bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigation into the feasibility of a lightguide based prevention of catheterassociated urinary tract infections (CAUTI)
Authors: Akrah Aya , Hessling Martin
Published: December 2024

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections are among the most common hospital-acquired infections and all previous measures to reduce their incidence have been less successful. Therefore, the present study investigates an approach based on the antimicrobial effect of visible light. The radiation of a violet or blue LED is guided via optical fiber with a diffuser tip into a catheter surrounded by an E. coli suspension (phosphate buffered saline or urine) in a simple urinary tract model. The irradiation led to bacterial reductions of up to several orders of magnitude that depended on various parameters. Violet light had a stronger antimicrobial effect than blue light, even in the experiments with urine, which absorbs violet light more strongly than blue light. An increase in irradiation intensity led to a greater reduction in bacteria. Human cells are not expected to be damaged by this irradiation. Therefore, the application of violet light to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections seems particularly promising but should be tested on even more realistic models in the future, which should not only include planktonic cells but also biofilms.
Predicting Upper body Muscle Activation Patterns in Paralympic Cross-Country Skiing Using Neural Networks and Accelerometer Data
Authors: Barioudi Hatim , Felderhoff Thomas , Mrachacz-Kersting Natalie
Published: December 2024

Paralympic cross-country skiing is a competitive and physically demanding sport developed for individuals with physical disabilities. In addition to good training and endurance, sports equipment is a key factor in achieving success. The design of sports equipment must be customized to accommodate specific impairments. Furthermore, biomechanical and neurophysiological factors need to be considered when designing equipment such as ski sledges. Among other neurophysiological factors, muscle activity, typically measured using electromyography (EMG), plays a crucial role. However, due to the high level of dynamic movement in the sport, EMG measurements are not always feasible. This study explores the possibility of estimating EMG data using neural networks and acceleration data. A feedforward neural network model was created and trained to predict upper body muscle activation from acceleration data. Validation of the model using statistical metrics yielded promising results, suggesting its effective use in predicting muscle activity. This research sets the stage for enhancing understanding and optimizing equipment in Paralympic cross-country skiing, ultimately enhancing the performance of para-athletes.
Axial Field of View Expansion by Switchable Halbach Dipole Rings: A Simulation Study
Authors: Berghausen Katharina , Aderhold Eric , Graeser Matthias
Published: December 2024

In Magnetic particle imaging (MPI), the spatial encoding of the particle response is achieved by a magnetic gradient field called selection field. In this work a selection field generator based on two pairs of nested and freely rotatable Halbach cylinders in dipole configuration generating a gradient field in form of a linear field free region (FFR) is proposed. Through adequate rotation of the Halbach dipoles the FFR can be moved continuously along the cylinder axis. To understand and evaluate the movement of the FFR for different sequences of dipole rotations a simulation study is conducted. The simulation is based on the approximation of a permanent magnet’s field as a magnetic dipole field, so that the Halbach cylinder field results from the superposition of circularly arranged magnetic dipole moments. By the summation of four Halbach dipole fields the selection field can be calculated. It has turned out that the opposite rotation and the matching field strengths of the dipoles of a pair are prerequisites for the movement of the FFR. With regard to the gradient field strengths and the movement speed of the FFR within a potential imaging area, a phase-shifted rotation of two pairs seems promising for the use in MPI.
A numerical study to investigate the impact of cell size of self-expanding aortic valve stents on paravalvular leakage
Authors: Borowski Finja , Supp Laura , Oldenburg Jan , Kaule Sebastian , Öner Alper , Schmitz Klaus-Peter , Stiehm Michael
Published: December 2024

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has become the standard treatment of multimorbid patients with severe aortic valve stenosis. One frequently observed complication after TAVR procedure is the occurence of paravalvular leakage (PVL). PVL is caused by a gap between the vessel wall and the TAVR stent, enabling blood to flow from the aorta back to the ventricle during diastolic phase. A high PVL rate leads to increased mortality of TAVR patients. To avoid this complication, pericardial skirts were developed by manufacturers to seal the leakage gap. Furthermore, the aim is to improve the conforming expansion of the TAVR stent to the vessel wall, especially for the self-expanding TAVR consisting of nitinol. One factor for the expansion is the size and shape of the TAVR stent cells, which vary between 9 and 15 cells in the circumferential direction for established TAVR devices. To quantify the impact of different cell sizes on the occurence of PVL, we performed numerical studies with different TAVR designs and investigated the PVL for each TAVR design. For this purpose, we developed three different TAVR designs with 9, 12 and 15 stent cells in the circumferential direction of the TAVR. These were deployed into a generic aortic root model with standardized calcification in the annulus region using finite element simulations. Afterwards, the PVL was calculated using numerical flow simulations. We found that the TAVR stent design with nine cells had the highest PVL rate (11.2mLs−1). In contrast, the TAVR stent design with 15 cells had the lowest PVL (4.8mLs−1). Our study thus showed a decisive impact of cell size on the sealing behavior of the TAVR stent and, accordingly, the PVL.
Smart Circular Economy in healthcare – An introduction to the 9R framework
Authors: Bühler Lydia , Fendt Daniela , Wittenberg Thomas , Hamper Andreas
Published: December 2024

