Photo by ©FAU/Erich MalterOPEN FAU
Online publication system of Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
The online publication system OPEN FAU is the central publication platform for Open Access publishing for all members of Friedrich-Alexander-Universität. Qualified works from research and teaching may be published here free of charge, either as a primary or secondary publication. The full texts are permanently available worldwide and are findable and citable via catalogues and search engines.
To search for documents in OPEN FAU, please select "Search" (via the magnifying glass at the top right); this will provide you with various search options. If you want to publish a document, go to "Login" and "My Publications". Then drag you document into the field provided and enter the metadata. In just a few steps, you can submit your document. Please note our guidelines, the publication contract and FAQs.
Recent Submissions
Article
Open Access
Clinical outcomes of 188 patients implanted with Med-El stapes prostheses
(Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2025-10-15) Wolfram, Wendelin; Zwittag, Paul Martin; Niederwanger, Lisa; Rubicz, Nina; Sprinzl, Georg; Magele, Astrid; Beutner, Dirk; Bevis, Nicholas; Schimanski, Esther; Arndt, Susan; Offergeld, Christian; Arnoldner, Christoph; Riss, Dominik; Skarżyński, Piotr H.; Plichta, Łukasz; Hornung, Joachim; Taha, Lava; Lenarz, Thomas; Busch, Susan; Windisch, Franz; Loader, Benjamin
PurposeThis multicentric, retrospective study aimed to analyze the safety and effectiveness of the mAXIS Stapes Prosthesis, mLOOP Stapes Prosthesis, mZAM Stapes Prosthesis, and mFIX Stapes Prosthesis.MethodsPatients underwent stapes surgery and implantation of a mAXIS Stapes Prosthesis, mLOOP Stapes Prosthesis, mZAM Stapes Prosthesis, or mFIX Stapes Prosthesis (MED-EL, Innsbruck, Austria). The clinical data was retrospectively analyzed. Follow-up examination included access to medical records (for adverse events) of the patients, ear microscopy and pure-tone audiometry to determine the post-operative pure tone average of the frequencies 0.5, 1, 2 and 3 kHz (PTA4). The post-operative PTA4 air bone gap (ABG) was used to evaluate the audiological outcome. A post-operative PTA4 ABG ≤ 20 dB was defined as successful rehabilitation. A post-operative minimum and maximum follow-up period was not defined.Results189 patients were implanted with a MED-EL stapes prosthesis mainly as treatment of hearing loss caused by otosclerosis. 188 (186 adults, 2 children; 57 conductive hearing loss (CHL), 131 mixed hearing loss (MHL)) patients were examined for adverse events (AEs). 168 (166 adults, 2 children, 51 CHL, 117 MHL) patients underwent audiological examination. Audiology: 110 (65.5%) patients achieved a post-operative PTA4 ABG ≤ 10 dB. 154 (91.7%) patients achieved a post-operative PTA4 ABG ≤ 20 dB and therefore successful rehabilitation. Individual bone conduction (BC) PTA4 thresholds were stable in 159 (94.6%) patients. AEs: 12 (6.4%, adults only) patients had 13 AEs.ConclusionClinical data demonstrated satisfactory audiological results after implantation of the mAXIS Stapes Prosthesis, mLOOP Stapes Prosthesis, mZAM Stapes Prosthesis, and mFIX Stapes Prosthesis. The MED-EL stapes prostheses are safe and effective.Trial registration numberNCT05565339 (clinicaltrials.gov).
