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Bericht vom Workshop zum Datentracking in der Wissenschaft im Vorfeld der ISI 2025, 17.03.2025 (TU Chemnitz)
No full textPeer Reviewe
Romanian and Bulgarian Male Sex Workers in Berlin: An Ethnography of the Community
No full textDie vorliegende Dissertation stellt eine ethnographische Studie von rumänischen und bulgarischen männlichen Sexarbeitern in Berlin dar. Auf Basis der teilnehmenden Beobachtung und Interviews werden die Gründe für die Migration von Männern aus Rumänien und Bulgarien nach Berlin, und in die Sexarbeit, untersucht, sowie wie rumänische und bulgarische männliche Sexarbeiter in Berlin ihre sexuellen Identitäten aushandeln. Die Dissertation besteht aus zwei veröffentlichten und zwei unveröffentlichten wissenschaftlichen Aufsätzen. Im ersten Aufsatz wird die aktuelle Topographie der mann- männlichen Straßensexarbeit in Berlin dargestellt. Es wird gezeigt, wie Digitalisierung, Gentrifizierung und Normalisierung der Homosexualität zum Verschwinden der männlichen Straßensexarbeit an einigen Orten in Berlin geführt haben, und zu ihrer sozialräumlichen und diskursiven Marginalisierung an anderen. Im zweiten Aufsatz werden Migrationsmotive und Erfahrungen rumänischer und bulgarischer männlicher Sexarbeiter in Berlin untersucht. Im dritten Aufsatz stehen Aushandlungen von deren Sexualitäten im Vordergrund. Es werden sechs Strategien aufgezeigt, die die migrantischen Sexarbeiter benutzen, um sowohl von den Kunden als auch von den Landsleuten akzeptiert und richtig „gelesen” zu werden. Letztlich wird im vierten Artikel die Anlaufstelle vom Sozialprojekt für Sexarbeitende als ein Ort analysiert, wo gegenwärtige geosexuelle Hierarchien zwischen dem „sexuell progressiven“ Westeuropa und dem “traditionalistischen” Osteuropa auf Alltagsebene reproduziert werden. Insgesamt trägt die Dissertation zu den aktuellen wissenschaftlichen Diskussionen über männliche Sexarbeit und Migration, sexuelle Identitäten männlicher Sexarbeiter, Wandel der Sexarbeit, insbesondere der Straßensexarbeit, in der Spätmoderne sowie zur Reproduzierung geosexueller Ungleichheiten in Europa auf Alltagsebene bei.This dissertation is an ethnographic study of Romanian and Bulgarian male sex workers in Berlin. Based on participant observation and interviews, it examines the reasons for migration of men from Romania and Bulgaria to Berlin, and into sex work, and how Romanian and Bulgarian male sex workers in Berlin negotiate their sexual identities. The dissertation consists of two published and two unpublished articles. In the first article it maps the current field of male street level sex work in Berlin, demonstrating how digitalization, gentrification and mainstreaming of parts of LGBTQI+ culture, have led to disappearance of male sex trade at one places in the German capital and its socio- spatial and discursive marginalization at others. The second article examines migration motives and experiences of Romanian and Bulgarian men who do sex work in Berlin. The article demonstrates that most of these men are essentially labor migrants, who do sex work either alongside, or in between, other low-skilled jobs that are available to them. The third article examines negotiations of sexual identities of Romanian and Bulgarian male migrants who do sex work in Berlin by showcasing six strategies they use to negotiate between the gay male and the heteropatriarchal sexual scripts, that is, to make their sexualities both legible to the clients and acceptable within the diasporic community. Finally, the fourth article examines the drop-in center for male sex workers in Berlin as an environment where contemporary geosexual differences between “sexually progressive” Western Europe and “traditionalist” Eastern Europe are reenacted on the level of everyday social interactions. Altogether, the dissertation contributes to the existing scholarly research on male sex work and migration, sexual identities of male sex workers, transformation of sex work, particularly street level sex work, in late modernity, and reproduction of geosexual differences within Europe in everyday life
A comparison of approaches for processing the time dimension in automatic cover song identification
No full textDiese Veröffentlichung geht zurück auf eine Masterarbeit im Studiengang Information Science, M. A. an der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin aus dem Jahr 2024.This master’s thesis compares different approaches for processing the time dimension in automatic Cover Song Identification (CSI). Six Time Handling Approaches (THAs) are conceptualized based on existing literature. To test the THA’s impact on cover song prediction performance, a two-phased research strategy is chosen. During the exploratory phase, song pairs are compared qualitatively, while the subsequent retrieval phase evaluates different THAs in a testing environment using various evaluation metrics. While the exploratory phase yields promising results for some THAs, the baseline employed during the retrieval phase cannot be outperformed. The results qualitatively show that longer chunk lengths in THAs typically lead to better prediction performance and are more suited for pairwise comparison than for large-scale retrieval tasks
