@phdthesis{Balzer2018,
  author    = {Balzer, Christian},
  title     = {Adsorption-Induced Deformation of Nanoporous Materials — in-situ Dilatometry and Modeling},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-157145},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2018},
  abstract  = {The goal of this work is to improve the understanding of adsorption-induced deformation in nanoporous (and in particular microporous) materials in order to explore its potential for material characterization and provide guidelines for related technical applications such as adsorption-driven actuation. For this purpose this work combines in-situ dilatometry measurements with in-depth modeling of the obtained adsorption-induced strains. A major advantage with respect to previous studies is the combination of the dilatometric setup and a commercial sorption instrument resulting in high quality adsorption and strain isotherms. The considered model materials are (activated and thermally annealed) carbon xerogels, a sintered silica aerogel, a sintered hierarchical structured porous silica and binderless zeolites of type LTA and FAU; this selection covers micro-, meso- and macroporous as well as ordered and disordered model materials. All sample materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, gas adsorption and sound velocity measurements. In-situ dilatometry measurements on mesoporous model materials were performed for the adsorption of N2 at 77 K, while microporous model materials were also investigated for CO2 adsorption at 273 K, Ar adsorption at 77 K and H2O adsorption at 298 K. Within this work the available in-situ dilatometry setup was revised to improve resolution and reproducibility of measurements of small strains at low relative pressures, which are of particular relevance for microporous materials. The obtained experimental adsorption and strain isotherms of the hierarchical structured porous silica and a micro-macroporous carbon xerogel were quantitatively analyzed based on the adsorption stress model; this approach, originally proposed by Ravikovitch and Neimark, was extended for anisotropic pore geometries within this work. While the adsorption in silica mesopores could be well described by the classical and analytical theory of Derjaguin, Broekhoff and de Boer, the adsorption in carbon micropores required for comprehensive nonlocal density functional theory calculations. To connect adsorption-induced stresses and strains, furthermore mechanical models for the respective model materials were derived. The resulting theoretical framework of adsorption, adsorption stress and mechanical model was applied to the experimental data yielding structural and mechanical information about the model materials investigated, i.e., pore size or pore size distribution, respectively, and mechanical moduli of the porous matrix and the nonporous solid skeleton. The derived structural and mechanical properties of the model materials were found to be consistent with independent measurements and/or literature values. Noteworthy, the proposed extension of the adsorption stress model proved to be crucial for the correct description of the experimental data. Furthermore, it could be shown that the adsorption-induced deformation of disordered mesoporous aero-/xerogel structures follows qualitatively the same mechanisms obtained for the ordered hierarchical structured porous silica. However, respective quantitative modeling proved to be challenging due to the ill-shaped pore geometry of aero-/xerogels; good agreement between model and experiment could only be achieved for the filled pore regime of the adsorption isotherm and the relative pressure range of monolayer formation. In the intermediate regime of multilayer formation a more complex model than the one proposed here is required to correctly describe stress related to the curved adsorbate-adsorptive interface. Notably, for micro-mesoporous carbon xerogels it could be shown that micro- and mesopore related strain mechanisms superimpose one another. The strain isotherms of the zeolites were only qualitatively evaluated. The result for the FAU type zeolite is in good agreement with other experiments reported in literature and the theoretical understanding derived from the adsorption stress model. On the contrary, the strain isotherm of the LTA type zeolite is rather exceptional as it shows monotonic expansion over the whole relative pressure range. Qualitatively this type of strain isotherm can also be explained by the adsorption stress model, but a respective quantitative analysis is beyond the scope of this work. In summary, the analysis of the model materials' adsorption-induced strains proved to be a suitable tool to obtain information on their structural and mechanical properties including the stiffness of the nonporous solid skeleton. Investigations on the carbon xerogels modified by activation and thermal annealing revealed that adsorption-induced deformation is particularly suited to analyze even small changes of carbon micropore structures.},
