256869 research outputs found
Sort by
Processes of the unfinished – continuing construction on the Globusprovisorium in Zurich
No full textIm Zuge des Sanierungsbedarfs des Globusprovisoriums in Zürich entstand eine Debatte über die Zukunft von Ort und Gebäude innerhalb der Stadt. Das Provisorium ist eines der letzten verbleibenden Zeitzeugen der Zürcher Flussbauten, was den diskutierten Abriss äußerst kritisch zu hinterfragen lässt. Es liegt prominent im Herzen der Stadt, am hochfrequentierten Gelenk zwischen Bahnhof und Central, direkt an der Limmat. Diese Diplomarbeit untersucht das Unfertige als architektonisches Prinzip und versteht zukunftsfähige Architektur als offenen Prozess, der lebendig auf temporäre und saisonal wandelnde Bedürfnisse reagiert. Auf dieser Grundlage werden die bestehenden Stahlprofile des Bestandes katalogisiert, neu zusammengefügt und als Neuinterpretation des Provisoriums gelesen. Es wird nicht als vollendet gelesen, sondern als unfertiger Baustein in der Stadt. Ziel ist es, durch gezielte Eingriffe ein zukunftsfähiges Gebäude zu entwerfen, welches seinen vollendeten Zustand bewusst nicht erreicht hat und wandelbar bleibt. Der Entwurf entwickelt eine Reihe von Strategien des Weiterbauens, ohne sich als vollendeten Zustand zu verstehen. Unterschiedliche Ansätze greifen ineinander und eröffnen punktuelle Synergien. Es geht um das Verstehen der vorhandenen Struktur als wertvolle Ressource. Der Entwurf wird nicht als vollendet angesehen, sondern als weiterer Abschnitt im Leben des Provisoriums.The need to renovate the Globus Provisorium in Zurich sparked a debate about the future of the location and the building within the city. The Provisorium is one of the last remaining witnesses to Zurich‘s river construction projects, which makes the proposed demolition highly controversial. It is prominently located in the heart of the city at the busy junction between the railway station and Central, directly on the Limmat River.This thesis examines the unfinished as an architectural principle and understands sustainable architecture as an open process that responds dynamically to temporary and seasonally changing needs.On this basis, the existing steel profiles of the structure are catalogued, reassembled and interpreted as a reinterpretation of the temporary structure. It is not seen as complete, but as an unfinished building block in the city. The aim is to use targeted interventions to design a sustainable building that has deliberately not reached its finished state and remains changeable.The design develops a series of strategies for further construction without seeing itself as a finished state. Different approaches interlock and open up selective synergies. It is about understanding the existing structure as a valuable resource. The design is not seen as complete, but as another stage in the life of the Globusprovisorium
The widening political divide over science
No full textGauchat (2012) reported that political conservatives in the United States lost confidence in the scientific community from the 1970s to 2010, but political liberals and moderates did not. As a result, a political divide opened up so that by 2010 conservatives had the lowest level of confidence in science. This analysis extends the analysis through the 2024 General Social Survey (GSS). I find that political conservatives, Republicans, and Americans who attend religious services regularly, all report falling levels of confidence in the scientific community – and now moderates do as well. In the Trump era, with an assault on facts and truth defining the president and his party, the growing political divide over confidence in science seems likely to further undermine political processes that rely on common knowledge and understanding. This updates the original 2018 and 2020 versions of this paper with the 2024 GSS data
Temperament gene inheritance
No full textThis article is published in Elsevier Meta Gene in September 2020 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mgene.2020.100728
