Refine
Document Type
- Journal article (1244)
- Conference proceeding (1039)
- Book chapter (381)
- Book (223)
- Doctoral Thesis (54)
- Working Paper (38)
- Anthology (32)
- Report (25)
- Patent / Standard / Guidelines (24)
- Issue of a journal (19)
Is part of the Bibliography
- yes (3088)
Institute
- ESB Business School (1107)
- Informatik (875)
- Technik (509)
- Life Sciences (343)
- Texoversum (220)
- Zentrale Einrichtungen (16)
Publisher
- Springer (473)
- IEEE (252)
- Elsevier (243)
- Hochschule Reutlingen (191)
- MDPI (99)
- Wiley (72)
- Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V (69)
- Universität Tübingen (65)
- De Gruyter (60)
- VDE Verlag (48)
- Association for Computing Machinery (46)
- Erich Schmidt Verlag (39)
- Association for Information Systems (32)
- IARIA (26)
- MIM, Marken-Institut München (25)
- American Chemical Society (24)
- Emerald (21)
- SciTePress (21)
- Shaker Verlag (20)
- Hanser (19)
- Taylor & Francis (18)
- Haufe (17)
- MIT Center for Information Systems Research (17)
- IOP Publishing (16)
- LIT Verlag (15)
- RWTH Aachen (15)
- Sage Publishing (15)
- Schäffer-Poeschel (15)
- Deutscher Fachverlag (14)
- Lange (14)
- Books on Demand (13)
- Stellenbosch University (13)
- Thexis Verlag (13)
- Deutsche Gesellschaft für Computer- und Roboterassistierte Chirurgie e.V. (12)
- Hochschule Ulm (12)
- Public Verlagsgesellschaft und Anzeigenagentur (11)
- Royal Society of Chemistry (11)
- Università Politecnica delle Marche (11)
- Deutsches Textilforschungszentrum Nord-West (10)
- Europäische Fernhochschule Hamburg (10)
- SPIE. The International Society for Optical Engineering (10)
- University of Hawai'i at Manoa (10)
- dfv Mediengruppe (10)
- Center for Promoting Education and Research (9)
- Curran Associates Inc. (9)
- Otto Schmidt (9)
- Routledge (9)
- UVK Verlagsgesellschaft (9)
- VDI Fachmedien (9)
- Fraunhofer Verlag (8)
- Verlagsgruppe Handelsblatt (8)
- Vahlen (7)
- American Marketing Association (6)
- Arbeitsgemeinschaft Simulation (ASIM) (6)
- Koordinierungsstelle Forschung und Entwicklung der Fachhochschulen des Landes Baden-Württemberg (6)
- Landesanstalt für Umwelt Baden-Württemberg (6)
- MIM (6)
- PLOS (6)
- Sciamus GmbH (6)
- VDI Verlag (6)
- AMD Akademie Mode & Design (5)
- Academy of Management (5)
- Common Ground Publishing (5)
- DUZ Medienhaus (5)
- Duncker & Humblot (5)
- European Association for the Development of Renewable Energy, Environment and Power Quality (5)
- Fraunhofer-Institut für Arbeitswirtschaft und Organisation (5)
- Frontiers Media (5)
- Handelsblatt Fachmedien (5)
- IBP, Internat. Business Press Publisher (5)
- Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (5)
- Leibniz-Universität Hannover (5)
- Macmillan Publishers Limited (5)
- Mesago Messe Frankfurt GmbH (5)
- Metropolis-Verlag (5)
- New Business Verlag (5)
- Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft (5)
- University of Zagreb (5)
- VCW (5)
- WEKA Fachmedien (5)
- American Institute of Physics (4)
- CRC Press (4)
- Cambridge University Press (4)
- Dnipro University of Technology (4)
- EMW (4)
- Gabler (4)
- Huss-Verlag (4)
- IGI Global (4)
- IdW-Verlag (4)
- OpenProceedings (4)
- PeerJ Inc. (4)
- Riga Technical University Press (4)
- Science Publishing Group (4)
- Scientific Research Publishing (4)
- Tech Science Press (4)
- The Kelley School of Business, Indiana University (4)
- University of Colorado (4)
- University of Hawaii at Manoa (4)
