OPUS Publikationsserver der Hochschule Rhein-Waal
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Die Befristung von Arbeitsverhältnissen in der Rechtsprechung des Bundesarbeitsgerichts
No full textDie Befristung von Arbeitsverhältnissen in der Rechtsprechung des Bundesarbeitsgerichts-Hausarbeit in Grundlagen Rech
Die Befristung von Arbeitsverhältnissen in der Rechtsprechung des Bundesarbeitsgerichts
No full textDie Befristung von Arbeitsverhältnissen in der Rechtsprechung des Bundesarbeitsgerichts - Hausarbeit für das Modul Grundlagen Rech
Investigation of Self-Healing in Fruit Epidermis with Atomic Force Microscopy
No full textDifferent advanced microscopy techniques, mainly atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy are used to inspect damage healing on fruit epidermis using squash – Cucurbita pepo L. – as prime specimen. The approach and methods used followed instructions reported by comparable projects studying epicuticular wax regeneration with SEM and AFM. However, novel detailed and instructive information was collected and reported on how to perform tasks involving certain degrees of technical difficulty, such as using AFM to find a particular location on a sample that is, by definition, thousands of times larger than the target focal zone. A non-reported system was used to trace and cut out the damages on the fruit surface. The manipulation and lithography mode of the AFM JPK software is known to work to trace micro-scale designs on hard surfaces such as CDs but we prove it can also be used on soft and very irregular surfaces such as that of C. pepo – to a certain extent. A total of 19 scratches and one round-shaped damage were cut and optical information was collected through time with AFM. All relevant parameters were measured with the JPKs built-in measuring tool and information was collected and later plotted on excel spreadsheets. Damage sealing was found to happen for all cases and for almost all different parameters -length, depth, width. The characteristics of all cases reported are unique – follow up times vary from minutes to hours and other features such as initial damage size and the force applied for its creation are different. However, damage sealing did not seem to correlate with any of these. Samples cut from specimens several days after purchase or simply from specimens with a rough, dry surface seemed to progress much more slowly than those coming from fresh-looking samples. The focus of the study was the fruit cuticle (stiff polymeric film covering the outer surface of all higher plants). To make sure that the processes of healing observed actually correspond to this part a) wax was removed in all of the samples and b) the cuticle of our model fruit was measured with light microscopy, showing that its thickness is much higher than the deepest of our AFM scratches. This way we aimed to prove that the regeneration observed represents actual cellulose regrowth and cellular activity healing the cutin layer. Progress is observed in all cases, which is a good sign. However, wax is known to regenerate immediately after removal in experiments with leaves. The fact that some of our damages seal within the first 10 minutes of observation may be an indication that wax is filling the scratch instead of other biological activity. Further research is needed to clarify the nature of this process
CRISPR technology in human medicine: advantages and disadvantages over traditional treatments
No full textGenome editing tools hold tremendous potential in fighting various diseases via editing specific sites within the target gene of interest of distinct cell types. Among these tools, CRISPR has shown several advantages over alternative nucleases, such as ease of design, high efficiency, and low cost. In this work, a comprehensive review of the existing research on the application of CRISPR technology to the treatment of human diseases is presented. These diseases include monogenic and infectious diseases, as well as conditions for which immunotherapies are typically applied, such as cancer and autoimmune disorders. Following this review is an analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of CRISPR-based strategies compared to traditional treatments in a selection of diseases; this aims to demonstrate the overall potential of CRISPR therapeutic applications in humans and the need for further investigation and development
Analyse und Handlungsempfehlungen zur Attraktivitätssteigerung des betrieblichen Gesundheitsmanagements am Beispiel eines Softwareentwicklungsunternehmens
No full textEin erfolgreiches und etabliertes betriebliches Gesundheitsmanagement kann zahlreiche Vorteile mit sich bringen. So kann hierdurch beispielsweise die Reduktion von Krankheitszahlen, die Steigerung der Mitarbeiter- und Arbeitszufriedenheit oder aber auch die Erhöhung Wettbewerbsfähigkeit erreicht werden. In der Praxis stellt sich jedoch oftmals heraus, dass das betriebliche Gesundheitsmanagement nicht seine gewünschten Effekte erzielt. Die Gründe dafür sind z. B. die fehlende Attraktivität der Aktionen und Maßnahmen für die Angestellten, Motivationshürden hinsichtlich der Teilnahme oder aber auch zeitliche und personelle Engpässe seitens des Unternehmens.
Diese Masterarbeit hat das Ziel, das betriebliche Gesundheitsmanagement von Dassault Systemes 3DExcite zu analysieren und hinsichtlich der Bereiche Motivation, Akzeptanz, Hemmnisse und Kommunikation näher zu untersuchen. Hierdurch sollen mögliche Herausforderungen, Hürden und Teilnahmebarrieren aufgedeckt werden, die die Attraktivität des bestehenden betrieblichen Gesundheitsmanagements mindern und zur geringen Nutzung der Angebote und Maßnahmen beitragen. Um die Forschungsfragen zu beantworten, wurde eine schriftliche Befragung entworfen, die über eine Online Plattform durchgeführt wurde und an die Angestellten von 3DEXCITE gerichtet war.
