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Deep Learning Based Perception on Radar Data for Autonomous Driving
Full text linkThis thesis investigates perception tasks using automotive radar sensors for autonomous driving. Compared to cameras and lidars, radar sensors offer unique advantages including weather robustness and direct velocity measurements. We specifically focus on leveraging range-beam-doppler tensors as input for deep neural networks, a data representation that contains the full radar signal rather than the commonly used sparse radar pointclouds. The thesis investigates how range-beam-doppler tensors can be processed by neural networks through the exemplary task of scene classification and evaluates the effectiveness of complex-valued convolutions in processing radar data. Our findings show that while scene classification is achievable solely based on radar data, complex-valued convolutions do not yield significant benefits in this context, and the magnitude information alone suffices for this perception task. Furthermore, we investigate how polar radar tensors can be efficiently processed in convolutional neural networks. This leads to the development of radar 3D object detection model using graph neural networks, which improved detection performance by more than 8.9% compared to a model without graph convolutions. We demonstrate that ego-motion compensation, while more complex for range-beam-doppler tensors than pointclouds, is essential for accurate object detection, yielding an 8.7% improvement in average precision. We also demonstrate that discrete autoencoders can effectively compress range-beam-doppler data while maintaining sufficient information for multi-sensor fusion tasks. In comparing radar tensor and pointcloud approaches, we find that current pointcloud-based models achieve slightly superior detection performance. However, our research has significantly narrowed the performance gap between these two data representations and suggests that the range-beam-doppler data level holds considerable promise for future improvements
CLOSURE #11: Kieler Journal für Comicforschung
Full text linkMit großer Freude präsentieren wir die elfte Ausgabe von CLOSURE Kieler Journal für Comicforschung. Aufmerksamen Leser_innen wird nicht entgangen sein, dass wir uns vom kleinen ›e‹ des ›e-Journals‹ in unserem Titel verabschiedet haben – schließlich passt es thematisch perfekt zu dieser Ausgabe, wenn selbst im Journalnamen ein kleines Ende stattfindet. Die elfte Ausgabe des CLOSURE Kieler Journals für Comicforschung widmet sich dem Thema »The End is Here« und untersucht das Konzept des Endes im Comicmedium. Obwohl Comics in den letzten Jahrzehnten eine Renaissance erleben und kulturell an Bedeutung gewinnen, sind Brüche und Transformationen sichtbar, die Fragen nach Endpunkten aufwerfen. Historisch betrachtet markieren beispielsweise die Ära der Comics Code Authority in den 1950er Jahren sowie der technologische Wandel im »blue age« des Comics einen möglichen Schlussstrich. Aktuelle Entwicklungen wie Webcomics, digitale Plattformen und KI-generierte Geschichten stellen die traditionelle Comicproduktion infrage und werfen die Frage auf, ob das Medium vor einem Ende steht. Das narrative Element des Endes wird ebenfalls analysiert, etwa in Bezug auf Serien wie »The Killing Joke« oder »Watchmen«, die mit Variationen des Abschlusses spielen und Handlungsstränge neu definieren. Auch das Weltende, prominent vertreten durch »The Walking Dead«, wird thematisiert. Die Beiträge der Autor_innen beleuchten aus verschiedenen Perspektiven die Bedeutung und Funktion des Endes im Comic, sei es als Abschluss, kritische Reflexion oder kulturelles Phänomen. Trotz der scheinbaren Paradoxie eines Endes in einem Medium, das auf Serialität und Fortsetzung setzt, zeigt die Ausgabe die vielfältigen Dimensionen des Endes im Comic auf und bereichert so die Comicforschung.It is with great pleasure that we present the eleventh issue of CLOSURE Kieler Journal für Comicforschung. Attentive readers will have noticed that we have said goodbye to the small ‘e’ of ‘e-Journal’ in our title - after all, it fits perfectly with the theme of this issue if there is a small ending even in the journal's name. The eleventh issue of the CLOSURE Kiel Journal for Comics Research is dedicated to the topic “The End is Here” and examines the concept of the end in the comics medium. Although comics have experienced a renaissance in recent decades and are gaining cultural significance, breaks and transformations are visible that raise questions about endings. From a historical perspective, for example, the era of the Comics Code Authority in the 1950s and the technological change in the “blue age” of comics mark a possible end. Current developments such as webcomics, digital platforms and AI-generated stories call traditional comic production into question and raise the question of whether the medium is coming to an end. The narrative element of the ending is also analyzed, for example in relation to series such as “The Killing Joke” or “Watchmen”, which play with variations of the ending and redefine storylines. The end of the world, prominently represented by “The Walking Dead”, is also addressed. The authors' contributions examine the meaning and function of endings in comics from various perspectives, be it as closure, critical reflection or cultural phenomenon. Despite the apparent paradox of an ending in a medium that relies on seriality and continuation, the issue shows the many dimensions of endings in comics and thus enriches comics research