- University of Portsmouth (4)
- Verlag IFZ – Hochschule Luzern (4)
- World Scientific Publishing (4)
- ASME (3)
- Beck (3)
- Deutsche Gesellschaft für Computer- und Roboterassistierte Chirurgie e. V. (3)
- EuroMed Press (3)
- Hampp (3)
- Hochschulrektorenkonferenz (3)
- Hometrica Consulting (3)
- International Academy of Business Disciplines (3)
- Kohlhammer (3)
- MIT (3)
- Schmidt (3)
- Scienpress (3)
- Technische Universität Berlin (3)
- Technische Universität Chemnitz (3)
- Technische Universität Darmstadt (3)
- Technische Universität Graz (3)
- The Royal Society of Chemistry (3)
- Thieme (3)
- Tübinger Vereinigung für Volkskunde (3)
- Universität Konstanz (3)
- Universität Stuttgart (3)
- VDI (3)
- Verlag Europa-Lehrmittel (3)
- WOTech (3)
- eceee (3)
- Academic Conferences International (2)
- AfM Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Marketing (2)
- Altop Verlag (2)
- Apprimus Wissenschaftsverlag (2)
- Auto e Design Srl (2)
- Berufsverband Information Bibliothek (2)
- Bundesverband Medien und Marketing (2)
- CSW-Verlag (2)
- Centre of Sociological Research (2)
- Deutsche Aktuarvereinigung (DAV) e.V. (2)
- Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (2)
- Deutscher Landwirtschaftsverlag (2)
- EDP Sciences (2)
- Fachmedien Otto Schmidt (2)
- Fraunhofer-Verbund Innovationsforschung (2)
- Frontiers Research Foundation (2)
- GITO Verlag (2)
- GMDS e.V. (2)
- HTWG Konstanz (2)
- Handelsblatt Fachmedien GmbH (2)
- Harnisch (2)
- Haufe-Lexware (2)
- Hindawi (2)
- Hochschule Furtwangen (2)
- Hochschule Nordhausen (2)
- Hochschule für öffentliche Verwaltung und Finanzen (2)
- Hüthig (2)
- IACSIT Press (2)
- IADIS (2)
- IADIS Press (2)
- IBM Research Division (2)
- IGI Publishing (2)
- IIAR (2)
- IJECM (2)
- IM Publications Open LLP (2)
- IUP Publications (2)
- Inderscience Enterprises (2)
- Infonomics Society (2)
- International Academy Publishing (2)
- International Association for Development of the Information Society (2)
- International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (2)
- International Society for Professional Innovation Management (2)
- Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (2)
- Kerber (2)
- Kluwer (2)
- Knapp (2)
- Koordinierungsstelle (2)
- Liberales Institut der Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung (2)
- Liebert (2)
- Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (2)
- MFG Stiftung Baden-Württemberg (2)
- MHP Management- und IT-Beratung GmbH (2)
- Marken-Institut München (2)
- Mediengruppe Oberfranken (2)
- Meta Basim Press (2)
- Nova Science Publishers (2)
- Optical Society of America (2)
- Palgrave Macmillan (2)
- Research Academy of Social Sciences (2)
- Reutlinger General-Anzeiger Verlags-GmbH & Co. KG (2)
- Scientific & Academic Publishing (2)
- Smart Home & Living Baden-Württemberg e.V. (2)
- Solutions by Handelsblatt Media Group GmbH (2)
- Steinbeis (2)
- System Dynamics Society (2)
- Technische Informationsbibliothek (2)
- The Association for Computing Machinery, Inc. (2)
- UVK Verlag (2)
- Ulrich Scholze (2)
- University College Cork (2)
- University of Novi Sad (2)
- University of São Paulo (2)
- University of the West of Scotland (2)
- Universität Hohenheim (2)
- Universität Trier (2)
- Universität Ulm (2)
- Verband Deutscher Werkzeug- und Formenbauer (2)
- Verlag Textilplus AG (2)
- Virtus Interpress (2)
- WIP (2)
- Waxmann (2)
- dtv (2)
- edition sigma (2)
- ibidem-Verlag (2)
- kopaed (2)