Das Ergebnis der Umfrage hat gezeigt, dass das betriebliche Gesundheitsmanagement bei 3DEXCITE einige Schwachpunkte aufweist. So sind z. B. die fehlende Identifikation mit den Maßnahmen, fehlende Zeit oder die unzureichende Informationsweitergabe als Gründe für die Nichtteilnahme angegeben worden. Weiterhin äußerten die Befragten konkrete Wünsche, wie etwa Entspannungsangebote oder Verbesserungsvorschläge hinsichtlich der Überarbeitung des bestehenden Büroequipments.
Als mögliche Handlungsempfehlungen hierzu könnten beispielsweise eine Nutzwertanalyse zur besseren Auswahl geeigneter Maßnahmen dienen, oder aber auch die Einführung eines Bonusprogramms, was zur Teilnahmeerhöhung durch die Förderung der extrinsischen Motivation führen kann. Es empfiehlt sich nach Umsetzung der Empfehlungen eine Prüfung der Wirksamkeit vorzunehmen und die Vorschläge entsprechend der Ergebnisse anzupassen
Python-based Data Analysis of High-Throughput Growth Curve Screenings
No full textWhen studying microbial growth, a rudimentary procedure involves
the observation of growth factors. These factors have to be determined, reconstructed and evaluated. Considering large data quantities, the time it takes to prepare and evaluate these samples increases. By automating and concurrently simulating the microbial samples, time and human error can be reduced.
The purpose behind this thesis is to document and develop the design of a Python-based software that connects to the output of the GrowthProfiler in such a way, that manual labor is reduced or replaced by automated processes as much as possible. In order to accomplish this, programming was used to get access to the recorded data. Additionally, applying analytical tools and procedures results into appropriate and readable conclusions for further interpretation. The technological development has described a decisive increase in the usage of tests and thus, instruments for multiple testing (batch experiments, numerous parallel runs) were engineered.
The amount of testing increases, so there is a resulting need for ’batchevaluation’ of those tests.
Manual plating of microorganisms and noting down the measurements is often replaced by devices like the GrowthProfiler, that can run 96 experiments simultaneously. However, high throughput experiments also require high throughput data analysis.
Identifying the exponential phase and approximating the maximum µ, that is used in the exponential growth model. The mathematical approach behind this method is a separation of the measured growth curve into ’bins’ and comparing the slope within this ’bin’ to each other. When finding a distribution, which describes a better R², replacing it until no better fit is found. This ensures to receive a linear regression with the highest R², but not necessarily with the steepest slope.
This attempt has been approached during the design of this software.
With the programming language Python, a code has been constructed to detect all CSV s in certain computer folder. The data will be plotted, and the different calculations such as recognizing the biggest R² and deriving the growth rate, summarizing arithmetic means and standard deviation, concentrating all gathered information into an Excel sheet. This software was compared with other approaches to define automatically a regression curve fitting to that plot.
After finalisation, this software is accessible online on a server and no downloads are necessary and can be embedded into the sequence chain between the GrowthProfiler and the final findings. Ultimately, other tools to provide programmatic support to microbiological analysis were experimented with, like simulation of the substrate uptake rate during simulated growth experiment via Monod-equation
EZClean-Bot
No full textCobblestone cleaner tools are very demanding in most residences, poolsides, gardens, and even public places like sidewalks, bicycle lanes, etc. Although many companies have tried to make good handheld tools, we want to upgrade them into an autonomous cobble cleaning robot. The robot is called EZClean-Bot. Our slogan “Always on-Always clean-Always relax” means that when you set it on for the first time, you don’t have to look after it again because it has an automatic “Return to Home” feature that allows the robot to automatically charge itself when it has done its job. The robot will also be provided continuous power from the sunlight using a Solar Panel attached on top of it. The robot will be controlled by user-friendly buttons, and it is integrated with a self-mapping system, so it will clean the whole area thoroughly without bumping and crashing into objects or humans/animals. The robot can start itself using a pre-set timer/schedule. This EZClean-Bot is integrated with strong and durable steel brushes which are attached in vertical and horizontal directions, so it can clean not only the cobble/pavement but also the grass, dust, soil, and dirt between the cobble. The brushes will be attached with a small but high torque motor and can spin up to 10000 RPM depending on the surface. The robot has 2 big motorized driving wheels at the rear and 2 caster wheels for free movement. The whole system will be energized by two Li-Ion 12V and 5V batteries and a solar panel to increase its running time. There will also be some RGB LED light strips around the robot, so it can tell some information by seeing the different light colors. In addition, the robot is included with a high-capacity container to store the dust, soil, grass, etc. so you don’t have to sweep it by yourself again. The focus of our project will be a lightweight, portable, easy to maintain, energy-efficient, safe, and durable machine in which we have all our wiring, gear, motor, brush fully enclosed in a housing that protects it from water, wind, dust, and other extreme conditions. The cost of this product will be kept as low as possible in order to reach as many customers as we could. This robot will be a middle-end robot, so its target sale will be middle-range financial residence to a small company in Europe. Lastly, our product will be produced by four intelligent engineers from different majors and specialities. Our product pitch, design concept, and features are presented in an audio-visual format and is awarded the Science Communication ‘Bronze Leaf Prize’ for an outstanding online video presentation in the category of ‘Audience Choice’ on January 18th, 2022
