An innovative training model named Medical Angiography Simulation Phantom for Physician Training (MANTA) has been developed at a university makerspace to enhance the education of future interventional radiologists. This model enables medical trainees to practice minimally invasive procedures for treating vascular occlusions in a realistic environment, without the need to operate directly on patients or animal models.

The phantom is produced using 3D printing technology and standard materials, resulting in a cost-effective solution with material expenses around €250. Its design includes a transparent, flexible vascular system integrated with a controllable pump that simulates human arterial blood pressure and flow rates, providing physiological conditions akin to real-life interventions. This setup allows for the safe rehearsal of catheter handling, guidewire manipulation, and occlusion techniques using coils.

The development of a cost-effective open source approach is intended to facilitate the use of medical technology in emerging or underdeveloped countries. By offering a practical and realistic training tool, the MANTA phantom aims to improve the proficiency of upcoming radiologists, ultimately enhancing patient care during critical vascular interventions.

Antikörper gegen CGRP oder seinen Rezeptor (Eptinezumab, Erenumab, Fremanezumab, Galcanezumab, im Folgenden: „CGRP(R)-Antikörper“) sind moderne, spezifische Migräneprophylaktika, die im GKV-Bereich nur für therapierefraktäre Patienten erstattungsfähig sind. Hier wurde untersucht, welchen Effekt diese Regelung auf die Auswahl der behandelten Patienten hat und wie sich die Neubewertung von Erenumab durch den Gemeinsamen Bundesausschuss ab Oktober 2022 ausgewirkt hat.

Diese Studie untersucht den Einsatz von Virtual Reality (VR) zur Verbesserung von Erste-Hilfe-Kompetenzen. In einem immersiven VR-Training wurden realitätsnahe Notfallszenarien – etwa stark blutende Wunden oder Brandverletzungen – simuliert, um prozedurales Wissen, Selbstwirksamkeit und Transferfähigkeit der Teilnehmenden zu fördern. Die Teilnehmenden durchliefen vor und nach dem VR-Training standardisierte Tests und Fragebögen, um Veränderungen im Wissen, der Selbstwirksamkeit und der Transferfähigkeit systematisch zu erfassen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen signifikante Lernzuwächse in allen Bereichen – insbesondere ein gestärktes Vertrauen in das eigene Handeln sowie eine höhere Sicherheit im Umgang mit nicht direkt trainierten Szenarien. Die hohe Immersion wurde von den Teilnehmenden als realitätsnah empfunden und trug zur emotionalen Aktivierung und nachhaltigen Verankerung des Gelernten bei. Damit liefert die Arbeit einen fundierten empirischen Nachweis, dass VR-gestütztes Training eine effektive und praxisnahe Ergänzung zu klassischen Erste-Hilfe-Kursen darstellt – insbesondere zur Auffrischung und für Zielgruppen mit hohem Trainingsbedarf.

This study explores a simulation-based approach to improve machine availability in a manufacturing environment by integrating Smart Manufacturing principles and sensor-based modeling. Focusing on the case study of a paper envelope production line in a manufacturing plant in Peru, the study applies SIMIO software to simulate and compare two operational scenarios: the existing configuration without sensors and a proposed configuration with predictive sensors. In addition, the impact of unscheduled interruptions of the cutting machine on production was analyzed. Post-SIMIO simulation, real-world machine testing yielded a mean time between failures (MTBF) of 11.5 hours, a mean time to repair (MTTR) of 52 minutes, 78.5% operational availability, and an average daily output of 5400 envelopes. Simulating sensor detection of paper jams, blade breakage, and misalignment resulted in 92.3% availability in the enhanced scenario. This represents a notable improvement of 13.8% compared to the real-world scenario. These findings demonstrate that SIMIO's digital modelling and sensor-based predictive techniques can boost production capacity, decrease downtime, and increase machine availability without transforming the physical system. This study emphasizes the importance of simulation and smart manufacturing in optimizing industrial performance and reducing costs. 