  subject      = {Nanopor{\"o}ser Stoff},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Matthaiakakis2021,
  author    = {Matthaiakakis, Ioannis},
  title     = {Hydrodynamics in Solid State Systems and the AdS/CFT correspondence},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-24439},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-244390},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {We employ the AdS/CFT correspondence and hydrodynamics to analyze the transport properties of \(2+1\) dimensional electron fluids. In this way, we use theoretical methods from both condensed matter and high-energy physics to derive tangible predictions that are directly verifiable in experiment. The first research topic we consider is strongly-coupled electron fluids. Motivated by early results by Gurzhi on the transport properties of weakly coupled fluids, we consider whether similar properties are manifest in strongly coupled fluids. More specifically, we focus on the hydrodynamic tail of the Gurzhi effect: A decrease in fluid resistance with increasing temperature due to the formation of a Poiseuille flow of electrons in the sample. We show that the hydrodynamic tail of the Gurzhi effect is also realized in strongly coupled and fully relativistic fluids, but with modified quantitative features. Namely, strongly-coupled fluids always exhibit a smaller resistance than weakly coupled ones and are, thus, far more efficient conductors. We also suggest that the coupling dependence of the resistance can be used to measure the coupling strength of the fluid. In view of these measurements, we provide analytical results for the resistance as a function of the shear viscosity over entropy density \(\eta/s\) of the fluid. \(\eta/s\) is itself a known function of the coupling strength in the weak and infinite coupling limits. In further analysis for strongly-coupled fluids, we propose a novel strongly coupled Dirac material based on a kagome lattice, Scandium-substituted Herbertsmithite (ScHb). The large coupling strength of this material, as well as its Dirac nature, provides us with theoretical and experimental access to non-perturbative relativistic and quantum critical physics. A highly suitable method for analyzing such a material's transport properties is the AdS/CFT correspondence. Concretely, using AdS/CFT we derive an estimate for ScHb's \(\eta/s\) and show that it takes a value much smaller than that observed in weakly coupled materials. In turn, the smallness of \(\eta/s\) implies that ScHb's Reynolds number, \(Re\), is large. In fact, \(Re\) is large enough for turbulence, the most prevalent feature of fluids in nature, to make its appearance for the first time in electronic fluids. Switching gears, we proceed to the second research topic considered in this thesis: Weakly coupled parity-breaking electron fluids. More precisely, we analyze the quantitative and qualitative changes to the classical Hall effect, for electrons propagating hydrodynamically in a lead. Apart from the Lorentz force, a parity-breaking fluid's motion is also impacted by the Hall-viscous force; the shear-stress force induced by the Hall-viscosity. We show that the interplay of these two forces leads to a hydrodynamic Hall voltage with non-linear dependence on the magnetic field. More importantly, the Lorentz and Hall-viscous forces become equal at a non-vanishing magnetic field, leading to a trivial hydrodynamic Hall voltage. Moreover, for small magnetic fields we provide analytic results for the dependence of the hydrodynamic Hall voltage on all experimentally-tuned parameters of our simulations, such as temperature and density. These dependences, along with the zero of the hydrodynamic Hall voltage, are distinct features of hydrodynamic transport and can be used to verify our predictions in experiments. Last but not least, we consider how a distinctly electronic property, spin, can be included into the hydrodynamic framework. In particular, we construct an effective action for non-dissipative spin hydrodynamics up to first order in a suitably defined derivative expansion. We also show that interesting spin-transport effects appear at second order in the derivative expansion. Namely, we show that the fluid's rotation polarizes its spin. This is the hydrodynamic manifestation of the Barnett effect and provides us with an example of hydrodynamic spintronics. To conclude this thesis, we discuss several possible extensions of our research, as well as proposals for research in related directions.},
