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Der Masterplan Solarcity Berlin zwischen premises und promises
Get PDFDieser Artikel basiert auf einer ethnographischen Forschung zum Masterplan Solarcity Berlin und fragt, welche Vorstellung von Stadt diesem zugrunde liegt und wie dadurch eine Solarwende imaginiert wird. Ich schaue auf die premises und promises, die der Masterplan durch das Zusammenbringen bestimmter Ontologien der Stadt und Visionen der Solarwende macht. In dem Versuch, den Masterplan in einem Kontext von Low Carbon Transitions zu verorten, diskutiere ich die Imaginationen, die die Sonne als Energieträgerin infrastrukturieren bzw. urbanisieren. Diese Transformation kennzeichnet sich durch eine Auseinandersetzung mit zwei zentralen Spannungsfelder, nämlich zwischen Zentralität und Dezentralität und zwischen Individuum und Gemeinschaft. Der Aufsatz erkundet so die Zukunftsvisionen und Versprechungen, die mit der Urbanisierung von Sonne verbunden sind und welche Rolle die Idee von Solarity als Zusammendenken von Solar und Solidarität spielt, indem Power gleichzeitig als Energie und als Macht verstanden wird.Peer Reviewe
Status Quo & Outlook towards a more participative research culture
Get PDFDiese Dissertation aus der Sparte der Reflexiven Bibliometrie erforscht die Rückwirkungen der Verwendung von quantitativen Indikatoren in der Wissenschaftsevaluation auf die Wissensproduktion und Forschungsqualität in der Astronomie. Eine qualitative Analyse der strukturellen Bedingungen der akamdeischen Astronomie anhand des Rational Choice Frameworks führen zur Beobachtung eines "Evaluation Gap" zwischen dem, was Indikatoren messen und dem, was Forscher unter Forschungsqualität verstehen. Die Analyse offenbart weiters einen Balanceakt, in dem Astronomen zwischen Publikationsdruck und Forschungsintegrität Kompromisse finden. Weiterführende quantitative Untersuchungen unter Einbezug von Organisational Culture Theories und Self-Determination Theory zeigen, dass kontrollierte Formen von Motivation zu einem erhöhten Publikationsdruck und wissenschaftlichem Fehlverhalten führen, während autonome Formen von Motivation das Gegenteil bewirken. Schließlich skizziert die Arbeit Wege zur Transformation der Forschungskultur hin zu mehr Vielfalt und Partizipation, einschließlich der Einführung offener Wissensmanagement-Infrastrukturen und kontinuierlicher, reflexiver Evaluationsprozesse.This dissertation from the field of Reflexive Bibliometrics, investigates the constitutive effects of utilizing quantitative metrics in research evaluation on knowledge production and research quality in astronomy. Embedded in the Rational Choice Framework to analyze the structural conditions within academic astronomy, a qualitative analysis reveals an "Evaluation Gap" between what metrics measure and researchers' perceptions of research quality. Furthermore, the analysis unveils a balancing act where astronomers navigate compromises between publication pressures and research integrity. Subsequent quantitative analyses, incorporating Organizational Culture Theories and Self-Determination Theory, demonstrate that controlled forms of motivation exacerbate publication pressure and scientific misconduct, while autonomous motivations yield contrasting effects. Lastly, the study outlines pathways towards transforming research culture towards greater diversity and participation, including the adoption of open knowledge management infrastructures and continuous, reflexive evaluation processes
Detecting Land Surface Changes and Threats to Infrastructure in Alaskan Permafrost Regions
No full textDie Arktis erwärmt sich mehr als 3x so schnell wie der globale Durchschnitt, was zu Permafrostdegradation führt. Permafrostdegradation führt zu einer Absenkung des Bodens mit erheblichen Veränderungen der Landoberfläche (VdL), die tiefgreifende ökologische Folgen haben und Infrastruktur-Stabilität bedrohen. Fernerkundungsdaten ermöglichen die Erkundung von VdL und Störungen in weiten Regionen. Erste Anzeichen von Permafrostdegradation zu detektieren, bleibt jedoch eine Herausforderung auf Grund ihrer kleinen räumlichen Skalen und hohen zeitlichen Variabilität. Die zunehmende Verfügbarkeit hochauflösender Bilddaten erfordert zudem nachhaltige Ansätze für deren effiziente Verarbeitung. Auch ist es wichtig, die Anfälligkeit von Infrastruktur im Kontext dieser VdL und die potenziellen ökologischen Folgen im Falle eines Infrastruktur-Versagens zu verstehen. Meine Dissertation widmete sich diesen Herausforderungen am Beispiel Alaskas (U.S.A.). Die drei Studien hatten folgende Ziele: (i) Erkennung und Quantifizierung von VdL, im Kontext von Permafrostdegradation, unter Nutzung hochauflösender Fernerkundungsdaten und Bewertung ihrer Bedrohung für Infrastruktur und (ii) Identifizierung von Infrastrukturelementen mit entscheidender Bedeutung für die Bevölkerung Alaskas, um deren Anfälligkeit für Permafrostdegradation einschätzen zu können. Das Ergebnis sind (i) zwei skalierbare, weitgehend automatisierte, leicht zugängliche methodische Rahmen, die erfolgreich VdL und Erosionsprozesse an Seeufern erkennen und quantifizieren. Außerdem erstellte ich (ii) ein umfassendes Inventar kritischer Infrastruktur und vom Menschen beeinflusster Gebiete, das über industrielle und wirtschaftliche