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Geodesign requires the visualization of concepts and ideas within a context of geo-information of the respective place in a way that is understandable to people with different backgrounds – planners, geographers, architects, but also the users or inhabitants of the place. All of the roles involved have different requirements and need different information to fulfil their tasks within the geodesign process. In this contribution, we present the structure of a software system combining a GIS, a simulation system and a VR component, as well as interfaces to different interaction devices (like a GPS receiver, a spacemouse, multi-screen projection systems or devices for haptic feedback). This enables simulations of the place in its geographical context, as well as immersive presentations that are understandable regardless of the knowledge of a plan’s symbolic language. All this happens without the need to convert frequently between the software tools that are commonly used by the different roles., Research in Urbanism Series, Vol. 4 (2016): Geo-Design: Advances in bridging geo-information technology, urban planning and landscape architecture

3D simulation applications benefit from realistic and exact forest models. They range from training simulators like flight or harvester simulators to economic and ecological simulations for tree growth or succession. The nD forest simulation and information system integrates the necessary methods for data extraction, modeling, and management of highly realistic models. Using semantic world modeling, tree data can efficiently be extracted from remote sensing data – even for very large areas. Data is modeled using a GML-based modeling language and a flexible data management approach is integrated to provide caching, persistence, a central communication hub, and a versioning mechanism. Combining various simulation techniques and data versioning, the nD forest simulation and information system can provide applications with historic 3D data in multiple time dimensions (hence nD) as well as with predicted data based on simulations.

Drogenabhangige Menschen sind schon fruh an den Rand der Gesellschaft in das Leben in Illegalitat gedrangt worden. Wenn sie sich zu einer Therapie entscheiden, versuchen sie nicht nur ihre Erkrankung zu bewaltigen, sondern auch einen neuen Platz in einem cleanen Umfeld zu finden, ohne zu wissen, wie man sich dort verhalt. Im Asklepios Fachklinikum Gottingen hat man sich Patienten mit Polytoxikomanie besonders angenommen.

Objective Investigate multiple sclerosis patients' desire to communicate with their physicians about their disease progression and end-of-life issues. Methods Persons meeting the inclusion criteria of feeling severely affected by MS were invited via the German MS society to complete a needs questionnaire. Replies to questions on physician empathy and wishes about communication regarding disease progression and death and dying were quantitatively analyzed. Endpoints (point 1+2/4+5) of 5-point-likert scales are summarized under results. Results 573 of 867 questionnaires meeting our criteria were analyzed. In response to a general question 64% ( n =358) indicated a wish for disease progression and death and dying to be addressed by their doctor. A majority (76%, n =427) considered it important that progression of their disease be discussed, while 44% ( n =246) regard addressing death and dying as unimportant. No objective disease criteria could be identified to explain the wish for communicating end-of-life issues. Doctors who were retrospectively viewed as avoiding raising critical aspects of the illness were perceived as less empathetic ( p Conclusion People with MS have a desire to talk about progression of their disease with their doctors. Practice implications Physicians should be empathetic in raising critical aspects of the patients' illness individually.

Objective This study evaluated the changes of the aortic diameter at the suprarenal and infrarenal segment after open repair (OR) and endovascular repair (EVAR) of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). Methods This was a retrospective analysis of all patients undergoing AAA repair between 1997 and 2008. Inclusion criteria were at least 3 months of follow-up at our institution, elective aneurysm repair, and absence of false, mycotic, or inflammatory aneurysms. For EVAR, standard computed tomography (CT) scans from follow-up were used; in the OR group, CT scans performed for unrelated nonvascular indications were used. Diameters of the aorta were measured at the first slice below the lowest renal artery and at the first slice above the highest renal artery. A 2-mm change was defined as measurable aortic neck dilatation. Results Inclusion criteria were met by 46 patients in the OR group and 103 in the EVAR group. After a follow-up of 34.1 months (range, 5.5-131.7 months) in the OR group and 39.4 months (range, 3-108.9 months) in the EVAR group, the mean changes were 1.75 ± 3.50 mm (OR) and 0.9 ± 2.3 mm (EVAR; P = .305) in the suprarenal diameters and 0.8 ± 2.9 mm (OR) and 1.2 ± 2.5 mm (EVAR; P = .311) in the infrarenal diameters. The absolute suprarenal vs infrarenal sizes were 29.7 ± 7.1 and 28.7 ± 6.8 mm in the OR group and 28.7 ± 3.2 and 28.5 ± 3.6 mm, respectively, in the EVAR group (suprarenal, P = .749; infrarenal, P = .273). Increase of the aortic diameter >2 mm, defined as aortic neck dilatation, was found in 23 of 103 EVAR patients (22.3% ± 0.862%), and in nine of 46 OR patients (19.57% ± 0.484%; P = .870). Increase in the suprarenal change >2 mm occurred in 21 of 103 EVAR patients (20.39% ± 1.04%) and in 14 of 46 OR patients (30.4% ± 0.446%; P = .260). Reintervention rate of patients with an increase >2 mm was 31% (seven of 23) in EVAR and 11.1% (one of nine) in the OR group (P = .386). Conclusions The AAA groups treated with EVAR or OR demonstrated similar increases of aneurysmal neck diameters. This suggests that aortic neck dilatation may be caused by a natural progression of the disease rather than by deviating therapeutic strategies.

