Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Information Processing and Ergonomics
Recent publications
  • Marc Ohm
    Marc Ohm
  • Clarissa Sabrina Arlinghaus
    Clarissa Sabrina Arlinghaus
  • Silvan Mertes
    Silvan Mertes
Zusammenfassung Die Lage des wissenschaftlichen Nachwuchses wird als angespannt wahrgenommen. Um das aktuelle Stimmungsbild dieser Gruppe in Deutschland besser zu verstehen, wurde eine umfassende Untersuchung durchgeführt. Zu diesem Zweck wurde eine Umfrage an die spezifische Zielgruppe versandt, um aktuelle Herausforderungen und Lösungsvorschläge in strukturierter Form zu erfassen. Die Resultate der Untersuchung offenbaren eine Vielzahl an Faktoren, welche die Arbeitssituation des wissenschaftlichen Nachwuchses beeinträchtigen. Dazu zählen insbesondere eine hohe Mehrfachbelastung, Überarbeitung sowie eine fehlende langfristige Perspektive, welche durch ständige Befristungen bedingt ist. Die befragten Personen äußerten deutlich den Wunsch nach Verbesserungen ihrer Arbeitsbedingungen. Dazu zählen beispielsweise längere Vertragslaufzeiten, geringerer Stress, unbefristete Stellen sowie ein stärkerer Schutz der physischen und psychischen Gesundheit.
The growing popularity of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) among Indonesian youth presents a new public health challenge in a country with one of the highest tobacco burdens globally. While tobacco control regulations have been implemented, e-cigarettes remain largely unregulated, raising concerns about their health impacts and youth appeal. This study explores the prevalence, determinants and perceptions of e-cigarette use among high school and university students in Indonesia, providing critical insights to inform effective policymaking. A cross-sectional online-based survey was conducted in 2019 among 158 students aged 15–30 years across 17 provinces in Indonesia. Data on tobacco use behaviours, socioeconomic background, social influences and health perceptions were collected. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses identified key determinants of e-cigarette use. Among the participants, 36.2% reported ever smoking, and 65.2% of these had tried e-cigarettes. Key determinants of e-cigarette use included male gender, urban residency, peer smoking and social acceptance of smoking (all p < 0.05). Notably, participants commonly perceived e-cigarettes as less harmful than combustible cigarettes and helpful for smoking cessation, despite conflicting scientific evidence. Overall, e-cigarette use is prevalent among Indonesian youth, driven by social and environmental factors, as well as misconceptions about safety. Strengthened regulations and targeted public health campaigns are essential to mitigate the health risks posed by e-cigarettes and enhance tobacco control efforts.
Background Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD) is a frequent chronic functional disorder that manifests with dizziness, unsteadiness, or non-spinning vertigo present for at least 3 months. Characteristic provocation factors are moving or complex visual stimuli and exclusion of organic diseases. To assess the severity and impact of PPPD, Japanese researchers developed the Niigata PPPD Questionnaire (NPQ). The study's aim was to evaluate the concurrent construct validity and reliability [including test-retest reliability, internal consistency, standard error of measurement (SEM), and minimal detectable change (MDC)] of the German version of the NPQ (12 items) and its revised version, NPQ-R, which contains 19 items addressing additional symptoms and symptom behavior. Methods The Swiss Reha Rheinfelden and the German Center for Vertigo and Balance Disorders included 265 PPPD patients (mean age 50.2 ± 16.8 years, disease duration 46.3 ± 76.6 months). Patients completed the NPQ and the NPQ-R (twice), the DHI and potentially related constructs: anxiety (ABC-Scale, VSS), depression (HADS), and general health (SF-36) once. To assess the questionnaires' reliability and validity, several statistical measures were calculated, including Spearman's rank correlation coefficients, Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC2, 1), Cronbach's alpha, SEM, and MDC. Results On average, patients scored 29.9 ± 13.2 for NPQ and 52.3 ± 19.6 for NPQ-R. Correlations between NPQ/NPQ-R and (1) disease-specific questionnaires were rs= 0.712 and rs= 0.752 (DHI), rs=0.426 and rs= 0.0.462 (VSS-V), rs= -0.500 and rs= -0.545 (ABC-Scale), (2) anxiety-specific subscales rs = 0.394 and rs = 0.430 (VSS-A) and rs= 0.354 and rs= 0.430 (HADS-A), (3) depression-related subscales rs=0.438 and rs= 0.487 (HADS-D), and (4) general health rs ranged between rs= -0.216 and −0.578 (all SF-36 subscales). Internal consistency, test-retest reliability, SEM and MDC calculated for NPQ/NPQ-R were α = 0.88/α = 0.91, ICC=0.83 (CI 0.77 to 0.0.87), SEM 5.55/8.37, and MDC 15/23 points. Conclusion The German versions of NPQ and NPQ-R are valid and reliable patient-reported outcome measures for assessing PPPD, demonstrating satisfactory psychometric measurement properties including convergent construct validity and reliability parameters: internal consistency, test-retest reliability, SEM, and MDC as an evaluative measure. The NPQ-R, with its additional subscales addressing associated symptoms and symptom behavior, represents both the patient and clinician perspective on PPPD-specific problems. Therefore, we recommend utilizing the NPQ-R for a comprehensive assessment of PPPD.
