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Staatliche Überwachung - Eine diskursanalytische Studie zur Legitimierung von staatlicher Überwachung im Rahmen von Anti-Terror-Maßnahmen
Get PDFLiberale Grundrechte sind essentieller Bestandteil demokratischer Regierungssysteme und erfüllen die Aufgabe, Meinungsbildungs- und Partizipationsprozesse rechtlich abzusichern. Gerade in Zeiten terroristischer Herausforderungen lassen sich seitens politischer Akteure und Sicherheitsbehörden Bestrebungen erkennen, diese Grundrechte zugunsten verstärkter Kontroll- und Überwachungsmaßnahmen einzuschränken, um eine effektive, staatliche Terrorismusabwehr zu gewährleisten. Um die Akzeptanz dieser Maßnahmen zu stärken, bedarf es ihrer Erklärung, Begründung und Rechtfertigung.
An dieser Stelle setzt die vorliegende Dissertationsschrift an: In einem diachronen Vergleich zweier Dekaden wird gezeigt, wie sich der Überwachungsdiskurs der 1970er und der 2000er Jahre in einer der größten deutschen Tageszeitungen, der Frankfurter Allgemeinen Zeitung, ausgestaltete und Legitimierungsprozesse zur Anwendung kamen. Ziel ist es, historische Kontinuitäten und Diskontinuitäten herauszuarbeiten, die Aufschluss über die strategische Bedeutung politischer Kommunikation in heterogenen Akteurskonstellationen geben. Neben der Analyse struktureller Spezifika des sprachlichen Einsatzes von Legitimierungsprozessen werden auch diskursive Konfigurationen zwischen Macht und Wissen offengelegt, die eine Entgrenzung staatlicher Überwachung verdeutlichen
Data-Driven Product and Service Engineering: Konzeption und Entwicklung datengetriebener Produkte und Dienstleistungen
No full textDatengetriebene Dienstleistungen, die auf IT-gestützten Produkten aufbauen, versprechen neue Mehrwerte für Anbieter und Kunden. Während im wissenschaftlichen Diskurs bereits höhere Eigenschaften solcher Leistungen wie Kontextadaptivität oder Lernfähigkeit beschrieben werden, beherrschen bislang überwiegend hochspezialisierte Lösungsanbieter deren Entwicklungskomplexität. Die vorliegende Dissertation widmet sich der Gestaltung dieser Einzelleistungen, indem prototypische Anwendungen umgesetzt und evaluiert werden. Hierzu wird in einem ersten Schritt untersucht, wie Produkte flexibilisiert und auf Kundenbedürfnisse ausgerichtet werden können. Darauf aufbauend wird eine Verknüpfung zwischen Produkt- und Dienstleistungskomponenten entwickelt und schließlich die Anwendung datengetriebener Dienstleistungen anhand zweier Beispiele vollzogen. Die im Zuge der Arbeit gewonnenen Erkenntnisse werden evidenzbasiert zu Wissen verdichtet und validiert. Damit leistet die Arbeit einen Beitrag zu einer strukturierten Entwicklung datengetriebener Leistungen und Realisierung von kontextadaptiven Smart Services
Signatures of geostrophic turbulence in power spectra and third-order structure function of offshore wind speed fluctuations
No full textWe analyze offshore wind speeds with a time resolution of one second over a long period of 20 months for different heights above the sea level. Energy spectra extending over more than seven decades give a comprehensive picture of wind fluctuations, including intermittency effects at small length scales and synoptic weather phenomena at large scales. The spectra S(f) show a scaling behavior consistent with three-dimensional turbulence at high frequencies f, followed by a regime at lower frequencies, where fS(f) varies weakly. Lowering the frequency below a crossover frequency , a rapid rise of fS(f) occurs. An analysis of the third-order structure function of wind speed differences for a given time lag shows a rapid change from negative to positive values of at . Remarkably, after applying Taylor’s hypothesis locally, we find the third-order structure function to exhibit a behavior very similar to that obtained previously from aircraft measurements at much higher altitudes in the atmosphere. In particular, the third-order structure function grows linearly with the separation distance for negative , and with the third power for positive . This allows us to estimate energy and enstrophy dissipation rates for offshore wind. The crossover from negative to positive values occurs at about the same separation distance of 400 km as found from the aircraft measurements, suggesting that this length is independent of the altitude in the atmosphere