Consumer Consent Regulation
No full textConsumer consent regulation is the cornerstone of modern data privacy regulation such as the European GDPR and the Californian CCPA. By ensuring that consumers can reject any harmful data collection, the regulation seems an effective tool for protecting consumers against price discrimination. By contrast, I provide the insight that consent regulation alone is ineffective because it provides firms with the loophole to commit to unattractive offers to dissenting consumers. Effective consent regulation therefore requires an explicit regulation of the firm’s dissent offer. This is informationally demanding; regulation that merely insists on “reasonable” (sequential rational) offers is ineffective.Peer Reviewe
Moderate manipulation to somatosensory feedback does not affect Libet-style intentional action
No full textThe existence of free will has been called into question by Benjamin Libet’s seminal experiment, who argued that our conscious decision is preceded by an unconscious decision reflected in the readiness potential (RP). Alternatively, it has been argue that the RP rather reflects a decision process in which different signals accumulate until they reach the intention threshold, at which point an agent experience their intention simultaneously. This raises the question what type of signal is accumulated given that no external information is provided. Recent studies suggest that various interoceptive signals, such as the respiratory and cardiac cycles, guide our arbitrary decisions. We hypothesized the somatosensory feedback from the afferent system could be another potential source, and tested this by inducing numbness in participants’ hands. If somatosensory feedback is one source of information in arbitrary decisions, participants should take longer to reach the decision threshold. Contrary to our hypotheses, Bayesian analyses revealed decisive evidence supporting the null hypothesis. These findings suggest that somatosensory feedback may not substantially contribute to arbitrary decisions, and alternative explanations have been proposed to account for the results.Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL.Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (1034)Peer Reviewe
New mechanistic insights into macrophage extracellular trap formation induced by a parasitic nematode, Strongyloides stercoralis
No full textMacrophages execute host defense against pathogens by releasing extracellular traps (METs) composed of DNA meshwork and antimicrobial proteins. Although MET-mediated pathogen immobilization is well documented, the induction mechanisms of MET generation by helminth parasites remain elusive. Here, we demonstrate that Strongyloides stercoralis larvae induce rapid chromatin extrusion in murine macrophages. Unlike neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation, MET formation does not require NADPH oxidase and exhibits distinct ultrastructural characteristics, including endoplasmic reticulum vesiculation, perinuclear space dilation, and inner nuclear membrane budding. Phosphoproteomic analysis revealed that MET formation is coordinately regulated by ERK and AKT signaling, F-actin cytoskeletal remodeling, histone acetylation, and phosphorylation of nuclear envelope (NE) proteins. Specifically, we show that protein kinase C zeta isoform (PKCζ)-mediated lamin A/C phosphorylation drives the NE budding and subsequent DNA expulsion. This work represents the first systematic delineation of the cellular dynamics and molecular machinery underlying MET formation, providing new insights into macrophage-directed anti-helminth immunity.Peer Reviewe
Analysis of specialized facial adapdations in elephants and pigs with microCT
No full textDer Erfolg der Säugetiere ist direkt mit ihren sensorischen Fähigkeiten verbunden. Daher ist ein großer Teil ihres Cortex sensorimotorischer Verarbeitung gewidmet. Elefanten und Schweine haben sich in ihrer jeweiligen Umgebung durch hochsensible Anpassungen ihres Gesichts etabliert, den Elefanten- und Schweinerüssel. Um die Muskelarchitektur von Elefantenrüsseln und die Evolution der sensorischen Fähigkeiten des Schweinerostrums zu untersuchen, haben wir hochauflösende Mikrofokustomographien (microCT) und virtuelle Rekonstruktionen von I. einem Rüssel eines Asiatischen Elefantenbabies (Elephas maximus); II. drei Afrikanischen (Loxodonta africana) und drei Asiatischen Elefantenrüsselspitzen und III. Schädeln und Gehirne von neun der achtzehn rezenten Schweinearten angefertigt. Der Rüssel wird von einer der komplexesten bekannten Muskulaturen angetrieben, deren dreidimensionale Muskelarchitektur jedoch noch nicht beschrieben worden ist. Wir haben herausgefunden, dass der gesamte Elefantenrüssel aus 90.000 Muskelfaszikeln besteht, die in fünf Muskelgruppen organisiert sind und nahezu unendliche Freiheitsgrade ermöglichen. Die allgemeine Morphologie der Rüsselspitze und die bevorzugte Art des Greifens unterscheiden sich zwischen Afrikanischen und Asiatischen Elefanten. Unterschiede in der Rüsselspitze könnten darauf zurückzuführen sein, dass Asiatische Elefanten eher dazu neigen, ihren Rüssel zu beugen und Gegenstände umschlingen, während Afrikanische Elefanten Greifbewegungen