Bedeutung hinausgeht. Dieses Inventar beruht auf der Integration verschiedener Quellen, wodurch eine eingehende Analyse der Anfälligkeit der Infrastruktur für Permafrostdegradation und ökologischen Folgen möglich wird, die im Falle eines Versagens der Infrastruktur entstehen können.The Arctic is warming more than 3x faster than the global average, leading to permafrost degradation. When permafrost thaws, it results in ground subsidence and causes substantial land surface changes, which have profound ecological consequences and pose a threat to infrastructure stability. Remote sensing data allows us to explore land surface changes and disturbances across regions, yet early detection of permafrost degradation remains challenging due to its small-scale occurrence and high temporal variability. Further, the increasing availability of high-resolution imagery requires a sustainable framework to efficiently process these data. Also, it is essential to understand the vulnerability of infrastructure in context of these land surface changes and the potential ecological consequences that may arise in the event of infrastructure failure. In my thesis, I addressed these challenges focusing on the U.S. state of Alaska. I conducted three studies with the objectives to (i) detecting and quantifying the trajectories of land surface changes attributed to permafrost degradation using very high-resolution remote sensing data and assessing their threat to infrastructure, and (ii) identifying infrastructure elements critical to the Alaskan population to allow an estimation of their vulnerability to permafrost degradation. As a result of my research, I developed (i) two scalable, widely automated and easily accessible frameworks that successfully detect and quantify land surface displacements and shoreline erosion processes attributed to permafrost degradation. Additionally, (ii) I have compiled a comprehensive inventory of critical infrastructure and human-impacted areas, extending beyond economic and industrial importance. I created this inventory by integrating different data sources, allowing for an in-depth analysis of infrastructure vulnerability to permafrost degradation and the ecological consequences that may arise in the event of infrastructure failure
Agronomic management response in maize (Zea mays L.) production across three agroecological zones of Kenya
Get PDFMaize (Zea mays L.) productivity in Kenya has witnessed a decline attributed to the effects of climate change and biophysical constraints. The assessment of agronomic practices across agroecological zones (AEZs) is limited by inadequate data quality, hindering a precise evaluation of maize yield on a large scale. In this study, we employed the DSSAT-CERES-Maize crop model (where CERES is Crop Environment Resource Synthesis and DSSAT is Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer) to investigate the impacts of different agronomic practices on maize yield across different AEZs in two counties of Kenya. The model was calibrated and evaluated with observed grain yield, biomass, leaf area index, phenology, and soil water content from 2-year experiments. Remote sensing (RS) images derived from the Sentinel-2 satellite were integrated to delineate maize areas, and the resulting information was merged with DSSAT-CERES-Maize yield simulations. This facilitated a comprehensive quantification of various agronomic measures at pixel scales. Evaluation of agronomic measures revealed that sowing dates and cultivar types significantly influenced maize yield across the AEZs. Notably, AEZ II and AEZ III exhibited elevated yields when implementing combined practices of early sowing and cultivar H614. The impacts of optimal management practices varied across the AEZs, resulting in yield increases of 81, 115, and 202 kg ha−1 in AEZ I, AEZ II, and AEZ III, respectively. This study underscores the potential of the CERES-Maize model and high-resolution RS data in estimating production at larger scales. Furthermore, this integrated approach holds promise for supporting agricultural decision-making and designing optimal strategies to enhance productivity while accounting for site-specific conditions.Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst
http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001655PhD scholarship for HKPeer Reviewe
The organisation of the neuromuscular responses to the presence of perturbations during the execution of balance training exercises
Get PDFStürze sind weltweit die zweithäufigste Ursache für Verletzungen und Todesfälle, und stellen eine massive Belastung für jedes Gesundheitssystem dar. Die meisten Stürze resultieren aus einer fehlgeschlagenen Reaktion auf unerwartete Störungen der Fortbewegung, wie z. B. Stolpern oder Ausrutschen. Unter den vielen bestehenden Interventionsmodellen, die auf das Risiko von Stürzen abzielen, sind bewegungsbasierte Interventionen die kosteneffektivsten. Da bei den meisten Trainingsansätzen die verbesserte Gleichgewichtsfähigkeit nur begrenzt auf untrainierte Situationen übertragen werden kann, müssen Faktoren, wie die Retention und die Dosis-Wirkungs-Beziehung noch ermittelt werden. Des Weiteren sind die Mechanismen, welche den wirksamen Trainingsmaßnahmen zugrunde liegen, noch nicht vollständig erforscht.