- medhochzwei (2)
- wbv Publikation (2)
- 3m5.Media GmbH (1)
- ADL Romania (1)
- AG der Landes- und Universitätsbibliotheken in Baden-Württemberg (1)
- AIMS Press (1)
- AKS Verlag (1)
- AMFI (1)
- AOK-Bundesverband (1)
- ARVO (1)
- Academic Conferences International Limited (1)
- Academic Publications Ltd. (1)
- Academic Star Publishing Company (1)
- Access Press UK (1)
- Adonis & Abbey (1)
- Adonis & Abbey Publishers (1)
- AlTEX Edition (1)
- Apluit (1)
- Asian Society of Business and Commerce Research (1)
- Association for Computing Machinery ACM (1)
- Association of Computing Machinery (1)
- Athens Institute for Education and Research (1)
- Atlantis Press (1)
- BAN (1)
- BBE Handelsberatung GmbH (1)
- BDI Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie e.V. (1)
- BME (1)
- BWR media (1)
- Baltic Management Development Association (BMDA) (1)
- Bayerisches Zentrum für innovative Lehre (1)
- Beatrice Voigt Kunst und Kulturprojekte & Edition (1)
- Beilstein-Institut zur Förderung der Chemischen Wissenschaften (1)
- Beltz Juventa (1)
- British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing (1)
- Bundesakademie für Kulturelle Bildung Wolfenbüttel e.V. (1)
- Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (1)
- Bundesverband Kraft-Wärme-Kopplung e. V. (1)
- Bundesverband Kraft-Wärme-Kopplung e.V. (1)
- Business Perspectives (1)
- CERN Data Centre (1)
- CESifo GmbH (1)
- CIDR (1)
- Cadence Design Systems (1)
- Canadian Center of Science and Education (1)
- Carl Hanser Verlag (1)
- Carola Hartmann Miles-Verlag (1)
- Centre for Promoting Ideas (1)
- Chr. Killinger GmbH (1)
- Circle International (1)
- Copenhagen Business School (1)
- Copernicus GmbH (1)
- Copernicus Publications (1)
- Cornell University (1)
- Cornell Universiy (1)
- Cuvillier Verlag (1)
- DEGA (1)
- DGMP (1)
- DIMECC Oy (1)
- DITF (1)
- DOVE Medical Press (1)
- DRW-Verlag (1)
- DUZ Verlags- und Medienhaus GmbH (1)
- David Publishing (1)
- De Montfort University (1)
- Delft University of Technology (1)
- Design Society (1)
- Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (1)
- Deutsche Gesellschaft für Personalführung (1)
- Deutscher Sparkassenverlag (1)
- Deutscher Taschenbuchverlag (1)
- Development and Entrepreneurship Agency (1)
- Dialogum GmbH (1)
- Dr. Beyer Internet-Beratung (1)
- Druckerei & Verlagshaus Mainz (1)
- Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg (1)
- ECPE European Center for Power Electronics (1)
- EMAC (1)
- EPubli (1)
- ESB Reutlingen Alumni e. V. (1)
- ESI ITI GmbH (1)
- ETA-Florence Renewable Energies (1)
- Economica (1)
- Ed2.0Work (1)
- Editio Cantor Verlag (1)
- Edizioni Novacultur (1)
- EduINDEX (1)
- Education and Novel Technology Research Association (1)
- Edward Elgar Publishing (1)
- Elektronikpraxis, Vogel Business Media GmbH & Co. KG (1)
- Energieagentur Regio Freiburg GmbH (1)
- Engineering Science Reference (1)
- Erasmus University Rotterdam (1)
- Ernst Klett (1)
- Eurographics Association (1)
- Europa-Lehrmittel (1)
- European Accounting Association (1)
- F.A.Z.-Institut für Management-, Markt- und Medieninformationen (1)
- FDPW (1)
- Fachausschuß Management der Anwendungsentwicklung und -wartung (1)
- Fachverband ...textil..e.V. (1)
- Flottmann-Hallen (1)
- Foreign Policy Research Center (1)
- Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (1)
- Francis-Verlag (1)
- Fromm (1)
- Fuks e.V. (1)
- GESIS (1)
- GRID-FTN (1)
- German Medical Science Publishing House (1)