  subject      = {Hydrodynamics},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{SoaresMachado2019,
  author    = {Soares Machado, J{\´e}ssica},
  title     = {Dosimetry-based Assessment of Radiation-associated Cancer risk for \(^9\)\(^9\)\(^m\)Tc-MAG3 Scans in Infants and Optimization of Administered Activities for \(^6\)\(^8\)Ga-labelled Peptides in Children and Adolescents},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-19264},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-192640},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2019},
  abstract  = {In 2006, 0.18 Mio pediatric nuclear medicine diagnostic exams were performed worldwide. However, for most of the radiopharmaceuticals used data on biokinetics and, as a consequence on dosimetry, are missing or have not been made publicly available. Therefore, most of the dosimetry assessments presented today for diagnostic agents in children and adolescents rely on the biokinetics data of adults. Even for one of the most common nuclear medicine exams for this patient group, renal scintigraphy with 99mTc-MAG3 for assessing renal function measured data on biokinetics is available only from a study performed on four children of different ages. In particular, renal scans are among the most frequent exams performed on infants and toddlers. Due to the young age, this patient group can be classified as a risk group with a higher probability of developing stochastic radiation effects compared to adults. As there are only limited data on biokinetics and dosimetry in this patient group, the aim of this study is to reassess the dosimetry and the associated radiation risk for a larger number of infants undergoing 99mTc-MAG3 renal scans based on a retrospective analysis of existing patient data. Data were collected retrospectively from 34 patients younger than 20 months with normal (20 patients) and abnormal renal function (14 patients) undergoing 99mTc-MAG3 scans. The patient-specific organ activity was estimated based on a retrospective calibration which was performed based on a set of two 3D-printed infant kidneys (newborns: 8.6 ml; 1-year-old: 23.4 ml) filled with known activities. Both phantoms were scanned at different positions along the anteroposterior axis inside a water phantom, providing depth- and size-dependent attenuation correction factors for planar imaging. Time-activity curves were determined by drawing kidney, bladder, and whole body regions-of-interest for each patient, and subsequently applying the calibration factor for conversion of counts to activity. Patient-specific time-integrated activity coefficients were obtained by integrating the organ-specific time-activity curves. Absorbed and effective dose coefficients for each patient were assessed with OLINDA/EXM for the provided newborn and 1-year-old phantom. Based on absorbed dose values, the radiation risk estimation was performed individually for each of the 34 patients with the National Cancer Institute's Radiation Risk Assessment Tool. The patients' organ-specific mean absorbed dose coefficients for the patients with normal renal function were 0.04±0.03 mGy/MBq for the kidneys and 0.27±0.24 mGy/MBq for the bladder. This resulted in a mean effective dose coefficient of 0.02±0.02 mSv/MBq. Based on the dosimetry results, the evaluation of the excess lifetime risk (ELR) for the development of radiation-induced cancer showed that the group of newborns has an ELR of 16.8 per 100,000 persons, which is higher in comparison with the 1-year-old group with an ELR of 14.7 per 100,000 persons. With regard to the 14 patients with abnormal renal function, the mean values for the organ absorbed dose coefficients for the patients were: 0.40±0.34 mGy/MBq for the kidneys and 0.46±0.37 mGy/MBq for the bladder. The corresponding effective dose coefficients (mSv/MBq) was: 0.05±0.02 mSv/MBq. The mean ELR (per 100,000 persons) for developing cancer from radiation exposure for patients with abnormal renal function was 29.2±18.7 per 100,000 persons. As a result, the radiation-associated stochastic risk increases with the organ doses, taking age- and gender-specific influences into account. Overall, the lifetime radiation risk associated with the 99mTc-MAG3 scans is very low in comparison to the general population risk for developing cancer. Furthermore, due to the increasing demand for PET-scans in children and adolescents with 68Ga-labelled peptides, in this work published data sets for those compounds were analyzed to derive recommendations for the administered activities in children and adolescents. The recommendation for the activities to be administered were based on the weight-independent effective dose