This contribution examines the concept of circular economy (CE) within the healthcare sector, introducing the 9R paradigm as a novel framework for the implementation of sustainable strategies. Given the significant CO2 emissions from the medical device sector and the heterogeneous digitalization across the industry, CE offers an avenue to minimize environmental impact while simultaneously enhancing patient care. Leveraging advanced data platforms and digital technology can help reduce resource waste and CO2 emissions, while also optimizing patient care by avoiding redundant diagnostics and treatments. The contribution provides a brief introduction for the application of the 9R paradigm in the healthcare sector and highlights the opportunities associated with the implementation of CE strategies. It outlines innovative data-driven business models based on CE and digital transformation principles. In conclusion, the strategic application of R-strategies can be described as a multi-layered approach requiring close collaboration among all stakeholders to shape a more sustainable and efficient future in healthcare and provide new digital business models.
Droplet sizes and delivery rates from film breakup aerosolisation mode in porous materials
Authors: Clement Alexander , Koch Wolfgang , Glasmacher Birgit , Pohlmann Gerhard
Published: December 2024

A novel two-phase aerosolisation mode utilizing porous materials is investigated, aiming to improve aerosol delivery for medical inhalation. Sintered stainless steel filters with varied pore sizes (PS) from 0.2 μm to 7 μm were used to generate aerosols from a 0.9 wt.% sodium chloride solution. Droplet sizes and delivery rates were measured using laser diffraction spectroscopy. Further measurements included shadow imaging. Results indicate that aerosolisation occurs within a specific range of PS with droplet sizes increasing with increasing PS. The droplets generated are suitable for inhalation therapies. A hypothesis is established about the process of droplet formation which states that different PS within the porous material serve distinct functions that contribute to the breakup of liquid films into aerosol particles. Droplet formation is the result of film breakup in pores filled with fluid. This low-energy aerosolisation method has the potential to be used in handheld devices for sensitive drug formulations, overcoming the limitations of current technologies. Further research is needed to optimize the pore size distribution and enhance aerosol generation efficiency.
Modeling Human Ventricular Cardiomyocyte Force-Frequency Relationship
Authors: Duhme Jan-Erik , Krauß Jonathan , Loewe Axel
Published: December 2024

We investigate the force-frequency relationship (FFR) representation of human ventricular cardiomyocyte models and point out shortcomings, motivated by discrepancies in whole-heart simulations at increased pacing rates. Utilizing the openCARP simulator, simulations across frequencies ranging from 1 Hz to 3 Hz were conducted. Experimental data on healthy human ventricular cardiomyocytes were collected and compared against simulated results. Results show deviations for all models, with Tomek et al. modeling time sensitive biomarkers the best. For example, the ratio of time to peak tension at 2 Hz and 1 Hz is around 85% for experiments, 82% for hybrid data, 95% for Tomek et al., 98% for O’Hara et al. and 138% for ten Tusscher et al. These discrepancies, highlight not only the need for careful selection of ionic models, but also the importance of refining ventricular cardiomyocyte models for advancing in-silico cardiac research.
Using Vision Transformers for Classifying Surgical Tools in Computer Aided Surgeries
Authors: El Moaqet Hisham , Janini Rami , Abdulbaki Alshirbaji Tamer , Aldeen Jalal Nour , Möller Knut
Published: December 2024

Automated laparoscopic video analysis is essential for assisting surgeons during computer aided medical procedures. Nevertheless, it faces challenges due to complex surgical scenes and limited annotated data. Most of the existing methods for classifying surgical tools in laparoscopic surgeries rely on conventional deep learning methods such as convolutional and recurrent neural networks. This paper explores the use of pure self-attention based models-Vision Transformers for classifying both single-label (SL) and multi-label (ML) frames in Laparoscopic surgeries. The proposed SL and ML models were comprehensively evaluated on the Cholec80 surgical workflow dataset using 5-fold cross validation. Experimental results showed an excellent classification performance with a mean average precision mAP=95.8% that outperforms conventional deep learning multi-label models developed in previous studies. Our results open new avenues for further research on the use of deep transformer models for surgical tool detection in modern operating theaters.
Robustness of a DenseNet-121 for the Classification of ARDS in Chest X-Rays
Authors: Fonck Simon , Fritsch Sebastian , Nguyen Alina , Kowalewski Stefan , Stollenwerk André
Published: December 2024

Research in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine is increasingly relying on algorithms based on deep learning (DL), especially for radiology. Despite producing promising results, DL models have a major drawback: their reliance on large training datasets. Especially in medicine, large, annotated datasets are hard to obtain, leading to low robustness and a performance loss when exposed to unseen, new data. To address this problem, our research evaluates how well data augmentation is able to expand the used dataset and thus improve a DL model. We employ 17 different augmentation methods to test the robustness of a DenseNet-121 trained to classify Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) in chest X-rays. Our experiments show that while the model has low robustness for augmented test data when trained on unaugmented data, the general performance for ARDS classification can be improved by augmenting the training data. Overall, this demonstrates that data augmentation is beneficial in training AI models for ARDS classification in order to create more robust and generalizable models.
Results of a quantitative Delphi study investigating needs of people with Traumatic Brachial Plexus Injury
Authors: Hofmann Veronika , Maufroy Christophe , Pott Peter P. , Schneider Urs
Published: December 2024

