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Background Artifacts from surrounding bony structures, especially from the petrous bones, regularly impair soft tissue computed tomography (CT) imaging of the middle and posterior fossa. This affects flat-panel CT in particular. Sinusoidal movement of the C‑arm during acquisition (i.e. craniocaudal tilting along with semicircular rotation) is supposed to reduce artifacts, thus enhancing soft tissue imaging quality. Methods In the work-up of ischemic stroke or subarachnoid hemorrhage 40 patients underwent multi-slice CT (MS-CT) and either plain circular (cFP-CT; n = 20) or sinusoidal (sFP-CT; n = 20) flat-panel CT within a short interval. Two independent readers analyzed MS-CT and FP-CT datasets for recognizability of eight different brain structures and three typical types of artifacts according to a predetermined score. Results Interrater reliability was moderate for cFP-CT (κ = 0.575) and good to very good for ratings of MS-CT and sFP-CT (κ = 0.651 to κ = 1). MS-CT was rated to be significantly better than cFP-CT and sFP-CT (p p Conclusion Compared to a standard circular protocol, sinusoidal C‑arm movement in cranial FP-CT can significantly reduce artifacts in the posterior fossa and, moreover, can improve visualization of most supratentorial and infratentorial anatomical structures.

Purpose Flat-detector computed tomography (FD-CT) is the standard for cochlear implant (CI) imaging. FD-CT systems differ in technical characteristics. Our aim was an evaluation of two different FD-CT generations with different protocols and hardware regarding image quality, radiation dose, and scan time. Methods Two temporal bone specimens (− / + CI = TB0/TB1) were scanned using three different scanners: two FD-CT systems with different scanning protocols (standard FD-CT: 20 s 70 kV, 20 s 109 kV; high-speed FD-CT [HS-FD-CT]: 7 s 109 kV, 9 s 109 kV, 14 s 72 kV) and MS-CT (5 s 120 kV). Acquired datasets were evaluated in consensus reading regarding qualitative and quantitative parameters: addressing CI- and cochlea-specific parameters, cochlea delineation, lamina spiralis ossea visibility, distinction of single CI electrodes, determination of intracochlear implant position, stapes delineation, and mastoidal septation were assessed. Addressing protocol-specific parameters, radiation dose (dose-length-product/DLP), and scan time were assessed. Results Two HS-FD-CT protocols (14 s/9 s) provide higher or equivalent diagnostic information regarding CI- and cochlea-specific parameters compared to both standard FD-CT protocols. The fastest HS-FD-CT protocol (7 s)—providing inferior diagnostic information compared to all other FD-CT protocols—still exceeds MS-CT. The highest DLP was recorded for the 14 s HS-FD-CT protocol (TB1 = 956 mGycm); the lowest DLPs were recorded for the 7 s HS-FD-CT protocol (TB0 = 188 mGycm) and for MS-CT (TB0 = 138 mGycm), respectively. HS-FD-CT allows a significant reduction of scan time compared to standard FD-CT. Conclusion High-speed FD-CT improves visualization of temporal bone anatomy and postoperative assessment of CIs by combining excellent image quality, fast scan time, and reasonable radiation exposure.

