and thus reducing root circumference in the fused part changes commissural orientation of the BAV which leads to better short- and midterm stability in BAV repair.

We experimentally study a periodically driven many-body localized system realized by interacting fermions in a one-dimensional quasi-disordered optical lattice. By preparing the system in a far-from-equilibrium state and monitoring the remains of an imprinted density pattern, we identify a localized phase at high drive frequencies and an ergodic phase at low ones. These two distinct phases are separated by a dynamical phase transition which depends on both the drive frequency and the drive strength. Our observations are quantitatively supported by numerical simulations and are directly connected to the change in the statistical properties of the effective Floquet Hamiltonian., 4 pages main text + 4 pages supplementary mat

Repair has become an alternative to replacement for bicuspid aortic valves that require surgery for regurgitation with left ventricular volume overload or aortic aneurysm. Over the past 15 years, improvements have been made regarding assessment of valve configuration and annular stabilization. Even though 20-year stability has been achieved in a relevant proportion of repaired bicuspid aortic valves, the new aspects have markedly improved short- to mid-term results and can be expected to lead to true long-term repair stability. In the presence of preserved root dimensions, isolated cusp repair techniques for correction of prolapse are sufficient. Circumferential annuloplasty has become an important part of the procedure. In the presence of root dilatation, root replacement not only eliminates the root pathology but also contributes to valve stability. Almost always cusp repair is also required.

Aortic valve replacement using a pulmonary autograft is an accepted option in children and young patients. The use of a pulmonary valve with congenital anomaly as autograft is controversial. We describe a case in which a quadricuspid pulmonary valve was used as an autograft in childhood. The patient presented with severe regurgitation 13 years later. Repair was performed with stabilization of the root and cusp prolapse correction, leading to normalized valve function. Despite concerns over the long-term durability of an anomalous pulmonary valve as autograft, good mid to long-term results can be achieved.

Coronary artery fistulae and coronary aneurysms are rare anomalies. When they become symptomatic, they require precise anatomic information to allow for planning of the therapeutic procedure. We report a case in which both fistulae and aneurysm were present. The required information could only be obtained by electrocardiogram-gated computed tomography with reformation. This imaging modality should be considered in every case of fistula or coronary aneurysm.

We outline the experimental concept and key scientific capabilities of AION (Atom Interferometer Observatory and Network), a proposed UK-based experimental programme using cold strontium atoms to search for ultra-light dark matter, to explore gravitational waves in the mid-frequency range between the peak sensitivities of the LISA and LIGO/Virgo/ KAGRA/INDIGO/Einstein Telescope/Cosmic Explorer experiments, and to probe other frontiers in fundamental physics. AION would complement other planned searches for dark matter, as well as probe mergers involving intermediate mass black holes and explore early universe cosmology. AION would share many technical features with the MAGIS experimental programme in the US, and synergies would flow from operating AION in a network with this experiment, as well as with other atom interferometer experiments such as MIGA, ZAIGA and ELGAR. Operating AION in a network with other gravitational wave detectors such as LIGO, Virgo and LISA would also offer many synergies., v3: Update to match published version in JCAP

Gelsolin (GSN), one of the most abundant actin-binding proteins, is involved in cell motility, shape and metabolism. As a member of the GSN superfamily, GSN is a highly structured protein in eukaryotic cells that can be regulated by calcium concentration, intracellular pH, temperature and phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate. GSN plays an important role in cellular mechanisms as well as in different cellular interactions. Because of its participation in immunologic processes and its interaction with different cells of the immune system, GSN is a potential candidate for various therapeutic applications. In this review, we summarise the structure of GSN as well as its regulating and functional roles, focusing on distinct diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, rheumatoid arthritis and cancer. A short overview of GSN as a therapeutic target in today's medicine is also provided.