Traumatic Brachial Plexus Injury (TBPI) causes arm paralysis, impacting daily activities and reintegration into work. This paper presents the results of the first round of a quantitative Delphi study. The aim is to gather insights from five expert groups. The investigated user requirements primarily encompass design aspects like weight, fitting, and adjustability to accommodate adaptations. Besides increased functionality, a benefit for psychological recovery is presumed.
One-shot learning HMI for people with disabilities
Authors: Homann Hanno , Rohbani Cedric , Will Jens Christian
Published: December 2024

For people with physical disabilities, it is often desirable to regain control over their personal environment and communication tools. This paper introduces a novel Human- Machine Interface (HMI) using one-shot learning for individualized control signals without extensive training or specialized hardware. Our work suggests a modular system that utilizes common, easily accessible devices like webcams to interpret user-defined gestures and commands through a single demonstration. As a feasibility study on healthy volunteers, we investigate the control of a computer mouse by head movements only. We demonstrate the technical details of the HMI and discuss its potential applications in enhancing the autonomy and interaction capabilities of users with disabilities. By combining usercentric design principles with the advancements in one-shot learning, we aim to forge a more inclusive, accessible path forward in the development of assistive technologies.
Novel therapeutic strategy for unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis in children with univentricular circulation: EMG-guided diaphragmatic stimulation
Authors: Kratz Tobias , Ruff Roman , Koch Timo , Breuer Johannes , Asfour Boulos , Herberg Ulrike , Bierbach Benjamin
Published: December 2024

Unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis in children with univentricular circulation poses significant challenges, including impaired hemodynamics and increased postoperative complications. Restoring diaphragmatic function is crucial to mitigate these risks. This study investigates the feasibility of automated stimulation of the paretic diaphragm half using electromyography (EMG) signals from the non-paretic side following transection of the right phrenic nerve. Our findings demonstrate successful automated stimulation, suggesting the potential development of an EMG-triggered synchronized unilateral diaphragmatic pacemaker. This innovative approach holds promise as a novel therapeutic intervention for managing unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis in pediatric patients with univentricular circulation.
Flow analysis of steady state forward flow of aortic valve prostheses using Particle Image Velocimetry
Authors: Lenz Christopher , Borowski Finja , Oldenburg Jan , Brandt-Wunderlich Christoph , Stiehm Michael , Schmitz Klaus-Peter
Published: December 2024

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has become the standard therapy for aortic valve stenosis in patients with high surgical risk. Understanding the flow dynamics in TAVR is crucial for its evaluation and optimization. Experimental flow measurement by means of Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) is increasingly applied alongside numerical analyses. This study introduces a novel test rig concept enabling the determination of velocity fields using Stereo-PIV under steady forward flow conditions through a TAVR during the peak systole matching the ISO 5840-1:2021 requirements. The experimental setup utilized an impeller pump to generate steady forward flow through a silicone aortic root model with implanted TAVR. A Stereo-PIV setup captured velocity fields in both ventricular inflow and aortic outflow regions. Test conditions were based on physiological flow rates determined from pulsatile measurements. Illumination of the added particles in the test fluid was achieved using an Nd:YAG laser. Fluorescent polystyrol particles (size: 50 μm) were used for flow visualization. Results showed characteristic flow patterns: a central jet flow entering the TAVR in the ventricular flow field. A jet flow directed towards the sinus side and a recirculation zone forming on the opposite side of the sinus could be detected in the aortic outflow. The width of the recirculation zone increases with distance from the TAVR. Maximum flow velocities were detected at 0.78 m/s for the ventricular flow field and 0.94 m/s for the aortic flow field. This study provides a comprehensive approach for fluid dynamic analysis of TAVR under steady flow conditions, offering insights into flow mechanics performance crucial for device optimization. Further investigations could enhance the PIV - measurement procedure by increasing both the spatial resolution and the tracer particle density within the acquired images for a comprehensive characterization of TAVR flow dynamics.
Towards Less Invasive Instruments For Cardiac Tissue Stabilizing
Authors: Moenkemoeller Raphael , Budde Leon , Martin Ulrich , Martens Andreas , Seel Thomas
Published: December 2024

Beating-heart surgery is performed to reduce patient trauma but depending on the intervention requires tissue stabilization through vacuum cardiac tissue stabilizers. Current designs either require open chest sternotomy or display significant residual motion when used minimally invasively. Active motion compensation methods require complex control algorithms and expensive technology. We propose a novel design for a vacuum tissue stabilizer with expandable suction feet enabling a larger stabilized area and increased motion reduction. Its performance is evaluated on a heart phantom using a silicon membrane mimicking cardiac tissue properties. The motion of the membrane is captured using a stereo camera and marker points on the membrane surface. The results are then compared to a state-of-the-art tissue stabilizer. The extended stabilizer is found to stabilize a 110% larger area while achieving similar motion amplitude reduction. Thus, extendable stabilizers seem to be a promising solution for improved cardiac tissue stabilization in less invasive beating-heart surgery.
Regulatory Requirements for Medical Devices Based on Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Nguyen My Duyen , Sohrabi Keywan , Gross Volker , Scholtes Michael , Seifert Oskar
Published: December 2024