The fundamentals of eye tracking part 2: From research question to operationalization
Full text linkIn this article, we discuss operationalizations and examples of experimental design in eye-tracking research. First, we distinguish direct operationalization for entities like saccades, which are closely aligned with their original concepts, and indirect operationalization for concepts not directly measurable, such as attention or mind-wandering. The latter relies on selecting a measurable proxy. Second, we highlight the variability in algorithmic operationalizations and emphasize that changing parameters can affect outcome measures. Transparency in reporting these parameters and algorithms is crucial for comparisons across studies. Third, we provide references to studies for common operationalizations in eye-tracking research and discuss key operationalizations in reading research. Fourth, the IO-model is introduced as a tool to help researchers operationalize difficult concepts. Finally, we present three example experiments with useful methods for eye-tracking research, encouraging readers to consider these examples for inspiration in their own experiments
Large-angle Lorentz Four-dimensional scanning transmission electron microscopy for simultaneous local magnetization, strain and structure mapping
Full text linkSmall adjustments in atomic configurations can significantly impact the magnetic properties of matter. Strain, for instance, can alter magnetic anisotropy and enable fine-tuning of magnetism. However, the effects of these changes on nanoscale magnetism remain largely unexplored. In particular, when strain fluctuates at the nanoscale, directly linking structural changes with magnetic behavior poses a substantial challenge. Here, we develop an approach, LA-Ltz-4D-STEM, to map structural information and magnetic fields simultaneously at the nanoscale. This approach opens avenues for an in-depth study of structure-property correlations of magnetic materials at the nanoscale. We applied LA-Ltz-4D-STEM to image strain, atomic packing, and magnetic fields simultaneously in a deformed amorphous ferromagnet with complex strain variations at the nanoscale. An anomalous magnetic configuration near shear bands, which reside in a magnetostatically high-energy state, was observed. By performing pixel-to-pixel correlation of the different physical quantities across a large field of view, a critical aspect for investigating industrial ferromagnetic materials, the magnetic moments were classified into two distinct groups: one influenced by magnetoelastic coupling and the other oriented by competition with magnetostatic energy
The Impact of the Saxon Military on the Polish Army in the First Half of the 18th Century
Full text linkMit der Wahl Augusts des Starken aus dem Hause Wettin zum König von Polen-Litauen waren die Geschicke Polen-Litauens und des Kurfürstentums Sachsen in gewisser Weise miteinander verwoben. Der folgende Beitrag konzentriert sich auf die Veränderungen im Heer Polen-Litauens, die unter dem deutlichen Einfluss Sachsens stattfanden. Aufgrund des Umfangs des Themas orientiert sich der Beitrag an den wichtigsten Merkmalen dieser Veränderungen.With the election of Augustus II the Strong from the House of Wettin as King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, the fates of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Electorate of Saxony were in some way intertwined. The following paper focuses on the changes in the army of the Commonwealth, which took place under the clear influence of Saxony. Due to the extensiveness of the topic, the paper has been oriented towards their most important features
Reading and Autobiographical Self in the Memoirs of Prince I. M. Dolgorukov (1764−1823)
Full text linkIm Russischen Reich des 18. Jahrhunderts veränderte die zunehmende Verbreitung von Bildung und europäischen literarischen Vorbildern die Einstellung der Menschen zur Literatur und zum Lesen radikal. Wertvolle Quellen zur Rekonstruktion der Auswirkungen dieser Veränderungen auf die Gesellschaft und die Menschen sind Ego-Dokumente. Ziel dieses Beitrags ist es, das Lesen als Thema in der autobiografischen Prosa von Fürst I. M. Dolgorukov, einer interessanten Figur der russischen Kulturszene jener Zeit, zu analysieren.In the 18th-century Russian Empire, a greater diffusion of education and European literary models radically changed people’s approach to literature and the act of reading. Valuable sources for reconstructing the impact of these changes on the society and persons are ego-documents. The aim of the following paper is to analyse the theme of reading in the autobiographical prose of Prince I. M. Dolgorukov, an interesting figure of the Russian cultural scene of the time
Zarys dziejów językoznawstwa słowiańskiego na Uniwersytecie Lipskim