Training der grundlegenden Mechanismen zur Wiederherstellung des Gleichgewichts (d. h. die Gegenrotation von Körpersegmenten und die Modulation der Unterstützungsfläche) unter instabilen Bedingungen, sowohl unter den trainierten Bedingungen als auch unter unbekannten Bedingungen, verbessert. Darüber hinaus erhöhte dieses Training die kraftgenerierende Kapazität der Muskeln der unteren Extremitäten, was die Ausführung von Gleichgewichtswiederherstellungsreaktionen weiter fördert. Auf der Grundlage dieser vielversprechenden Ergebnisse versucht diese Arbeit, Kenntnisse über die zugrundeliegenden neuromechanischen Anpassungen dieses vorteilhaften Trainingsansatzes, zu liefern.
Robustheit kann als Folge verschiedener Modulationen von Muskelsynergien entstehen. Die Wahl der Strategie von Faktoren wie der Ausprägung der Störung, sowie der Ausprägung und Beschränkungen der Bewegungsaufgabe, und der wahrgenommenen Herausforderung für das Gleichgewicht bestimmt wird. Außerdem erhöht das Training auf instabilen Oberflächen nicht per se die mechanischen Anforderungen an die Beinmuskulatur. Die Zunahme der Muskelkraft scheint daher eine Folge neuronaler Anpassungen zu sein.Falls are the second leading cause of unintentional injury and death worldwide. Among manifold causes, most fall result from a failed response to unexpected perturbations such as a trip or slip. Fall-related injuries can significantly impair quality of life, and their consequences represent a massive burden for any healthcare system. Amid fall prevention paradigms, exercise-based interventions are the most cost-effective. However, most training approaches have a limited transfer to untrained situations and the underlying mechanisms of effective training interventions are still not fully understood.
Training the execution of the fundamental balance recovery mechanism (i.e., counterrotating body segments and increasing the base of support) in the presence of perturbations has been reported as an alternative capable of improving balance recovery performance in both trained and non-trained situations and of increasing the force capacity of the lower limb, further promoting the execution of balance recovery reactions. Based on these promising results, this thesis endeavours to provide insight into the fundamental elements promoting the neuromechanical adaptations underpinning the reported advantages of this training paradigm.