Aortic valve repair for aortic regurgitation has become an increasingly accepted alternative to replacement. Some cusp pathologies require partial cusp replacement or augmentation using pericardium. There are limited data on pericardial patch durability. We analyzed our long-term results with pericardial patches in aortic cusp repair to clarify whether durability is influenced by aortic valve morphology or underlying cusp pathology.From 2000 to 2017, 275 patients (mean age, 53 ± 14 years) underwent aortic valve repair involving pericardial patches with tricuspid aortic valve (n = 139, 50.5%) or bicuspid aortic valve (n = 136, 49.5%) morphology. Pericardial patches were used for either central cusp replacement (n = 64, 23%), closure of defects (n = 55, 20%), fenestrations (n = 104, 38%), cusp augmentation (n = 27, 10%), or commissural reconstruction (n = 25, 9%). Follow-up was complete in 96%.Ten-year survival was 85%, and 10-year freedom from reoperation was 53%. Durability was inferior after bicuspid aortic valve repair (37%) compared with tricuspid aortic valve repair (69%; P.0001). Best 10-year freedom from reoperation was found after closure of fenestrations (73%) and defects (67%). Suboptimal durability was observed after cusp augmentation (44%), central cusp replacement (39%), and commissural reconstruction (16%, P.001).The results of aortic cusp repair using pericardium depend on valve morphology and cusp pathology. Mid- and long-term durability is reasonable in tricuspid aortic valve repair. In bicuspid aortic valve repair valve stability is poor regardless of cusp pathology and repair technique. For any analysis of patch durability, details of pathology and technique have to be considered.

The aim of this chapter is to present the relevant degradation processes occurring at the micro-level in concrete exposed to high temperatures, with special interest to the differences associated with High Performance Concrete (HPC) and Self Compacted Concretes (SCC) in respect to Ordinary Concrete. The microstructure of concrete can be identified using appropriate techniques sensitive to detect changes in concrete components that occur at micro level. The main items considered in present chapter are: 1.Chemical Degradation reactions. 2.Physical degradation processes. 3.Thermal changes.

The industrial production of personalized goods is a great opportunity for manufacturing companies to strengthen their competitive position. This requires a very high degree of flexibility in the whole value-adding system. The massive digitization of production enables this flexibility in an economic way. There are manifold new solutions arising from the fields of the Internet of Things and Industrie 4.0. The strong connection of the physical, the service and the digital world can improve the quality of information required for planning, optimization and operation of manufacturing systems. Therefore, cyber-physical systems can be used in manufacturing to follow the vision of producing personalized goods on a large scale. The contribution at hand introduces the Application Center Industrie 4.0. This environment is a highly advanced platform for the cooperative research and development of innovative cyber-physical production systems between the IFF at the University of Stuttgart, the Fraunhofer IPA and cutting-edge manufacturing companies. The paper provides a detailed overview over the concept of the Application Center Industrie 4.0. The IT platform Virtual Fort Knox is concisely described as it serves as a backbone to realize a safe, secure and flexible way to integrate all relevant data and information sources and sinks. This includes humans, IT-Systems and technical components. This concept is then substantiated by the introduction of selected, prototypically implemented demonstrators that offer new ways of understanding and operating manufacturing systems. Afterwards the first example of a strategic cooperation between the Fraunhofer IPA and TRUMPF will be introduced. The paper closes with a summary and an outlook of future activities in the area of the Application Center Industrie 4.0.

Solange wir neoliberalen Ideologien folgen, werden wir niemals Gerechtigkeit erreichen. Aufklarung tut not.

Background Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) is a suture material for annuloplasty in aortic valve repair. For this particular application, it should induce minimal local stress and promote rapid tissue incorporation. To achieve this, a novel ePTFE suture with a larger diameter and high porosity in its midsection has been developed. Herein, we analyzed the acute and chronic tissue reaction to this suture material compared with a commercially available control ePTFE suture. Methods Novel and control suture samples were implanted into dorsal skinfold chambers of BALB/c mice to analyze the early inflammatory response using intravital fluorescence microscopy over 14 days. Additional suture samples were implanted for 4 and 12 weeks in the flank musculature of mice and analyzed by histology and immunohistochemistry. Results The implantation of novel and control ePTFE suture into the dorsal skinfold chamber did not induce an acute inflammation, as indicated by physiological numbers of rolling and adherent leukocytes in all analyzed venules. Chronic implantation into the flank musculature showed a better tissue incorporation of the novel ePTFE suture with more infiltrating cells and a higher content of Sirius red+ collagen fibers when compared with controls. Cell proliferation and viability as well as numbers of recruited CD68+ macrophages, myeloperoxidase+ neutrophilic granulocytes and CD3+ lymphocytes did not significantly differ between the groups. Conclusion The novel ePTFE suture exhibits a good in vivo biocompatibility which is comparable to that of the control suture. Due to its improved tissue incorporation, it may provide a better long-term stability during annuloplasty.

