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/s/ ideology in twentieth-century educational materials in Finland: on the language-political and sociocultural underpinnings
Get PDFThe status of the phoneme /s/ as the only sibilant of Finnish makes its pronunciation relatively free. This enables /s/ variants to gain social meaning, a tendency typical in many societies. In Finnish society, studies so far have documented how variation in /s/ pronunciation has faced concerns, originating from late-nineteenth-century nation building and Finnish language norm construction processes. Against the norm of the voiceless alveolar /s/, fronted variants first represented Swedish influence and a threat to norms of ‘good Finnish’, later meeting more global indexes. The historical development of the /s/ ideology is still echoed in the contemporary social meaning potentials of /s/ variation. By focusing on learning materials used in the Finnish education system during the period from the 1900s to the 1970s, this article investigates how formal education has contributed to the ideology of the (im)proper Finnish /s/, manifested in the ideological construct of ‘Helsinki s’
Quasi-2/3-Level Modulation of Multilevel Converters for Medium-Voltage Applications
Get PDFSilicon Carbide (SiC)-based power converters can reach higher power density than the Silicon (Si)-based. The voltage capability of SiC is higher than that of the Si devices. Hence, SiC-based converters can be used in MV applications. In contrast, the MV infrastructure has voltage levels up to 100 kV. Whereas a simple 2-level SiC converter can be used for some grids, it is impossible to use this configuration for the grids with higher voltage. Multilevel (ML) converters do not solve the issue. Higher number of levels increases the number of required capacitors, operation and control complexity, communication burden and overall cost. An alternative solution is to partially utilize available voltage levels, forcing ML converters to operate in 2-/3-Level manner. This approach is called Quasi-2-Level (Q2L) or Quasi-3-Level (Q3L) modulation, respectively. The main advantage of such modulations is that the intermediate capacitors are only used to ensure equal voltage distribution between the SiCs. Therefore, they contribute insignificantly to the total converter volume, allowing to increase the voltage levels without affecting the volume and operation complexity. On the other hand, the limitations of Q2L and Q3L concepts need to be investigated. It is essential to determine how the number of series-connected SiC devices affects the performance of quasi-modulated converters. Furthermore, the capacitor selection needs to be done based on the voltage and current ripples. Due to very small capacitance, capacitor voltages must be constantly maintained around the reference points. In contrast, it is possible to take advantage of such a drawback. Intentionally changing the voltage across a single capacitor makes it possible to redistribute the voltage sharing between two adjacent semiconductors. This feature can be used to micro-adjust the power losses across all switching devices in the converter arm and to perform active thermal control
Open Access Publishing on MACAU
Get PDFThis brochure provides an informative overview of the process of publishing in Open Access on the publication server of Kiel University, MACAU. It describes the route to publication. In addition, topics are addressed that are important in the context of the publication process: Rights and licenses, metadata, research data and PDF creation.Die Broschüre gibt einen informativen Überblick über das Verfahren des Publizierens im Open Access auf dem Publikationsserver der Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, MACAU. Beschrieben wird der Weg zur Veröffentlichung. Zudem werden Themen angesprochen, die im Rahmen des Publikationsprozesses von Bedeutung sind: Rechte und Lizenzen, Metadaten, Forschungsdaten und die PDF-Erstellung
Targeting MYC effector functions in pancreatic cancer by inhibiting the ATPase RUVBL1/2
Get PDFObjective The hallmark oncogene MYC drives the progression of most tumours, but direct inhibition of MYC by a small-molecule drug has not reached clinical testing. MYC is a transcription factor that depends on several binding partners to function. We therefore explored the possibility of targeting MYC via its interactome in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Design To identify the most suitable targets among all MYC binding partners, we constructed a targeted shRNA library and performed screens in cultured PDAC cells and tumours in mice. Results Unexpectedly, many MYC binding partners were found to be important for cultured PDAC cells but dispensable in vivo. However, some were also essential for tumours in their natural environment and, among these, the ATPases RUVBL1 and RUVBL2 ranked first. Degradation of RUVBL1 by the auxin-degron system led to the arrest of cultured PDAC cells but not untransformed cells and to complete tumour regression in mice, which was preceded by immune cell infiltration. Mechanistically, RUVBL1 was required for MYC to establish oncogenic and immunoevasive gene expression identifying the RUVBL1/2 complex as a druggable vulnerability in MYC-driven cancer. Conclusion One implication of our study is that PDAC cell dependencies are strongly influenced by the environment, so genetic screens should be performed in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, the auxin-degron system can be applied in a PDAC model, allowing target validation in living mice. Finally, by revealing the nuclear functions of the RUVBL1/2 complex, our study presents a pharmaceutical strategy to render pancreatic cancers potentially susceptible to immunotherapy