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming healthcare, yet in Europe, there are no standardized regulations for AI-based medical devices under the Medical Device Regulation. This gap necessitates independent compliance verification by medical device manufacturers. This paper addresses the regulatory void by proposing a comprehensive training concept. It equips manufacturers with essential artificial intelligence knowledge and outlines current market introduction challenges. Through pre-tests and training sessions, the concept's efficacy will be assessed and refined. In summary, this work offers insights into AI's transformative potential and regulatory hurdles in healthcare, paving the way for improved standards and practices.
ML-Based XPS Quantification Supported by Synthetic Dataset Generation
Authors: Orth André , Höfer Hawo , Nefedov Alexei , Jalali Mehrdad , Wöll Christof , Reischl Markus
Published: December 2024

With growing interest in laboratory automation and high-throughput systems, the amount of generated experimental data is rapidly increasing while analysis methods still require many manual work hours from experts. This is prevalent in X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), where quantification is a complex, time-consuming, and error-prone task. We therefore propose a neural network-based workflow to make this process more approachable. As training data availability ranges from insufficient to non-existent, our workflow creates a synthetic dataset containing XPS signals and corresponding area percentages based on binding energies supplied by the user. As a result, no previous measurements are needed. After training on the synthetic data, the neural network can predict area percentages of the known binding energies with high confidence. This workflow can therefore be adapted for XPS quantification tasks to filter significant data and supervise processes. Moreover, this enables non-experts to analyze spectra and can help experts to reduce focus on important spectra.
Development of a microfluidic setup for the isolation and imaging of immune cells
Authors: Petzold Mandy , Behrens Stephan , Polk Christoph , Sonntag Frank , Schmieder Florian
Published: December 2024

Specialised cells in the blood play an important role in controlling the immune responses. Thus, these cells are also valuable for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as autoimmune disorders and cancer. Trace-less Affinity Cell Selection technology, also known as Fab-TACS technology, is a new approach to precisely isolate specific immune cells from blood samples. Currently, this technology is used in a device called Fabian, which resembles a cassette with a capacity of 60 ml. For diagnostic purposes, however, the sample size must be reduced to a few microliters. For this purpose, a stand-alone setup for the control of a microfluidic cartridge was developed and a sequence for the implementation of the TACS technology was designed and characterized. As the combination of cell purification and subsequent cell counting in a single device can streamline workflows and save time, we also integrated an analysis platform for cell counting into the setup. Instead of using two separate devices, isolated samples can be counted immediately after isolation without interruption. This platform was initially tested with latex particles that were passed through the detection channel of the microfluidic cartridge. The functionality of the developed program sequence and cell counting was successfully demonstrated in verification experiments.
Advancements in Dexterity Measurements: the digital Nine Hole Peg Test
Authors: Prochaska Eveline , Sedlmayr Martin
Published: December 2024

Digitalization in the healthcare sector is progressing rapidly. In the field of measuring instruments for manual dexterity, digitization has resulted in major limitations in terms of ease of use and usability. This study describes the development of a digital nine-hole peg test (dNHPT) for assessing hand dexterity that can be used just as easily and quickly as the original nine-hole peg test. The extensive validation of the dNHPT includes the investigation of validity, reliability, clinical utility and user-friendliness This paper presents the validation of clinical utility and usability of the dNHPT. The comparison of the original ninehole peg test (NHPT) und the dNHPT show similar clinical utility of the dNHPT and the NHPT (74% of all ratings of dNHPT are equal to or better than the NHPT) and good to excellent System Usability Scale Scores of 78 (CI95: 75;81) and 85 (CI95: 80;89). Several recommendations for further development of the dNHPT were identified. The newly developed dNHPT presented here supports the quality of data collection through automated time measurement and result presentation and shows good usability and clinical utility ratings.
Concept of a human-centered electronic health record
Authors: Remlinger Wolfram , Langer Ferdinand , Welte Korinna , Maier Thomas
Published: December 2024

This paper examines the challenges and opportunities associated with the implementation of Electronic Health Records (EHR) globally and, specifically, in Germany. While EHRs promise improved accessibility and comprehensibility of patient data, healthcare professionals face challenges such as resource constraints and the need for user-friendly interfaces. The focus is on the design of the graphical user interface (GUI) to enhance accessibility for both healthcare professionals and patients. The proposal suggests a three-dimensional digital human model as the basis for organizing and retrieving medical documents, integrating visual and chronological aspects. Additionally, the paper explores the potential benefits of incorporating personal health data, addressing data access separation concerns for users and promoting interdisciplinary information exchange. The concept-study concludes by highlighting the importance of a well-designed user interface in facilitating effective utilization of EHR systems.
Hybrid Method for Image Reconstruction in Magnetic Induction Tomography: Combination of the Neural Network with an Iterative Analytical Algorithm
Authors: Schledewitz Tatiana , Hofmann Anna , Fehr Moritz , Sauer Andreas , Rueter Dirk
Published: December 2024