Computations of volumes in five candidates elections
No full textWe describe several analytical (i.e., precise) results obtained in five candidates social choice elections under the assumption of the Impartial Anonymous Culture. These include the Condorcet and Borda paradoxes, as well as the Condorcet efficiency of plurality, negative plurality and Borda voting, including their runoff versions. The computations are done by Normaliz. It finds precise probabilities as volumes of polytopes in dimension 119, using its recent implementation of the Lawrence algorithm
Real-Time Monitoring of Strain Accumulation and Relief during Epitaxy of Ultrathin Co Ferrite Films with Varied Co Content
Get PDFUltrathin CoFe3−O4 films of high structural quality and with different Co content (x = 0.6–1.2) were prepared by reactive molecular beam epitaxy on MgO(001) substrates. Epitaxy of these ferrite films is extensively monitored by means of time-resolved (operando) X-ray diffraction recorded in out-of-plane geometry to characterize the temporal evolution of the film structure. The Co ferrite films show high crystalline ordering and smooth film interfaces independent of their Co content. All CoFe3−O4 films exhibit enhanced compressive out-of-plane strain during the early stages of growth, which partly releases with increasing film thickness. When the Co content of the ferrite films increases, the vertical-layer distances increase, accompanied by slightly increasing film roughnesses. The latter result is supported by surface-sensitive low-energy electron diffraction as well as X-ray reflectivity measurements on the final films. In contrast, the substrate–film interface roughness decreases with increasing Co content, which is confirmed with X-ray reflectivity measurements. In addition, the composition and electronic structure of the ferrite films is characterized by means of hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy performed after film growth. The experiments reveal the expected increasing Fe3+/Fe2+ cation ratios for a higher Co content
Illness perceptions of occupational hand eczema in German patients based on the common-sense model of self-regulation: A qualitative study
No full textBackground
Occupational skin diseases (OSD) in the form of hand eczema (HE) are a common work-related disease. Illness perceptions as presented in Leventhal’s Common-Sense Model (CSM) are important for patients’ self-management of diseases. Understanding these illness perceptions is essential for patient communicating. No quantitative or qualitative studies which investigated subjective illness perceptions in patients with occupational HE utilized the CSM as theoretical framework. The Objective of this study is to investigate illness perceptions of patients with occupational hand eczema (HE) using the CSM.
Methods
We applied an exploratory qualitative approach and conducted purposive sampling. Thirty-six patients with occupational HE were interviewed using an interview guide based on the dimensions of the CSM, including coherence and emotional representation. All participants participated in a three-week inpatient program at a clinic specialized on occupational dermatology. One interview had to be excluded before analysis, since one participant’s diagnosis was retrospectively changed from ICD to tinea and hence did not match the inclusion criteria. Thirty-five interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed. Data was analyzed deductively and inductively using qualitative text analysis. MAXQDA 2018 (Verbi, Berlin, Germany), a software for qualitative data analysis, was applied for coding and summarizing of results. All dimensions of the CSM were explored for occupational HE.
Results
Several sub-categories could be identified. Participants named a variety of causes in different areas (e. g. external irritants and other hazardous factors, psycho-social factors, allergies, having a ‘bad immune system’ or lifestyle). The great impact of the disease on the participants’ life is shown by the wide range of consequences reported, affecting all areas of life (i. e. psychological, physical, occupational, private). Considering coherence, an ambivalence between comprehensibility and non-comprehensibility of the disease is apparent.