Advancements in Non-Thermal Processing Technologies for Enhancing Safety and Quality of Infant and Baby Food Products: A Review
Get PDFBreast milk is the main source of nutrition during early life, but both infant formulas (Ifs; up to 12 months) and baby foods (BFs; up to 3 years) are also important for providing essential nutrients. The infant food industry rigorously controls for potential physical, biological, and chemical hazards. Although thermal treatments are commonly used to ensure food safety in IFs and BFs, they can negatively affect sensory qualities, reduce thermosensitive nutrients, and lead to chemical contaminant formation. To address these challenges, non-thermal processing technologies such as high-pressure processing, pulsed electric fields, radio frequency, and ultrasound offer efficient pathogen destruction similar to traditional thermal methods, while reducing the production of key process-induced toxicants such as furan and 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfural (HMF). These alternative thermal processes aim to overcome the drawbacks of traditional methods while retaining their advantages. This review paper highlights the growing global demand for healthy, sustainable foods, driving food manufacturers to adopt innovative and efficient processing techniques for both IFs and BFs. Based on various studies reviewed for this work, the application of these novel technologies appears to reduce thermal processing intensity, resulting in products with enhanced sensory properties, comparable shelf life, and improved visual appeal compared to conventionally processed products
Rhizosphere Processes and Microbial Functions under Successive Wheat Rotational Positions
Get PDFWheat is an important staple crop worldwide, and the increasing demand for wheat requires more intensive cropping systems, such as monoculture. However, continuous cultivation of wheat contributes to a decline in grain yield and quality, possibly due to increased weed infestation and the proliferation of pests and fungal pathogens. Therefore, in the present study, we aimed to investigate 1) the underlying mechanisms that govern the productivity of winter wheat (WW) grown in self-succession as opposed to WW grown after a break crop, oilseed rape, 2) the impact of successive wheat cultivation on glucose release from roots and microbial activity, 3) the effects of continuous wheat rotations on glucose release, microbial growth and activity, and expression of sugar transporter genes. We found that the position of WW in the rotation has a significant impact on wheat biomass and also the structure and function of the soil microbiota. The findings underscore the necessity of identifying and characterizing specific compounds in root exudates that trigger soil microorganisms. The study revealed that regions characterized by high glucose release in wheat roots exhibited heightened microbial activity, indicating a direct correlation between glucose availability and microbial stimulation. Moreover, total microbial biomass experienced a decline in both the rhizosphere and bulk soils of W3 relative to W1, indicating shifts in the microbial community composition. This study emphasizes the importance of long-term research into the effects of continuous wheat cultivation on soil health and microbial communities. Enhancing beneficial microorganisms in the rhizosphere is crucial for sustainable agriculture and continued exploration of innovative tools like the glucose imaging method offer new opportunities for soil research, helping us monitor root exudation and microbial responses in field settings
First record of the robber fly Tolmerus cowini Hobby, 1946 für Schleswig-Holstein (Diptera: Asilidae)
Get PDFDie in der Roten Liste der Raubfliegen Deutschlands als sehr selten klassifizierte Raubfliegenart Tolmerus cowini wurde 2022 auf der Insel Trischen erstmals für Schleswig-Holstein nachgewiesen. Weitere Vorkommen sind lediglich von wenigen Fundorten im Binnenland und von drei ostfriesischen Inseln bekannt. Der Neufund wird im Kontext der Gesamtverbreitung der Art sowie ihrer Habitatpräferenzen vorgestellt und Vorschläge zur weiteren Nachsuche unterbreitet.In 2022, the robber fly Tolmerus cowini has been detected on the island Trischen for the first time in Schleswig-Holstein. The Red List of robber flies of Germany lists this species as very rare. Further distribution is only known from few sites in the inland and from three east frisian islands. The new finding is discussed in terms of the species’s overall distribution as well as habitat preferences. Proposals for further search approaches are put forward