Magnetic induction tomography (MIT) is an imaging technique that uses eddy current effects to map the conductivity of low conductive objects. It has a wide range of applications and offers numerous possibilities in various fields. One task of this imaging method involves resolving the ill-posed and nonlinear inverse problem. However, existing methods have weaknesses. A hybrid approach that integrates theoretical algorithms with machine-learning methods is proposed as an innovative solution to the challenges of MIT reconstruction.
Design and Development of a Gaming Controller for Ankle Therapy
Authors: Shah Nazar Peiman , El Sheikh Mohammad , Pott Peter P.
Published: December 2024

Although rehabilitation therapies are still the most common treatment for those who have had a stroke, they can be dull and repetitive. Despite recent advances in the field of rehabilitation robots, they can be complicated to operate and needs plenty room space in most cases. This paper presents a gaming controller (GC) that acts as an interface system between the rehabilitation system and the patient. It is connected to a mechanically actuated ankle rehabilitation mechanism, which incorporates the usage of the patients’ upper limbs to work on the range of motion of the ankle. The mechanical mechanism (MM) provides the base for gamified ankle rehabilitation; adopting the mechanism with the developed GC that comprises commercial games. The GC translates the rotary actions of MM to corresponding controller in the games.
Towards Liver Segmentation in Laparoscopic Images by Training U-Net With Synthetic Data
Authors: Sleeman Joshua , Krames Lorena , Nahm Werner
Published: December 2024

The lack of labeled, intraoperative patient data in medical scenarios poses a relevant challenge for machine learning applications. Given the apparent power of machine learning, this study examines how synthetically-generated data can help to reduce the amount of clinical data needed for robust liver surface segmentation in laparoscopic images. Here, we report the results of three experiments, using 525 annotated clinical images from 5 patients alongside 20,000 synthetic photo-realistic images from 10 patient models. The effectiveness of the use of synthetic data is compared to the use of data augmentation, a traditional performance-enhancing technique. For training, a supervised approach employing the U-Net architecture was chosen. The results of these experiments show a progressive increase in accuracy. Our base experiment on clinical data yielded an F1 score of 0.72. Applying data augmentation to this model increased the F1 score to 0.76. Our model pre-trained on synthetic data and fine-tuned with augmented data achieved an F1 score of 0.80, a 4% increase. Additionally, a model evaluation involving k-fold cross validation highlighted the dependency of the result on the test set. These results demonstrate that leveraging synthetic data has the ability of limiting the need for more patient data to increase the segmentation performance.
Synthetic Data in Supervised Monocular Depth Estimation of Laparoscopic Liver Images
Authors: Walkner Heiko , Krames Lorena , Nahm Werner
Published: December 2024

Monocular depth estimation is an important topic in minimally invasive surgery, providing valuable information for downstream application, like navigation systems. Deep learning for this task requires high amount of training data for an accurate and robust model. Especially in the medical field acquiring ground truth depth information is rarely possible due to patient security and technical limitations. This problem is being tackled by many approaches including the use of synthetic data. This leads to the question, how well does the synthetic data allow the prediction of depth information on clinical data. To evaluate this, the synthetic data is used to train and optimize a U-Net, including hyperparameter tuning and augmentation. The trained model is then used to predict the depth on clinical image and analyzed in quality, consistency over the same scene, time and color. The results demonstrate that synthetic data sets can be used for training, with an accuracy of over 77% and a RMSE below 10mm on the synthetic data set, do well on resembling clinical data, but also have limitations due to the complexity of clinical environments. Synthetic data sets are a promising approach allowing monocular depth estimation in fields with otherwise lacking data.
Classification of Respiratory Diseases
Authors: Wichum Felix , Wiede Christian , Seidl Karsten
Published: December 2024

Contactless measurement methods offer a novel approach to assessing respiratory parameters. This study investigates the feasibility of classifying chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and healthy individuals using depth-based plethysmography (DPG). The approach involves calculating Pearson's correlation coefficient for all pixel-wise signals against each other, with the cumulative result visualized in patient-specific masks. A convolutional neural network is used for the classification process. For evaluation, on a recorded data set (N=53), a classification accuracy of 57.7% and Cohen’s Kappa of 0.28 were reached. These findings provide indications that DPG might effectively classify respiratory conditions by analyzing respiratory motion dynamics.
Automatic Tissue Differentiation in Parotidectomy using Hyperspectral Imaging
Authors: Wisotzky Eric L. , Schill Alexander , Hilsmann Anna , Eisert Peter , Knoke Michael
Published: December 2024

