Open Access

The transfer of historically grown monolithic software architectures into modern service-oriented architectures creates a lot of loose coupling points. This can lead to an unforeseen system behavior and can significantly impede those continuous modernization processes, since it is not clear where bottlenecks in a system arise. It is therefore necessary to monitor such modernization processes with an adaptive monitoring concept to be able to correctly record and interpret unpredictable system dynamics. This contribution presents a generic QoS measurement framework for service-based systems. The framework consists of an XML-based specification for the measurement to be performed – the Information Model (IM) – and the QoS System, which provides an execution platform for the IM. The framework will be applied to a standard business process of the German insurance industry, and the concepts of the IM and their mapping to artifacts of the QoS System will be presented. Furtherm ore, design and implementation of the QoS System’s parser and generator module and the generated artifacts are explained in detail, e.g., event model, agents, measurement module and analyzer module.

Service meshes can be seen as an infrastructure layer for microservice-based applications that are specifically suited for distributed application architectures. It is the goal to introduce the concept of service meshes and its use for microservices with the example of an open source service mesh called Istio. This paper gives an introduction into the service mesh concept and its relation to microservices. It also gives an overview of selected features provided by Istio as relevant to the above concept and provides a small sample setup that demonstrates the core features.

Dramatic increases in the number of cyber security attacks and breaches toward businesses and organizations have been experienced in recent years. The negative impacts of these breaches not only cause the stealing and compromising of sensitive information, malfunctioning of network devices, disruption of everyday operations, financial damage to the attacked business or organization itself, but also may navigate to peer businesses/organizations in the same industry. Therefore, prevention and early detection of these attacks play a significant role in the continuity of operations in IT-dependent organizations. At the same time detection of various types of attacks has become extremely difficult as attacks get more sophisticated, distributed and enabled by Artificial Intelligence (AI). Detection and handling of these attacks require sophisticated intrusion detection systems which run on powerful hardware and are administered by highly experienced security staff. Yet, these resources are costly to employ, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). To address these issues, we developed an architecture -within the GLACIER project- that can be realized as an in-house operated Security Information Event Management (SIEM) system for SMEs. It is affordable for SMEs as it is solely based on free and open-source components and thus does not require any licensing fees. Moreover, it is a Self-Contained System (SCS) and does not require too much management effort. It requires short configuration and learning phases after which it can be self-contained as long as the monitored infrastructure is stable (apart from a reaction to the generated alerts which may be outsourced to a service provider in SMEs, if necessary). Another main benefit of this system is to supply data to advanced detection algorithms, such as multidimensional analysis algorithms, in addition to traditional SIEMspecific tasks like data collection, normalization, enrichment, and storage. It supports the application of novel methods to detect security-related anomalies. The most distinct feature of this system that differentiates it from similar solutions in the market is its user feedback capability. Detected anomalies are displayed in a Graphical User Interface (GUI) to the security staff who are allowed to give feedback for anomalies. Subsequently, this feedback is utilized to fine-tune the anomaly detection algorithm. In addition, this GUI also provides access to network actors for quick incident responses. The system in general is suitable for both Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) environments, while the detection algorithm must be specifically trained for each of these environments individually.

Intrusion detection systems and other network security components detect security-relevant events based on policies consisting of rules. If an event turns out as a false alarm, the corresponding policy has to be adjusted in order to reduce the number of false positives. Modified policies, however, need to be tested before going into productive use. We present a visual analysis tool for the evaluation of security events and related policies which integrates data from different sources using the IF-MAP specification and provides a “what-if” simulation for testing modified policies on past network dynamics. In this paper, we will describe the design and outcome of a user study that will help us to evaluate our visual analysis tool.

Radioisotope-guided sentinel lymph node dissection (sLND) has shown high diagnostic reliability in prostate (PCa) and other cancers. To overcome the limitations of the radioactive tracers, magnetometer-guided sLND using superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) has been successfully used in PCa. This prospective study (SentiMag Pro II, DRKS00007671) determined the diagnostic accuracy of magnetometer-guided sLND in intermediate- and high-risk PCa. Fifty intermediate- or high-risk PCa patients (prostate-specific antigen (PSA) >= 10 ng/mL and/or Gleason score >= 7; median PSA 10.8 ng/mL, IQR 7.4–19.2 ng/mL) were enrolled. After the intraprostatic SPIONs injection a day earlier, patients underwent magnetometer-guided sLND and extended lymph node dissection (eLND, followed by radical prostatectomy. SLNs were detected in in vivo and in ex vivo samples. Diagnostic accuracy of sLND was assessed using eLND as the reference. SLNs were detected in all patients (detection rate 100%), with 447 sentinel lymph nodes SLNs (median 9, IQR 6–12) being identified and 966 LNs (median 18, IQR 15–23) being removed. Thirty-six percent (18/50) of patients had LN metastases (median 2, IQR 1–3). Magnetometer-guided sLND had 100% sensitivity, 97.0% specificity, 94.4% positive predictive value, 100% negative predictive value, 0.0% false negative rate, and 3.0% additional diagnostic value (LN metastases only in SLNs outside the eLND template). In vivo, one positive SLN/LN-positive patient was missed, resulting in a sensitivity of 94.4%. In conclusion, this new magnetic sentinel procedure has high accuracy for nodal staging in intermediate- and high-risk PCa. The reliability of intraoperative SLN detection using this magnetometer system requires verification in further multicentric studies.

