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How working from home affects job satisfaction : shedding light on the mechanisms
No full textAs a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, a large number of people began working from home, and this form of work will remain important. However, there is no consensus on how working from home affects workers’ job satisfaction. This paper provides novel insights into the mechanisms through which working from home affects job satisfaction. We use data from an online survey of graduates of professional colleges in Switzerland in 2021. We find that working from home increases job satisfaction on average. We then compare the relative importance of five mechanisms. We find that the positive association between working from home and job satisfaction is mainly due to increasing productivity and making work more interesting. Working from home is also positively associated with job satisfaction, but to a lesser degree, due to more flexible working hours. In contrast, our findings indicate that the worse work–life balance resulting from working from home and more difficult interactions with coworkers and supervisors are negatively associated with job satisfaction. We further find substantial heterogeneity in the relative relevance of these five mechanisms across workers with and without previous working from home experience, gender, age, and executive position. These differences might contribute to the lack of consensus on how working from home affects workers’ job satisfaction
Vegetation change in dry grasslands in Northeast Germany over two decades : a resurvey
No full textSemi-natural dry grasslands in Central Europe harbor many rare and specialized species and face threats due to altered management practices and environmental change. However, more studies on vegetation change and management effects in dry grasslands are needed, especially with consideration of non-vascular taxa. Here we used a resurvey approach to analyze vegetation change in dry grasslands on loamy and sandy soils (Festuco-Brometea, Trifolio-Geranietea sanguinei and Koelerio-Corynephoretea canescentis) in Brandenburg, Northeastern Germany. We surveyed 157 plots (10 m2) at each of two time points, 1993–1997, and 20–25 years later, 2017–2018. We recorded a total of 362 vascular plants and 84 non-vascular taxa. Species richness per plot remained stable across surveys. We detected, on average, 32.2 and 21.9 species per plot in dry grasslands on loamy and sandy soils, respectively, including 3.25 and 4.8 non-vascular taxa and 7.6 and 2.2 endangered species according to the regional Red List. We found evidence for vegetation homogenization and a reduction in Shannon diversity and Shannon evenness in the recent survey, suggesting early signs of biodiversity decline. Analyses of mean ecological indicator values and plant traits, as well as of winner and loser species, revealed that changes in vegetation composition were accompanied by an increase in competitive, mesophytic species and a decline in disturbance-tolerant specialists. We further show that the highest diversity in dry grasslands on loamy soils was associated with intermediate levels of grazing. Our findings highlight the conservation significance of dry grasslands and suggest intermediate grazing pressure as a suitable management strategy
Data mesh : challenges and barriers in mastering decentralized data volumes
No full textData Mesh signifies an era in how enterprises handle data management by transitioning from conventional centralized data repositories and reservoirs to a more distributed model. This approach tackles the constraints of singular data frameworks by dispersing data ownership and accountability among various sectors within a company. Through an in-depth examination of existing literature in the field of Data Mesh including domain-oriented data ownership and data as a product the paper at hand is exploring a practical way of implementing Data Mesh in organizations. For businesses considering a transition to Data Mesh architecture, this document offers a comprehensive guide, exploring both the technical complexities of implementing Data Mesh and the organizational changes required for successful adoption. Moreover, it emphasizes the importance of teams, domain-specific expertise, and a fundamental shift in organizational mindset toward taking responsibility for and managing data assets
First detection of Cytauxzoon spp. DNA in questing Ixodes ricinus ticks
No full textFeline cytauxzoonosis is an emerging tick-borne disease in Europe. While infections have been reported in different European countries, the tick vector remains unknown. This study investigated 665 ticks collected in 2019 (n = 160), 2022 (n = 7), and 2024 (n = 498) in a Cytauxzoon spp. hotspot region in central Switzerland (62 ticks from cats; 603 ticks from vegetation). Ticks were morphologically characterized, pooled by origin and life-stage, and screened for Cytauxzoon spp. 18S rRNA by qPCR and conventional PCR, and positive samples confirmed by sequencing. All ticks belonged to Ixodes ricinus (50 males, 83 females, 532 nymphs). Four tick pools from 2019 tested Cytauxzoon spp. positive: one pool of 3 non-engorged male ticks from two cats and three pools of 5–6 nymphs each from vegetation. All ticks collected in 2022 and 2024 tested negative. Amplification of the almost full-length (1535 bp, one pool) or partial (140–219 bp, three pools) 18S rRNA gene revealed a sequence identity of 98.6–100% with Cytauxzoon spp. previously detected in cats from this area. The detection of Cytauxzoon spp. in questing I. ricinus nymphs suggests a potential role of this tick species in the parasites’ transmission cycle in Central Europe and raises the possibility of transstadial or potentially transovarial transmission. Mitochondrial gene sequencing was unsuccessful, but the detected Cytauxzoon spp. likely represent Cytauxzoon europaeus. Discrepancies between qPCR and conventional PCR results point to possible amplification of tick endosymbionts, highlighting the importance of confirmatory sequencing, particularly when testing tick-derived DNA. Thus, the 18S rRNA qPCR assay used appears suboptimal for screening tick samples, as its specificity in this matrix was limited. In conclusion, this is the first report of Cytauxzoon spp. in questing I. ricinus ticks in Europe. Our findings underscore the need for further research to confirm vector competence and clarify transmission dynamics
Podcast Production Codes entschlüsselt : ein Leitfaden für Schweizer Radios
No full textWarum funktionieren manche Podcasts - und andere nicht? Was können Radiosender daraus lernen? Hans Knobloch und sein Team zeigt anhand des „Laberpodcast“-Phänomens, wie Produktionsmuster, Nutzungsmotive und Rezeption zusammenspielen - und wie daraus ein praktisches Handbuch für erfolgreiche Podcastgestaltung entsteht
Patterns of professional language in forensic authorship analysis
No full textIn German forensic linguistics, it has been noted (e.g., Bülow, 2016) that incriminated texts, such as blackmail or threatening letters, partially resemble business letters. However, it remains unclear a) what the specific linguistic patterns are and b) whether the patterns stem from the characteristics of the author or are general characteristics of incriminated texts. This distinction is crucial in forensic authorship analysis, as features should discriminate between authors rather than genres (Grant, 2022). Few studies of blackmail and threatening letters in German have been conducted and did not focus on formal linguistic features (e.g., Bredthauer, 2020).