We experimentally and numerically investigate the sudden expansion of fermions in a homogeneous one-dimensional optical lattice. For initial states with an appreciable amount of doublons, we observe a dynamical phase separation between rapidly expanding singlons and slow doublons remaining in the trap center, realizing the key aspect of fermionic quantum distillation in the strongly interacting limit. For initial states without doublons, we find a reduced interaction dependence of the asymptotic expansion speed compared to bosons, which is explained by the interaction energy produced in the quench.

We have investigated scaling properties of the Aubry-Andr\'e model and related one-dimensional quasiperiodic Hamiltonians near their localisation transitions. We find numerically that the scaling of characteristic energies near the ground state, usually captured by a single dynamical exponent, does not obey a power law relation. Instead, the scaling behaviour depends strongly on the correlation length in a manner governed by the continued fraction expansion of the irrational number $\beta$ describing incommensurability in the system. This dependence is, however, found to be universal between a range of models sharing the same value of $\beta$. For the Aubry-Andr\'e model, we explain this behaviour in terms of a discrete renormalisation group protocol which predicts rich critical behaviour. This result is complemented by studies of the expansion dynamics of a wave packet under the Aubry-Andr\'e model at the critical point. Anomalous diffusion exponents are derived in terms of multifractal (R\'enyi) dimensions of the critical spectrum; non-power-law universality similar to that found in ground state dynamics is observed between a range of critical tight-binding Hamiltonians., Comment: 18 pages, 13 figures

OBJECTIVES There are limited data on aortic root replacement (ARR) in patients with previous cardiac surgery. We analysed short-term and long-term results for patients with ARR after previous cardiac surgery. METHODS From September 1995 to April 2015, 130 patients underwent reoperative ARR. Fifty patients had undergone ARR previously (Group I), and 80 had been treated by isolated aortic valve repair or replacement (Group II). The primary indications for surgery were active endocarditis in 65 patients (50%), aneurysmatic root dilatation in another 37 (28.5%) and valve failure in 27 (20.8%). RESULTS Overall hospital mortality was 10% (n = 13). Survival at 10 and 15 years was 59.4% and 40.6%, respectively. Survival at 10 and 15 years was 71.5% and 62.5% in Group I and 56.2% and 35.4% in Group II, respectively (P = 0.14). Survival was significantly worse in patients operated for active endocarditis (23.7% vs 56.4% at 15 years; P

In a many-body localized (MBL) quantum system, the ergodic hypothesis breaks down completely, giving rise to a fundamentally new many-body phase. Whether and under which conditions MBL can occur in higher dimensions remains an outstanding challenge both for experiments and theory. Here, we experimentally explore the relaxation dynamics of an interacting gas of fermionic potassium atoms loaded in a two-dimensional optical lattice with different quasi-periodic potentials along the two directions. We observe a dramatic slowing down of the relaxation for intermediate disorder strengths and attribute this partially to configurational rare-region effects. Beyond a critical disorder strength, we see negligible relaxation on experimentally accessible timescales, indicating a possible transition into a two-dimensional MBL phase. Our experiments reveal a distinct interplay of interactions, disorder, and dimensionality and provide insights into regimes where controlled theoretical approaches are scarce., Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures. Comments and suggestions welcome

