259594 research outputs found
Sort by
Ungleiche Chancen: wie kleine und mittlere Unternehmen im Wettbewerb mit Großkonzernen die digitale Hebelwirkung von Social Media Marketing erfolgreich nutzen
No full textSheep grazing in vineyards benefits wild bees in vineyard embankments and sheep dung attracts dung beetles to vineyards
No full textIntegrated sheep-vineyard systems are an example of ecological intensification. Sheep can replace mulching, thereby reducing the input of fossil fuels and agrochemicals. However, knowledge about the co-benefits of sheep grazing for biodiversity is lacking. This study examined the impact of grazing on wild bee diversity within terraced vineyards and vineyard embankments. Additionally, dung beetle colonization of sheep dung was investigated in the wine-growing region of southwestern Germany. Five vineyards and their terrace risers (embankments) had been grazed by sheep for several years, typically in a rotational system, or were managed conventionally by mulching as control. Wild bee diversity was compared in five pairs of grazed and non-grazed vineyards and five pairs of grazed and non-grazed embankments within one year. Dung beetle diversity, reared from sheep dung collected at three grazed vineyards, was also assessed. In the vineyards, bee abundance and species richness did not differ between grazed plots and mulched controls, but bee abundance increased with flower abundance, and bee species richness increased with flowering herb species richness. In contrast, on vineyard embankments, both species richness and abundance of wild bees were higher on grazed embankments compared to control embankments, whereas flower cover did not have any effect. At least 20 different dung beetle species, including threatened ones, were recorded in sheep droppings of grazed vineyards. This additional food resource may support dung beetle populations, contributing to overall insect biomass, with potential relevance for nature conservation. Our study shows that sheep grazing may support dung beetles, but does not affect bees in vineyards. However, allowing sheep to access vineyard embankments for vegetation management supports wild bees. Therefore, sheep grazing in vineyards offers opportunities for biodiversity conservation and maintaining ecosystem functions, though is not an all-in-one solution
Health problems in elite Para athletes - a prospective cohort study of 53,739 athlete days
No full textObjectivesLongitudinal data on injury and illnesses in Para athletes is limited. Therefore, the aim was to illustrate the epidemiology of health problems concerning demographic factors and sporting exposure in an elite Para athlete cohort.DesignProspective cohort study.MethodsAll German Paralympic squad athletes were invited to participate in this study. Between 2019 and 2021 health problems were monitored via a weekly online questionnaire (Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre questionnaire on health problems). Additionally, primary sporting activity, training exposure, and subjective training intensity per week were recorded. Epidemiological descriptive statistics, hazard ratios and odds ratios were analysed.ResultsOver an observation period of 124 weeks, 122 Para athletes (48 % females; mean age: 28 years) reported 438 (248 substantial) health problems, equally paired into illnesses and injuries. Females demonstrated a two-fold risk of sustaining a substantial health problem (hazard ratio = 1.8; 95 % confidence interval: 1.2–2.8). A lower risk of sustaining a substantial health problem is associated with more than 5 years of elite training (odds ratio = 0.9; 95 % confidence interval: 0.8–0.9). At any given time, 10.5 % (95 % confidence interval: 9.6–11.5) of the participants reported a substantial health problem and prevalence was elevated during weeks of competition (9.8 %; 95 % confidence interval: 4.2–15.4). During training camps new overuse injuries were mainly reported (41.2 %), whilst acute injuries peaked during competitions (31.8 %). Changes to the normal training intensity were associated with more substantial health problems (odds ratio range = 1.5–4; 95 % confidence interval range = 1.1–4.8).ConclusionsMonitoring of female athletes, and those with less than five years of experience is substantial. Health problem patterns varied during the season. Education of coaches and medical staff is necessary to safely guide the Para athletes. Previous articl
Using 3D-printed formwork to enable controlled crack creation in concrete specimens
No full textThe employment of automated non-destructive testing (NDT) methods for crack characterization in concrete, needs calibration and benchmarking in a controlled environment. This requires test specimen with comparable and ideally reproducible cracks. To this end, in this paper a method is presented that aims to mimic cracked concrete specimens with a high degree of control over the resulting crack parameters width, depth and length for material testing and calibration of automated (NDT) methods. The method comprises 3D-printing of formwork with integrated crack patterns. The obtained crack width accuracy is tested by comparing printed cracks and resulting cracks in the concrete with the desired width from the print file. This procedure enables the realization of crack widths ≥ 0.2 mm with a deviation in the range of 25% between desired and resulting crack width. Further, the proposed methodology is independent of intrinsic material properties which enables this accuracy
How to digitise bridge structures - a systematic review of the status quo for creating digital building information modelling of existing bridge structures in the operational phase
No full textIn recent decades, the condition of many bridge structures has deteriorated and the need for maintenance measures has increased. Until now, these maintenance measures have mainly been carried out manually and reactively. The use of digital 3D models based on Building Information Modelling (BIM) can remedy this situation and create the basis for predictive maintenance management. While the generation of 3D models of new bridge structures is simple, the digitization of existing structures can be a complex process. This article provides an overview of the state of the scientific practice with regard to the procedures, technologies and data used to generate 3D models of existing bridge structures using the BIM method. Using a systematic literature analysis, scientific databases are searched for suitable literature and analysed with predefined filtering parameters. The results provide a uniform understanding of the current status quo of the digitisation of existing bridge structures and show existing degrees of digitisation and automation