In contemporary healthcare, effective risk stratification in the general population is vital amidst rising chronic disease rates and an ageing demographic. Deceleration Capacity of the heart rate (DC), derived from 24-hour Holter electrocardiograms, holds promise in risk stratification for cardiac patients. However, the potential of short-term electrocardiograms of five minutes duration for population screening has not been fully explored. Our study aims to investigate the utility of Deceleration Capacity derived from short-term electrocardiograms as a scalable, fully-automated screening tool for predicting long-term mortality risk in the general population. Within a cohort of a representative population-based survey in Germany (KORA-KMC-study), 823 participants with sinus rhythm aged 27 to 76 years at enrollment (females 47.4%) were followed for a median of 13.4 years (IQR 13.1–13.6). All-cause mortality was defined as the primary endpoint and observed in 159 participants. Deceleration Capacity was calculated from 5-minute 12-lead electrocardiograms by a fully automated approach. Participants were divided into three predefined risk categories: DCcategory0 – low-risk (> 4.5ms); DCcategory1 – intermediate-risk (2.5-4.5ms); and DCcategory2 – high-risk (≤ 2.5ms). More than two-thirds of the participants (n = 564, 68.5%) fell into DCcategory0, about one-fifth (n = 168, 20.4%) into DCcategory1, and about one-tenth (n = 91, 11.1%) into DCcategory2. Estimated 13-years mortality in the risk groups was 16.7%, 23.5%, and 49.1%, respectively (p < 0.001). Adjusting for age, life-style-related risk factors, and comorbidities, increased mortality risk was observed for DCcategory2 (HR 2.34, 95%-CI 1.56–3.50). Deceleration Capacity, derived automatically from brief 5-minute electrocardiogram recordings, emerges as a robust, feasible, and independent predictor of long-term mortality risk in the general population. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-024-83712-w.
Background Disorders of consciousness (DoC) refers to a group of clinical conditions of altered consciousness. To improve their diagnosis and prognosis, multimodal assessment can be of great importance. Informal caregivers of people with DoC who are confronted with new technologies as such can benefit from interventions to expand their health literacy, i.e., the ability to use information to make health decisions for oneself and others. Methods We developed an information brochure on multimodal assessment for DoC in a participatory process, with decisions made by a steering group. The process was based on a methodological framework for the development of patient decision aids that built on the International Patient Decision Aid Standards (IPDAS). Results On the background of a broad variety of needs, the priority was to focus on the explanation of multimodal testing and provide information about its uncertainty. Its development aimed at enhancing informal caregivers' understanding of implications of results from multimodal assessment and its relevance for prognosis. It should avoid the portrayal of information that could lead to the impression of false hope or suboptimal rehabilitation care. Informal caregivers rated its usability and acceptability highly, though they preferred less technical language. Conclusion The participatory process was crucial to the project. Future studies should investigate the effectiveness of the brochure in fostering informal caregivers' health literacy. Patient or Public Contribution Informal caregivers of people with DoC were deliberately included in the steering group and they participated in a field test of the prototype brochure.