Exploring the Impact of Digital Platforms on Regional and Cluster Development
Get PDFThis dissertation aims to deepen understanding of the impacts on Regional and Industrial Cluster Development brought about by digitization, especially digital platforms, from an economic geography perspective. This dissertation explores the multifaceted impacts of digital platforms on regional development and industrial clusters from an economic geography perspective. Based on Critical Realism philosophy, the study employs a multi-scalar, multi-perspective, and multi-methodological framework to comprehensively understand how digital platforms such as e-commerce reshape economic landscapes and cluster dynamics. The dissertation begins with a thorough review of existing paradigms in economic geography, subsequently focusing on evolutionary and relational economic geography. It discusses the integration of these paradigms with spatial ontology in human geography, which challenges traditional concepts of space and place. Empirical sections of the study detail how digital platforms influence regional economies differently across various locations in China from both regional and cluster subjects/scales, emphasizing the dual role of platforms in both enabling and constraining economic development. Through case studies of village and county-level regional analysis and three furniture clusters analysis, the dissertation illustrates the transformative potential of platforms in facilitating new economic industries and upgrading existing industries. Key contributions of this research include advancing the concept of "engaged pluralism" within economic geography, refining the understanding of how digital platforms interact with regional economies through a lens that merges evolutionary and relational thinking, and offering a nuanced view of digital platform impacts on economic activities. Finally, the dissertation outlines the limitations of focusing predominantly on China and the manufacturing sector, proposing future research directions
Sensorbasiertes Geriatrisches Assessment in der Herz- und Gefäßchirurgie: Eine Machbarkeitsstudie
Get PDFZiel dieser Arbeit war es, zu untersuchen, ob und in welchem Umfang ein prä- und postoperatives Quantitatives Geriatrisches Assessment (QGA) in den stationären Ablauf einer herz- und gefäßchirurgischen Station integriert werden kann. Die Untersuchungszeitpunkte wurden jeweils für einen Tag vor der Operation (T1), kurz vor der Entlassung (T2) und drei bis sechs Monate postoperativ (T3) festgelegt. Es wurden jeweils eine Anamnese erhoben (ausgenommen T2), eine neuropsychologische Testung und eine (sensorbasierte) Bewegungsanalyse mit den Studienteilnehmer*innen durchgeführt. Außerdem wurden ihnen Fragebögen zur Stimmung, Lebensqualität und Bewältigung des Alltags ausgehändigt. Die Arbeit kommt zu dem Ergebnis, dass ein QGA in der hier verwendeten Form nicht praktikabel für den Klinikalltag der Station ist. Es stellte sich als zu zeitaufwändig für den sehr eng getakteten stationären Ablauf dar. Dies spiegelte sich vor allem in dem hohen Zeitaufwand für die Rekrutierung und den niedrigen Vollständigkeitsraten der T2- und T3-Untersuchung wider. Da verschiedene Studien zu dem Schluss kommen, dass QGAs von hoher Aussagekraft, zum Beispiel zum postoperativen Verlauf der Sterblichkeit oder zum Sturzrisiko der Patient*innen sein können, sollte es dennoch das Ziel sein, ein Assessment mit möglichst hoher Aussagekraft bei möglichst geringem Umfang zusammenzustellen und anzuwenden. Dabei sollte neben den bisher am häufigsten untersuchten Domänen der Leistungsfähigkeit und Selbstwahrnehmung, auch die Performance der Patient*innen untersucht werden, um eine möglichst hohe Aussagekraft zu erreichen. Um dies umzusetzen könnten die Untersuchungen zumindest zum Teil, wenn nicht gänzlich, ins häusliche Umfeld der Patient*innen verlegt werden. Weitere Studien sind nötig, um die Umsetzbarkeit dieses neuen Ansatzes zu untersuchen
Handel und Klimawandel: Globale Wertschöpfungsketten und Politikanalysen
Get PDFThis thesis investigates the intricate relationship between international trade and climate change, employing new quantitative trade (NQT) models to analyze the impact of trade policies on global carbon emissions and economic structures. It explores counterfactual scenarios to assess the consequences of different trade patterns and climate policies, revealing how global trade imbalances contribute to carbon emissions and how trade liberalization can mitigate climate-induced welfare losses. The research integrates detailed data and theoretical models to provide policy recommendations aimed at harmonizing economic growth with environmental sustainability, emphasizing the critical need for coordinated climate and trade policies to address global challenges effectively