Search

The ultrasonic fatigue testing method has been further developed to perform cyclic compression tests with concrete. Cylindrical specimens vibrate in resonance at a frequency of approximately 20 kHz with superimposed compressive static loads. The high testing frequency allows time-saving investigations in the very high cycle fatigue regime. Fatigue tests were carried out on “Concrete 1” (compressive strength fc = 80 MPa) and “Concrete 2” (fc = 107 MPa) under purely compressive loading conditions. Experiments at maximum compressive stresses of 0.44 fc (Concrete 1) and 0.38 fc (Concrete 2) delivered specimen failures above 109 cycles, indicating that no fatigue limit exists for concrete below one billion load cycles. Resonance frequency, power required to resonate the specimen and second order harmonics of the vibration are used to monitor fatigue damage in situ. Specimens were scanned by X-ray computed tomography prior to and after testing. Fatigue cracks were produced by ultrasonic cycling in the very high cycle fatigue regime at interfaces of grains as well as in cement. The possibilities as well as limitations of ultrasonic fatigue testing of concrete are discussed.

Aim of the study: The European Society of Breast Cancer Specialists (EUSOMA) has fostered a voluntary certification process for breast centres to establish minimum standards and ensure specialist multidisciplinary care. Prospectively collected anonymous information on primary breast cancer cases diagnosed and treated in the units is transferred annually to a central EUSOMA data warehouse for continuous monitoring of quality indicators (QIs) to improve quality of care. Units have to comply with the EUSOMA Breast Centre guidelines and are audited by peers. The database was started in 2006 and includes over 110,000 cancers from breast centres located in Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Austria, The Netherlands, Spain, Portugal and Italy. The aim of the present study is assessing time trends of QIs in EUSOMA-certified breast centres over the decade 2006-2015. Materials and methods: Previously defined QIs were calculated for 22 EUSOMA-certified breast centres (46122 patients) during 2006-2015. Results: On the average of all units, the minimum standard of care was achieved in 8 of 13 main EUSOMA QIs in 2006 and in all in 2015. All QIs, except removal of at least 10 lymph nodes at axillary clearance and oestrogen receptor-negative tumours (T > 1 cm or N+) receiving adjuvant chemotherapy, improved significantly in this period. The desirable target was reached for two QIs in 2006 and for 7 of 13 QIs in 2015. Conclusion: The EUSOMA model of audit and monitoring QIs functions well in different European health systems and results in better performance of QIs over the last decade. QIs should be evaluated and adapted on a regular basis, as guidelines change over time. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Aim of the study: The European Society of Breast Cancer Specialists (EUSOMA) has fostered a voluntary certification process for breast units to establish minimum standards and ensure specialist multidisciplinary care. In the present study we assess the impact of EUSOMA certification for all breast units for which sufficient information was available before and after certification. Materials and methods: For 22 EUSOMA certified breast units data of 30,444 patients could be extracted from the EUSOMA database on the evolution of QI's before and after certification. Results: On the average of all units, the minimum standard of care was achieved for 12/13 QI's before and after EUSOMA certification (not met for DCIS receiving just one operation). There was a significant improvement of 5 QI's after certification. The proportion of patients with invasive cancer undergoing an axillary clearance containing >9 lymph nodes (91.5% vs 89.4%, p 0.003) and patients with invasive cancer having just 1 operation (83.1% vs 80.4%, p < 0.001) dropped, but remained above the minimum standard. The targeted standard of breast care was reached for the same 4/13 QI's before and after EUSOMA certification. Conclusion: Although the absolute effect of EUSOMA certification was modest it further increases standards of care and should be regarded as part of a process aiming for excellence. Dedicated units already provide a high level of care before certification, but continuous monitoring and audit remains of paramount importance as complete adherence to guidelines is difficult to achieve. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Das Juridicum ist als dreiteiliger Baukorper zwischen einem Bau des 19. Jahrhunderts und dem Neuen Theater im Sudwesten des Platzes entwickelt. Zum Universitatsplatz als schmaler Keil vorgelagert ist ein funfgeschossiger Bauteil mit einer, im Erdgeschos aus weisem Jurakalk ausgefuhrten, in den daruberliegenden Geschossen weis verputzten Lochfassade, der Arbeitsraume und andere Teilbereiche der Bibliothek birgt. Die hochrechteckigen, schmalen Lichtoffnungen in schneller Folge besitzen rasterahnliche Qualitat. An der rechten und linken Fassadenecke sind grosere Wandflachen erhalten geblieben, die die ambivalent als Gerust oder als Fensterfolge lesbare Fassade mit einer Art Eckrisalit rahmen und so eine subtile Interpretationshilfe leisten.

Die ehemalige Zeche Nordstern — zwischen den Gelsenkirchener Stadtteilen Hesler und Horst gelegen — ist ein Ort, an dem fast symbolisch das im Laufe des Jahrhunderts mehrfach gewandelte Selbstverstandnis des Ruhrgebiets deutlich wird: Teile der Betriebsanlagen, die zwischen 1926 und 1951 als gebautes Manifest montaner Grose und industrieller Macht entstanden, sind heute zum selbstbewusten Zeichen des strukturellen Wandels geworden.