Techniques like speckle holography and shearography are rarely applied due to the complexity of instrument setup and lack of automated result analysis, despite their potential. By simulating speckle interferometric outcomes, we seek to address these challenges, enabling more efficient measurement processes and paving the way for automated defect recognition. This research focuses on developing a simulation code for speckle interferometric results derived from finite element analyses. The aim is to improve the parameter settings of speckle interferometry measurements and create specific datasets, which will be used to develop machine learning-based methods for automation in series production.

Background: Electrical stimulation is an effective treatment method for improving motor function after stroke, but the optimal current type for patients with stroke and arm paresis remains unclear. Objective: To compare the effects of kilohertz frequency with low-frequency current on stimulation efficiency, electrically induced force, discomfort, and muscle fatigue in patients with stroke. Design: A randomized crossover study. Setting: Neurological inpatient rehabilitation clinic in Germany. Participants: A total of 23 patients with arm paresis after stroke within the last 6 months were recruited, 21 were enrolled, and 20 completed the study (7 females; mean ± SD: 66 ± 12 years; 176 ± 11 cm; 90 ± 19 kg; 57 ± 34 days since stroke). Intervention: All patients underwent both kilohertz and low-frequency stimulation in a randomized order on 2 days (48-hour washout). Each day included a step protocol with a gradual increase in stimulation intensity, starting at the first measurable force (up to 12 steps, 1 mA increments, 8 seconds stimulation, 60 second rest) and a fatigue protocol (30 repetitions, 8 second stimulation, 3 second rest). Main Outcome Measure: Primary outcome was stimulation efficiency (electrically induced force/stimulation intensity) [N/mA], measured during each step of the stepwise increase in current intensity protocol. Results: Linear-mixed-effects models showed significantly higher stimulation efficiency for low-frequency stimulation (mean difference 0.14 [95% confidence interval, 0.01–0.27 N/mA], p = .031). However, current type did not significantly affect electrically induced force, level of discomfort, or muscle fatigue (p > .05). Conclusion: The findings suggest that low-frequency stimulation is more efficient than kilohertz-frequency stimulation. However, both current types yield similar effects on force, discomfort, and fatigue, making them both viable options for wrist extensor stimulation in patients after stroke. Considering the variability among individuals, customizing the current type based on electrically induced force and perceived discomfort may enhance therapeutic outcomes. Further research on the long-term treatment effects of both current types is warranted.

Due to a lack of investigated materials for the additive manufacturing of multi-use functional parts in bioprocess engineering, this study aimed to evaluate the influence of multiple autoclaving cycles on the properties of a heat-resistant material (xPeek147) printed with vat photopolymerization. Sample bodies were tested regarding their mechanical properties of tensile strength, elongation at break, and Charpy impact, as well as surface properties of roughness and wettability after up to 50 autoclaving cycles (121 °C, 2 bars, 15 min). The tightness was checked after up to 20 cycles, and accuracy was inspected for manufactured benchmark bodies after up to 10 autoclaving cycles. The reported results showed no significant changes in tensile strength, elongation at break and Charpy impact after 20 cycles, but a significant decrease after 50 autoclaving cycles, accompanied by microcracks in the structure. Regarding the surface properties the material retained its hydrophilicity, and the surface roughness was not affected significantly. No changes in tightness occurred, and the benchmark bodies for dimensional changes showed no process-relevant deviations. Through the investigations, a material for the additive manufacturing of multi-use functional parts for bioprocess engineering was identified. Additionally, a testing method for materials with the same intended application was provided.

This study investigates the effects of mechanical strain on the surface roughness of copper conductors, focusing on the electrolyte-refined copper (Cu-ETP, CW004A) used in H07V-U 1.5 mm2 single-core cables. For the first time, the surface roughness evolution is characterized using the power spectral density (PSD) function, enabling a detailed roughness analysis across different spatial length scales. Conductors were subjected to mechanical stress, with measurements taken at multiple stages of service life. The study confirms the results from other studies that surface roughness increases significantly in the early stages of loading, with a plateau observed in 50 % - 75 % of cycles to failure. Micro crack formation and material extrusion are identified as key mechanisms driving roughness growth, especially at small length scales, with a shift towards larger length scales as strain intensifies. The increasing Hurst exponent suggests a transformation from a random to a more persistent and correlated surface. The results underscore the potential of power spectral density analysis in understanding surface behavior in copper conductors.

1. Traditional wood-pastures are emblematic of multifunctional farming systems. Despite their exceptional ecological and cultural value, these systems are undergoing rapid transformation under the combined pressures of modernization, land-use intensification and shifting societal values. 2. We apply the Stephenson's Cultural Values Model to assess the biocultural complexity of 110 ancient wood-pastures across Transylvania, Romania, a unique region of Eastern Europe, where traditional land-use systems persist amidst accelerating institutional and economic change. The three dimensions of the Cultural Values Model—‘Forms’ (material structures), ‘Practices’ (land-use activities) and ‘Relationships’ (cultural meanings and memories)—were quantified through field surveys and 32 semi-structured interviews with local stakeholders. 3. Our results reveal diverse biocultural profiles, with traditional and modern elements (i.e. ‘Forms’ and ‘Practices’) frequently co-occurring. While many sites retain legacy features such as scattered veteran trees and extensive grazing, signs of social-ecological reconfiguration are evident, including electric fencing, mechanized infrastructure, and declining communal governance. Landscape-level analyses show that traditional features (‘Forms’, ‘Practices’ in the Cultural Values Model framework) persist more often in rugged terrains, whereas modernization predominates in flatter, more accessible areas. Interview data show an erosion of cultural engagement, stewardship norms and local agency. 4. Our findings suggest that the transformation of ancient wood-pastures can be effectively traced through the three pillars of the Cultural Values Model: ‘Forms’, ‘Practices’ and ‘Relationships’. The framework proved especially valuable in disentangling how material, functional and symbolic dimensions of these landscapes evolve in response to socio-economic and institutional pressures. We also showed that the Cultural Values Model can be a practical tool for assessing biocultural complexity and identifying early signs of system reconfiguration of traditional farming systems.