The analysis of the neuromuscular responses to unstable surfaces during a training session revealed
different strategies to cope with perturbations and increase robustness. These different modulations of muscle synergies depend on several factors such as the characteristics of the task and the individual capacities. Moreover, training on unstable surfaces did not increase the mechanical demands upon the leg muscles per-se. Thus the gains in muscle force observed after training the fundamental mechanism of balance recovery onto unstable surfaces are likely a consequence of neural adaptations
Emotion Communication Under Conditions of Partial Face Occlusion
Get PDFDiese kumulative Dissertation umfasst zwei Veröffentlichungen zu drei Bereichen der Emotionskommunikation. Ziel war es, zu untersuchen, ob OP-Masken die Emotionswahrnehmung, die Affiliation und die emotionale Mimikry (d.h. die automatische, aber zielabhängige Imitation des emotionalen Ausdrucks von Interaktionspartner:innen) reduzieren. In zwei Online-Experimenten (Studie 1: N=200, britische Stichprobe; Studie 2: N=235, deutsche Stichprobe) wurden subjektive Bewertungen und die emotionale Mimikry als Reaktion auf maskierte und unmaskierte Gesichter untersucht. Die wahrgenommene Emotionsintensität und die Genauigkeit der Emotionserkennung dienten als Indikatoren für die Emotionswahrnehmung. Die wahrgenommene zwischenmenschliche Nähe diente als Indikator für die Affiliation. Die emotionale Mimikry wurde mit Hilfe einer Gesichtsaktivitätserkennungstechnologie gemessen. In der ersten Studie sahen erwachsene Proband:innen erwachsene Zielpersonen, die Freude und Trauer ausdrückten, eingebettet in Innen- und Außenszenen. In der zweiten Studie sahen erwachsene Proband:innen Erwachsene und Kinder, die Freude, Trauer oder Ärger ausdrückten. Die Freudemimikry wurde durch Masken reduziert, insbesondere wenn die Zielpersonen Kinder waren. Im Gegensatz dazu war die Trauermimikry bei Kindergesichtern stärker und wurde, wie auch die Ärgermimikry, durch Masken nicht beeinträchtigt. Wir konnten auch zeigen, dass durch Gesichtsmasken verringerte Freudewahrnehmung und Nähe mit einer verringerten Freudemimikry verbunden waren. Die Studien zeigen somit, wie erwartet wurde, eine maskenbedingte Verringerung der Emotionswahrnehmung, der Affiliation, und der emotionalen Mimikry. Insgesamt trägt die vorliegende Arbeit zu unserem Verständnis der sozio-affektiven Auswirkungen der partiellen Gesichtsverdeckung bei und stützt die Theorie der emotionalen Mimikry im sozialen Kontext
von Hess und Fischer, nach der Emotionswahrnehmung und Affiliation die emotionale Mimikry beeinflussen.This cumulative doctoral dissertation encompasses two publications on three domains of emotion communication. The goal of the dissertation was to assess if surgical face masks reduce emotion perception, affiliation, and emotional mimicry (i.e., automatic but goal-dependent imitation of an interaction partner's emotional display). We conducted two online experiments (Study 1: N=200, U.K. sample; Study 2: N=235, German sample) that assessed subjective ratings and emotional mimicry in response to masked and unmasked faces. Perceived emotion intensity and emotion recognition accuracy served as indicators of emotion perception. Perceived interpersonal closeness (via the Inclusion of Other in the Self Scale) served as an indicator of affiliation. Emotional mimicry was measured using facial activity recognition technology. We also took into account socio-spatial context effects. In the first study, adult perceivers saw adult targets who expressed happiness and sadness embedded into indoor and outdoor scenes. In the second study, adult perceivers saw adult and child targets who expressed happiness, sadness, and anger. We found that happiness mimicry was reduced by masks, particularly when expressers were children. In contrast, sadness mimicry was stronger for children and, like anger mimicry, unaffected by masks. We also found that reduced emotion perception and closeness due to masks were associated with reduced happiness mimicry. The studies support evidence from before and during the COVID-19 pandemic for mask-related reductions of emotion perception and affiliation. Moreover, the studies provide unprecedented evidence on reductions of emotional mimicry in response to masked faces and child targets. Overall, the present work contributes to our understanding of the socio-affective effects of partial face occlusion and supports emotional mimicry in social context theory by Hess and Fischer, according to which emotion perception and affiliation influence emotional mimicry
Democratization through precision technologies? Unveiling power, participation, and property rights in the agricultural bioeconomy
Get PDFThis piece addresses the political dimension of sustainability in the agricultural bioeconomy by focusing on power, participation, and property rights around key technologies. Bioeconomy policies aim to establish economic systems based on renewable resources such as plants and microorganisms to reduce dependence on fossil resources. To achieve this, they rely on economic growth and increased biomass production through high-tech innovations. This direction has sparked important critique of the environmental and social sustainability of such projects. However, little attention has been paid in the bioeconomy literature to the political dimension surrounding key precision technologies such as data-driven precision agriculture (PA) or precision breeding technologies using new genomic techniques (NGT). The political dimension includes questions of power, participation, and property rights regarding these technologies and the distribution of the benefits and burdens they generate. This lack of attention is particularly pertinent given the recurring and promising claims that precision technologies not only enhance environmental sustainability, but also contribute to the democratization of food and biomass production. This contribution addresses this claim in asking whether we can really speak of a democratization of the agricultural bioeconomy through these precision technologies. Drawing on (own) empirical research and historical evidence, it concludes that current patterns are neither driving nor indicative of a democratization. On the contrary, corporate control, unequal access, distribution, and property rights over data and patents point to few gains for small firms and breeders, but to a reproduction of farmers' dependencies, and less transparency for consumers.Peer Reviewe
Use and acceptance of traditional, complementary and integrative medicine in Germany—an online representative cross-sectional study
Get PDFBackground: Older representative surveys show that Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) is used by about 60% of the German population. However, no data exists for the current nationwide situation. The main aim of this cross-sectional study is to investigate the current use and acceptance of TCIM in Germany.