There is growing interest in lifestyle interventions as stand-alone and add-on therapies in mental health care due to their potential benefits for both physical and mental health outcomes. We evaluated lifestyle interventions focusing on physical activity, diet, and sleep in adults with severe mental illness (SMI) and the evidence for their effectiveness. To this end, we conducted a meta-review and searched major electronic databases for articles published prior to 09/2022 and updated our search in 03/2024. We identified 89 relevant systematic reviews and assessed their quality using the SIGN checklist. Based on the findings of our meta-review and on clinical expertise of the authors, we formulated seven recommendations. In brief, evidence supports the application of lifestyle interventions that combine behavioural change techniques, dietary modification, and physical activity to reduce weight and improve cardiovascular health parameters in adults with SMI. Furthermore, physical activity should be used as an adjunct treatment to improve mental health in adults with SMI, including psychotic symptoms and cognition in adults with schizophrenia or depressive symptoms in adults with major depression. To ameliorate sleep quality, cognitive behavioural informed interventions can be considered. Additionally, we provide an overview of key gaps in the current literature. Future studies should integrate both mental and physical health outcomes to reflect the multi-faceted benefits of lifestyle interventions. Moreover, our meta-review highlighted a relative dearth of evidence relating to interventions in adults with bipolar disorder and to nutritional and sleep interventions. Future research could help establish lifestyle interventions as a core component of mental health care.
Anastomotic leaks are a significant complication in colorectal surgery. Indocyanine green fluorescence angiography (ICG-FA) has been suggested as a method to reduce the risk. This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the effect of ICG-FA on reducing anastomotic leaks in colorectal surgery. This study follows PRISMA guidelines and is registered on PROSPERO (CRD42022370748). We conducted a comprehensive search of multiple databases and registers for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing ICG-FA with standard methods in colorectal surgery. Data extraction and quality assessment were performed by two independent reviewers, with a third resolving disputes. Odds ratios (OR) and mean differences (MD) were calculated using comprehensive meta-analysis software, version 3. Heterogeneity and publication bias were assessed, and a sensitivity analysis was performed. The analysis included five RCTs with a total of 1369 patients from four countries. The ICG-FA was associated with a 45% reduction in the risk of overall anastomotic leaks (OR: 0.550, p = 0.012). Subgroup analysis showed a 47% reduction in leaks for low anastomoses (OR: 0.53, p = 0.143) and a 69% reduction in grade A leaks (OR: 0.31, p = 0.008). No significant effects were observed for grade B and C leaks, blood loss, surgery duration, hospital stay, mortality, postoperative ileus, reoperation, or surgical site infections. ICG-FA significantly reduces the overall risk of anastomotic leaks, especially grade A leaks, and shows a trend towards fewer leaks in low anastomosis. No significant impact was found on secondary outcomes. Further RCTs are needed to confirm these findings.
Drug‐induced hypotension can be harmful and may lead to hospital admissions. The occurrence of hypotension during drug therapy is preventable through increased awareness. This scoping review aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of antihypertensive and nonantihypertensive drugs associated with hypotension in adults. A systematic literature search was conducted using MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane Library, focusing on studies from January 2013 to May 2023. Search terms were developed to capture key concepts related to hypotension and adverse drug events in adults while excluding terms related to allergic reactions, phytotherapy and studies involving paediatric, pregnant or animal populations. The eligibility criteria included a wide range of study types evaluating hypotension as an adverse drug event across all healthcare settings. Relevant information was extracted from the included studies, while identified drugs associated with hypotension were categorised into drug classes. The review was reported using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews checklist. In 97 eligible studies, we identified 26 antihypertensive drugs grouped into nine different antihypertensive classes and 158 other drugs grouped into 22 other drug classes. Common antihypertensive classes were angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors, beta blockers and diuretics. Frequently reported nonantihypertensive classes were neuroleptics, alpha‐1 blockers for benign prostatic hyperplasia, benzodiazepines, opioids and antidepressants. The results highlight the importance of healthcare professionals being aware of nonantihypertensive drugs that can cause hypotension. This review provides a basis for future systematic reviews to explore dose‐dependence, drug–drug interactions and confounding factors.
