The Primary Immunodeficiency Database in Japan

The Primary Immunodeficiency Database in Japan (PIDJ) is a registry of primary immunodeficiency diseases (PIDs) that was established in 2007. The database is a joint research project with research groups associated with the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare; the RIKEN Research Center for Allergy and Immunology (RCAI); and the Kazusa DNA Research Institute (KDRI). The PIDJ contains patient details, including the age, sex, clinical and laboratory findings, types of infections, genetic analysis results, and treatments administered. In addition, web-based case consultation is also provided. The PIDJ serves as a database for patients with PIDs and as a patient consultation service connecting general physicians with PID specialists and specialized hospitals. Thus, the database contributes to investigations related to disease pathogenesis and the early diagnosis and treatment of patients with PIDs. In the 9 years since the launch of PIDJ, 4,481 patients have been enrolled, of whom 64% have been subjected to genetic analysis. In 2017, the Japanese Society for Immunodeficiency and Autoinflammatory Diseases (JSIAD) was established to advance the diagnosis, treatment, and research in the field of PIDs and autoinflammatory diseases (AIDs). JSIAD promotes the analysis of the pathogenesis of PIDs and AIDs, enabling improved patient care and networking via the expansion of the database and construction of a biobank obtained from the PIDJ. The PIDJ was upgraded to “PIDJ ver.2” in 2019 by JSIAD. Currently, PIDJ ver.2 is used as a platform for epidemiological studies, genetic analysis, and pathogenesis evaluation for PIDs and AIDs.

Untersuchung von Ionischen Flüssigkeiten unter Stromfluss

Every year 23 % of the world energy consumption is caused by friction and wear. Especially now and in future bearings and gear boxes will be exposed to electrical currents so lubricants have to prevent the components from new damage mechanism. The usage of Ionic Liquids as conductible lubricant additives is in discussion for a longer period of time, but right now it was not investigated how these liquids could be affect by electrical currents itself. Generally, lubricants in industry are compounded by base oils, additives, and thickeners. All these ingredients are isolators and not able to discharge electrical currents. In these joint research project, different Ionic Liquids with different conductivities have been exposed to defined electrical currents. For that experiments a new current feed setup has been developed, where the liquids and model lubricants were exposed to electrical currents under temperature control. The influence on the liquids by the current feed was chemically quantified by using IR-Spectroscopy, rheology and conductivity measurements. The Ionic Liquids react, depending on their chemical structure, very different on the current feeds, some of them has been destroyed totally.

MANAGING INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH BETWEEN ACADEMICS, INDUSTRIES, AND POLICY MAKERS IN UNDERSTANDING THE EFFECTS OF BIOFOULING IN SHIP HULL TURBULENT BOUNDARY LAYERS

This report documents a large scale joint research project with the aim of improving the efficiency of ship operations and management by providing a methodology and technology that can quantify the emission and fuel usage penalty due to bio-fouling on ship hull. This can be obtained through better understanding of turbulent boundary layer flows over rough surfaces that cause skin friction drag. Here six different institutions from four countries (Australia, Denmark, Indonesia, and UK) that consist of universities, a passenger ship company, a manufacturer of anti-fouling coatings, and the Indonesian Classification Society are formed. They represent three fields, namely: academic, industrial, and an independent party that supports policy makers. Each of them has different objectives and interests that are interconnected. The research collaboration uses an in-situ laser-based measurement technique of the water flow over the hull of an operating ship combined with under-water image-based surface scanning techniques. The shipboard experiments are accompanied by detailed laboratory experiments to provide further validation. This paper will discuss the importance and challenges of managing such collaboration and the significance of satisfying individual objectives from each three fields in order to achieve the overarching aim.