This presentation aims to shed light on the differences between genre- and author-specific features related to professional communication and to show how this knowledge can be applied to forensic practice in Switzerland. The main research question is: What linguistic patterns are common to different types of communication from different professional fields, and can these patterns be found in incriminated writings?
To answer the research question, corpus-linguistic methods are applied to two datasets: 1) linguistic features are extracted from business communication text products, such as dunning letters from government or private institutions, and then 2) a set of incriminated texts is scanned for these extracted patterns. Despite challenges such as data scarcity and incorrect and unconventional styles, the results can help forensic linguists to draw more precise conclusions in authorship analysis. The results can contribute to the improvement of methodological approaches in forensic linguistics
Runner's High im Ausdauersport : ein qualitativer Vergleich des subjektiven Erlebens bei Lauf- und Radsportler:innen
No full textAusgangslage: Der vermehrt sitzende Lebensstil führt zu weniger körperlicher Aktivität in der Schweizer Bevölkerung. Das Phänomen des Runner’s High (RH) ist ein spannender Ansatz, mit welchem die Begeisterung für Ausdauersport gesteigert werden könnte. Da das RH vorwiegend im Laufsport gut dokumentiert ist, untersucht diese Arbeit, ob auch im Radsport ein solches Erleben möglich ist.
Fragestellung: Ziel dieser Bachelorarbeit ist es, das subjektive Erleben eines RH zu untersuchen und Unterschiede im Auftreten zwischen Lauf- und Radsport aufzuzeigen.
Methode: Es wurden zehn semi-strukturierte Interviews mit je fünf Sporler:innen aus dem Lauf- oder Radsport im Alter von 22 und 31 Jahren durchgeführt. Die qualitative Auswertung der Interviews erfolgte nach Kuckarzt und Rädiker.
Ergebnisse: Das RH tritt sowohl im Lauf- wie auch im Radsport auf, unterscheidet sich jedoch in der Auftrittsform. Läufer:innen beschrieben ein Nachlassen von Erschöpfung und Schmerzen während Radfahrer:innen über ein Gefühl von Leichtigkeit und müheloser Bewegungsausführung berichten. Beide Gruppen äusserten ein gesteigertes Gesamtwohlbefinden.
Schlussfolgerung: Das RH tritt sowohl im Lauf- wie auch im Radsport auf und könnte bei der breiten Bevölkerung als Anreiz für mehr Bewegung im Alltag dienen
Lock-in thermography characterization of photothermal transparent thin films
No full textThis study evaluates the capabilities of a new Lock-in Thermography device for characterizing photothermal thin films. Lock-in Thermography, a sensitive imaging technique, is used to detect thermal variations, particle aggregation, and material inhomogeneities. The Calorsito device combines multiwavelength infrared illumination with high-resolution thermal spectroscopy, enabling precise analysis of thermal and structural properties.Three photothermal thin films—Fe3O4, Fe3O4@Cu2xS, and Chlorophyllin—were studied to assess their thermal performance. The device measured temperature changes (ΔT) across various infrared wavelengths, which were then compared with Average Visual Transmittance (AVT) measured separately. The results showed that the Calorsito device successfully visualized particle aggregation and heat distribution, providing insights into thin film heat development and homogeneity. Additionally, measurements confirmed that AVT had a stronger influence on ΔT than concentration. Results showed that films with lower AVT exhibited higher ΔT, demonstrating greater light absorption and superior photothermal efficiency. Fe3O4@Cu2xS films outperformed others due to the enhanced optical properties of Cu2xS nanoparticles, making them ideal for light-to-heat conversion applications