In head and neck surgery, continuous intraoperative tissue differentiation is of great importance to avoid injury to sensitive structures such as nerves and vessels. Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) with neural network analysis could support the surgeon in tissue differentiation. A 3D Convolutional Neural Network with hyperspectral data in the range of 400 − 1000 nm is used in this work. The acquisition system consisted of two multispectral snapshot cameras creating a stereo-HSI-system. For the analysis, 27 images with annotations of glandular tissue, nerve, muscle, skin and vein in 18 patients undergoing parotidectomy are included. Three patients are removed for evaluation following the leave-one-subjectout principle. The remaining images are used for training, with the data randomly divided into a training group and a validation group. In the validation, an overall accuracy of 98.7% is achieved, indicating robust training. In the evaluation on the excluded patients, an overall accuracy of 83.4% has been achieved showing good detection and identification abilities. The results clearly show that it is possible to achieve robust intraoperative tissue differentiation using hyperspectral imaging. Especially the high sensitivity in parotid or nerve tissue is of clinical importance. It is interesting to note that vein was often confused with muscle. This requires further analysis and shows that a very good and comprehensive data basis is essential. This is a major challenge, especially in surgery.
Development and characterization of acetylated and acetylated surface-modified tapioca starches as a carrier material for linalool
Authors: Shaari Syuzeliana , Samsudin Hayati , Yin Koh Wee , Utra Uthumporn
Published: December 2024

Linalool compound is easily degraded when exposed to light and oxygen during processing or storage. Therefore, the objective of this work was to develop surface-modified tapioca starch as a carrier for linalool. Surface-modified starch was prepared by various treatments, i.e., enzyme treatment (using STARGEN 002 enzyme), alcohol–enzyme treatment, and acetylation; acetylation was carried out with 20% (w/w, starch dry basis) acetic anhydride. Acetyl percentage (Ac%) and degree of substitution (DS) of the acetylated samples significantly increased with different treatments due to the introduction of acetyl groups in the starch molecules. After acetylation, the percentage crystallinity as well as WR1047/1022 values decreased. The acetylated surface-modified starches showed a reduction in terms of thermal properties and gelatinization enthalpy values. Compared with native starch samples, the granules of acetylated surface-modified starch sample exhibited a rough surface and clumped structures. The encapsulation efficiency of linalool significantly increased from 3.63% to 66.76%. The encapsulated linalool with enzyme-acetylated starch showed significantly low values of linalool reduction (11.00%) over 28 days of storage due to its surface erosion and addition of acetyl groups on granular starch, as evidenced by scanning electron microscopy and Ac% as well as DS results. Among them, the enzyme-acetylated starch had the lowest values of linalool reduction, which could effectively encapsulate linalool and control the linalool reduction value.
New realities of the administrative-territorial structure of Ukraine and areas of ethnic minorities’ settlement: Geographical correlations and social consequences
Authors: Dnistrianskyi Myroslav , Molnár József , Dnistrianska Nataliya , Molnár D. István
Published: December 2024

This article analyses the ethno-geographical problems of the reformed system of administrative and territorial structure of Ukraine. The authors consider the alignment of newly created administrative units (rayons, territorial communities) and areas of compact settlement of ethnic minorities as a favourable prerequisite for the organisation of local self-government and the establishment of balanced and mutually beneficial ethno-political relations in the state. The analysis of the ethno-geographical parameters of ethnic minorities and the configuration of the newly created administrative-territorial units revealed that the population of ethnic minorities in Zakarpattia, Chernivtsi and Odesa oblasts was given the opportunity to organise territorial communities in which they constitute the majority. At the same time, studies have shown that it was not easy to implement this approach in the newly created administrative districts, given the officially defined criteria, the politicisation of the issue and the relatively high degree of mosaic settlement of ethnic groups. Therefore, the ethno-geographical factor was only partially taken into account in the formation of new administrative districts and the selection of district centres.
A critical review of dark tourism studies
Authors: Assylkhanova Aigerim , Nagy Gyula , Morar Cezar , Teleubay Zhanassyl , Boros Lajos
Published: December 2024

The topic of dark tourism emerged in the last three decades as tourism became more accessible. It allows forgotten history to be revised and transferred to the public. This study aims to restructure existing categorization regarding dark tourism and address the research gaps in dark tourism studies. We collected studies from international publication databases – Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. We pre-processed the following data for each study: topic, authors’ location of university affiliation, study area, year of publication, top-cited articles, top productive journals in publishing dark tourism studies, keywords, and internality/externality of the author from the study area. With the current paper, we analysed review articles published from 1996 to 2024 (first quarter), applying qualitative methods. Based on these, a new analytical framework was generated. Furthermore, the connections between research topics were also analysed. The results of the analysis highlight specific research gaps in the literature on dark tourism and address poorly visible research fields in international journals, e.g. terrorism-related research, social media links of dark tourism, postcolonial contexts, or commemoration of communist past and heritage. Consequently, certain countries and regions are underrepresented in the literature. This critical review offers new research areas but also gives some directions to the theoretical enrichment of the dark tourism concept.
A avaliação da Prática de Ensino Supervisionada no Instituto Superior da Maia. Nós fazemos assim. E vós?
Authors: Albuquerque Alberto , Resende Rui , Costa Marta
Published: December 2024