Student mobility, including obtaining degrees abroad, is one of the most effective means of internationalising education and establishing the common dominator of qualification for academics and professionals [1]. Copernicus Master in Digital Earth (CDE), coordinated by Paris-Lodron University Salzburg, has started in October 2019 together with Palacky University Olomouc and University of South Brittany. CDE is an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree programme, fully accredited by the Agency for Quality Assurance and Accreditation Austria1. The Master of Science is a unique role model to obtain a master’s degree in the upcoming field of EO*GI (Earth observation and Geoinformation) with the focus on the European Union’s Earth Observation programme Copernicus, which offers information services based on satellite EO and in-situ data. CDE is an interdisciplinary programme that aims at equipping the students with knowledge and skills from spatial sciences, and concepts from various geospatial disciplines [2], such as geography, surveying, environmental studies, cartography, computer science, applying a “Digital Earth” perspective [3].Every interested candidate in the MSc is encouraged to apply online, which allows handling ~300 candidates per call; careful, individual attention is given to each candidate and by carrying out a detailed assessment of all completed applications against selection guidelines, including evaluation of the quality and competencies of applicants and online interview of the potential candidates.The first year provides profound EO*GI application-oriented expertise based on relevant theories and methods. Alternative specialisation tracks are GeoData Science or Geovisualisation. A story map2 and dashboards3 provide further insights into origin of students, gender balance (34f:32m) or domain of previous degree and specialisation track (35:31).CDE is proud of a well-composed peer group from all over the world who demonstrate a high degree of commitment and motivation, a strong interest and background in the geospatial field. Outstanding and award-winning students4 have initiated start-ups or contributed to exceptional scientific developments in the domains of EO*GI and Digital Earth5. Peer-reviewed publications6 demonstrate the quality of research outcomes of Master theses, with one article to be published in Nature Geoscience. CDE continuity is envisioned from 2024/2025 onwards, to ensure sustainability, and international collaboration by extending the partnership, fostering student and staff mobility and blended learning activities. The consortium will submit a renewal project proposal within the 2023 Erasmus+ call.The project receives support from the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union, Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree: Copernicus Master in Digital Earth www.master-cde.eu.1 https://www.master-cde.eu/programme/accreditation/2 https://arcg.is/0Pev1H3https://www.master-cde.eu/programme/students/4https://www.master-cde.eu/programme/awards/5https://www.master-cde.eu/programme/start-ups-science6https://www.master-cde.eu/programme/scientific-publications/Nazarkulova, A., & Strobl, J. (2016) From central Asia to Europe: Erasmus mundus” gsmart” student mobility. International Journal of Geoinformatics, 12(4).Hofer, B., Castelyn, S., Aguilar-Morena, E., Missoni-Steinbacher, E.-M., Albrecht, F., Lemmens, R., Lang, S., Albrecht, J., Stelmaszczuk-Górska, M., Vancauwenberghe, G. and Monfort-Muriach, A. (2020) Complementing the European earth observation and geographic information body of knowledge with a business-oriented perspective. Transactions in GIS, 24, pp. 587–601.Lang, S., Tiede, D. and Riedler, B. (2021) Digital Earth observation. European Journal of Remote Sensing, 54(sup1), pp. 1-5.

Forest ecosystems are shaped by both abiotic and biotic disturbances. Unlike sudden disturbance agents, such as wind, avalanches and fire, bark beetle infestation progresses gradually. By the time infestation is observable by the human eye, trees are already in the final stages of infestation—the red- and grey-attack. In the relevant phase—the green-attack—biochemical and biophysical processes take place, which, however, are not or hardly visible. In this study, we applied a time series analysis based on semantically enriched Sentinel-2 data and spectral vegetation indices (SVIs) to detect early traces of bark beetle infestation in the Berchtesgaden National Park, Germany. Our approach used a stratified and hierarchical hybrid remote sensing image understanding system for pre-selecting candidate pixels, followed by the use of SVIs to confirm or refute the initial selection, heading towards a 'convergence of evidence approach’. Our results revealed that the near-infrared (NIR) and short-wave-infrared (SWIR) parts of the electromagnetic spectrum provided the best separability between pixels classified as healthy and early infested. Referring to vegetation indices, we found that those related to water stress have proven to be most sensitive. Compared to a SVI-only model that did not incorporate the concept of candidate pixels, our approach achieved distinctively higher producer’s accuracy (76% vs. 63%) and user’s accuracy (61% vs. 42%). The temporal accuracy of our method depends on the availability of satellite data and varies up to 3 weeks before or after the first ground-based detection in the field. Nonetheless, our method offers valuable early detection capabilities that can aid in implementing timely interventions to address bark beetle infestations in the early stage.