- Gewerkschaft Erziehung und Wissenschaft (1)
- GfA-Press (1)
- Ghent University (1)
- Global Alliance of Marketing & Management Associations (1)
- Global Financial Institute (1)
- Global Science Institute (1)
- Globeedu Group (1)
- Graduiertenakademie Pädagogische Hochschulen (1)
- Gupta (1)
- Gütersloher Verlagshaus (1)
- Harvard Business School (1)
- Harvard Business School Publishing (1)
- Haupt (1)
- Heimatmuseum Reutlingen (1)
- Heizungs-Journal Verlags-GmbH (1)
- Henry Stewart Publications (1)
- Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg (1)
- Hochschule Hannover (1)
- Hochschule Heilbronn (1)
- Hochschule der Medien (1)
- Hochschule für Technik, Wirtschaft und Kultur Leipzig (1)
- Horizon Research Publishing (1)
- IDL Beratung für Integrierte DV-Lösungen (1)
- IDL GmbH Mitte (1)
- IHK Mittlerer Niederrhein (1)
- INFORMS (1)
- IWCS (1)
- Ifo (1)
- Ifo-Inst. (1)
- Ifo-Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (1)
- Inderscience Publishers (1)
- Industrie- und Handelskammer Region Stuttgart (1)
- Inovatus Services (1)
- Institut für Holztechnologie (1)
- Institute of Academic Research and Publication (1)
- IntechOpen (1)
- International Federation of Automatic Control (1)
- International Management Development Association (IMDA) (1)
- International Scientific Press (1)
- International TRIZ Official Association (1)
- International Wire and Cable Symposium Inc. (1)
- J. B. Metzler (1)
- JIBRM (1)
- JMIR Publications (1)
- JoVE (1)
- Johannes Kepler University Linz (1)
- KSP Journals (1)
- KTH Royal Institute of Technology (1)
- KennisDC Logistiek (1)
- Kiehl (1)
- Kogan Page (1)
- Konradin (1)
- LAR Center Press (1)
- Lang (1)
- Lange Verlag (1)
- Lemmens (1)
- Liz Mohn Center gGmbH (1)
- Logos (1)
- Lund University (1)
- MA Akademie Verlags- und Druck-Gesellschaft mbH (1)
- MIM, Marken Institut München (1)
- Managerseminare-Verl.-GmbH (1)
- Meisenbach (1)
- Messe Offenburg-Ortenau GmbH (1)
- Middle Tennessee State University (1)
- Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Arbeit und Wohnungsbau (1)
- Morressier (1)
- Motor-Presse Stuttgart (1)
- Munich Society for the Promotion of Economic Research (1)
- National Library of Medicine (1)
- Nature Research (1)
- Newcastle University (1)
- Next Level Interactive (1)
- NextMed (1)
- North American Business Press (1)
- Ochre Media (1)
- Oemus Media (1)
- Onkel & Onkel (1)
- Open Access Publishing Group (1)
- PC Technology Center (1)
- Pabst Science Publishers (1)
- Pallas Press (1)
- Pan Stanford Publishing (1)
- Pearson (1)
- Peter Lang (1)
- Power Sources Manufacturers Association (1)
- Pro Business (1)
- Publications Office of the European Union (1)
- Qatar University (1)
- Qeios (1)
- RMIT University (1)
- Raabe (1)
- Rek & Thomas Medien AG (1)
- Revista Portuguesa de Filosofia (RPF) (1)
- SAGE Publications Ltd (1)
- SAIIE (1)
- SATC (1)
- SISSA (1)
- Sakarya University (1)
- Schlütersche Verlags-Gesellschaft (1)
- Scholze (1)
- Schweizerbart Science Publishers (1)
- SciKA (1)
- SciKa (1)
- Sciedu Press (1)
- Sciencedomain international (1)
- Sciendo (1)
- Scientific research publishing (1)
- Society for Industrial and Systems Engineering (1)
- Society for Personality and Social Psychology (1)
- Society for Science and Education (1)
- Solutions by Handelsblatt Media Group (1)
- Springer Nature (1)
- Swiss Marketing (1)
- Symposion Publishing (1)
- Sächsisches Textilforschungsinstitut e.V. (1)
