Inverse dopant profiling from transient measurements

In this work we investigate inverse problems related to the transient semiconductor device models. Our main focus is the identification of the doping profile from indirect transient measurements of electrical currents and capacitances. We present the underlying analysis and discuss the applied regularization methods. Furthermore we discuss the identifiability of doping profiles and present uniqueness and non-uniqueness results for regularized solutions.     

Das Verbot der pränatalen Diagnostik spätmanifestierender Erkrankungen im deutschen Gendiagnostikgesetz – eine Diskussion medizinischer und rechtlicher Aspekte und deren Implikation für die medizinethische Diskussion

Definition of the problem The German Genetic Diagnosis Act (Genetic Diagnosis Act, GenDG) became effective on February 1, 2010. Although this act was welcomed by many, the debate surrounding some regulatory areas, for example, screening newborns, continues. One aspect of this new legislation, however, has received little attention: the prohibition of prenatal diagnosis of so-called late-onset diseases—where first symptoms only develop after completion of the 18th year of life—constitutes an internationally unique prohibition. In this publication, we would like to contribute to a more differentiated discussion of § 15(2) GenDG that sanctions this diagnosis. Arguments and conclusion There are arguments supporting this prohibition (especially the right of the child not to know). However, based on medical concerns as well as an analysis of ethical and legal pros and cons, we conclude that maintaining this general prohibition of diagnosing late-onset diseases might be insufficient as well as inconsistent with other regulations; thus, possible alternatives are discussed.     

Textile reinforcement in the bed joint of basement masonry and infill walls subjected to high wind loads

The successful structural verification of basement walls under earth pressure loading with light vertical loading is often difficult. This situation is often encountered for external basement walls under terrace doors, stairs, masonry light wells, etc., where the vertical loading that is theoretically necessary is absent. This makes it impossible to resist the acting flexural forces from earth using a vertical arch model alone. In such cases the basement wall must also resist the earth pressure in a horizontal direction. However, due to the fact the bending moment capacity of unreinforced masonry parallel to the bed joint is low you have the option here of using a textile‐reinforced bed joint with longitudinal fibres of alkali‐resistant glass or carbon fibre. With an appropriately adapted textile reinforcement in the bed joints, the masonry can fulfil the requirements for load‐bearing capacity against earth pressure with a horizontal load transfer, even under a small vertical load. The same applies to infill walls subjected to high wind loads the bending moment capacities of which are also slightly parallel to and vertically to the bed joint and cannot be provably demonstrated on large infill surfaces and strong wind loads. The load‐bearing can also be increased by improving the flexural strength parallel to the bed joint. The Chair of Structural Design in the Faculty of Architecture of the Technical University (TU) Dresden was carrying out extensive numerical and experimental studies for this purpose. In the journal Mauerwerk 01/2018 [1] first findings from small trial series have already been presented. In the meantime, a series of large‐scale tests have additionally been performed to check the promising results of the small‐scale tests with respect to their real applicability. This report should provide a combined insight into the work of the concluded research project.     

Elektronenfeldemission mit Nanoemitter ohne Begrenzung und Restgas‐Ionisation?

Electron field emission from nano‐emitter without limitation and residual‐gas ionisation? The article is dealing with hyper giant conductivity at room temperature, as published in this journal. The novel material property was explained with a field‐emission measurement of a nano‐emitter. The apparently measured current density of 1.8 GA/cm² has been transferred to the emitter material. But the current density of electron field emission is limited in the range of kA/cm² (FN theory), and so other emission mechanism will be analysed, too. Especially the triplepoint (metal‐insulator‐vacuum) is an excellent field emitter and active over the entire length of cathode edge. Secondary electron emission is increased by the increasing of residualgas ionization and transition to gas discharge will be accelerated. Also, it must be considered that nanorods have a material‐independent quantum resistance in relation to h/e ². There are enough criteria for a metrological and scientifically reviewing.     

Dry laying of masonry to build demountable,highly energy‐efficient prototype houses – First findings from a currently running research project

In recent decades, energy efficiency has been the priority for masonry buildings in order to keep up with ever more stringent requirements. For the evaluation of the sustainability of building solutions, however, the embodied energy to produce a building and finally to dispose of it at the end of its lifecycle are also important. The energy used for the disposal of a building and the processing of the residues are also important for the overall energy balance since the handling of natural resources is increasingly the centre point of thought and action. A research team at the Chair of Structural Design of TU Dresden has thus been working since 2012 on demountable solutions in masonry, which can be dismantled at the end of a building lifetime and sorted for recycling, which fully complies with the requirement for the reduction of rubbish and waste products. The high precision of block production today permits us to omit the levelling effect of mortar and to build dry buildings in the future, i.e. to do without the bonding principle. The associated strength reductions can be suffered without problems. The appropriate basics of such a dry building method have been researched in a collaboration between the ILEK in Stuttgart and the Xella Technologie‐ und Forschungsgesellschaft mbH in Emstal. In this research project with the abbreviation ”REMOMAB“, the basics of an energy‐efficient dry building method suitable for recycling were collected and made available for practical application. In a follow‐up project, these basics are being implemented and tested on an experimental building. Cost aspects are also to be taken into account and if possible, construction solutions available on the market will be used – modified if necessary. Another aim is for the first time to dismantle such a building and to rebuild it at another location. This is intended to demonstrate that a reuse is possible after dismantling and such a building method can react to changing demands in the housing market.     

Der DNA-Chip – Schlüsseltechnologie für ethisch problematische neue Formen genetischen Screenings?

Zusammenfassung.   Durch die Entwicklung der molekulargenetischen Diagnostik ist in den vergangenen Jahren nicht nur der individuelle Nachweis zahlreicher genetisch bedingter Krankheiten und Krankheitsdispositionen m?glich geworden, sondern darüber hinaus auch die Feststellung der verdeckten Anlagetr?gerschaft gesunder Probanden für rezessive Erbleiden. Die sich hieraus ergebende, unter ethischen Aspekten umstrittene M?glichkeit eines genetischen Populationsscreenings war bislang methodenbedingt auf wenige, meist seltene Leiden beschr?nkt. Die neue Technologie des „DNA-Chips“ er?ffnet durch die Synthese von Computertechnologie und Molekulargenetik die technische M?glichkeit des Massenscreenings auf eine gro?e Zahl, wie immer definierter, genetischer Defektanlagen für Erbleiden, aber auch genetisch mitbedingte Volkskrankheiten. Damit stellt der DNA-Chip das Handwerkszeug sowohl für eine verbesserte Pr?ventivmedizin als auch für neue Formen von genetischer Diskriminierung bis hin zur Eugenik dar. Es müssen daher dringend ethische Normen und rechtliche Rahmenbedingungen für den unmittelbar bevorstehenden Einsatz des DNA-Chips in der medizinischen Diagnostik erarbeitet werden.