The ARM TrustZone Trusted Execution Environment (TEE) allows software to run in an isolated environment, separated from the untrusted OS. The isolation is based on the Secure Monitor (SM), software running at the most privileged hardware level, with unrestricted access to all system resources, including those of the TEE. Critically, recent research revealed widespread vulnerabilities in SMs that break the TEE isolation and, thus, undermine the very purpose of the TEE. To this end, we present SH3ARS, a fundamental restructuration of the SM firmware that reduces the privileges of the SM and restores ARM TrustZone isolation. SH3ARS modifies the SM to irrevocably relinquish access to memory outside its own address space through a page table latching mechanism. Furthermore, we introduce guards, carefully crafted, gadget-free code sequences, that supervise the context switch to and from the TEE, preventing code-reuse attacks against the TEE – a technique we refer to as SMC-oriented programming. Relying on software changes, SH3ARS ensures TEE isolation guarantees, even if the SM is compromised. We apply SH3ARS to the reference implementation of the SM on ARMv8.0-A, as deployed on millions of devices. We implement a proof of concept on real hardware, and our evaluation shows that the overhead is lower than 6% for most workloads.

Aktau Dialogue: Green Hydrogen 2025, 01.-03. Oktober 2025, Aktau, Kasachstan

Capturing human poses with monocular RGB cameras seems like an uncomplicated compared to extensive motion capturing systems or calibrated multi camera setups. In our application scenario we are capturing the biomechanics of surfers on standing waves in rivers with GoPro cameras. Thereby we identified detection quality issues of the joints on the backside of the surfers’ bodies in certain situations.

In this paper we are evaluating different camera positions and angles with regard to the recognition quality of these critical body parts. We are describing the application scenario and the resulting requirements for human pose estimation and hardware setup.

Our evaluation results are identifying patterns of quality issues depending on surfers’ stance, skills and motions on the one hand and camera positions and angles on the other hand. We are concluding our paper with further approaches to improve detection quality.

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).