- Süddeutsche Zeitung GmbH (1)
- Süddeutscher Verlag Veranstaltungen GmbH (1)
- Talent First Network (1)
- Tamkang University (1)
- Tarquin (1)
- TeDo-Verlag (1)
- Technical Conference Management (1)
- Technical University (1)
- Technische Akademie Esslingen (1)
- Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg (1)
- Technische Universität Dresden (1)
- Tectum Verlag (1)
- The Association for Computing Machinery (1)
- The British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing (1)
- The Design Society (1)
- Tomas Bata University in Zlín (1)
- Trans Tech Publications Ltd (1)
- Treuhand-Kammer, Schweizerische Kammer der Wirtschaftsprüfer, Steuerexperten und Treuhandexperten (1)
- UVK (1)
- UVW, Universitätsverlag Verlag Webler (1)
- Umwelttechnik BW GmbH (1)
- Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (1)
- Universitat Politècnica de València (1)
- University of Belgrade (1)
- University of Illinois (1)
- University of Jaén (1)
- University of Maribor Press (1)
- University of Minho (1)
- University of Technology and Economics (1)
- University of Waikato (1)
- University of Zagreb Faculty of Organization and Informatics (1)
- Universität Bremen (1)
- Universität Hannover (1)
- Universität Leipzig (1)
- Universität St. Gallen (1)
- Universität des Saarlandes (1)
- VKU Verlag (1)
- VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften (1)
- Vereinigung der Bayerischen Wirtschaft e. V. (1)
- Verlag Dr. Kovač (1)
- Verlag Drums & Percussion (1)
- Verlag Moderne Industrie (1)
- Verlag Werben & Verkaufen (1)
- Verlag Werner Hülsbusch, Fachverlag für Medientechnik und - wirtschaft (1)
- Vogel (1)
- Vogel Business Media (1)
- Vogel Business Media AG (1)
- WGTL (1)
- WIKOMedia Verlag für Kommunale und Wirtschaftsmedien GmbH (1)
- Warsaw School of Economics, Department of Human Capital Development (1)
- Westburn Publishers (1)
- Wilhelm-Fabry-Museum (1)
- Wissenschaft und Praxis (1)
- Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft (1)
- Wochenschau Verlag (1)
- Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego (1)
- Xi'an Polytechnic University (1)
- ZBW (1)
- ZIM-Kooperationsnetzwerk Region Neckar-Alb (1)
- av-news (1)
- b.i.t. Verlag (1)
- dpunkt-Verlag (1)
- dpw-Verlagsgesellschaft (1)
- epubli (1)
- fortiss GmbH (1)
- gws-netzwerk für Systemische Organisations- und Personalentwicklung e.V. (1)
- ifo Institut - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung an der Universität München, München (1)
- imc (1)
- libreriauniversitaria.it.edizioni (1)
- managerSeminare Verlags GmbH (1)
- pVS - pro Verlag und Service GmbH & Co. KG (1)
- uni-edition (1)
- vdf Hochschulverlag AG an der ETH Zürich (1)
- vwh Verlag Werner Hülsbusch (1)
- Österreichischer Verband der Wirtschaftsingenieure (1)
This paper develops a new governance scheme for a stable and lasting European Monetary Union (EMU). I demonstrate that existing economic governance is based on flawed incentives especially due to insufficient macroeconomic coordination, failures of institutional enforcement and animal spirit in financial markets. All this caused the European sovereign debt crisis in 2010. Consequently, the EMU crisis is not a conundrum at all rather a failure of national and supranational governance. To tackle this problem, I propose a return to flexible but compulsory rules driven by market forces. The new governance principles shall promote the compliance and effective enforcement of rules.