A temperament gene and its inheritance mechanisms have never been academically addressed. In this study we have tried to explain a genetic basis of a temperament inheritance mode; temperament is regularly inherited by the son from the mother and by the daughter from the father. Such a transmission mode corresponds to the X chromosome-linked inheritance and indicates that a temperament gene locus is on the X chromosome. Here we show that most probable temperament gene candidate is the VAMP7 gene of Xq PAR; besides its role in neuritogenesis, a relationship was proposed between the outward migration mode of the VAMP7 mediated vesicles, the female paternal temperament allele preservation in the secondary oocyte/ovum, and its transmission to the next generation. We have eliminated 113 temperament gene candidates in the distal Xq region, due to their mRNA numbers, expression in the brain and ovary, accordance to our proposed inheritance mode of a silent temperament allele, and genetic linkages
How surface topography governs erosion of nano-columnar tungsten under fusion-relevant ion irradiation
No full textThe applicability of categorical triple collocation in spatiotemporal two-dimensional merging of soil freeze-thaw products
No full textSoil freeze/thaw (FT) cycling is highly sensitive to soil temperature variations. Existing soil FT products often exhibit pronounced temporal and spatial inconsistencies, with considerable classification accuracy variations among different products, leading to insufficient spatiotemporal stability. To improve the spatiotemporal stability of classification accuracy of soil FT products, this study introduces a spatiotemporal two-dimensional (2D) merging approach with Categorical Triple Collocation (CTC) -derived dynamic weights, evaluates the applicability of CTC in this merging approach, and analyzes the factors influencing the merging accuracy. We use three soil FT products, including two passive microwave remote sensing products (SMAP_FT and ESDR_FT), and one reanalysis product (ERA5_FT) as examples, generating one-dimensional (1D) merged products (Tem-merge and Spa-merge) and 2D merged products over China. Validation with six dense in-situ observation networks shows that all merged products outperform at least two of the original products in total accuracy, with the 2D merged product accuracy exhibiting higher stability than the original products and 1D merged products at most stations. Further analysis shows that the dynamic weight adjustment strategy effectively reduces the influence of low-accuracy products while enhancing the contribution of high-accuracy products during the 2D merging process; moreover, the classification accuracy of the merged products is sensitive to the disparity in the original products' ability to correctly identify frozen states versus thawed states. This research provides a robust framework for optimizing the merging of multisource soil FT products and other related categorical variable products, especially on a global scale where ground observation data remains sparse
A Graph-Native Approach to Normalization
No full textIn recent years, knowledge graphs (KGs) - in particular in the form of labeled property graphs (LPGs) - have become essential components in a broad range of applications. Although the absence of strict schemas for KGs facilitates structural issues that lead to redundancies and subsequently to inconsistencies and anomalies, the problem of KG quality has so far received only little attention. Inspired by normalization using functional dependencies for relational data, a first approach exploiting dependencies within nodes has been proposed. However, real-world KGs also expose functional dependencies involving edges. In this paper, we therefore propose graph-native normalization, which considers dependencies within nodes, edges, and their combination. We define a range of graph-native normal forms and graph object functional dependencies and propose algorithms for transforming graphs accordingly. We evaluate our contributions using a broad range of synthetic and native graph datasets
Analyse der Leistung und Skalierbarkeit von Dask-Anwendungen auf Hochleistungssystemen
No full textThis thesis evaluates the scalability and performance characteristics of the Dask framework for large-scale analytical workloads across two contrasting computing environments: a local Kubernetes-based deployment and a high-performance computing (HPC) cluster managed by SLURM. Although Dask is increasingly used as a flexible alternative to frameworks such as Apache Spark, its behavior under compute-intensive workloads remains poorly known. To address this gap, we conduct extensive strong-scaling and weak-scaling experiments using different-scale (TPC-H–like) datasets, analyze Dask’s adaptive autoscaling mechanism, and integrate DuckDB as an embedded execution engine within Dask workers.The results show that the local Kubernetes deployment achieves limited scalability due to