We explored perceptual and aesthetic effects of repetition, variation, and deviation in visual structures. Based on previous findings in aesthetics research, we hypothesized that non-obvious order or complex variations of shape or color stimulate perception and potentially evoke interest. People trained in design or fine arts created six sets of visual structures, each on a 6x6 grid by a) repetition of a module consisting of four dark-grey elements (two rectangles and two triangles), b) variation through systematic rotation of the module, and c) deviation from this ordered variation by altering one element of each module. Furthermore, they varied color by replacing one element in each module of each structure with a light-grey element. Another group rated these images block-wise in randomized order on liking, interest, powerfulness of affect, and obviousness of order on a 7-point-scale. In addition, we collected responses to an open question regarding the individual focus when rating powerfulness of affect and we asked for each person’s background and interest in art and design. Visual structures appeared most interesting and powerful to participants when they showed a systematic variation (b) compared to a repetition of the modules (a) or a deviation from order (c). Images gained higher liking ratings the more obviously ordered they appeared, whereas obviousness of order played a less clear role for powerfulness of affect and showed no significant effect on interest evaluations. Color variations had no overall positive aesthetic effect. In response to our open question, some participants reported that they experienced less powerfulness of affect when elements showed a simple order but also when they appeared to be arranged arbitrarily. Future studies could assess how intentional a structure appears; this could apply not only to ordered structures, but also to apparently deliberate deviations from order.

Abstract

This work presents detailed 3D modelling and simulation of the mechanical effects induced by lightning strikes in protected carbon fibre-reinforced polymer laminates. Firstly, physically based models that represent the mechanical overpressure that results from a lightning strike are revisited. In particular, this paper compares the implementation of an analytical strong shock wave approximation with the solutions obtained from computational fluid dynamics (CFD), considering different equations of state, to represent the supersonic expansion of the hot plasma channel when simulating the mechanical damage induced by lightning strikes. The assessment of the pressure profiles, the numerical predictions of the displacement and velocity fields and the analysis of the predicted damage maps show that, for two lightning protection layers, the effects of the supersonic plasma expansion loads obtained from the strong shock wave approximation compare reasonably well with those obtained from CFD, independently of the equation of state solved numerically. Subsequently, the predictions of the 3D modelling strategy of the mechanical response of composite laminates subjected to lightning strike employing the strong shock wave approximation are compared with mechanical deformation measurements obtained from lab-scale lightning test results. Accurate deflection and out-of-plane velocity fields are predicted, validating the 3D modelling strategy. Moreover, the predicted damage maps correlate well with the (bulk) damage identified by C-scan (considering only the damaged area below the second ply).

Life-Cycle Performance of Structures and Infrastructure Systems in Diverse Environments contains the lectures and papers presented at the Ninth International Symposium on Life-Cycle Civil Engineering (IALCCE 2025, Melbourne, Australia, 15–19 July, 2025). This book includes the full papers of 228 contributions presented at IALCCE 2025, including the Fazlur R. Khan Lecture, seven Keynote Lectures, and 220 technical papers.

The papers cover recent advances and cutting-edge research in the field of life-cycle civil engineering, including emerging concepts, new theories and innovative applications related to life-cycle design, assessment, inspection, monitoring, repair, maintenance, rehabilitation, and management of structures and infrastructure systems under uncertainty. Major topics covered include: life-cycle carbon assessment of civil infrastructure systems, life-cycle design and assessment for structures and infrastructure systems, life-cycle management of civil infrastructure,  whole life costing,  life-cycle risk analysis and optimization of civil infrastructure, and life-cycle  digital tools for civil engineering, among others.

This open access book provides both an up-to-date overview of the field of life-cycle civil engineering and significant contributions to the process of making more rational decisions to mitigate the life-cycle risk and improve the life-cycle safety, reliability, resilience, and sustainability of structures and infrastructure systems exposed to diverse environments in a changing climate for the purpose of enhancing the welfare of society. It will serve as a valuable reference to all concerned with life-cycle of civil engineering systems, including students, researchers, practitioners, consultants, contractors, decision makers, and representatives of managing bodies and public authorities from all branches of civil engineering.

The design review process is part of the building permit in Germany. In a paper-based process, the exchange of information is performed by sending a set of documents and drawings to the relevant parties.

Documents and drawings in the format PDF become more accepted by building authorities in Germany. Also, the application of BIM in the construction industry is increasing. The change of accepted digital formats requires also adjusted methods for the exchange of information. Especially the problem of transferring meta data related to documents arises.

Existing proposals for the exchange of meta data given in codes are analyzed in this paper. The suitability for design review processes is evaluated and legal issues are considered. Known methods for the exchange of meta data are only partly suitable in the context of design review processes. Hence, a proposal for standardized meta data in design review processes for buildings is developed.