Ergodicity is a fundamental property of many physical systems which reflects their ability to reach thermal equilibrium during the course of dynamical evolution. In recent years, it has been understood that exceptions to this fundamental behaviour may be possible: as particles become localized by the external disorder, they can fail to form a thermal environment for themselves. Such ‘many-body-localized’ (MBL) systems are perfect insulators, unlike the more familiar band or Mott insulators. That is, the (electrical) conductivity of an MBL system is precisely zero not only in its ground state, but also at finite energy densities, where in ordinary insulators thermally activated transport would dominate. These, along with many other unique properties, have led to an explosion of recent interest in understanding MBL systems, as well as more general, non-ergodic behaviours of quantum many-body systems. What would such systems do, if they do not approach a thermal state? Are there universal aspects to this behaviour, or will every system behave in a different way? On the more applied side, many-body localization might open a new strategy for fighting decoherence. In all current quantum computing attempts, the main difficulty results from the fact that the thermal environment tends to thermalize a qubit, thereby causing decoherence. This has the unwanted consequence of information scrambling: during thermalization, quantum information encoded in the initial state will spread over the entire system and thereby become inaccessible to local measurements. This may not be the case in MBL systems: as a localized environment fails to thermalize, the system can retain some local information about its initial state for indefinite amounts of time, opening up new possibilities for quantum technologies. Originally proposed by Anderson in 1958 [1], disorder-induced localization was initially mostly studied as a single-particle phenomenon—dubbed Anderson localization. As a paradigmatic quantum phenomenon, Anderson …

Periodic driving of optical lattices has enabled the creation of novel band structures not realizable in static lattice systems, such as topological bands for neutral particles. However, especially driven systems of interacting bosonic particles often suffer from strong heating. We have systematically studied heating in an interacting Bose-Einstein condensate in a driven one-dimensional optical lattice. We find interaction dependent heating rates that depend on both the scattering length and the driving strength and identify the underlying resonant intra- and interband scattering processes. By comparing the experimental data and theory, we find that, for driving frequencies well above the trap depth, the heating rate is dramatically reduced by the fact that resonantly scattered atoms leave the trap before dissipating their energy into the system. This mechanism of Floquet evaporative cooling offers a powerful strategy to minimize heating in Floquet engineered quantum gases., This work was financially supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (FOR2414), the European Commission (UQUAM, AQuS), and the Nanosystems Initiative Munich.

Optimal and intuitive robotic machining is still a challenge. One of the main reasons for this is the lack of robot stiffness, which is also dependent on the robot positioning in the Cartesian space. To make up for this deficiency and with the aim of increasing robot machining accuracy, this contribution describes a solution approach for optimizing the stiffness over a desired milling path using the free degree of freedom of the machining process. The optimal motion is computed based on the semantic and mathematical interpretation of the manufacturing process modeled on its components: product, process and resource; and by configuring automatically a sample-based motion problem and the transition-based rapid-random tree algorithm for computing an optimal motion. The approach is simulated on a CAM software for a machining path revealing its functionality and outlining future potentials for the optimal motion generation for robotic machining processes.

A novel integrated approach to high-accuracy machining with industrial robots is presented in this paper. By combining a conventional industrial robot with an external compensation mechanism, a significantly higher bandwidth of the control of the relative position between the tool and the workpiece can be achieved. A model-based feedback controller for the compensation mechanism, as well as a mid-ranging control architecture for the combined system with the robot and the compensation mechanism are developed. The system performance is evaluated in extensive machining experiments, and the workpiece accuracies achieved are quantified and compared to the corresponding results obtained with state-of-the-art approaches to robotic machining. It is shown that the proposed approach to machining offers significantly higher accuracy, up to eight times improvement for milling in steel, where the required process forces, and thus the exhibited position deviations of the robot, are significant.

Machining using industrial robots is currently limited to applications with low geometrical accuracies and soft materials. This paper analyzes the sources of errors in robotic machining and characterizes them in amplitude and frequency. Experiments under different conditions represent a typical set of industrial applications and allow a qualified evaluation. Based on this analysis, a modular approach is proposed to overcome these obstacles, applied both during program generation (offline) and execution (online). Predictive offline compensation of machining errors is achieved by means of an innovative programming system, based on kinematic and dynamic robot models. Real-time adaptive machining error compensation is also provided by sensing the real robot positions with an innovative tracking system and corrective feedback to both the robot and an additional high-dynamic compensation mechanism on piezo-actuator basis.