shared-resource contention, with performance saturating after only a few workers. In contrast, the HPC system maintains high parallel efficiency across many nodes, particularly when running one worker per node. This demonstrates that distributed memory bandwidth and reduced spill-to-disk activity are essential for scaling shuffle-intensive queries. Weak scaling on the HPC system is more stable than on the local cluster, although absolute runtimes are higher because distributed execution introduces significant network and I/O overheads.Adaptive scaling performs poorly in both environments. On Kubernetes, the autoscaler behaves unpredictably, frequently terminating workers too aggressively and destabilizing long-running queries. On the HPC system, adaptive scaling consistently underperforms fixed-size clusters because the ramp-up phase forces memory-bound workloads to execute with insufficient resources.Finally, experiments combining Dask with DuckDB reveal substantial performance improvements. Distributed DuckDB consistently outperforms Dask DataFrame execution—often by a factor of three to four—due to more efficient local processing, reduced I/O per worker, and optimized query execution. Even single-worker DuckDB is faster than Dask-only execution, emphasizing the importance of leveraging specialized query engines within distributed data-processing frameworks.Overall, this thesis provides a detailed empirical analysis of Dask’s behavior under large-scale analytical workloads and offers practical recommendations for configuring Dask on HPC systems, understanding its scaling limits, and integrating complementary technologies such as DuckDB to improve performance
Aligning Computer Science Educational Outcomes with Industry Needs Exemplified by a College in Rural India
No full textDiese Diplomarbeit untersucht, wie die Informatikausbildung an staatlich angebundenen Colleges im ländlichen Indien besser an die Kompetenzanforderungen der Softwareindustrie angepasst werden kann. Sie adressiert ein anhaltendes Missverhältnis zwischen akademischer Ausbildung und beruflichen Erwartungen: Während Studierende überwiegend theoretisches Wissen erwerben, verlangen Unternehmen praktische Programmierfertigkeiten, Kenntnisse von Softwareentwicklungsprozessen sowie Problemlösungs-, Kommunikations- und Teamfähigkeiten. Diese Kompetenzlücken beeinträchtigen die Beschäftigungsfähigkeit von Absolvent:innen und führen dazu, dass Unternehmen erhebliche Ressourcen in nachgelagerte Trainings investieren müssen.Die Arbeit folgt einem qualitativen Forschungsdesign und kombiniert eine integrative Literaturanalyse mit einer Single-Case-Studie in Indien. Die empirische Datenerhebung umfasste teilnehmende Beobachtung, semi-strukturierte Interviews mit Absolvent:innen und Arbeitgebern sowie eine thematische Analyse. Die Fallstudie eines universitären Partner-Colleges in ländlichem Andhra Pradesh ermöglicht differenzierte Einblicke in lokale Bildungsstrukturen und deren Wechselwirkung mit den Anforderungen der Softwareindustrie. Die Ergebnisse zeigen deutliche Defizite in der praktischen Programmierung, in Softwareentwicklungsprozessen und in Soft Skills, zugleich aber auch Stärken in der theoretischen Ausbildung und in der Lernmotivation der Studierenden.Auf Basis dieser Erkenntnisse entwickelt die Arbeit praxisorientierte Handlungsempfehlungen für Lehrende und Trainer:innen, die umsetzbare Vorschläge zu didaktischen Strategien, zur Zusammenarbeit mit der Industrie sowie zur systematischen Förderung praktischer und beschäftigungsrelevanter Kompetenzen enthalten. Eine Fokusgruppenevaluierung bestätigt die Relevanz, Verständlichkeit und Anwendbarkeit der vorgeschlagenen Empfehlungen.Obwohl die Studie keine statistische Generalisierung anstrebt, liefert sie übertragbare Erkenntnisse für vergleichbare universitäre Colleges im ländlichen Raum, die vor ähnlichen Herausforderungen bei der Angleichung der Informatikausbildung an industriebezogene Anforderungen stehen.Computer science graduates in India—particularly those from rural affiliated colleges—often enter the labor market with a persistent mismatch between academic preparation and industry expectations. While the Indian software sector demands practical software development skills, exposure to real-world workflows, and professional readiness, higher education curricula at many rural institutions remain strongly theory-oriented. This misalignment poses challenges for graduates’ employability and leads companies to invest substantial