bevorzugen. Schweine haben einen prominenten kortikalen Gyrus, den Rostrum Gyrus, der isomorph zum Schweinerüssel (Rostrum) ist. Die Größe des Rostrum Gyrus und seine exakte Isomorphie zum Rüssel werden durch natürliche Selektion aufrechterhalten. Bei Elefanten und Schweinen haben Gesichtsanpassungen zum Erfolg dieser Arten beigetragen. Vergleichende Studien geben Aufschluss über die Entwicklung morphologischer und verhaltensbezogener Veränderungen.The success of the order Mammalia is directly linked to their exquisite sensorimotor capabilities. Hence, a big part of their cortex is devoted to sensorimotor processing. Elephants and pigs have established themselves in their respective environments through highly sensitive facial adaptations, the elephant trunk and the pig snout. To investigate the muscular arrangement of elephant trunks and the evolution of the sensory capabilities of the pig rostrum, we performed high-resolution microfocus tomography (microCT) scans and virtual reconstruction on I. A baby Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) trunk, II. Three African savanna (Loxodonta africana) and three Asian elephant trunk tips and III. Pig skulls and pig brains of nine out of eighteen extant pig species. The trunk is actuated by the most complex musculature known, however, the three-dimensional muscle architecture has not been described yet. We found that the entire elephant trunk is comprised of 90,000 muscle fascicles, organized in five muscle groups, which allow for almost infinite degrees of freedom. The general trunk tip morphology and preferred mode of grasping differ between African and Asian elephants. Trunk tip differences may result from the Asian elephant’s reliance on trunk bending and object wrapping, and the African elephant’s preference for pinching movements. Pigs have a prominent cortical gyrus, the rostrum gyrus, isomorphic to their rostrum. Natural selection maintains the rostrum gyrus’ size and its exact isomorphism to the rostrum. In elephants and pigs, facial adaptations have contributed to the success of these species. Comparative studies provide insight into the evolution of morphological and behavioral changes
Investigating Effects of Affective Robot Communication to Establish Trust and Forgiveness in Human-Robot Interaction
No full textMenschen neigen dazu, technischen Systemen mentale Zustände zuzuschreiben. Ein Phänomen, das als Mind Perception bezeichnet wird. Diese Tendenz beeinflusst Bewertungen und Verhaltensweisen gegenüber Robotern und ist damit ein zentrales Thema in der Mensch-Roboter-Interaktion (MRI). Ein Schlüsselfaktor ist anthropomorphes Design, wobei Kommunikation eine besonders wichtige Rolle spielt: Sie übermittelt nicht nur Informationen, sondern auch Emotion, Persönlichkeit und soziale Intention. Diese Dissertation untersucht affektive Kommunikation (die emotionale Färbung von Sprache durch verbale und paralinguistische Elemente) und deren Einfluss auf Wahrnehmungen und Verhaltensweisen gegenüber Robotern. Sie stützt sich auf das zweidimensionale Modell der Mind Perception von Gray et al. (2007), das zwischen Experience (Fähigkeit zu fühlen) und Agency (Fähigkeit zu handeln) unterscheidet. Affektive Kommunikation eröffnet die Möglichkeit, gezielt Experience zu verstärken, ohne Agency zu erhöhen. Es wurden zwei Online-Studien mit synthetischer Sprache sowie eine Laborstudie mit professionell eingesprochenem Audiomaterial durchgeführt. Die Ergebnisse zeigen konsistent: Affektive Wörter und expressive, prosodische Merkmale verstärken Zuschreibungen von Experience, ohne Agency zu beeinflussen. Verbale Inhalte erwiesen sich dabei als der einflussreichste Faktor. Darüber hinaus erhöhte affektive Kommunikation die affektive, nicht jedoch die kognitive Dimension von Vertrauenswürdigkeit. Signifikante Verhaltenseffekte (z.B. Abhängigkeit, Verzeihen) wurden jedoch nicht gefunden. Die Dissertation liefert empirische Evidenz für die selektive Verstärkung von Experience und identifiziert verbale Inhalte dabei als Schlüsselfaktor. Darüber hinaus wird eine Wahrnehmungs-Verhaltens-Lücke aufgezeigt. Es werden ethische Implikationen, insbesondere die Risiken emotionaler Manipulation, diskutiert und die Notwendigkeit einer transparenten, erwartungskonformen Gestaltung sprachfähiger Roboter betont.Humans tend to attribute mental states to technical systems. A phenomenon known as mind perception. This tendency shapes evaluations and behaviors toward robots, making it a central concern in human-robot interaction (HRI). Anthropomorphic design is a key driver, with communication playing a compelling role: beyond transmitting information, it conveys emotion, personality, and social intent. This dissertation investigates affective communication (i.e., the emotional coloring of speech through verbal and paralinguistic elements) and its impact on perceptions of and behaviors towards robots. It builds on Gray et al.’s (2007) two-dimensional model of mind perception, distinguishing experience (capacity to feel) from agency (capacity to act). While agency is linked to competence and responsibility, experience fosters empathy and tolerance. Affective communication offers the possibility of selectively enhancing experience without raising agency.