Report
Open Access
Academic Freedom Index – 2026 Update
(2026-03-17) Kinzelbach, Katrin; Lindberg, Staffan I.; Lott, Lars; Panaro, Angelo Vito
Article
Open Access
Jenseits der Symbolpolitik
(Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden, 2026-03-02) Jaraba, Mahmoud
Zusammenfassung Der Beitrag präsentiert eine ethnografisch fundierte, differenzierende Perspektive auf sogenannte „Clankriminalität“. Auf Basis langjähriger Feldforschung in Berlin und Nordrhein-Westfalen (NRW) zeigt er: Repression allein verfehlt die Problemlagen; wirksam sind präventive, typenbezogene Ansätze (Einzelfall-, innerfamiliäre, opportunistische, professionelle Muster). Das zentrale Hindernis ist tiefes wechselseitiges Misstrauen. Brückenbauer:innen wirken nur mit klarem Mandat, Schutz und Unabhängigkeit. Neben staatlicher Verstetigung (Rahmenkonzept, Schnittstellen, Finanzierung) braucht es Community-seitige Strukturen: unmissverständliche Distanz zu kriminellen Strukturen, professionelle NGO-Governance, repräsentative Mandate und bildungsbezogene Routinen. So wird Brückenarbeit von Symbolik zur belastbaren Praxis. Dieser Beitrag ist Teil des Schwerpunktes „Prävention von ‚Clankriminalität‘“ in Ausgabe 1/26.
Article
Open Access
Synthesis of 2D amorphous carbons via energy-autonomous carbonization of polyaniline upon decomposition of HClO₄
(Nature Publishing Group UK, 2026-02-07) Shen, Liu-Liu; Zhang, Gui-Rong; Zhang, Weiwei; Zheng, Wen-tao; Wu, Mingjian; Spiecker, Erdmann; Mei, Donghai; Etzold, Bastian J. M.
Despite centuries of advancement, the synthesis of carbon materials remains heavily reliant on energy-intensive thermal processes. Conventional methods require external heating for prolonged periods to overcome high energy barriers, posing challenges for sustainable large-scale production. Here we show an energy-autonomous synthesis pathway that utilizes the intrinsic chemical energy stored within a polyaniline-HClO4 composite. Triggered by mild thermal, microwave, or mechanical stimulation, the precursor undergoes a rapid exothermic self-propagation driven by the explosive decomposition of perchlorate species. This single-step process, completed in ≈0.4 s, simultaneously generates intense localized heat and a massive volume of gas, which forcibly exfoliates and carbonizes the polymer into interconnected 2D amorphous carbon nanosheets. We demonstrate that this energy-efficient method achieves carbon conversion efficiencies comparable to traditional pyrolysis. Furthermore, the reaction intensity is precisely tunable via the precursor water content, ensuring potential for safe industrial scale-up. This approach also enables the atomic-level incorporation of transition metals, creating a versatile platform for the design of catalysts for oxygen and carbon dioxide reduction reactions. This work provides a scalable, energy-autonomous pathway for carbon synthesis and offers a platform for the precise construction of catalytic architectures.
Article
Open Access
Paneth cells as orchestrators of epithelial barrier defense and emerging therapeutic targets in inflammatory bowel disease
(Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2026-03-16) Erkert, Lena; Haag, Lea-Maxie; Becker, Christoph
First described by Joseph Paneth in 1888 in the small intestine, particularly in the crypts of Lieberkühn, Paneth cells have since emerged as a critical subtype of intestinal epithelial cells (IECs), which together constitute the body’s largest interface with the external environment, continuously exposed to pathogens, dietary components, and toxins. Paneth cells represent a unique, long-lived secretory IEC population located at the crypt base, where they play indispensable roles in antimicrobial defense and stem cell niche maintenance. Their differentiation, positioning, and survival are governed by tightly regulated signaling networks, including the Wnt and Notch pathway. Although traditionally viewed as terminally differentiated, emerging evidence suggests Paneth cells possess a certain level of plasticity, enabling functional adaptation or dedifferentiation under stress or injury. These characteristics position Paneth cells as central regulators of intestinal homeostasis and epithelial barrier integrity. Over the last decades, accumulating evidence has established that Paneth cell dysfunction is closely linked to microbial dysbiosis and the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), highlighting their contribution to disease pathogenesis. Recent discoveries on how Paneth cell dysfunction contributes to intestinal inflammation are uncovering new therapeutic approaches aimed at reestablishing Paneth cell homeostasis and alleviating IBD progression. In this review, we comprehensively summarize current knowledge on Paneth cell differentiation, function, and their role in gut host defense and epithelial barrier maintenance. We further discuss mechanisms by which Paneth cell dysfunction disrupts intestinal homeostasis, promoting IBD development, and highlight emerging therapeutic strategies that target Paneth cells to reestablish barrier integrity and restore gut health.