resources in post-graduate training.A qualitative research design was employed, combining an integrative literature review and a single-case study in India, including participant observation, semi-structured interviews with graduates and employers, and a thematic analysis following Braun \& Clarke. The case study of a college in rural Andhra Pradesh provides nuanced insights into local educational structures and their interaction with industry needs. Findings indicate substantial deficits in practical programming, software engineering processes, and soft skills, alongside strengths in theoretical foundations and motivation to learn. Drawing on these results, this thesis develops a guidance note for computer science faculty at rural higher education institutions in India, offering actionable recommendations for pedagogical strategies, industry collaboration, and the systematic development of practical and employability-related skills. A focus group evaluation confirms the relevance, clarity, and usability of the proposed guidance.While the study does not seek statistical generalization, it offers transferable insights for similar rural affiliated colleges facing comparable challenges in aligning computer science education with industry needs
Structure-property relatioins of diborides and thermoelectric thin film materials
No full textFür die Einschätzung der Eigenschaften verschiedener Materialien ist es generall nicht ausre-ichend, sich allein auf deren chemische Zusammensetzung zu verlassen. Viele charakteristische Besonderheiten können durch das Beeinflussen von Kristallstruktur oder Gefüge auf verschiedenste Weise direkt gesteuert werden. Es ist daher von essentieller Bedeutung für die Grundlagenmaterialforschung, Wege dafür zu finden und zu identifizieren, da diese die Basis für weitere, anwendungsorientierte Forschung und Entwicklung bildet. Dünne Schichten, die mittels physikalischer Dampfphasenabscheidung (PVD) erzeugt wurden, werden vielseitig eingesetzt und ihre Anwendungen reichen von Schichten, die zum Schutz vor Abrieb, Oxidation oder Korrosion angebracht werden bis hin zu funktionellen Schichten, deren Aufgabe darin besteht, beispielsweise für elektrische Leitfähigkeit oder Isolation zu sorgen, optische Eigenschaften zu verstärken oder antireflektiv zu wirken.Ziel dieser Dissertation ist es, zu zeigen, wie die Strukturen von Dünnschichten ihr allgemeines Verhalten beeinflussen kann, was anhand zweier Beispiele dargestellt wird: An Titandiborid, welches ein allgemein bekannter und häufig untersuchter Hartstoff ist, und an der Heusler-Phase Fe2VAl, dessen thermoelektrische Eigenschaft erst vor relativ kurzer Zeit entdeckt wurden, aber schnell zu hohem Interesse in der Forschung und Entwicklung geführt haben. Diese Interesse ist einerseits der Tatsache geschuldet, dass das Material aus gut verfügbaren, unkritischen und ungefährlichen Elementen besteht, während herkömmliche Thermoelektrika wie Bi2Te3 teuer und gesundheitsschädlich sind, und andererseits der Tatsache, dass es in mehreren Studien eine hervorragende Effizienz in der Umwandlung von thermischer zu elektrischer Energie gezeigt hat. Es wird hier darauf eingegangen, wie, durch die Wahl der richtigen Beschichtungsmethode wie Gleichstrom-Magnetronsputtern (DCMS) oder Hochleistungs-Pulsmagnetronsputtern (HiPIMS) sowie der Feineinstellung der Beschichtungsparameter die Struktur dieser Materialien in Dünnschichtform gezielt verändert werden kann und wie diese Änderungen die mechanischen und thermoelektrischen Eigenschaften beeinflussen.Zusätzlich wird ein spezieller Fokus auf andere Einflussfaktoren, wie die Wahl des Substrats oder der Evaluierungsmethoden, gelegt, denn es wird ebenfalls demonstriert, dass beispielsweise die gezeigte Bruchzähigkeit von Boriden stark davon abhängt, ob Makrospannungen mitgemessen werden, wie bei der Cube Corner Indentierung oder ob diese in mikromechanischen Tests ausgelassen werden.Die Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit liefern Strategien zur präzisen Einflussnahme auf mechanische sowie thermische und elektrische Eigenschaften von PVD-gefertigten Dünnschichten. Es wird gezeigt, wie TiB2 signifikant anderes Verhalten bei unveränderter nomineller Zusam-mensetzung, sowie sehr ähnliches Verhalten bei stark unterschiedlicher Zusammensetzung aufweisen kann. Auf der anderen Seite zeigt W-substituiertes Fe2VAl hervorragende elektrische und stark reduzierte thermische Leitfähigkeit, wenn es in kristallinem Zustand via HiPIMS abgeschieden wird. Beide