A look into the importance of social capital in agriculture extension of developing countries: A case study of the black carp project value chain extension in Hoa Binh, Vietnam
No full textAgriculture extension is an important tool for development, especially in many developing countries where a large part of their economy and population depends on the agriculture industries. As such, many studies have been conducted on how to best utilize an organization available resource to trigger developments with extension activities, but often overlook other available resources that are less tangible, such as social capital – the social relationship value of an individual or organization. This thesis presented how social capital such as linkage and connection from influential actors in society can be utilized by extension projects to trigger development in less well-off communities, via a case study of a value chain extension project in Hoa Binh, Vietnam. The study examines the economic results of the project to identify aspects of the chain that are able to deliver value, and expand upon it with interviews of involving actors to investigate the reasoning for their cooperation. The result strongly suggests that the participants of the project were able to enjoy economic benefit due to the project ability to utilize existing social capital of local businesses to facilitate the cooperation of the value chain, which are capable of generating higher profit than regular channels for the participant involved.
Keywords: agriculture extension, aquaculture, social capital, value chain, Vietnam, Hoa Binh
Comparison of wheel and rubber track drives for tractors regarding masses, mass inertias, energy demands and tractor mechanics
No full textSoil compaction is a major concern in agriculture. As farming machinery develops to be larger and heavier, the risk of soil compaction increases. Tractors with rubber tracks have been developed to increase the contact area with soil in order to reduce the risk of soil compaction as well as to increase tractive performance. However, tractors with rubber tracks have increased mass due to the track components. Therefore, the combined effect of rubber tracks was investigated.
Comparison of tyres and rubber tracks for tractors on mass, mass inertia, tractor mechanics, energy demand, and soil compaction were investigated. Configurations of tractors consisting of combinations of tyres and interchangeable rubber tracks are evaluated in calculations and in simulation tool Terranimo. Simplified rubber track models were built in order to investigate effect of inertia from the rotational components on energy demand. A theoretical scenario was constructed to calculate the energy demand for the predefined workload.
Experimental data in past research showed that the superior tractive performance of rubber track is more apparent in looser soil. In the energy demand calculation part of the thesis the tracked configurations resulted in a higher energy demand. The tracked configurations also showed effect on reducing risk of soil compaction in the same defined scenario. However, the increased energy demand, hence higher fuel consumption and energy efficiency is a downside of the tracked configurations, and the selection between tyre and rubber track should depend on the situation
Evaluation of functional silphie paper in the disposal process
No full textThe future of packaging seems to be in paper. Especially functional papers are on the rise of replacing plastic packaging more and more. The aim of the present work is to answer which disposal route is most suitable for functional silphie papers and how different coating techniques perform in a recyclability analysis. To answer this question, a laboratory experiment conducted in a paper laboratory in Lenningen, Germany tested how functional coating behaves in material recycling. Following the test method PTS-RH 021/2012 (Draft Ocober 2019), five functional paper samples and three reference samples with at least 35 % silphie content were defibered and new laboratory sheets were formed. For this, water-based coatings and extrusion coatings were used as coating techniques. Additionally, the rejects were separated in a screening step and evaluated.
The laboratory trials reveal important trends:. First, it shows that extrusion coatings detach from the paper surface and were found in the reject, from which they can be energetically recovered. This leads to a high mass loss and therefore a low recyclability rate. Second, for water-based coatings, solubility is of great importance. Results demonstrate that with good solubility, these coatings can lead to low mass loss and high recycling quality. Subsequently, this results in high recyclability rates. However, in samples with a difficult to dissolve water based coating, stickies and inhomogenities remained in the paper. This can significantly impede the recycling process. Future research could investigate further technologies of functionalization of silphie paper, as well as broaden the discussion by including complete mass balancing without loss of fibers and process water analysis.
With the results obtained, OutNature is advised to pursue the route of water-based coatings while maintaining watch-out of their dissolvability in the recycling process. Extrusion coated functionality is to be avoided currently as the loss of mass for recycling is hindering recyclability with the current definitions and analysis methods. At the same time, reevaluation should be done if major changes in legislation or focus of discussion are happening