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Intra-urban Variability of heat stress in Freiburg
No full textThe intra-urban variability of heat stress in the city of Freiburg im Breisgau, characterized by one of the warmest climates in Germany, is investigated using observational data. Eight inner-city and two rural meteorological stations, distributed over different Local Climate Zones (LCZs 5, 6, 8, D), provide continuous data on air temperature, wind speed, humidity and globe temperature. This data forms the basis for calculating the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI). Data from a full year of operation are compared and show that night-time heat load is strongly influenced by land cover: In impervious inner-city areas, heat stress occurs more often than at urban stations in areas with a lower degree of impervious surfaces and least at rural sites. During the day, on the other hand, microscale controls, including the orientation of the street canyons, sky view factor, shading, and wind speed were identified as the decisive factors for the intensity and frequency of heat stress, which was most frequently observed at a rural site.Die intra-urbane Variabilität der Hitzebelastung in der Stadt Freiburg im Breisgau, die durch eines der wärmsten Klimate in Deutschland geprägt ist, wird hier anhand von Messdaten untersucht. Acht innerstädtische und zwei ländliche meteorologische Messstationen, verteilt über verschiedene Local Climate Zones (LCZs 5, 6, 8, D), liefern kontinuierlich Daten zu Lufttemperatur, Windgeschwindigkeit, Luftfeuchte und Globe Temperature. Diese Daten bilden die Grundlage zur Berechnung des Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI). Daten eines Jahres wurden vergleichend ausgewertet und zeigen, dass die nächtliche Hitzebelastung stark von der Landbedeckung beeinflusst wird: In versiegelten innerstädtischen Gebieten tritt in Sommernächten Hitzestress häufiger auf als an städtischen Stationen in Gebieten mit geringerem Versiegelungsgrad und noch weniger an ländlichen Stationen. Tagsüber hingegen sind es mikroskalige Einflüsse, wie die Ausrichtung der Straßenschluchten, der Sky View Factor, Verschattung und die Windgeschwindigkeit, die maßgeblich die Intensität und Häufigkeit der Hitzebelastung bestimmen
Modified coronally advanced tunnel technique with porcine dermal matrix for recession treatment: 12-month follow-up
No full textObjectivesTo assess the efficacy of the modified coronally advanced tunnel technique (MCAT) with a porcine dermal matrix (PDM) after a 12-month follow-up. There are no other Clinical trials evaluating a PDM over the period of 12 months.Material and MethodsPatients with recession type (RT) 1 and RT 2 gingival recessions were treated with the MCAT and a novel PDM. Plaster casts (preoperative and 12 months postoperative) were scanned using a 3Shape Lab Scanner E3. The resulting STL files were imported and superimposed in the open-source software GOM Inspect for analysis. Measurements included recession depth, mean root and total root coverage (mRC and cRC), mean recession reduction (mRR), and gingival thickness. Statistical analysis was performed using mixed linear models.ResultsA total of 77 teeth (19 patients) were included in the study. Healing was uneventful in all patients. The mean preoperative recession depth was 1.26 mm ± 0.86 mm. mRC was 69.47% ± 61.90%, cRC was 29.79%, mRR was 0.87 ± 0.83 mm, and gingival thickness gain was 0.23 ± 0.24 mm, with comparable results for RT 1 and RT 2. Neither tooth type nor jaw type had any effect on root coverage.ConclusionsThe modified coronally advanced tunnel technique in combination with the analyzed porcine dermal matrix demonstrated stable results for root coverage and gingival thickness after 12 months of follow-up
The role of 12/14F ureteral access sheath in flexible ureteroscopy for moderate nephrolithiasis
No full textDifferences of electroglottographical contact quotients between connected speech and sustained phonation in clinical measurement of voice
No full textDivider verification using symbolic computer algebra and delayed don’t care optimization: theory and practical implementation
No full textRecent methods based on Symbolic Computer Algebra (SCA) have shown great success in formal verification of multipliers and—more recently—of dividers as well. In this paper we enhance known approaches by the computation of satisfiability don’t cares for so-called Extended Atomic Blocks (EABs) and by Delayed Don’t Care Optimization (DDCO) for optimizing polynomials during backward rewriting. Using those novel methods we are able to extend the applicability of SCA-based methods to further divider architectures which could not be handled by previous approaches. We successfully apply the approach to the fully automatic formal verification of large dividers (with bit widths up to 512)
Experimental and numerical characterization of granular material until shock loading