This paper investigates the localization accuracy in an urban environments using time-difference-of-arrival (TDOA) measurements. The Cramér-Rao bound (CRB) is derived in order to predict the best achievable localization accuracy by considering the shortest signal paths. The measurement accuracy is modeled depending on the signal path lengths between source and sensors. Simulations demonstrate that the maximum likelihood estimator (MLE) attains the CRB and show its superior accuracy compared to a free-field scenario assumption. Finally, the match between predicted and actual performance is validated using data collected through field measurements in an urban environment.
Objective: To investigate the influence of four major life events (leaving home, full-time employment, married/cohabiting, parenthood) and socio-demographic variables on risky total leisure noise (TLN) during transition to adulthood with a special focus on visiting discotheques and listening to portable listening devices (PLDs). Design: Longitudinal analysis of the OHRKAN cohort. Risky TLN covering 22 activities was defined as exceeding 85 dB(A) averaged over a 40-hour week. Potential determinants were analysed using Generalised Linear Mixed Models. Study sample: A closed cohort of 2,148 students recruited in ninth grade at schools in Regensburg in 2009-2011 and surveyed five times over about 10 years. In waves 3 to 5, 1,608 individuals participated at least once. Results: The prevalence of risky TLN decreased from 72.5% (median age 20) to 38.5% (median age 26). A decrease was also observed for visiting discotheques while exposure to PLD use remained relatively constant. Marriage/cohabiting and parenthood significantly reduced the prevalence of risky TLN and discotheques visits while only marriage/cohabiting reduced the prevalence of risky PLD use. Conclusions: Young adults are particularly at risk to leisure noise exposure. The later major life events occur, the longer they expose themselves to risky leisure noise. Therefore, prevention is of utmost importance.
This article addresses the significant threat posed by rootkits as part of the diverse malware landscape of today. Rootkits enable an attacker to regain access to an already comprised system at root-level making their prompt identification and removal crucial. However, rootkits implement advanced stealth features, enabling them to evade detection by conventional measures during analysis. Consequently, analysts generally rely on customized tools to detect the presence of a rootkit. However, our research highlights significant deficits in the tools available for the detection of rootkits on the Linux operating system, which is frequently encountered in investigations of server environments. Recognizing the need for improved awareness and capabilities among investigators, we conducted an in-depth analysis of 21 distinct Linux rootkits allowing us to dive into their techniques and features. Furthermore, we critically assessed the effectiveness of standard detection tools, revealing their limitations. Based on these insights, we propose best practices for investigators to effectively identify and detect signs of rootkit infections. Additionally, we provide a repository of indicators of compromise we extracted during our analyses to facilitate the detection of the analyzed rootkits on compromised systems along with a utility to detect rootkits via hidden files on a live system.
Background In adults aged 50 + years, vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) pose a significant health burden and can lead to additional ‘downstream effects’ of infection beyond the acute phase e.g., increasing the risk for non-communicable disease and exacerbating chronic conditions. The aim was to understand and quantify the burden of VPD downstream effects in hospitalised adults in the United States. Methods This retrospective observational study analysed hospitalisation claims data (2016–2019) with 1-year follow-up, in adults with a VPD diagnosis versus matched controls (using Optum’s de-identified Clinformatics Data Mart Database). Outcomes included mortality; increase in Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score; new diagnosis of comorbidities; and loss of independence (defined by need for home health/home care and/or move to long-term facility). Results Mortality was significantly increased in VPD cases versus controls at 30-day (risk ratio [RR] of 4.08 [95% CI 3.98–4.18]) and 1-year follow-up (RR 2.76 [2.73–2.80]). Over a 1-year follow-up period, morbidity increased following VPD hospitalisation: 65–86% of VPD cases had new comorbidities diagnosed (versus 13–41% of controls); with a significantly higher mean increase in CCI score versus baseline (3.23 in VPD cases versus 0.89 in controls, p < 0.001). Adults were observed to experience a worsening of their health status and were less likely to return to their original health state. In addition, 41% of VPD cases had a loss of independence following hospitalisation versus 12% of controls; as seen by an increased need for home assistance (in 25% versus 9% of controls) and/or a move to a long-term care facility (in 29% versus 6% of controls). Conclusions This analysis suggests that VPD hospitalised cases suffer significantly worse clinical outcomes than controls, with downstream effects that include increased mortality and morbidity, and greater loss of independence. Evidence on potential downstream effects of infection is relatively new, and this additional burden is generally not considered in vaccine decision-making. More research is needed to disentangle the effect of VPDs on new comorbidities versus the natural course of the condition. Increasing awareness among adults, healthcare providers and decision makers could help to increase adult vaccination coverage, and reduce the clinical burden of VPDs.