Background Predicting final stent position can be challenging when treating cerebral aneurysms. Third-Party software proved helpful in selecting proper stents in treatment planning. Recent angiographic systems provide basic stent simulation capabilities integrated in the post-processing software to simulate stent position. Goal of this analysis was to evaluate the simulation process and correlation with definite stent position. Materials and Methods Thirty-three datasets with fusiform (n = 10) and saccular (n = 23) aneurysms, treated with stent or flow-diverter, were processed. A “virtual stent” of the same (nominal) size was simulated and its position was compared to the treatment result. Simulated length was rated in five grades (too short, shorter, equal, longer, too long), with regard to side-branches, anchoring zone etc. Simulation quality (centerline recognition/adherence to vessel margins) was rated in three grades (no, minor or major corrections required). Results Simulation was successful in 32/33 cases (97%), with one abortive attempt (3%). In 27/33 simulations (82%), there was no need for centerline refinement. Minor corrections were necessary in four and major corrections in two cases. Simulated nominal length was rated “equal” in 14/33 (42%) cases and “shorter” or “longer” – but within acceptable range – in each 9/33 (27%) cases. Conclusion Basic stent simulation tools available with genuine angiographic workplace software can provide good simulation capabilities without need for third-party equipment. They can facilitate treatment planning and help to avoid shortage of devices. Yet, lack of calculation of foreshortening in large vessel diameters leaves the user to rely on their experience to account for device-specific properties.

This essay develops a new interpretation of Moses Mendelssohn’s ontological argument in the Morning Hours: Lectures on God’s Existence. At the beginning, Immanuel Kant’s famous criticism of the ontological proof of God’s existence in the Critique of Pure Reason is presented. Then I offer an in-depth analysis of Mendelssohn’s original ontological argument in the Morning Hours. It is shown that with Mendelssohn’s new proof of God, Kant’s objections are answered. Finally, it is explained why Mendelssohn does not succeed in completely refuting Kant’s objections.

Stefan Lang (Hg.), Von Zeiten und Zügen. Eisenbahngeschichte(n) im Landkreis Göppingen, Göppingen 2018. 356 S. mit 330 Abb. ISBN 978-3-87437-584-9. € 24,–

K.L. Reinhold’s interpretation of deduction plays a seminal role in the development of German Idealism. However, as yet Reinhold’s concept of deduction has not been sufficiently explained. The goals of this paper are (i) to analyze Reinhold’s notion of deduction in hisNeue Darstellung der Hauptmomente der Elementarphilosophie, (ii) to reconstruct his deduction of a priori forms of representation and (iii) to discuss his deduction critically. In doing so, I will present Reinhold’s objections against Immanuel Kant’s method in theCritique of Pure Reason.

Aim Microanatomical evaluation of cochlear implant (CI) patients to identify anatomical risk factors for a scalar translocation. Methods CI patients with both a regular scala tympani spiralization (group A) and a scalar translocation (group B) were identified via postoperative flat-detector computed tomography (FD-CT). Then, the corresponding preoperative multislice computed tomography (MS-CT) and postoperative FD-CT datasets were assessed: First, the cochleae were separated in 6 segments of 45° each. Next, quantitative (cochlea height, length, depth, cochlear duct diameter [CD] per segment; percentual tapering of the CD per segment named cochlear geometry index [CGI]) and qualitative (identifiability of the CI model; CI-integrity; intracochlear array position) parameters were evaluated and compared for both groups. Receiver-operating-characteristics (ROC) analysis was performed for the CGI. Results In total, 40 preoperative MS-CT and postoperative FD-CT datasets (nA = 20; nB = 20) were analysed. Model “CI 512” was successfully identified and CI-integrity has been confirmed in all cases. Quantitative analysis showed a significant difference of both the CD at 0° (CD A 0°= 2.06 ± 0.23 mm; CDB 0°= 2.19 ± 0.18 mm; p0°= 0.04) and the CGI of the first segment (CGIA 0° -45°= 18.87 ± 6.04%; CGIB 0°-45°= 28.89 ± 8.58%; p0°-45°= 0.0001). For all other 5 cochlear segments there was no significant difference of CD and CGI; there was no significant difference of external cochlea diameters. The area under the curve (AUC) of the CGI0-45° was 0.864 with 24.50° as the optimal cut-off value to discriminate patients with a scala tympani spiralization and a scalar translocation. CGI0-45° of > 24.50° allowed the correct identification of 85% of patients with a scalar translocation. Conclusion CI insertion trauma is associated with a significantly higher narrowing of the proximal basal cochlea turn (BCT). The CGI as percentual tapering of the BCT turned out as reliable, clinically applicable parameter for identification of patients with an increased risk for a scalar translocation.