Absolute temperature, the fundamental temperature scale in thermodynamics, is usually bound to be positive. Under special conditions, however, negative temperatures - where high-energy states are more occupied than low-energy states - are also possible. So far, such states have been demonstrated in localized systems with finite, discrete spectra. Here, we were able to prepare a negative temperature state for motional degrees of freedom. By tailoring the Bose-Hubbard Hamiltonian we created an attractively interacting ensemble of ultracold bosons at negative temperature that is stable against collapse for arbitrary atom numbers. The quasi-momentum distribution develops sharp peaks at the upper band edge, revealing thermal equilibrium and bosonic coherence over several lattice sites. Negative temperatures imply negative pressures and open up new parameter regimes for cold atoms, enabling fundamentally new many-body states and counterintuitive effects such as Carnot engines above unity efficiency., 5 pages, 4 figures + supplementary material

This paper proposes an approach for a 3D-Piezo Compensation Mechanism unit that is capable of fast and accurate adaption of the spindle position to enhance machining by robots. The mechanical design is explained which focuses on low mass, good stiffness and high bandwidth in order to allow compensating for errors beyond the bandwidth of the robot. In addition to previous works [7,9], an advanced actuation design is presented enabling movements in three translational axes allowing a working range of each axis up to half a millimeter. Based on the presented theoretical dimensioning and finite element simulation translational moves with higher bandwidth can be enabled, due to the parallel design approach of a 3D-Piezo Compensation Mechanism. For realization aspects piezo actuators are chosen due to their fast dynamics and high forces. The realization of the control loop is further outlined. In order to enable a good control performance the set-up of sensing the extension of the piezo actuator is detailed as well as the spindle position used in fast real-time environment. As a result the 3D-Piezo Compensation mechanism unit allows an active adaption of the spindle position in the range of micrometers. A description of the deployment of the compensation unit to a robot machining system as well as first experimental results conclude the paper and prove the proper functioning of the approach and outline the potential of the entire system. Measured robot paths are applied to the compensation unit and analyzed with respect to the reduction of robot path errors.

High accurate absolute robot positioning is a requirement, and still a challenge, in many applications, such as drilling in the aerospace industry. The accuracy is affected due to many sources of errors from robot model, tool calibration, sensor and product uncertainties. While model-based error compensation cannot reach the desired accuracy, sensor-based compensation appears as the practical solution to increase the robot positioning accuracy. A structured analysis of the error sources in robotic manufacturing processes can facilitate error identification and further compensation. This paper describes an error source breaking down approach for analyzing robotic manufacturing processes. Moreover, an external sensor-based compensation is proposed for error reduction and error identification. Comparison with a compliance model-based compensation is performed. The proposed approach is applied to a robotic drilling process for aircraft manufacturing, considered a general and real industrial application. Further validation through experimentation is performed. The validation revealed a clear improvement in robot positioning accuracy and the benefits of the proposed error source structure for analysis.

Background Isolated repair of the regurgitant bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) has yielded suboptimal durability, with annular dilatation being important risk factor for recurrent aortic regurgitation. We hypothesized that adding a suture annuloplasty (SA) should lead to improved repair stability. Methods Between July 1999 and September 2014, 268 patients (mean age, 41 ± 13 years, 249 male) underwent isolated BAV repair. From January 2009 to September 2014, 164 consecutive patients (study group) underwent SA using either braided polyester (n = 37) or expanded polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) (n = 127). Patients who underwent surgery prior to January 2009 served as controls (n = 104). All patients were followed (98.9% complete, 1 week to 181 months). Results Annular size was larger in the study group ( p 0.001) and age was lower ( p 0.001). There were no differences between the groups regarding other clinical data. Hospital mortality was 0.7% (n = 2), 10-year survival was 94.2%. Thirty-six patients required valve-related reoperations (8 days to 94 months postoperatively; controls = 32, study = 4). Complications related to SA (ventricular septal defect, interference with coronary artery) occurred in 6 (3.7%) patients, in 4 (10.8%) patients with polyester SA and in 2 (1.6%) patients with PTFE. In the control group freedom from reoperation at 5 and 10 years was 73.2% and 63.7%, respectively. With SA, 5-year stability was significantly improved to 92.6% ( p = 0.0006); it was 96.7% for PTFE versus 83.5% for polyester SA ( p = 0.0132). Conclusions Annular dilatation is a risk factor for failure after repair of regurgitant BAV. Its elimination through the use of SA significantly improves repair stability. With PTFE as material for SA optimal repair stability and minimal local complications are achieved.