No full textThe present work describes the characterization of two diferent granular materials, a fne cohesive and a coarse cohesionless soil, with regard to their behavior under high-rate loading. The conditions range from quasi-static (105 s−1 ) to dynamic strength (102 s−1 ) using a standard press and a Split-Hopkinson Bar (SHB) with a triaxial pressure cell. Furthermore, shock compression (105 s−1 ) is investigated in a newly developed plate impact capsule. The experimental data is used to parameterize both types of soils with two diferent dynamic material descriptions, a simple model with Drucker–Prager Strength and p-α EOS and, partly extending from there, a model with piecewise linear dependencies for both volumetric compaction and strength. The reproduction quality of both material models is quantitatively assessed using Finite Element simulations of the dynamic tests and discussed. They can potentially serve in future numerical analyses of complex transient dynamic events, such as explosively-driven ground shock or high-velocity penetration into the soil
Early language performance in the ELFRA questionnaire : Analysis of multicentre data from children with bilateral cochlear implants
No full textBackgroundVery early bilateral cochlear implant (CI) provision is today’s established standard for children. Therefore, the assessment of preverbal and verbal performance in very early stages of development is becoming increasingly important. Performance data from cohorts of children were evaluated and presented based on diagnostic assessment using chronological age (CA) and hearing age (HA).MethodsThe present study, as part of a retrospective multicentre study, included 4 cohorts (N = 72–233) of children with bilateral CI without additional disabilities. Their results in the German parent questionnaires Elternfragebögen zur Früherkennung von Risikokindern(ELFRA‑1 and ELFRA-2) subdivided for CA and HA were statistically analysed. The data were also analysed in terms of mono-/bilingualism and age at CI provision.ResultsOverall, verbal performance in relation to CA was lower than in relation to HA. Preverbal skills were largely CA appropriate. Children with bi-/multilingual language acquisition performed significantly lower. Verbal performance in ELFRA‑2 referenced to CA was negatively correlated with age at CI provision.ConclusionIn the case of early CI provision, CA should be the preferred reference mark in preverbal and verbal assessment in order to obtain exact individual performance levels and avoid bias in results. The percentiles determined are of limited use as generally valid reference values to which the individual performance of bilaterally implanted children could be compared. Further multicentre studies should be initiated.HintergrundEine sehr frühe bilaterale Cochleaimplantat(CI)-Versorgung ist bei Kindern heute etablierter Standard. Die Erfassung präverbaler und verbaler Kompetenzen in sehr frühen Entwicklungsphasen gewinnt damit an Bedeutung. Diagnostisch erhobene Leistungsdaten werden für Kinderkohorten in Bezug auf deren Lebensalter (LA) und Höralter (HA) evaluiert und dargestellt.MethodikDie vorliegende Studie als Teil einer retrospektiven Multizenterstudie inkludierte 4 Kinderkohorten (n = 72–233) bilateral CI-versorgter Kinder ohne Zusatzbeeinträchtigungen und untersuchte deren Ergebnisse in den Elternfragebögen zur Früherkennung von Risikokindern (ELFRA‑1 bzw. ELFRA-2) unterteilt nach LA- und HA-bezogener Diagnostik. Die Daten wurden zudem hinsichtlich Mono‑/Bilingualität und CI-Versorgungsalter analysiert.ErgebnisseDie verbalen Leistungen fielen bezogen auf das LA geringer aus als bezogen auf das HA. Die präverbalen Kompetenzen waren weitestgehend LA-adäquat. Kinder mit bi-/multilingualem Spracherwerb zeigten signifikant geringere Leistungen. Für den ELFRA‑2 waren die LA-bezogenen verbalen Leistungen negativ mit dem CI-Versorgungsalter korreliert.SchlussfolgerungBei früher CI-Versorgung sollte das LA als Bezugsmaß in der Diagnostik dem HA vorgezogen werden, um den individuellen Leistungsstand exakter zu erfassen und Ergebnisverzerrungen zu vermeiden. Die ermittelten Perzentile eignen sich begrenzt als allgemeingültige Referenzwerte für die individuelle Leistungseinschätzung bilateral CI-versorgter Kinder. Weitere Multizenterstudien sind anzustreben
How fences communicate interspecies codes of conduct in the landscape: toward bidirectional communication?
No full textThe fence provides two functions in wildlife management. First, it physically blocks, deters or impedes wild animals from access to protected areas or resources. Second, the fence signals impassability, danger, pain or irritation to animals through both of these pathways: the actual blockade and the signal of no access both communicates to wild animals that they should stay away, producing area effects which constrain animal mobility. The mere presence of a fence, while imperfect and potentially passable, can come to establish an area effect of avoidance. In this regard, fences are part of an interspecies communication on the basis of mutually understood signals in the landscape. In this paper, we consider how fences, both physical, such as walls, and virtual, such as ‘biofences' that use sensory deterrents, signal danger or no access to wildlife, and with what practical and conceptual limitations. Through a framework of ecosemiotics, the communication of signals between wildlife and humans, we discuss the communicative role fences play in human–wildlife interactions. First, we outline the way in which ecosemiotics may be leveraged to manage human–wildlife conflicts by utilizing fences as signals. Then we explain miscommunication, and how this impacts the success of fences. Finally, we discuss the normative problems of attempting to signal to wildlife how to behave and where to be, and raise the need for bidirectional communication across species, such that wild animals are also seen as participants in negotiating space and access around humans