Objective:People feeling severely affected by multiple sclerosis (MS) comprise a heterogeneous group, and this heterogeneity leads to very distinct needs and makes planning for needs difficult. To provide optimal care, it is important to identify specific needs in specific subgroups. Our objective was to identify the specific palliative care (PC) needs of patients who felt severely affected by the disease by analyzing their feeling (1) more or (2) less severely affected and their possible differences in expressed care needs.Method:A self-report questionnaire with 25 needs categories including 7 categories pertaining to care was applied to patients who felt severely affected by MS. An additional single question identified patients feeling more (≥7, median-split) and less (U tests. The sample (N = 573) was composed of respondents who replied to an invitation by the German Multiple Sclerosis Society to participate in a survey on unmet needs of severely affected patients.Results:Of 573 patients (median age 51), 358 (62.48%) felt more severely affected. Compared to patients feeling less severely affected, they found the stress on their next of kin to be higher (p < 0.001), were in greater need of home visitation (p < 0.001), did not have permanent neurologists (p = 0.016), and felt that they visited them too rarely (p < 0.0001). They also needed more emotional support from their nursing care service (p = 0.006).Significance of results:A self-rating scale can identify two groups of patients with different care needs. These data may help shaping patient-centered support structures. Palliative care, with its multidisciplinary approach, might be one further option to meet the specific needs of patients and their relatives.

Hardened and tempered low-alloy steel 31CrMoV9 and the high-alloy tool steels S 6-5-2 and X155CrMoV121 were nitrided to form a varied structure of the substrate for the subsequent hardcoating. The tool steels were nitrided and hardcoated in a continuous process in a modified commercial PVD plant. The duplex treatment of the low-alloy steel was realized by separate nitriding and hardcoating in different plants. The TiN and CrN were deposited with a thickness of approx. 3 μm by hollow cathode discharge evaporation. The composition and structure of the nitrided case, the interstage treatment before deposition, as well as the deposition parameters influence the properties of the composite. The adhesion can be improved essentially by prenitriding and deposition of a gradient interlayer system. The resistance of the tool steels to metal cutting and forming increases due to the production of an application-specific duplex layer. The resistance to sliding wear and contact fatigue was investigated on various duplex-treated low-alloy steel by nitriding the substrate. Whereas the nitrided case has a very high influence on the contact fatigue limit, the hardcoating reduces the wear by sliding and abrasion, which is of special interest for machine components with higher slip.

The new method of laser-sustained arc evaporation combines the advantages of the laser pulse vapour deposition (LPVD) technique with the technologically utilized vacuum arc evaporation method. The laser arc may be effectively and precisely controlled like LPVD but its energetic efficiency and the mechanical properties of the deposits equal those obtained by vacuum arcs. In the present paper the latest results of the technological development of the laser arc method are presented. Investigations of the arc ignition process and the influence of arc current pulse shape on target erosion and film deposition were carried out for different materials. On the basis of these results a controlled deposition of definite multilayered structures may be carried out. As an example a Ti/TiC multilayer system with 25 nm single layers is described. Results of structural and chemical analysis by means of Auger electron spectroscopy are presented. Deposition rates of 1–5 nm s −1 may be achieved even with the present experimental arrangement. A scheme for a full-scale technological device for multilayer preparation by laser arcs, which is currently under construction, will be presented.