This paper examines the relationship of asset Price determination via Google data. To capture this relation, I create a model and estimate several time series’ regressions. I use weekly data from 2004 to 2010 from 30 international banks. To my knowledge this is the first study which differentiates between Google’s search volume and Google’s search clicks. I show that asset prices are positively related to the rate of change in Google’s search volume, trading volume and the level of Google search clicks. Secondly, I demonstrate that the absolute level of Google’s search volume and Google’s search clicks
behave differently regarding the asset price dynamics. Google’s search volume, which measures long-run searches, is negatively related while Google’s search clicks have a positive relationship to asset prices. Hence, Google’s data offer new insights on both measuring attention and pricing financial assets.
Intra-operative fluoroscopy-guided assistance system for transcatheter aortic valve implantation
(2014)
A new surgical assistance system has been developed to assist the correct positioning of the AVP during transapical TAVI. The developed assistance system automatically defines the target area for implanting the AVP under live 2-D fluoroscopy guidance. Moreover, this surgical assistance system works with low levels of contrast agent for the final deployment of AVP, reducing therefore long-term negative effects, such as renal failure in the elderly and high-risk patients.
The article discusses how drama can support language learning at the university level and how drama can also support learners in acquiring professional competences. In the first part, the article will briefly outline forms of drama in language teaching. It will discuss its benefits, such as putting language in context, making learning holistic and memorable, improving learners’ social and personal competences. The second part describes aspects of drama beneficial for language learning in a professional context and gives a concrete teaching example: theatre projects with a focus on business English.
Plasma polymerization is used for the modification and control of surface properties of a highly transparent, thermoplastic elastomeric silicone copolymer, GENIOMER® 80 (G80). PEG-like diglyme plasma polymer films were deposited with ether retentions varying between 20% and 70% as measured by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis which did not affect the transparency of the substrate. Films with ether retentions of greater than 70% inhibit protein binding (bovine serum albumin and fibrinogen) and cell proliferation. A short oxygen plasma pretreatment enhances the adhesion and stability of the film as shown by protein binding and cell adhesion experiments. The transparency of the material and the stability of the coating makes this material a versatile bulk material for technical (e.g., lab-on-a-chip) and biomedical (e.g., intraocular lens) applications. The G80/plasma polymer composite is stable against vigorous washing and storage over 5 months and, therefore, offers an attractive alternative to poly(dimethylsiloxane).
There are several intra-operative use cases which require the surgeon to interact with medical devices. We used the Leap Motion Controller as input device and implemented two use-cases: 2D-Interaction (e.g. advancing EPR data) and selection of a value (e.g. room illumination brightness). The gesture detection was successful and we mapped its output to several devices and systems.
Stent graft visualization and planning tool for endovascular surgery using finite element analysis
(2014)
Purpose: A new approach to optimize stent graft selection for endovascular aortic repair is the use of finite element analysis. Once the finite element model is created and solved, a software module is needed to view the simulation results in the clinical work environment. A new tool for Interpretation of simulation results, named Medical Postprocessor, that enables comparison of different stent graft configurations and products was designed, implemented and tested. Methods Aortic endovascular stent graft ring forces and sealing states in the vessel landing zone of three different configurations were provided in a surgical planning software using the Medical Imaging Interaction Tool Kit (MITK) Software system. For data interpretation, software modules for 2D and 3D presentations were implemented. Ten surgeons evaluated the software features of the Medical Postprocessor. These surgeons performed usability tests and answered questionnaires based on their experience with the system.