Airway basal cells are crucial for regeneration of the human lung airway epithelium, and are thought to be important contributors to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and other lung disorders. In order to reveal how basal cells contribute to disease, and to discover novel therapeutic targets, these basal cells need to be further characterized. In this study, we optimized a flow cytometry-based cell sorting protocol for primary human airway basal cells dependent on cell size and Nerve-Growth Factor Receptor (NGFR) expression. The basal cell population was found to be molecularly and functionally heterogeneous in contrast to cultured basal cells. In addition, significant differences were found such as KRT14 expression exclusively existing in cultured cells. Also, colony-forming capacity was significantly increased in cultured cells showing a clonal enrichment in vitro. Next, by single cell RNA sequencing on primary basal cells from healthy donors and GOLD stage IV COPD patients, the gene expression revealed a continuum ranging from healthy basal cell signatures to diseased basal cell phenotypes. We identified several upregulated genes that may indicate COPD, such as stress response related genes GADD45B and AHSA1, along with genes involved in the response to hypoxia such as CITED2 and SOD1. Taken together, the presence of healthy basal cells in stage IV COPD demonstrates the potential for regeneration through the discovery of novel therapeutic targets. In addition, we show the importance of studying primary basal cells when investigating disease mechanisms as well as for developing future cell-based therapies in the human lung.

Andrea Hoffmann, Schnittmengen und Scheidelinien, Juden und Christen in Oberschwaben (Untersuchungen des Ludwig-Uhland-Instituts der Universität Tübingen, Bd. 110), Tübingen: Tübinger Vereinigung für Volkskunde 2011. 327 S. ISBN 978-3-932512-69-8. Brosch. € 22,–

Stephanie Armer, Friedenswahrung, Krisenmanagement und Konfessionalisierung. Religion und Politik im Spannungsfeld von Rat, Geistlichen und Gemeinde in der Reichsstadt Ulm 1554 – 1629 (Forschungen zur Geschichte der Stadt Ulm, Bd. 35), Stuttgart: Kohlhammer 2015. 500 S., 6 Abb. ISBN 978-3-17-029871-2. € 49,–

Background The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) funds a network of university medicines (NUM) to support COVID-19 and pandemic research at national level. The “COVID-19 Data Exchange Platform” (CODEX) as part of NUM establishes a harmonised infrastructure that supports decentral but standardised provision as well as federated combination and research use of COVID-19 datasets. The broad consent (BC) of the Medical Informatics Initiative (MII) is agreed by all German federal states and forms the legal base for such data processing. All 34 participating university hospitals (NUM sites) work upon a harmonised infrastructural as well as legal basis for their data protection-compliant collection and transfer of their research dataset to the central CODEX platform. Each NUM site ensures that the exchanged consent information conforms to the already-balloted HL7® FHIR® consent profiles and the interoperability concept of the MII Task Force “Consent Implementation” (TFCI). The Independent Trusted Third-Party (TTP) of the University Medicine Greifswald successfully supports data protection-compliant data processing in various research projects since 2014 and provides the consent management solutions gICS®, which supports fully digital and paper-based consent management. Results A “TTP-FHIR Gateway” for the HL7® FHIR®-compliant exchange of consent information using gICS® throughout NUM-CODEX was implemented and provided to all NUM sites in June 2021 as a separate software component. The gateway relies on the gICS® application logic. All FHIR® functionalities comply with the already-balloted FHIR® consent profiles of the HL7® Working Group Consent Management. A pre-configured consent template for the BC is provided to all NUM sites, thereby simplifying the technical BC rollout and the corresponding implementation of the TFCI interoperability concept at the NUM sites. Conclusions This article proves that a HL7® FHIR®-compliant and interoperable nationwide exchange of consent information could be built using of the consent management software gICS® and the provided TTP-FHIR Gateway. The initial functional scope of the solution covers the requirements identified in the NUM-CODEX setting. The semantic correctness of these functionalities was validated by project-partners from the Ludwig-Maximilian University in Munich. The production rollout of the solution package to all NUM sites has started successfully.