TotalSegmentator MRI: robust sequence-independent segmentation of multiple anatomic structuresin MRI
No full textMinimally invasive surgery for spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage: a review
No full textBackground: Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) accounts for approximately 20% of all strokes and is associated with high mortality and disability rates. Despite numerous trials, conventional surgical approaches have not demonstrated consistent improvements in functional outcomes. Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for ICH evacuation has emerged as a promising alternative, with the potential to improve functional outcomes and reduce mortality. Objectives: This narrative review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of various MIS techniques and their reported impact on functional outcomes in patients with spontaneous ICH while discussing key limitations in the existing literature. Methods: We systematically searched PubMed to identify studies published from 1 January 2010 to 22 March 2024. The search strategy included the following terms: (“minimally*”[All Fields] AND “invasive*”[All Fields] AND “surgery*”[All Fields] AND “intracerebral*”[All Fields] AND “hemorrhage*”[All Fields]) AND (2010:2024[pdat]). This review focuses on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluate MIS techniques for ICH and their clinical outcomes. Results: Our search identified six RCTs conducted between January 2010 and March 2024, encompassing 2180 patients with a mean age of 58.03 ± 4.5 years. Four trials demonstrated significantly improved functional recovery (mRs ≤ 3), reduced mortality, and fewer adverse events compared with standard medical management or conventional craniotomy. All MIS techniques rely on stereotactic planning and the use of tools such as exoscopes, endoscopes, craniopuncture, or thrombolytic irrigation for precise hematoma evacuation. These approaches reduce brain tissue disruption and improve precision. However, the variability in techniques, costs, and lack of an external validation limit the generalizability of these findings. Conclusions: MIS shows potential as an alternative to conventional management strategies for ICH, offering encouraging evidence for improved functional outcomes and reduced mortality in selected studies. However, these findings remain limited by gaps in the literature, including the need for external validation, significant methodological heterogeneity, and economic challenges. Further rigorous trials are essential to confirm the generalizability and long-term impact of these approaches
Lowering the entrance hurdle for lab automation: an artificial intelligence‐supported, interactive robotic arm for automated, repeated testing procedures
No full textLaboratory automation is crucial for improving efficiency and enhancing reproducibility in scientific workflows. However, industrial solutions mostly do not fit the needs of scientific institutions, such as cost efficiency, customizability, and flexibility in fast iteration cycles. This study presents a laboratory automation system that integrates affordable robotics and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven functionalities in a modular architecture to address key challenges in research environments. The system uses a robotic arm and a large language model (LLM) as a lab assistant, enabling natural language interaction and task orchestration. In contrast to fully autonomous systems, this approach emphasizes a collaborative human-in-the-loop model, ensuring adaptability and reducing reliance on artificial intelligence for task planning. Key innovations include meta-tools for dynamic task recording and playback, low-level information management to reduce cognitive load on the LLM, and AI-assisted data reading for real-time measurement extraction. The system's ability to automate complex workflows is validated in three experimental scenarios, involving sample preparation, error handling, and multi-step measurements. The system demonstrates the ability to perform tasks with minimal user input while maintaining flexibility and adaptability to changing experimental conditions. The findings pave the way for the future of laboratory automation, where human and AI-driven systems work seamlessly together in optimized scientific workflows
Shedding light on dark taxa: exploring a cryptic diversity of parasitoid wasps affected by artificial light at night
No full textArtificial light at night (ALAN) contributes to the globally observed insect decline. ALAN attracts nocturnal insects from their native ecosystems and disturbs their functions in the food web. Road lights in this context are ubiquitous and relevant ALAN sources that are often not considered in conservation approaches. In a previous study we showed that shielded LED road lights are suited to be part of conservation measures by effectively reducing the attraction of nocturnal insects. Here we show that this positive effect holds true for parasitoid wasps in an experimental BACI design (Before-After-Control-Impact). Combining morphological with molecular and phylogenetic analyses, we identified 106 individuals (62 morphotypes) of a minimum of 45 genera out of 13 Hymenoptera families. We were able to identify 21 species, 11 of which are newly reported in Southern Germany (Baden-Württemberg). Further combining knowledge on life history and host appearance from our data and the literature, we discuss potential impacts of ALAN ranging from an influence on nocturnal pollination via parasitoid pressure on moth species and biological control of invasive pest species to tritrophic interactions between primary and secondary parasitoids. We conclusively think that shielded LED road lights will reduce the ecological impact of ALAN on parasitoid wasps in a large and undescribed number of taxa with different host associations, likely affecting associated ecosystem functions such as biological control