Background Consumption of raw cow's milk has repeatedly been shown to protect from asthma, allergies, and respiratory infections. As raw milk bears potential health hazards, it cannot be recommended for prevention. Therefore, we performed an intervention study with microbially safe but otherwise minimally processed cow's milk. Here we describe feasibility and safety of the trial. Methods The MARTHA trial (DRKS00014781) was set up as a double‐blind randomized intervention in a population residing in Bavaria. Infants from 6 to 36 months of age consumed minimally processed cow's milk (intervention arm) or ultra‐heat‐treated (UHT) semi‐skimmed milk (comparator arm). Results At the age of 6 to 12 months, 260 infants were enrolled, with 72% having a family history of atopy. The extensive screening system for milk consumption and symptoms suggestive of adverse events was well accepted with 22,988 completed weekly surveys and an average completion of 82% surveys sent out. The children consumed the study milk on average on 457 days (61% of intervention days). The intervention proved to be safe without any case of milk allergy or milk intolerance under the intervention in both arms. All 6 cases of serious adverse events were unrelated to milk. The most common reason was unscheduled hospitalization of more than 3 days. Conclusions The intervention with minimally processed milk and the study instruments proved feasible. During the age of 6 to 36 months, there was no increased risk of milk allergy in a population with a substantial proportion of family history of atopy.
Background: In Tanzania, nearly half of ever-married women have experienced some form of intimate partner violence (IPV), yet little knowledge of IPV from the male perspective exists. Objective: To explore the role of essential healthy lifestyle factors, diet, sleep, and exercise, and their potential role in IPV perpetration. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 1,002 young men (ages 18-24), 754 of which were in an intimate relationship in the previous year. The study took place in Mwanza, Tanzania and used multivariable logistic regression models to explore associations between male perpetration of IPV and diet, sleep, and exercise. Results: Six types of IPV perpetration were investigated separately and the prevalence of controlling behaviours (79.4%), economic abuse (30.6%), emotional abuse (47.3%), physical violence (16.4%), sexual violence (23.3%), and combined physical and/or sexual violence (32.1%) were obtained. Regular exercise demonstrated a protective effect for economic abuse perpetration; the chance of mildly active individuals perpetrating economic abuse was 38% less than their inactive counterparts (p = 0.003). Associations with sleep were varied and did not show a clear directional relationship. Diet, defined as poor food variety, was positively associated with every IPV type except physical violence and was significant in sexual violence perpetration (aOR:1.57, 95%CI:1.21-2.05). Conclusions: The results from this study indicate that considering healthy lifestyle behaviours - diet, sleep, and exercise - in the design of intervention programmes may be beneficial in reducing IPV perpetration in Tanzania, and that they should be considered alongside previously established evidence-based risk factors.
Institution pages aggregate content on ResearchGate related to an institution. The members listed on this page have self-identified as being affiliated with this institution. Publications listed on this page were identified by our algorithms as relating to this institution. This page was not created or approved by the institution. If you represent an institution and have questions about these pages or wish to report inaccurate content, you can contact us here.
146 members
Hans-Christian Schmitz
  • Information Technology for Command and Control Research Area
Felix Govaers
  • Sensor Data and Information Fusion Research Area
Carsten Winkelholz
  • Ergonomics and Human Machine Systems Research Area
Frank E. Schneider
  • Unmanned Systems Research Area
Dirk Schulz
  • Unmanned Systems Research Area
Information
Address
Wachtberg, Germany
Head of institution
Prof. Dr. Peter Martini