O presente trabalho é desenvolvido a partir da prática vivida e experienciada ao nível da Prática de Ensino Supervisionada (Estágio) do Instituto Superior da Maia (ISMAI). A aprendizagem, numa perspectiva construtivista, tanto se pode entender como uma con sequência do ensino, como um processo de construção individual e social, fruto da interação entre as ideias de quem aprende e a realidade contextual do processo em que essa aprendizagem se realiza. No âmbito da formação do professor, a capacidade reflexiva , a competência de ensino e a integração social são as qualidades que definem um profissional reflexivo (SCHÖN, 1983, 1987). Se quisermos um ensino de qualidade, que não dependa da abnegação individual de pessoas excepcionais , necessitamos de transformar a cultura profissional dos docentes numa nova cultura que permita a reflexão e a discussão dos princípios que norteiam a prática (ALBUQUERQUE, GRAÇA e JANUÁRIO, 2005). É neste enquadramento que a formação de professores deve ser entendida. E essa formação t em de ser avaliada, pois a avaliação está inerente a esse mesmo processo.
El eclipse del profesionalismo en la era de la Rendición de Cuentas – Modelando Docentes en el Contexto del Nuevo Management Público
Authors: Sisto Vicente , Fardella Carla
Published: December 2024

El objetivo del artículo es analizar las últimas reformas educativas emprendidas en Chile como una expresión concreta de cómo se puede reestructurar el campo de la educación pública a partir de la mirada del Nuevo Management Público (NMP,) el que instala al mercado y a la empresa como modelos, conminando a los profesores a asumir nuevas identidades laborales afines. Para ello se abordan los grandes principios orientadores de la política educativa chilena, profundizando en la política de evaluación e incentivos al desempeño docente. Esto permite dar cuenta de cómo el NMP interpela las identidades laborales de los docentes, ofreciéndoles nuevos referentes identitarios basados en la noción de que el trabajo docente es constitutivamente individual, codificable en estándares, y que el profesor debe orientarse a  mejoras en resultados, impulsado por estímulos económicos individuales, buscando un desarrollo profesional emprendedor. Lo que desafía las identidades construidas históricamente.
O estágio em um Curso de Pedagogia: significados para quem já é professora
Authors: Das Graças Carvalho da Silva Medeiros Gonçalves Pinto Maria
Published: December 2024

Este trabalho analisa o estágio do Curso de Pedagogia de uma IES pública do RS, Brasil, na perspectiva de quem já é professora (estagiária-professora). Indagação balizadora: qual o significado do estágio para elas? Aporte teórico central: Pimenta e Lima (2004); Lima (2012); Schön (2000); Pereira (1982). O processo metodológico ocorreu pela coleta de dados, a partir de questionário aberto aplicado a três alunas estagiárias do Curso de Pedagogia. Os critérios de escolha destas foram: estarem formadas no Magistério/Curso Normal e já terem exercido a profissão de professora antes ou exercerem-na concomitantemente à realização do estágio. Alguns resultados: fazer o estágio sendo professoras provocou a reflexão acerca das práticas que realizavam antes e depois do estágio. Este foi concebido como o “momento do fazer” e a teoria voltada ao “pensar”. As concepções de teoria e prática ainda encontram-se marcadas por um reducionismo epistemológico, apesar de acenarem para a importância da relação entre elas. Entenderam existir a necessidade do estágio, mesmo no caso delas, que já eram professoras. Não houve proposta alternativa ao estágio, apesar de uma colaboradora ter mencionado a possibilidade deste poder ser feito em turmas nas quais elas já exercessem a docência.
Docência e pesquisa na educação básica: a importância da análise documental de livros didáticos
Authors: Trevizan Zizi , L.M. Sampaio Desireé
Published: December 2024

O estudo objetiva compartilhar das discussões atuais sobre pesquisa, “inovação educativa” e “profissão docente” (Imbernón, 2010), no Ensino de Leitura e demonstrar que, apesar das inúmeras publicações acadêmicas sobre as qualidades e inadequações das coleções didáticas em língua portuguesa (2009 – 2013), destinadas à Educação Básica, permanece a necessidade de os próprios usuários pedagógicos desses produtos culturais assumirem a condição de pesquisadores e efetuarem análises documentais desses materiais, antes dos usos em sala de aula. A metodologia envolveu uma revisão da Teoria Bakhtiniana da Intertextualidade e uma análise documental de um livro didático (selecionado pelas autoras), para demonstração dos resultados finais, que confirmaram a importância de formação em pesquisa dos docentes da Educação Básica para um ensino de leitura de maior qualidade.
Uma cartografia do escrever na educação a distância
Authors: De Oliveira Salgueiro de Moura Ana Carolina , Pereira Laurino Débora
Published: December 2024

Em que espaços se escreve? Aprende-se ao escrever na ação incorporada? Orientado por estes questionamentos este artigo aborda o escrever no espaço-contexto da educação a distância e no espaço-suporte das tecnologias digitais, nos quais o escrever é experienciado de maneira recorrente, como comunicação e interação digital. Trazemos como hipótese dessa pesquisa que o escrever enatuado codetermina os processos do dar-se-conta, da cocriação e da recursividade, os quais constituem o aprender. Tal hipótese é investigada a partir da cartografia dos escreveres de cursistas de uma especialização ofertada a distância. No cartografar desses escreveres foram produzidos nós de compreensão sobre o escrever e o ler, os quais traduzem em texto os argumentos explicativos dessa investigação e complexificam as compreensões sobre o escrever.
Apresentação do Dossiê
Authors: Nere de Lima Ramon , Rodrigues do Nascimento Danilo , Ferreira da Silva Andrisson
Published: December 2024