Two online studies using synthesized speech and one laboratory study with professionally recorded audio were conducted. Results consistently show that affect-laden words and expressive prosodic features increase attributions of experience while leaving agency unaffected. Verbal content emerged as the most influential factor, whereas paralinguistic variation played a secondary role. Furthermore, affective communication enhanced affective but not cognitive trustworthiness. However, no significant behavioral effects (e.g., dependence, forgiveness) were found. The dissertation makes four main contributions: an interdisciplinary model of affective communication in HRI, empirical evidence for the selective enhancement of experience, the identification of verbal content as the key driver, and the demonstration of a perception–behavior gap. Finally, it critically reflects on ethical implications, highlighting risks of emotional manipulation and the need for transparent, expectation-aligned design in language-capable robots
Strain Control of Valley Polarization Dynamics in a 2D Semiconductor via Exciton Hybridization
No full textEncoding and manipulating digital information in quantum degrees of freedom is one of the major challenges of today’s science and technology. The valley indices of excitons in transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are well-suited to addressing this challenge. Here, we employ mechanical strain to manipulate intervalley interactions and tune the valley polarization dynamics of excitons across a broader range of momentum space in monolayer TMDs. We use strain engineering to form valley-hybridized excitons that combine the advantages of bright intravalley excitons, where the valley index directly couples to light polarization, and dark intervalley excitons, characterized by low depolarization rates. We demonstrate that these valley-hybridized excitons exhibit signatures of coherently coupled states with a 100-fold reduction in valley depolarization rate and up to a 5-fold increase in steady-state valley polarization compared to previously studied excitons. Our findings of strain-tunable valley character of excitons advance the applications of TMDs in valleytronics.H2020 European Research Council 10.13039/100010663Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft 10.13039/501100001659Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft 10.13039/501100001659Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft 10.13039/501100001659Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft 10.13039/501100001659Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft 10.13039/501100001659Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft 10.13039/501100001659Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft 10.13039/501100001659Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft 10.13039/501100001659Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft 10.13039/501100001659Bundesministerium f?r Bildung und Forschung 10.13039/501100002347Austrian Science Fund 10.13039/501100002428Austrian Science Fund 10.13039/501100002428Peer Reviewe
Platinum‐Catalysed Hydrofluorination of Alkynes at Room Temperature Promoted by a Fluoride Shuttle
No full textHydrofluorination of alkynes provides a synthetic route to access fluoroalkenes, a class of compounds with wide applications in chemical research. Herewith, we describe an exceptional hydrofluorination process of alkynes catalysed by Pt(II) complexes at room temperature. Various Pt(II) dichloride complexes bearing chelating phosphines were synthesised and studied towards their catalytic behaviour. Mechanistic investigations suggest the involvement of a dicationic Pt(II) bis(alkyne) species as well as a cationic ß‐fluorovinyl Pt(II) complex in the catalytic cycle. Remarkably, the hydrofluorination is enabled by fluorinated anions. The corresponding acids BF3, HF as well as PF5 act as fluoride shuttles to allow for an outer‐sphere fluorination of the metal‐bound substrate. Detailed DFT analyses for BF3 show that the hydrofluorination is mediated by complexes between the fluorinated anion and HF. This lowers the hydrofluorination barriers sufficiently to outcompete the simultaneously occurring, more exergonic cyclisation of two coordinated alkynes to a structurally characterised cycloallyl complex. The catalytic system can be applied to a wide substrate scope to generate fluoroalkenes bearing bulky alkyl, aryl and electron withdrawing groups, such as ester and carbonyl substituents.Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft 10.13039/501100001659Peer Reviewe