Marker der Nachzeitigkeit im deutsch-italienischen Vergleich

The goal of this contribution is the analysis of selected expressions of immediate posteriority in German and Italian from a comparative and translation-related perspective. In the present study, which was carried out as part of a joint research project (Nachzeitigkeit in Sprachvergleich und Übersetzung i. e. ‘Expression of Posteriority in Language Comparison and Translation’) at Heidelberg University and the University of Jena, these linguistic expressions are analysed using manual annotations of abstract semantic and pragmatic features on authentic instances using various statistical methods. Occurrences of the adverbs gleich, sofort, immediatamente or subito in the Europarl and OpenSubtitles corpora, in original or translated text material, serve as a source for the analysis. Typical use contexts of the four adverbs will be identified on a language-specific basis, possible influences of the text types/corpus sources on the use of the adverbs will be determined. Moreover, the use contexts of the adverbs will be analysed cross-linguistically as to correspondences and differences between the two languages, and typical translation options for the individual adverbs will be investigated as a result of various influencing parameters. At a general methodological level, the study intends to test rich semantic and pragmatic annotations and their statistical evaluation as approaches to comparative linguistics and translation studies as far as onomasiologically and functionally defined phenomena are concerned.

Inclusive, multi-partner co-creation for the teaching of special educational needs and disabilities in higher education

Co-creation of curriculum content is a growing priority across Higher Education and, while many projects stress the market benefits to institutions and students, this research instead focussed on promoting inclusion, social justice and anti-oppressive practice, with theoretical underpinnings in the social model of disability. This joint research project between staff and students at De Montfort University (DMU), Leicester, led to the co-creation of a Level 6 SEND module on the BA Education Studies programme. The co-designed research explores how the experiences of neurodivergent people, those with SEND, their families and practitioners, can inform teaching practices and module specifications at undergraduate level in Education Studies. Qualitative data, collected via questionnaires, focus groups and interviews with students, parents, practitioners and academics, revealed rich, diverse perspectives on the knowledge and understanding that future educators need, as well as the most inclusive methods for teaching and assessing that knowledge. The practice-based implications of the research included co-creation of a Level 6 SEND module which recognises value in ‘non-professional’ voices and embeds anti-oppressive practice in its design, delivery and assessment.

Application of electrical fields to reduce chloride ingress into concrete structures

In the context of a joint research project, a system for monitoring, protection and strengthening of bridges by using a textile reinforced concrete interlayer has been developed which consists of two carbon layers with a spacing of 15 mm and a special mortar. This setup led to the idea to build up an electrical field between the carbon meshes, which suppresses the ingress of chlorides into the concrete. This paper focuses on the question which voltages and electrical field strengths are necessary to prevent critical chloride contents at the reinforcing steel. For this purpose, extensive laboratory tests have been performed, followed by a numerical simulation study. By applying an electrical field, the negatively charged chloride ions are forced to move to the upper carbon mesh that is polarized as an anode. It has been investigated whether the voltages to implement an electrochemical chloride barrier are smaller than they have to be for the common preventive cathodic protection. One advantage of this chloride barrier is that because of the lower current densities the anodic polarisation of the carbon meshes can be reduced. Therefore, different voltages, electrical field strengths, anode materials and anode arrangements were investigated.

Explanations for the development of a novel universally inside pipe separator for dismantling (contaminated) pipelines

During the operation and dismantling of nuclear facilities, individual pipelines must always be removed due to leaks because of the end of their maximum service life or the dismantling of the plant. In practice, this activity, which at first glance appears simple, is associated with many challenges due to limited space or the fact that the pipelines run through walls, despite various solutions that are available on the market. Therefore, the aim of the joint research project “RoTre” (Development of a novel universally inside pipe separator for dismantling contaminated pipelines) between KIT, Siempelkamp NIS Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH and RWE Nuclear GmbH is the development of an innovative and competitive inside pipe separator for use in decommissioning and dismantling of nuclear facilities with a wide range of applications for various pipe diameters, wall strengths and materials (Fig. 1). An amendment will be the forward cleaning, whereby metal chips or other components can be captured continuously. Besides the dismantling in areas which are difficult to access, such as pipelines set in concrete or pipelines that cannot be drilled over their full length, dismantling should be possible in air and under water. After application, the system can be decontaminated. In order to separate pipes made out of different materials with various wall thicknesses, the development of a universally applicable test stand is planned in order to achieve the scientific work objectives. Among other things, it should be determined whether a sawing or an abrasive cutting process is more suitable for cutting inside pipes. Building on this, the parameters of the separation process are tested in a parameter study to achieve the smallest possible process forces with a universal applicability. Relevant parameters are the geometry parameters of the cutting unit like the saw tooth shape, the composition of the cutting wheel, as well as the process parameters in the form of infeed, cutting speed and tool speed. The cutting quality achieved by the different tools with the setting of the machine parameters is also an evaluation criterion for the selection of the cutting process.