model, proposed by the EANM Pediatric Dosage Card for application in pediatric nuclear medicine. The aim was to derive recommendations on administered activities for obtaining age-independent effective doses. Consequently, the corresponding weight-dependent effective dose coefficients were rescaled according to the formalism of the EANM dosage card, to determine the radiopharmaceutical class of 68Ga-labeled peptides ("multiples"), and to calculate the baseline activities based on the biokinetics of these compounds and an upper limit of the administered activity of 185 MBq for an adult. Analogous to 18F-fluoride, a minimum activity of 14 MBq is recommended. As a result, for those pediatric nuclear medicine applications involving 68Ga-labeled peptides, new values for the EANM dosage card were proposed and implemented based on the results derived in this work. Overall, despite the low additional radiation-related cancer risk, all efforts should be undertaken to optimize administered activities in children and adolescents for obtaining sufficient diagnostic information with minimal associated radiation risk.},
  subject      = {Biokinetics},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Elsholz2019,
  author    = {Elsholz, Markus},
  title     = {Das akademische Selbstkonzept angehender Physiklehrkr{\"a}fte als Teil ihrer professionellen Identit{\"a}t - Dimensionalit{\"a}t und Ver{\"a}nderung w{\"a}hrend einer zentralen Praxisphase},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-17215},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-172153},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2019},
  abstract  = {Die vorliegende Arbeit untersucht die Struktur und die Ver{\"a}nderung des akademischen Selbstkonzepts angehender Physiklehrkr{\"a}fte. Als selbstbezogene Kognition wird es als eine Grundlage der professionellen Identit{\"a}t von Lehrkr{\"a}ften verstanden. Selbstkonzepte bilden sich aus der Kategorisierung selbstrelevanter Informationen, die eine Person in verschiedenen Kontexten sammelt, bewertet und interpretiert. F{\"u}r angehende Lehrkr{\"a}fte wird der professionelle Kontext durch die Struktur und die Inhalte des Lehramtsstudiums gebildet. Daraus folgt die erste zentrale Hypothese der Arbeit: Im akademischen Selbstkonzept angehender Physiklehrkr{\"a}fte lassen sich drei Facetten empirisch trennen, die den inhaltlichen Dom{\"a}nen des Lehramtsstudiums entsprechen. Demnach strukturieren Studierende ihre F{\"a}higkeitszuschreibungen in Bezug auf (1) die Fachwissenschaft Physik, (2) die Fachdidaktik Physik sowie (3) die Erziehungswissenschaften. Konkrete Erfahrungen bilden als Quelle selbstrelevanter Informationen die Basis f{\"u}r den Aufbau bzw. die Ver{\"a}nderung von dom{\"a}nenspezifischen Selbstkonzeptfacetten. Sie stabilisieren das Selbstkonzept, falls sie im Einklang mit dem bisherigen Bild der Person von sich selbst stehen bzw. k{\"o}nnen eine Ver{\"a}nderung des Selbstkonzepts initiieren, wenn sie sich nicht konsistent in dieses Bild einf{\"u}gen lassen. Vor diesem Hintergrund folgt die zweite zentrale Hypothese der vorliegenden Arbeit: W{\"a}hrend der Praxisphasen des Studiums ver{\"a}ndert sich das akademische Selbstkonzept der Studierenden. Die Hypothesen werden mit Ans{\"a}tzen der latenten Modellierung untersucht. Mittels konfirmatorischer Faktorenanalyse wird die empirische Trennbarkeit der drei angenommenen Facetten best{\"a}tigt. In einer querschnittlichen Betrachtung zeigt sich ein deutlicher Einfluss des Geschlechts der Studierenden auf den Zusammenhang zwischen ihrem fachdidaktischen Selbstkonzept und ihrer bisherigen Praxiserfahrung. Die l{\"a}ngsschnittliche Analyse der Ver{\"a}nderung des Selbstkonzepts w{\"a}hrend einer zentralen fachdidaktischen Lehrveranstaltung mit ausgepr{\"a}gten Praxisphasen (Lehr-Lern-Labor-Seminar) wird mit einem latenten Wachstumskurvenmodell untersucht. Das auf die Fachdidaktik Physik bezogene Selbstkonzept steigt w{\"a}hrend des Seminars leicht an, wenn die Studierenden zum Seminarbeginn bereits {\"u}ber Praxiserfahrung verf{\"u}gten. Fehlt diese, so ist ein leichter R{\"u}ckgang in der Auspr{\"a}gung des Selbstkonzepts feststellbar, der f{\"u}r weibliche Studierende st{\"a}rker ausf{\"a}llt als f{\"u}r ihre m{\"a}nnlichen Kommilitonen. Mit den Befunden zu Struktur und Ver{\"a}nderung des akademischen Selbstkonzepts angehender Physiklehrkr{\"a}fte tr{\"a}gt die vorliegende Arbeit dazu bei, die {\"u}berwiegend qualitativen Analysen von Identit{\"a}tsprozessen bei Studierenden durch den Einsatz eines theoretisch fundierten und klar umrissenen Konstrukts um eine quantitative Perspektive zu erg{\"a}nzen.},
  subject      = {Selbstbild},
  language  = {de}
}
@phdthesis{Gram2023,
  author    = {Gram, Maximilian},