Full text linkDie slawischen Sprachen waren an der Universität Leipzig schon Ende des 16. Jahrhunderts von Interesse, aber Leipzig wurde zu einem Weltzentrum der slawischen Sprachwissenschaft, als A. Leskien 1870 die Leitung des Instituts für slawische Philologie übernahm. In der Zwischenkriegszeit waren die bedeutendsten Slawisten in Leipzig M. Vasmer, R. Trautmann und K. H. Meyer. Nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg wurden die slawischen Sprachen in Leipzig aus einer theoretisch-allgemeinen linguistischen Perspektive und aus einer konfrontativen slawisch-germanischen Perspektive erforscht. Leipzig wurde auch zu einem bedeutenden Zentrum der slawischen und slawisch-germanischen Onomastikforschung in Deutschland sowie (neben Bautzen) zu einem wichtigen Zentrum der sorbischen Sprachwissenschaft.Slavonic languages were of interest at the University of Leipzig as early as the end of the 16th century, but Leipzig became a world centre for Slavic linguistics when A. Leskien became head of the Department of Slavonic Philology in 1870. Between the wars, the most prominent Slavists in Leipzig were M. Vasmer, R. Trautmann and K. H. Meyer. After the Second World War, Slavic languages were studied in Leipzig from a theoretical-general linguistic perspective and from a confrontational Slavic-Germanic perspective. Leipzig also became a major centre for Slavic and Slavic-Germanic onomastic research in Germany, as well as an important (apart from Bautzen) centre for Sorabic linguistics.Językami słowiańskimi interesowano się na Uniwersytecie Lipskim już w końcu XVI w., ale Lipsk stał się światowym ośrodkiem językoznawstwa slawistycznego, gdy w 1870 r. kierownikiem katedry filologii słowiańskiej został A. Leskien. W okresie międzywojennym najwybitniejszymi slawistami w Lipsku byli M. Vasmer, R. Trautmann i K. H. Meyer. Po drugiej wojnie światowej języki słowiańskie badano w Lipsku w ujęciu teoretyczno-ogólnojęzykoznawczym oraz w konfrontatywnym ujęciu slawistyczno-germanistycznym. Lipsk stał się też w Niemczech głównym ośrodkiem slawistycznych oraz slawistyczno-germanistycznych badań onomastycznych, jak również ważnym (oprócz Budziszyna) centrum językoznawstwa sorabistycznego
Komplexe Trägerpartikel zur Inhalation
Full text linkThe interactive powder mixture is the most widely used approach for dry powder formulations in pulmonary drug delivery, combining micronised drug with a coarse excipient, typically lactose. The excipient improves flowability and aerosolisation, while fine drug particles adhere to its surface and must detach during inhalation to reach the lungs. Detachment is influenced by particle collisions, shear, and drag forces. Despite extensive research, the mechanisms governing drug detachment are not fully understood, as delivery depends on the interplay of drug, carrier, and inhaler device. Carrier particle geometry is particularly critical, yet its effects are difficult to isolate. This thesis investigates how carrier geometry affects drug loading and detachment using computational modelling, additive manufacturing, and experimental testing. Simplified geometries were first used to isolate surface effects, while in-silico collision models and 3D-printed particles allowed detailed analysis of detachment dynamics. A broader set of complex geometries was then systematically evaluated, revealing significant differences in performance. One geometry, the “Pharmacone”, consistently showed superior drug detachment, attributed to its spiked surface influencing particle movement and airflow interactions. Experimental studies with 3D-printed carriers confirmed the simulations, showing that geometry strongly affects powder homogeneity and aerodynamic performance. Bayesian optimisation further explored design modifications, identifying improved geometries and clarifying how specific features influence detachment. Overall, the results demonstrate that carrier geometry significantly impacts drug delivery efficiency and highlight how advanced design and modelling approaches can guide optimisation of pulmonary formulations, offering new opportunities to enhance therapeutic outcomes
AGO Recommendations for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Patients with Early Breast Cancer: Update 2025
Full text linkThe Breast Committee of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Gynäkologische Onkologie (German Gynecological Oncology Group, AGO) presents the 2025 update of the evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with early breast cancer
Applying Progress Testing to Undergraduate Periodontal Courses-A First Evaluation After 2 Years of Use in a German University
Full text linkBackground The Progress Test in Periodontology (PTP) has been implemented at Kiel University to gain an impression of students' learning process in this specific subdiscipline of periodontology within the dental curriculum. Methods The PTP has been designed following internationally established standards and has been adapted into the context of periodontology. From July 2020 to February 2022, it has been applied to undergraduate students. The PTP consists of 30 single-best answer questions including an 'I don't know' option, drawn from a newly created question bank and weighted by an adapted blueprint. Descriptive analysis and statistics to test validity and reliability have been performed. Results The mean score shows a significant growth over the semesters (42.4% ± 11.7% after the first semester, 61.5% ± 13.8% after the second semester, 76.9% ± 12.8% after the third semester, 69.9% ± 12.7% after the fifth semester). Reliability expressed by Cronbach's α ranges from 0.646 to 0.798. The 'I don't know' option has mainly been used by first semester students. Conclusion Within the limitations of the study, the PTP is a valid and reliable tool to evaluate students' gain of knowledge, even if it is limited to one subject within a curriculum. Due to pandemic restrictions several other challenges in the adaptation of the test format to the educational setting at a German university had to be solved