High Performance Pavement Markings Enhancing Camera And LiDAR Detection

It is well known that camera and video sensors have limitations in detecting pavement markings under certain conditions e.g. glare from sunlight or other vehicles, rain, fog etc. First generations of lane keeping systems depend on visual light. Erroneous detection is also resulting from irregular road surfaces such as glossy bitumen sealing strips, rain puddles or simply worn asphalt. The role of higher performing markings and better visual camera detection has been studied with Vedecom France. LiDAR (light detection and ranging) technology could help to fill remaining gaps, as it actively sends out IR (infrared) light, that returns reliable images of the road scenario and pavement markings both day and nighttime. In order to evaluate the opportunities of LiDAR technology for the detection of road markings, 3M Company and the University of Applied Sciences in Dresden decided to work together in a joint research project. All-Weather Elements AWE, are the latest development of high-performance optics, using high index beads to provide reflectivity both in dry and wet condition. It could be determined that high performance markings help to increase the level of detection by both camera and LiDAR sensors. The AWE marking was detected from significantly longer distances, especially in wet and rainy conditions. In combination with common camera based LKA and LDW systems, the LiDAR sensors can increase the overall detection rate of pavement markings. This is especially important for vehicles with higher SAE levels of automated driving and can support the overall safety of vehicles. The research also evaluated existing test methods for wet and rain reflectivity in EN 1436 and ASTM E 2832 and how measured performance correlates with LiDAR detection.

Flight Characteristics with Different Supercooled Large Droplet Ice Configurations

An evaluation of the effects of different ice configurations on the flight characteristics of a fixed-wing aircraft is presented. Within a joint research project of German Aerospace Center (DLR) and Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer simulation models of three supercooled large droplet (SLD) ice configurations were developed for one Phenom 300 prototype. A specific flight test campaign with artificial SLD ice shapes on the aircraft was conducted to gather the relevant flight data. The simulation models for the different ice configuration were obtained by system identification, and specific results for the SLD-ice simulation models are provided. The analysis of aircraft characteristics was based on the results of these high-quality simulation models: the icing-induced changes of the flight performance characteristics evaluated by the interpretation of several parameters like thrust-to-weight ratio and specific excess power. The typical flight performance degradation was found for all ice configurations with different magnitude. The change of aircraft eigenmodes was investigated in detail by analysing the system matrix of the linearised models at a specific trim points. In addition, the diverse effects found for different ice configurations (App. C and SLD) are discussed and the change of root locus is analysed. Furthermore, ice-induced changes of the handling qualities are evaluated using numerical criteria of flying qualities standard “MIL-STD-1797 A”: no significant deterioration was found for the investigated ice configurations.

Skulls on the road – historical traces of anatomical connections between Erlangen and Tartu/Dorpat

The Chair for the History of Medicine at the Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) is currently researching the provenance of human remains in the University Collections. Obviously, the by far largest number of those specimens is found in the Anatomical Collection, which is studied in close cooperation with the Institute of Functional and Clinical Anatomy a joint research project. Several specimens dating back to the time of Heinrich Friedrich Isenflamm (1771–1828) have been identified that went from Erlangen to Dorpat as well as others that came from Dorpat to Erlangen.