Apresentação do Dossiê Povos indígenas e história: sujeitos, saberes e temporalidades.
Onde se ausculta o saber ancestral
Authors: Emanoel Monteiro Gomes Cristhyan
Published: December 2024

O livro Meu avô Apolinário (2001) é uma sensível e profunda narrativa autobiográfica do escritor indígena Daniel Munduruku. Diante disso, o presente trabalho tem como objetivo central traçar reflexões acerca de três propriedades presentes na sociedade munduruku: a instituição do sonho, a práxis xamânica e as relações tecidas entre os humanos e não humanos, a partir da respectiva obra. Analisamos como esses três elementos constituem maneiras ancestrais de compreensão da vida e da existência do povo munduruku, retratando uma parcela das suas cosmologias. Nesse sentido, o que fazemos é observar, no texto literário, as reverberações de tais cosmovisões, uma vez que o autor indígena dificilmente não se associa a sua vivência indígena, sendo um emissário do seu povo, em que a escrita compreende um compromisso e uma tentativa de resistência e de não apagamento por meio da arte.
O Caminho de Peabiru como espaço de disputa turística e a conexão com o passado histórico
Authors: Oliveira Pinheiro Machado Vinícius
Published: December 2024

O Caminho de Peabiru é um antigo trajeto que ligava o litoral dos estados de São Paulo e Santa Catarina ao interior do Brasil, passava pelo Paraguai e conectava-se ao Império Inca. Atualmente, ele tem se transformado em alvo de disputa em torno da sua exploração turística. Isso possibilita uma análise de seus aspectos históricos, como origens e formas de uso ao longo do tempo. Então, demonstra-se neste artigo como esse caminho pode ser interpretado como um espaço geográfico conectado à história.
Sítio Arqueológico Porto da Figueira: Vestígios de uma unidade doméstica rural oitocentista no interior de Nova Santa Rita, RS
Authors: Santos Caino Jonathan , De Castro Almeida Caino Thaissa , Nunes D’ávila Luísa , Dos Santos Lazzarotti Marcelo , Carlos Ribeiro Marcelo , Alexandre Soltys Fernando
Published: December 2024

O sítio Porto da Figueira foi identificado em Nova Santa Rita, RS, no âmbito do processo de licenciamento da LT 525 kV Gravataí - Guaíba 3. Continha quantidade reduzida de peças líticas e cerâmica indígena, mas um vasto depósito de materiais dos séculos XIX e XX. O trabalho de campo envolveu coleta georreferenciada de materiais em superfície, prospecção intensiva do subsolo e a escavação de duas estruturas: uma lixeira com tralha doméstica e restos alimentares, e um conjunto de fragmentos de pratos associados a um cristal de quartzo hialino. A coleção foi categorizada em termos tecno-tipológicos, e sua distribuição espacial analisada com uso de Estimativa de Densidade Kernel em Sistema de Informação Geográfica. Os resultados sugerem que o local fora uma unidade doméstica de construção rústica. A presença de práticas religiosas afro-brasileiras foi inferida pela estrutura de pratos com o quartzo, semelhante a contextos encontrados no continente americano.
Colonial approaches in Canadian national food policy development
Authors: Coulas Mary , Maracle Gabriel
Published: December 2024

The Government of Canada has claimed that the relationship with Indigenous peoples, that of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people, is their most important relationship. The rhetoric around reconciliation and Indigenous-Crown relationships are a major directive within federal policy. Using the theoretical framework of discursive institutionalism, this journal article looks at how this approach has, or has not, shaped the development of a national food policy. Discursive institutionalism is critical to understanding the complex relationships and perspectives that are embedded within the development of national food policies. Looking at the reports, discourse, and actions of the federal government, this article highlights how Indigenous people continue to be seen as stakeholders, as opposed to partners in nation-to-nation relationships. This paper analyzing the government’s approach to food policy stresses that the government recognizes the importance of having a national food policy, as well as acknowledging that Indigenous people need to be a part of the process. Indigenous peoples are distinct peoples with inherent rights that must been recognized and supported by the Crown, and that understanding needs to be a part of all policies and laws that can impact Indigenous peoples and communities.
Fronteras, nacionalidad y privilegios: piezas de un mismo engranaje
Authors: Velasco Juan Carlos
Published: December 2024

Fronteras y nacionalidad actúan como mecanismos que permiten a los miembros de una comunidad política reservarse en exclusiva la oportunidad de conseguir determinados recursos y servicios esenciales. Ambos dispositivos institucionales, que van de la mano en el marco de las políticas migratorias que regulan la movilidad humana, sirven para excluir/incluir en la comunidad política, tanto en términos territoriales como en términos de pertenencia jurídico-política. Son piezas clave en el engranaje que posibilita la perpetuación de privilegios en un mundo global lastrado por la desigualdad.