We experimentally study the effects of coupling one-dimensional many-body localized systems with identical disorder. Using a gas of ultracold fermions in an optical lattice, we artificially prepare an initial charge density wave in an array of 1D tubes with quasirandom on-site disorder and monitor the subsequent dynamics over several thousand tunneling times. We find a strikingly different behavior between many-body localization and Anderson localization. While the noninteracting Anderson case remains localized, in the interacting case any coupling between the tubes leads to a delocalization of the entire system.

In the presence of sufficiently strong disorder or quasiperiodic fields, an interacting many-body system can fail to thermalize and become many-body localized. The associated transition is of particular interest, since it occurs not only in the ground state but over an extended range of energy densities. So far, theoretical studies of the transition have focused mainly on the case of true-random disorder. In this work, we experimentally and numerically investigate the regime close to the many-body localization transition in quasiperiodic systems. We find slow relaxation of the density imbalance close to the transition, strikingly similar to the behavior near the transition in true-random systems. This dynamics is found to continuously slow down upon approaching the transition and allows for an estimate of the transition point. We discuss possible microscopic origins of these slow dynamics.

Studienziel Untersuchung des therapeutischen Effekts von CaReS® zur Behandlung osteo-/chondraler Knorpeldefekte (Outerbridge Grad III und IV) am Kniegelenk im Rahmen einer prospektiven, multizentrischen Anwendungsbeobachtung.

The transport measurements of an interacting fermionic quantum gas in an optical lattice provide a direct experimental realization of the Hubbard model—one of the central models for interacting electrons in solids—and give insights into the transport properties of many-body phases in condensed-matter physics.

This paper presents the results of an experimental study on the transient strain of high strength concrete (HSC) under heating up to 750°C and the impact of polypropylene (PP) fibers. Concerning this topic only few results are available in the literature and systematic investigations are missing. However, basic knowledge is necessary for the understanding of the internal damage processes in the material as well as for heated structures. The transient strain during heating can be separated in two basic components: the free thermal strain and the mechanical strain. They were experimentally determined exemplarily for one HSC. For the determination of the mechanisms of transient strain and particularly the influence of PP fibers different techniques were applied. In this context the monitoring of the microcracking was done for the first time with acoustic emission analysis in combination with ultrasonic measurements. This new approach helps fundamentally to explain the impact of PP fibers on free thermal strain and mechanical strain during heating up. Furthermore weight loss measurements were carried out to characterize the moisture transport. It was shown that the PP fibers cause an acceleration of the moisture transport in the temperature range from 200 to 250°C which leads to drying shrinkage in opposite direction to the free thermal strain. Hence this paper is a contribution to the general understanding of the impact of PP fibers in HSC at high temperatures and emphasizes the important influence of PP fibers on the thermal and mechanical induced strain of HSC.

This paper presents the results of an experimental study on the influence of polypropylene (PP) fibres on the thermal strain of high strength concrete (HSC) at temperatures up to 750°C. Concerning this topic only few results can be found in the literature and systematic investigations are missing. However, basic knowledge is necessary to understand the internal damage processes as well as for structural design.To explain the differences in the thermal strain of HSC with and without addition of PP fibres the internal damage processes were investigated with acoustic emission (AE) analysis and ultrasound (US). Furthermore the weight loss was measured continuously during heating to monitor the drying of the specimen. This novel approach by combining these different methods with strain measurements at high temperatures allows the integral description of the internal damage processes. The results reveal significant differences in the thermal strain of HSC when PP fibres are added. Between 200°C and 250°C the thermal strain of HSC with PP fibres is superimposed by shrinkage caused by accelerated drying. Above 250°C it is lower than that of plain HSC without PP fibres. It is supposed that it is caused by a more homogeneous distribution of micro cracks whereby the fibre beds acting as defects in the concrete.Hence this paper gives a contribution to the general understanding of the impact of PP fibres in HSC at high temperatures and points out the influence of the fibres on the thermal strain of HSC.