Results: The Medical Postprocessor visualization system enabled vascular surgeons to determine the configuration with the highest overall fixation force in 16 ± 6 s, best proximal sealing in 56±24 s and highest proximal fixation force in 38 ± 12 s. The majority considered the multiformat data provided helpful and found the Medical Postprocessor to be an efficient decision support system for stent graft selection. The evaluation of the user interface results in an ISONORMconform user interface (113.5 points).
Conclusion: The Medical Postprocessor visualization Software tool for analyzing stent graft properties was evaluated by vascular surgeons. The results show that the software can assist the interpretation of simulation results to optimize stent graft configuration and sizing.
A vapor permeation processes for the separation of aromatic compounds from aliphatic compounds
(2014)
A number of rubbery and glassy membranes have been prepared and evaluated in vapor permeation experiments for separation of aromatic/aliphatic mixtures, using 5/95 (wt:wt) toluene/methylcyclohexane (MCH) as a model solution. Candidate membranes that met the required toluene/MCH selectivity of ≥ 10 were identified. The stability of the candidate membranes was tested by cycling the experiment between higher toluene concentrations and the original 5 wt% level. The best membrane produced has a toluene permeance of 280 gpu and a toluene/MCH selectivity of 13 when tested with a vapor feed of the model mixture at its boiling point and at atmospheric pressure. When a series of related membrane materials are compared, there is a sharp trade-off between membrane permeance and membrane selectivity. A process design study based on the experimental results was conducted. The best preliminary membrane design uses 45% of the energy of a conventional distillation process.
The analysis of exhaled metabolites has become a promising field of research in recent decades. Several volatile organic compounds reflecting metabolic disturbance and nutrition status have even been reported. These are particularly important for long-term measurements, as needed in medical research for detection of disease progression and therapeutic efficacy. In this context, it has become urgent to investigate the effect of fasting and glucose treatment for breath analysis. In the present study, we used amodel of ventilated rats that fasted for 12 h prior to the experiment. Ten rats per group were randomly assigned for continuous intravenous infusion without glucose or an infusion including 25 mg glucose per 100 g per hour during an observation period of 12 h. Exhaled gas was analysed using multicapillary column ion-mobility spectrometry. Analytes were identified by the BS-MCC/IMS database (version 1209; B & S Analytik, Dortmund, Germany). Glucose infusion led to a significant increase in blood glucose levels (p<0.05 at 4 h and thereafter) and cardiac output (p<0.05 at 4 h and thereafter). During the observation period, 39 peaks were found collectively. There were significant differences between groups in the concentration of ten volatile organic compounds: p<0.001 at 4 h and thereafter for isoprene, cyclohexanone, acetone, p-cymol, 2-hexanone, phenylacetylene, and one unknown compound, and p<0.001 at 8 h and thereafter for 1-pentanol, 1-propanol, and 2-heptanol. Our results indicate that for long-term measurement, fasting and the withholding of glucose could contribute to changes of volatile metabolites in exhaled air.
In breath analysis, ambient air contaminations are ubiquitous and difficult to eliminate. This study was designed to investigate the reduction of ambient air background by a lung wash-out with synthetic air. The reduction of the initial ambient air volatile organic compound (VOC) intensity was investigated in the breath of 20 volunteers inhaling synthetic air via a sealed full face mask in comparison to inhaling ambient air. Over a period of 30 minutes, breath analysis was conducted using ion mobility spectrometry coupled to a multi-capillary column. A total of 68 VOCs were identified for inhaling ambient air or inhaling synthetic air. By treatment with synthetic air, 39 VOCs decreased in intensity, whereas 29 increased in comparison to inhaling ambient air. In total, seven VOCs were significantly reduced (P-value < 0.05). A complete wash-out of VOCs in this setting was not observed, whereby a statistically significant reduction up to 65% as for terpinolene was achieved. Our setting successfully demonstrated a reduction of ambient air contaminations from the airways by a lung wash-out with synthetic air.