  title     = {Neue Methoden der Spin-Lock-basierten Magnetresonanztomographie: Myokardiale T\(_{1ρ}\)-Quantifizierung und Detektion magnetischer Oszillationen im nT-Bereich},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-32255},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-322552},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {Das Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit war die Entwicklung neuer, robuster Methoden der Spin-Lock-basierten MRT. Im Fokus stand hierbei vorerst die T1ρ-Quantifizierung des Myokards im Kleintiermodell. Neben der T1ρ-Bildgebung bietet Spin-Locking jedoch zus{\"a}tzlich die M{\"o}glichkeit der Detektion ultra-schwacher, magnetischer Feldoszillationen. Die Projekte und Ergebnisse, die im Rahmen dieses Promotionsvorhabens umgesetzt und erzielt wurden, decken daher ein breites Spektrum der Spin-lock basierten Bildgebung ab und k{\"o}nnen grob in drei Bereiche unterteilt werden. Im ersten Schritt wurde die grundlegende Pulssequenz des Spin-Lock-Experimentes durch die Einf{\"u}hrung des balancierten Spin-Locks optimiert. Der zweite Schritt war die Entwicklung einer kardialen MRT-Sequenz f{\"u}r die robuste Quantifizierung der myokardialen T1ρ-Relaxationszeit an einem pr{\"a}klinischen Hochfeld-MRT. Im letzten Schritt wurden Konzepte der robusten T1ρ-Bildgebung auf die Methodik der Felddetektion mittels Spin-Locking {\"u}bertragen. Hierbei wurden erste, erfolgreiche Messungen magnetischer Oszillationen im nT-Bereich, welche lokal im untersuchten Gewebe auftreten, an einem klinischen MRT-System im menschlichen Gehirn realisiert.},
  subject      = {Kernspintomografie},
  language  = {de}
}
@unpublished{Dandekar2023,
  author    = {Dandekar, Thomas},
  title     = {Protein folding and crystallization applied to qubit interactions and fundamental physics yields a modified inflation model for cosmology},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-34615},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-346156},
  pages     = {42},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {Protein folding achieves a clear solution structure in a huge parameter space (the so-called protein folding problem). Proteins fold in water, and get by this a highly ordered structure. Finally, inside a protein crystal for structure resolution, you have everywhere the same symmetries as there is everywhere the same unit cell. We apply this to qubit interactions to do fundamental physics: in a modified cosmology, we replace the big bang by a condensation event in an eternal all-encompassing ocean of free qubits. Interactions of qubits in the qubit ocean are quite rare but provide a nucleus or seed for a new universe (domain) as the qubits become decoherent and freeze-out into defined bit ensembles. Second, we replace inflation by a crystallization event triggered by the nucleus of interacting qubits to which rapidly more and more qubits attach (like in everyday crystal growth). The crystal unit cell guarantees same symmetries everywhere inside the crystal. The textbook inflation scenario to explain the same laws of nature in our domain is replaced by the unit cell of the crystal formed. Interacting qubits solidify, quantum entropy decreases (but increases in the ocean around). In a modified inflation scenario, the interacting qubits form a rapidly growing domain where the n**m states become separated ensemble states, rising long-range forces stop ultimately further growth. Then standard cosmology with the hot fireball model takes over. Our theory agrees well with lack of inflation traces in cosmic background measurements. We explain by cosmological crystallization instead of inflation: early creation of large-scale structure of voids and filaments, supercluster formation, galaxy formation, and the dominance of matter: the unit cell of our crystal universe has a matter handedness avoiding anti-matter. We prove initiation of qubit interactions can only be 1,2,4 or 8-dimensional (agrees with E8 symmetry of our universe). Repulsive forces at ultrashort distances result from quantization, long-range forces limit crystal growth. Crystals come and go in the qubit ocean. This selects for the ability to lay seeds for new crystals, for self-organization and life-friendliness. The phase space of the crystal agrees with the standard model of the basic four forces for n quanta. It includes all possible ensemble combinations of their quantum states m, a total of n**m states. Neighbor states reach according to transition possibilities (S-matrix) with emergent time from entropic ensemble gradients. However, in our four dimensions there is only one bit overlap to neighbor states left (almost solid, only below Planck quantum there is liquidity left). The E8 symmetry of heterotic string theory has six curled-up, small dimensions which help to keep the qubit crystal together and will never expand. Mathematics focusses on the Hurwitz proof applied to qubit interaction, a toy model of qubit interaction and repulsive forces of qubits. Vacuum energy gets appropriate low inside the crystal. We give first energy estimates for free qubits vs bound qubits, misplacements in the qubit crystal and entropy increase during qubit decoherence / crystal formation. Scalar fields for color interaction/confinement and gravity are derived from the qubit-interaction field.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Imhof2023,