Summary Women‘s football is becoming increasingly popular both national and international. Exercise physiology characteristics describe increasingly conditional requirements. According to the amount of training and training intensity, cardiac adaptations can be observed. If higher workload is performed by top-class football players in additional international games, changes in the immune system are observed too. Due to this, adequate recovery time must be assured. In clinical daily routine the assessment of the iron metabolism is of great importance. Although the female athlete triad components (eating disorder, menstrual dysfunction and osteoporosis) occur less compared to other sports, attention should be paid to these characteristics in sports medicine examination.

Summary Further match analysis and observations were performed in soccer in recent years. During soccer matches female and male players cover a total running distance about ±10km, which is unchanged for many years. The amount of high-intensity activities during soccer matches shows significant differences between the levels of competition in both sexes. The comparison of conditional abilities between female and male teams from the first German soccer league show significant differences in linear running speed (30m -14.7%, p≤.05), nonlinear running speed (FLT-Z-Run-Sprint 22m -9.4%, p≤.05), jump performance (squat jump -32.1%, p≤.05, counter movement jump -33.8%, p≤.05) and endurance performance (lactate threshold test, running velocity at 4 mmol/l [km/h] blood lactate concentration -8.9%, p≤.05; ISRT -37.0%, p≤.05). With the exception of the dorsal trunk muscles in favor of women (dorsal trunk muscles +27.3%, p≤.05), no significant differences in trunk strength were found between women and men. Significant correlations were found between the total running distance at the Interval-Shuttle-Run-Test and the running velocity at 4 mmol/l blood lactate concentration in women from the first German league (r=0.87, p≤.05) but not in men from the fourth German league (r=0.47, p=n.s.). The current findings show that the general development in soccer matches has to be reflected by the methodology of performance assessment. Success in playing soccer requires resources, which are beyond the conditional abilities and are displayed in a new model.

Interactions between microscopic particles are usually described as two-body interactions, although it has been shown that higher order multi-body interactions could give rise to novel quantum phases with intriguing properties. This paper demonstrates effective six-body interactions in a system of ultracold bosonic atoms in a three-dimensional optical lattice. The coherent multi-particle interactions observed here open a new window for simulations of effective field theories and may help to enable the realization of novel topologically ordered many-body quantum phases. Interactions between microscopic particles are usually described as two-body interactions, although it has been shown that higher-order multi-body interactions could give rise to new quantum phases with intriguing properties. Here, effective six-body interactions are demonstrated in a system of ultracold bosonic atoms in a three-dimensional optical lattice. Interactions lie at the heart of correlated many-body quantum phases1,2,3. Typically, the interactions between microscopic particles are described as two-body interactions. However, it has been shown that higher-order multi-body interactions could give rise to novel quantum phases with intriguing properties. So far, multi-body interactions have been observed as inelastic loss resonances in three- and four-body recombinations of atom–atom and atom–molecule collisions4,5,6. Here we demonstrate the presence of effective multi-body interactions7 in a system of ultracold bosonic atoms in a three-dimensional optical lattice, emerging through virtual transitions of particles from the lowest energy band to higher energy bands. We observe such interactions up to the six-body case in time-resolved traces of quantum phase revivals8,9,10,11, using an atom interferometric technique that allows us to precisely measure the absolute energies of atom number states at a lattice site. In addition, we show that the spectral content of these time traces can reveal the atom number statistics at a lattice site, similar to foundational experiments in cavity quantum electrodynamics that yield the statistics of a cavity photon field12. Our precision measurement of multi-body interaction energies provides crucial input for the comparison of optical-lattice quantum simulators with many-body quantum theory.