Die Covid-19 Pandemie hat zu einem signifikanten Anstieg der Remote Work geführt. Die Veränderung in der Interaktion und Kollaboration ist für viele agile Teams eine Herausforderung gewesen. Diverse Studien zeigen unterschiedliche Effekte und Auswirkungen auf die Zusammenarbeit agiler Teams während der Pandemie. So ist die Kommunikation sachlicher und zielgerichteter geworden. Ebenso wird eine Verminderung des sozialen Austauschs in den Teams berichtet. Unser Artikel thematisiert die Veränderung der Interaktion in agilen Teams durch die Remote Work. Wir haben eine qualitative Fallstudie bei einem agilen Software-Entwicklungsteam bei Otto durchgeführt. Unsere Ergebnisse zeigen einen Zusammenhang zwischen den Auswirkungen auf die Interaktion und der persönlichen Autonomie der Team-Mitglieder. Darüber hinaus haben wir keine signifikanten negativen Effekte durch die veränderte Interaktion auf die agile Arbeitsweise festgestellt.

Für das digitale Flugführungssystem des Versuchsflugzeugs HFB 320 wurde am Institut für Flugführung der DFVLR in Braunschweig eine Betriebsart zum automatischen zeitgenauen Fliegen im Flughafen-Nahbereich entwickelt und im Flugversuch erprobt. Der Bericht enthält die Beschreibung der eingesetzten Algorithmen zur Berechnung 4-dimensionaler Flugbahnen unter Berücksichtigung der momentanen Windsituation. Es werden verschiedene Verfahren zur Messung, Filterung und Vorhersage des Windvektors entwickelt und an Hand von Flugversuchsergebnissen diskutiert.

Smart Cities require reliable means for managing installations that offer essential services to the citizens. In this paper we focus on the problem of evacuation of smart buildings in case of emergencies. In particular, we present an abstract architecture for situation-aware evacuation guidance systems in smart buildings, describe its key modules in detail, and provide some concrete examples of its structure and dynamics.

In dieser Bachelorarbeit werden zwei Ziele verfolgt. Ein Ziel ist es anhand einer Karriere-Seite mit einem Bewerbungsformular einzuordnen, ob die Gestaltung dieser mit der mobile-first Philosophie einen Einfluss auf die Usability und bezüglich der Benutzbarkeit von Interaktionselementen im Desktop-Kontext hat. Ein weiteres Ziel ist, bedingt durch die COVID-19 Pandemie, eine prototypische Software-Lösung zu entwickeln, welche den kompletten Lösungsversuch im Rahmen eines Usability-Tests einer Versuchsperson inklusive der Blickpositionen, ohne den Einsatz spezieller Hardware, aufnimmt und diese Aufnahme für eine Auswertung auch wieder abspielen kann. Die Arbeit setzt sich dabei aus zwei praktischen Teilen zusammen. Der erste Teil umfasst die Konzeption und Entwicklung der Karriere-Seite unter Einsatz der mobile-first Philosophie für das betreuende Unternehmen, frobese GmbH. Im zweiten Teil der Arbeit wird die Auswirkung der mobile-first Philosophie auf die Usability im Desktop-Kontext empirisch untersucht. Dies geschieht im Rahmen eines remote Usability-Tests mithilfe der dafür entwickelten Software-Lösung. Diese nimmt die Lösungsversuche mitsamt der Blickpositionen der Versuchspersonen auf und fordert sie anschließend auf, einen Fragebogen auszufüllen. Abschließend werden die Ergebnisse, der Versuchsaufbau und die Ergebnisse kritisch gewürdigt. Der remote Usability-Test im zweiten Teil der Arbeit wurde mit insgesamt 30 Versuchspersonen durchgeführt. Sie wurden dabei in zwei Gruppen aufgeteilt, eine mobile Gruppe und eine Desktop Gruppe. Im Rahmen des Usability-Tests mussten sie eine Aufgabe auf der prototypischen Karriere-Seite vom ersten praktischen Teil dieser Arbeit erledigen. Die entwickelte remote Lösung erlaubte auch unter Pandemiebedingungen eine einfache Rekrutierung der Versuchspersonen und Durchführung der Versuche. Mithilfe eines Auswertungs-Clients konnten die Versuchsaufnahmen im Nachhinein wieder abgespielt werden und in Form von Heatmaps visualisiert werden. Die Auswertung zeigte, dass mithilfe der mobile-first Philosophie eine exzellente Usability im mobilen Kontext erreicht werden konnte, die sich auch auf den Desktop übertragen hat. Es konnte aber auch ein signifikanter Unterschied in den Bearbeitungszeiten zwischen beiden Gruppen festgestellt werden. Hier konnten die Versuchsaufnahmen Indizien auf die Ursachen dieser Diskrepanz geben.

Sustainable tourism is a niche market that has been growing in recent years. At the same time, companies in the mass tourism market have increasingly marketed themselves with a “green” image, although this market is not sustainable. In order to successfully market sustainability, targeted marketing tactics are needed. The aim of this research is to establish appropriate marketing tactics for sustainable tourism in the niche market and in the mass market. The purpose is to uncover current marketing tactics for both the mass tourism market and the sustainable tourism niche market. It also intends to explore how consumers who are more interested in sustainability differ from consumers with less interest in sustainability in terms of their perception of sustainability in tourism. Furthermore, this research paper will assess the trustworthiness of sustainable travel offers and the trustworthiness of quality seals in sustainable tourism. For this purpose, an online survey was conducted, which was addressed at German-speaking consumers. The survey showed, that consumers with more general interest in sustainability also consider sustainability to be more relevant in tourism. Offers for sustainable travel and quality seals were perceived as not very trustworthy. Moreover, no link could be found between the interest in sustainability and the perception of trustworthiness. On the basis of the above, it is advisable to directly advertise sustainability in the niche market and to mention sustainability in the mass market only as an accompaniment or not at all. Further research could be undertaken to identify which factors influence the trustworthiness of offers, and trustworthiness of quality seals in sustainable tourism.