  author    = {Imhof, Stefan Michael},
  title     = {The effects of non-Hermiticity and non-linearity on topological phenomena investigated in electric networks},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-32332},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-323329},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {Topological phenomena known from solid state physics have been transferred to a variety of other classical and quantum systems. Due to the equivalence of the Hamiltonian matrix describing tight binding models and the grounded circuit Laplacian describing an electrical circuit we can investigate such phenomena in circuits. By implementing different Hermitian topological models general suggestions on designing those types of circuit are worked out with the aim of minimizing unwanted coupling effects and parasitic admittances in the circuit. Here the existence and the spatial profile of topological states as well as the band structure of the model can be determined. Due to the complex nature of electric admittance the investigations can be directly expanded to systems with broken Hermiticity. The particular advantages of the experimental investigation of non-exclusively topological phenomena by means of electric circuits come to light in the realization of non-Hermitian and non-linear models. Here we find limitation of the Hermitian bulk-boundary correspondence principle, purely real eigenvalues in non-Hermitian PT-symmetrical systems and edge localization of all eigenstates in non-Hermitian and non-reciprocal systems, which in literature is termed the non-Hermitian skin effect. When systems obeying non-linear equations are studied, the grounded circuit Laplacian based on the Fourier-transform cannot be applied anymore. By combination of the connectivity of a topological system together with non-linear van der Pol oscillators self-activated and self-sustained topological edge oscillations can be found. These robust high frequency sinusoidal edge oscillations differ significantly from low frequency relaxation oscillations, which can be found in the bulk of the system.},
  subject      = {Metamaterial},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Kleineisel2024,
  author    = {Kleineisel, Jonas},
  title     = {Variational networks in magnetic resonance imaging - Application to spiral cardiac MRI and investigations on image quality},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-34737},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-347370},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2024},
  abstract  = {Acceleration is a central aim of clinical and technical research in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) today, with the potential to increase robustness, accessibility and patient comfort, reduce cost, and enable entirely new kinds of examinations. A key component in this endeavor is image reconstruction, as most modern approaches build on advanced signal and image processing. Here, deep learning (DL)-based methods have recently shown considerable potential, with numerous publications demonstrating benefits for MRI reconstruction. However, these methods often come at the cost of an increased risk for subtle yet critical errors. Therefore, the aim of this thesis is to advance DL-based MRI reconstruction, while ensuring high quality and fidelity with measured data. A network architecture specifically suited for this purpose is the variational network (VN). To investigate the benefits these can bring to non-Cartesian cardiac imaging, the first part presents an application of VNs, which were specifically adapted to the reconstruction of accelerated spiral acquisitions. The proposed method is compared to a segmented exam, a U-Net and a compressed sensing (CS) model using qualitative and quantitative measures. While the U-Net performed poorly, the VN as well as the CS reconstruction showed good output quality. In functional cardiac imaging, the proposed real-time method with VN reconstruction substantially accelerates examinations over the gold-standard, from over 10 to just 1 minute. Clinical