Discussion
The complexity of illness perceptions presented in this paper is relevant for those involved in HE patient education and counseling, e. g, health educators, dermatologists, and, occupational physicians. Future research might further investigate specific aspects of illness perceptions in patients with occupational HE, especially considering the complexity of coherence and overlapping dimensions (i. e. emotional representation and psychological consequences)
Radicalization from a societal perspective
Get PDFStudies on radicalization tend to focus on the dynamics of extremist groups and how they exploit grievances of vulnerable individuals. It is imperative, however, to also understand the societal factors that lead to such vulnerabilities and grievances. Our social environment plays a key role in how we view the world and shape our beliefs. By understanding the social dynamics, we can gain insight into the motivations that drive people to extremism. Throughout this paper, we examine the societal factors and processes such as discriminative institutional structures and social norms/practices that can make an individual vulnerable and serve as a driving force for them to join a radical group. To do that, we use the process-oriented psychology of Arnold Mindell and the phenomenology of whiteness of Sara Ahmed as our theoretical framework. These frameworks help us map out the societal dynamics causing individuals to carve social niches out of their current social group and into an extremist group. We use interviews with ex-militants of the radical group, Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, to show how certain societal dynamics, such as social injustice, misuse of power, marginalization and discrimination, served as key factors that led these individuals to identify and sympathize with radical ideology. The aim of this paper is to emphasize that, to develop effective preventative measures against recruitment into extremist groups, it is imperative to have a profound understanding of the social dynamics that make an individual susceptible to radicalization in the first place
Structure of the ceramide-bound SPOTS complex
Get PDFSphingolipids are structural membrane components that also function in cellular stress responses. The serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT) catalyzes the rate-limiting step in sphingolipid biogenesis. Its activity is tightly regulated through multiple binding partners, including Tsc3, Orm proteins, ceramides, and the phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate (PI4P) phosphatase Sac1. The structural organization and regulatory mechanisms of this complex are not yet understood. Here, we report the high-resolution cryo-EM structures of the yeast SPT in complex with Tsc3 and Orm1 (SPOT) as dimers and monomers and a monomeric complex further carrying Sac1 (SPOTS). In all complexes, the tight interaction of the downstream metabolite ceramide and Orm1 reveals the ceramide-dependent inhibition. Additionally, observation of ceramide and ergosterol binding suggests a co-regulation of sphingolipid biogenesis and sterol metabolism within the SPOTS complex
Optimierung von Düngungs- und Bewirtschaftungsstrategien im Gemüsebau zur Minderung von Stickstoffemissionen
Get PDFTo ensure a high yield and quality of the produce, a high fertilizer nitrogen (N) supply is often required in vegetable crop rotations. However, the fertilizer N requirement is difficult to calculate since the N supply via mineralization and actual N uptake of the crop cannot accurately be predicted in advance. Therefore, base fertilization and top dressing are usually applied before intensive N uptake starts. However, if a crop is harvested before yield expectations are reached, this strategy can result in high soil mineral N residues. In addition, high quantities of N-rich and readily mineralizable crop residues often remain in the field at harvest. In sandy soils, however, nitrate can be easily leached. Other significant N losses are caused by gaseous ammonia volatilization and nitrous oxide emission. However, the emission of these N species can directly and indirectly damage ecosystems, contribute to global warming, and contaminate sources of drinking water.
The first part of this study aimed at the risk of nitrate leaching losses during the cultivation of field-grown spinach. Therefore, the effect of a reduced N base fertilization as well as a split N top dressing was examined in a series of fertilization trials. The reduced base fertilization was compensated by an increased top dressing based on the soil mineral N concentration. In a further treatment the second top dressing of 50–70 kg N/ha was applied by a frequent urea foliar spraying instead of the single application of a granulated nitrate fertilizer. A further part of this thesis focused on reducing post-harvest N losses following autumn-grown spinach during the winter leaching period. For this purpose, the depth, frequency, and timing of the incorporation of the spinach crop residues were varied. Furthermore, the effectiveness of spraying the crop residues with the nitrification inhibitor 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) was examined.
The results showed that both reducing the base fertilization and splitting the top dressing significantly decreased the nitrate concentration exposed to leaching. In addition, the splitting approach made it possible to dispense with the second top dressing in the case of harvesting at an early harvest stage. Thus, the soil mineral N residues were reduced. On the other hand, these measures diminished the crop yield at an early harvest stage by 6% on average. At a late harvest stage, spinach was less affected by the schedule of the fertilizer N supply. Due to diminished plant growth and necrosis at the leaf margin, a frequent urea foliar spray proved to be an inappropriate fertilization strategy in contrast to the application of a granulated fertilizer in combination with a subsequent irrigation. In spring-grown and winter-grown spinach, nitrogen was one of the most limiting growth factors. In contrast, in the summer and autumn seasons marketable yield appeared to be limited by bolting and decreasing irradiation, respectively. Thus, in these seasons it was possible to dispense with the second top dressing without affecting the marketable yield.