dieser Eigenschaften sind von essentieller Bedeutung für eine verbesserte Effizienz bei Thermoelektrika. Außerdem zeigt das Material einen speziellen ”Selbstverstärkungseffekt”, bei dem sowohl der Seebeck-Koeffizient als auch der elektrische Widerstand stark ansteigen. Dazu muss das Material allerdings amorph bei einem relativen hohen Ar-Druck von ≥ 2 Pa abgeschieden werden. Zusätzlich konnte hier ein starker Einfluss des Substrats identifiziert werden, da sich die Eigenschaften ändern wenn das Material auf Al2O3 anstatt auf Silizium abgeschieden wird.When discussing the properties of materials, it is generally not sufficient to rely only on their chemistry. Instead, many of their characteristic features can be tuned directly tuned by influencing their crystal or microstructure in various ways. Finding and describing these is a crucial aspect in the fundamental research of materials as it provides the basis for further, more application-oriented developments. Thin films created via Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD) cover a wide range of applications, from protective coatings against wear, oxidation or corrosion to functional films, which provide e.g. electrical conductivity or insulation, enhance optical properties or act anti-reflectively.The aim of this PhD thesis is to show how the structures of thin film can influence their overall behaviour, which will be illustrated two-fold: On the example of titanium diboride, an already well-known and -studied hard coating as well as the example of the Heusler alloy Fe2VAl, whose thermoelectric properties have only been recently discovered, but have quickly lead to a substantial interest in the research of this material. This is attributed to it being comprised of generally abundant and benign elements, whereas traditional thermoelectrics like Bi2Te3 are hazardous and expensive, as well as various reports of it achieving tremendous conversion efficiencies. It will be shown how, by choosing the correct deposition methods like direct-current magnetron sputtering (DCMS) or high power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) and fine-tuning the deposition parameters, the structure of these materials in thin film form can be deliberately changed and how this affects the mechanical and thermoelectric properties.Furthermore, a special focus is put on other influencing factors, such as the choice of substrate and assessment method, as it will also be shown that the apparent fracture toughness in borides can vary greatly depending on if macrostresses are involved like in cube corner indentation or omitted like in micromechanical tests.The results give strategies to precisely influence mechanical, as well as thermal and electrical properties of PVD-manufactured thin films. We can observe TiB2 behaving in substantially different ways at the same nominal composition as well as it showing very similar behaviour at strongly diverging compositions. W-substituted Fe2VAl on the other hand is shown to exhibit remarkable electrical and strongly reduced thermal conductivity when deposited in a crystalline state via HiPIMS, which is both very viable for high efficiency in thermoelectrics. Furthermore, the material shows a ”self-enhancing” effect, where thermopower and electrical resistivity both increase only when it is deposited amorphously at Ar-pressures ≥ 2 Pa. Additionally, a strong substrate-influence could be identified when depositing the material on Si as well as on Al2O3
CoVidAffect, real-time monitoring of mood variations following the COVID-19 outbreak in Spain
No full textThe COVID-19 outbreak and the ensuing confinement measures are expected to bear a significant psychological impact on the affected populations. Here, we publish a dataset from CoVidAffect, a citizen science project that was launched to provide direct, geolocalized data of changes in subjective feeling and physical arousal following the COVID-19 crisis. These publicly available data are continuously updated and visual summaries are displayed on the project website. The data can be further analyzed to identify affected geographical regions, quantify emotional responses to specific measures and policies, and to understand the effect of context variables, such as living space, socioeconomic status, and practice of physical exercise, on emotional regulation and psychological resilience. Our goal is to offer a resource that will help to anticipate the needs for psychosocial support and facilitate evidence-based policy making