parameters agreed on average. Generally in MRI reconstruction, the assessment of image quality is complex, in particular for modern non-linear methods. Therefore, advanced techniques for precise evaluation of quality were subsequently demonstrated. With two distinct methods, resolution and amplification or suppression of noise are quantified locally in each pixel of a reconstruction. Using these, local maps of resolution and noise in parallel imaging (GRAPPA), CS, U-Net and VN reconstructions were determined for MR images of the brain. In the tested images, GRAPPA delivers uniform and ideal resolution, but amplifies noise noticeably. The other methods adapt their behavior to image structure, where different levels of local blurring were observed at edges compared to homogeneous areas, and noise was suppressed except at edges. Overall, VNs were found to combine a number of advantageous properties, including a good trade-off between resolution and noise, fast reconstruction times, and high overall image quality and fidelity of the produced output. Therefore, this network architecture seems highly promising for MRI reconstruction.},
  subject      = {Kernspintomografie},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Meiser2023,
  author    = {Meiser, Elisabeth},
  title     = {Single-molecule dynamics at a bottleneck: a systematic study of the narrow escape problem in a disc},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-31965},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-319650},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {Diffusion facilitates numerous reactions within the biological context of a cell. It is remarkable how the cost-efficient random process of Brownian motion promotes fast reactions. From the narrow escape theory, it is possible to determine the mean first passage time of such processes based on their reaction space and diffusion coefficient. The narrow escape theory of Brownian particles is characterized by a confining domain with reflective boundaries and a small reaction site. In this thesis, the mean first passage time was systematically tested in a disc as a function of the escape opening size in vitro and in silico. For the in vitro experiments, a model system of patterned supported-lipid bilayers (SLB) was established. Such a model is prepared by a combined colloid metalization approach, where a gold scaffold on glass facilitates assembly of SLB patches of distinct sizes through vesicle fusion. The model setup was evaluated and found to match all necessary requirements to test the nar- row escape problem in vitro. In particular, the reflectivity of the boundaries, the unhindered, free diffusion of the tracer lipids, and the distinct area were assessed. Observed results of the mean first passage time agreed with the theory of the narrow escape problem. There was excellent agreement in both absolute values and across a range of small escape opening sizes. Additionally, I developed a straightforward method, a correction factor, to calculate the mean first passage time from incomplete experimental traces. By re-scaling the mean first passage time to the fraction of particles that escaped, I was able to overcome the lifetime limitations of fluorescent probes. Previously inaccessible measurements of the mean first passage time relying on fluorescent probes will be made possible through this approach. The in vitro experiments were complemented with various in silico experiments. The latter were based on random walk simulations in discs, mimicking the in vitro situation with its uncertainties. The lifetime of single particles was either set sufficiently long to allow all particles to escape, or was adjusted to meet the lifetime limitations observed in the in vitro experiments. A comparison of the mean first passage time from lifetime-unlimited particles to the corrected, lifetime-limited particles did support the use of the correction factor. In agreement with the narrow escape theory, it was experimentally found that the mean first passage time is independent of the start point of the particle within the domain. This is when the particle adheres to a minimum distance to the escape site. In general, the presented random walk simulations do accurately represent the in vitro experiments in this study. The required hardware for the establishment of an astigmatism-based 3D system was installed in the existing microscope. The first attempts to analyze the obtained 3D imaging data gave insight into the potential of the method to investigate molecule dynamics in living trypanosome cells. The full functionality will be realized with the ongoing improvement of image analysis outside of this thesis.},
  subject      = {Freies Molek{\"u}l},
  language  = {en}
}