Within a few weeks after the incorporation of the spinach crop residues an intensive mineralization increased the soil nitrate concentration up to 100 kg N/ha (0–90 cm). Even the treatment of the crop residues with DMPP was hardly able to delay nitrate formation. In addition, the winter cover crops only partially absorbed the soil mineral N. As a result, high quantities of nitrate shifted down the soil profile during the winter leaching period. Based on an N balance sheet, potential N losses were mostly independent of the tillage intensity. In contrast, by postponing the incorporation of the crop residues from early autumn to spring the potential N losses were reduced to ≤ 20 kg/ha. This effect was due to the N uptake and N conservation of the resprouting spinach crop residues as well as the lower net N mineralization in the soil. However, when the spinach plants partially or completely decomposed in autumn and winter, the potential N losses were considerable even without tillage. To ensure N uptake and a low N mineralization a superficial sowing of a winter hard catch crop into the resprouting spinach crop residues without soil disturbances seems to be a promising approach.
Unlike open-field cultivation, nitrate leaching losses can be effectively reduced by cultivation in soilless closed-loop irrigation systems. However, organic cultivation of fast-grown crops like basil is challenging in such systems since N supply is dependent on the mineralization of organic fertilizers in a small substrate volume. To ensure a sufficient N availability, high quantities of organic N are applied to the growing media. However, depending on the mineralization rate, this can lead to plant damage and yield depressions.
Based on this background, in the third part of this thesis it was examined whether pot-grown basil is affected by ammonia and ammonium exposures resulting from an organic fertilization. Therefore, basil was cultivated at different base N fertilization and substrate pH levels. The growing media consisted of pure peat or a mixture of peat and 5% (v/v) mature green waste compost.
A high base fertilization as well as high substrate pH caused considerable damage to basil seedlings and diminished crop growth. These observations were mainly explained by the ammonical exposure. Thus, both a reduced base fertilization and lower initial substrate pH mitigated these effects. However, optimum plant growth was only achieved by the amendment of compost. In addition, the peat-compost mixture had to be stored for about two weeks before sowing. In this approach an early initiation of the nitrification led to a fast and effective reduction of the ammonia and ammonium exposures right from the seedling stage. Furthermore, the resulting increased nitrate supply promoted basil growth. Due to the variety of organic fertilizers and substrate components used in organically grown crops, further trials are required to make general recommendations.
The optimized synchronization of N demand and N supply proved to be effective in reducing potential nitrate leaching losses in open fields as well as prevent harmful exposures to ammonia and ammonium in organically pot-grown basil. However, the development of specific plant and soil monitoring technologies seems to be necessary to better estimate whether the N fertilization can be delayed or even the total N supply can be reduced without affecting marketable yield in individual cases. Quantitatively, most N losses were observed in the off-season during the winter leaching period. A holistic approach to reducing N losses and emissions into the environment must therefore also include the post-harvest strategy
Connecting hydrological modelling and forecasting from global to local scales: Perspectives from an international joint virtual workshop
No full textThe unprecedented progress in ensemble hydro-meteorological modelling and forecasting on a range of temporal and spatial scales, raises a variety of new challenges which formed the theme of the Joint Virtual Workshop, ‘Connecting global to local hydrological modelling and forecasting: challenges and scientific advances’. Held from 29 June to 1 July 2021, this workshop was co-organised by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), the Copernicus Emergency Management (CEMS) and Climate Change (C3S) Services, the Hydrological Ensemble Prediction EXperiment (HEPEX), and the Global Flood Partnership (GFP). This article aims to summarise the state-of-the-art presented at the workshop and provide an early career perspective. Recent advances in hydrological modelling and forecasting, reflections on the use of forecasts for decision-making across scales, and means to minimise new barriers to communication in the virtual format are also discussed. Thematic foci of the workshop included hydrological model development and skill assessment, uncertainty communication, forecasts for early action, co-production of services and incorporation of local knowledge, Earth observation, and data assimilation. Connecting hydrological services to societal needs and local decision-making through effective communication, capacity-building and co-production was identified as critical. Multidisciplinary collaborations emerged as crucial to effectively bring newly developed tools to practice