Methods: This study is based on a representative sample of the German population aged 18–75 years. Participants were asked about the use and acceptance of TCIM. The survey was conducted online using Computer Assisted Web Interview (CAWI) in 2022 by three renowned German market research institutes on behalf of and in close coordination with the working group. The data set was analyzed descriptively and inferentially.
Results: In total, 4,065 participants (52% female, 48% male, 0.4% diverse) responded completely (response rate: 21.5%). Among participants, 70% stated that they had used TCIM at some point in their lives, with 32% doing so in the last 12 months and 18% currently. The most common reason given (17%) was musculoskeletal pain. For their own health, 39% stated that TCIM is important. Traditional European Medicine was rated as very/mainly effective by 27% of participants and as partly effective by 44% (conventional medicine: 69% very/mainly effective, 19% partly effective). As a complementary treatment strategy to conventional medicine, 35% considered TCIM to be optimal (“Complementary Medicine”), 33% in combination with conventional medicine (“Integrative Medicine”) and 5% without conventional medicine (“Alternative Medicine”). The majority of the participants were in favor of more research on TCIM and stated that the costs of TCIM services should be covered by health insurance companies (71% and 69%, respectively).
Conclusion: These results from a representative online-population suggest that the use of TCIM in Germany remains at a high level. The nationwide relevance of TCIM should be given greater consideration in German health care policy making. TCIM should be systematically investigated using appropriate study designs and methods including high quality randomized clinical trials to investigate their effectiveness, efficacy, therapeutic safety and costs in the future.Peer Reviewe
Mesenchymal cell migration on one-dimensional micropatterns
Get PDFQuantitative studies of mesenchymal cell motion are important to elucidate cytoskeleton function and mechanisms of cell migration. To this end, confinement of cell motion to one dimension (1D) significantly simplifies the problem of cell shape in experimental and theoretical investigations. Here we review 1D migration assays employing micro-fabricated lanes and reflect on the advantages of such platforms. Data are analyzed using biophysical models of cell migration that reproduce the rich scenario of morphodynamic behavior found in 1D. We describe basic model assumptions and model behavior. It appears that mechanical models explain the occurrence of universal relations conserved across different cell lines such as the adhesion-velocity relation and the universal correlation between speed and persistence (UCSP). We highlight the unique opportunity of reproducible and standardized 1D assays to validate theory based on statistical measures from large data of trajectories and discuss the potential of experimental settings embedding controlled perturbations to probe response in migratory behavior.Peer Reviewe
What factors influence the rediscovery of lost tetrapod species?
Get PDFWe created a database of lost and rediscovered tetrapod species, identified patterns in their distribution and factors influencing rediscovery. Tetrapod species are being lost at a faster rate than they are being rediscovered, due to slowing rates of rediscovery for amphibians, birds and mammals, and rapid rates of loss for reptiles. Finding lost species and preventing future losses should therefore be a conservation priority. By comparing the taxonomic and spatial distribution of lost and rediscovered tetrapod species, we have identified regions and taxa with many lost species in comparison to those that have been rediscovered—our results may help to prioritise search effort to find them. By identifying factors that influence rediscovery, we have improved our ability to broadly distinguish the types of species that are likely to be found from those that are not (because they are likely to be extinct). Some lost species, particularly those that are small and perceived to be uncharismatic, may have been neglected in terms of conservation effort, and other lost species may be hard to find due to their intrinsic characteristics and the characteristics of the environments they occupy (e.g. nocturnal species, fossorial species and species occupying habitats that are more difficult to survey such as wetlands). These lost species may genuinely await rediscovery. However, other lost species that possess characteristics associated with rediscovery (e.g. large species) and that are also associated with factors that negatively influence rediscovery (e.g. those occupying small islands) are more likely to be extinct. Our results may foster pragmatic search protocols that prioritise lost species likely to still exist.Israel Science Foundation
http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100003977Leibniz‐Institut für Gewässerökologie und BinnenfischereiAlexander von Humboldt‐StiftungPontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador
http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100011749Peer Reviewe