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The Suffering of Innocents, Martin Buber, and a Covenantal Reading of the Book of Job
No full textBuber’s analysis of Job, offering four responses to the theodical questions that innocent suffering raises, has been highly influential since its publication in 1942, as has been Steven Kepnes’s more recent application of Buber’s analysis to the Nazi Holocaust. Each of Buber’s specific responses has been, at various points in history and today, taken up by sufferers and by those pondering suffering’s theodical implications. Yet each response retains troubling features. This article, building on Buber and Kepnes, offers an alternate reading of the Book of Job, centering on two points: (i) a possible covenantal, rather than retributive, nature of the God-Job relationship and (ii) an understanding of God’s response to Job as covenantal. This is not to suggest that such a response “solves” suffering, but it is comprehensible to Job from his own knowledge and experience of the world—an important aspect of the covenantal relationship—and is in some measure helpful. The article first reviews Kepnes’s reading of Buber, discusses four aspects of it that remain theodically troubling, and then sketches a covenantal reading of Job, drawing on the work of Edward Greenstein, Moshe Greenberg, David Burrell, Bill McKibben, Susannah Ticciati, and other more recent Jobian scholars. This discussion explores the following: (i) covenant in the Wisdom literature, (ii) a universalist reading of covenant entailing human integrity, reasoned dialogue, and the validity of human knowledge within natural, human capacity, (iii) why Job’s request to God is covenantal, and (iv) why God’s response is as well.This research received no external funding.Peer Reviewe
Comparative Phylogeography of West African Rainforest Frogs Reveals Regional Variation in Refugia Dynamics
No full textUnderstanding how species responded to climatic change in the past can help predict the long‐term implications of contemporary climate change. The Upper Guinean rainforests of West Africa are a global biodiversity hotspot, and it is well documented that climatic fluctuations in the Pleistocene drove the expansion and contraction of rainforest cover in this region. West African slippery frogs, genus Conraua , are rainforest specialists and present an excellent opportunity to study the effects of climate‐driven landscape changes on contemporary phylogeographic patterns and population dynamics. They exclusively inhabit rainforest streams and show little morphological or ecological disparity. We generated a population‐level dataset of genome‐wide restriction site‐associated DNA (RAD) loci for four species spread across Upper Guinea. The observed phylogeographic structure is consistent with previously postulated macro‐ and micro‐refugia. Building on these results, we used demographic modelling to trace demographic trends over time and infer population connectivity patterns. Overall, populations in topographically complex regions, like the Fouta Djallon, showed signatures of long‐term local persistence and milder changes in population size. In contrast, we found more dynamic histories of contraction and expansion in the main Upper Guinean rainforest block. Our findings provide insights into regional biodiversity patterns and show large variation in population responses to climatic fluctuations. This suggests that local environmental factors have played a key role in shaping population dynamics. Such insights are particularly relevant in relatively understudied biodiversity hotspots, such as the Upper Guinean rainforests of West Africa. Our results have implications for conservation management and prioritisation at the species, site, and ecosystem level.’Innovation Fund’ by the Museum für Naturkunde BerlinElsa‐Neumann Scholarship by the state of BerlinNational Science Foundation 10.13039/100000001Peer Reviewe
Une étude exploratoire en milieu universitaire
No full textDie vorliegende empirische Untersuchung widmet sich einer Exploration des Sprachenlernens im akademischen Umfeld. Sie zielt insbesondere darauf ab, zu verstehen, ob und wenn ja, wie kollaboratives Schreiben die Kompetenz zur schriftlichen Produktion in einer Fremdsprache entwickelt. Es handelt sich um eine neue Problematik angesichts der Herausforderungen des 21. Jahrhunderts, der sich die Studierenden mit Blick auf die Anforderungen des Arbeitsmarktes heute stellen müssen: Sie müssen Zusammenarbeit und schriftliche Kommunikation in der Fremdsprache in einem professionellen Umfeld miteinander in Einklang bringen, das durch die Nutzung der digitalen Medien in starkem Maße beeinflusst wird.
Meine Fragestellung lautet hier: Gibt es bereits Praktiken des kollaborativen Schreibens in digitalen Lernumgebungen im Bereich der Sprachkurse an Universitäten? Wenn ja, inwieweit fördern diese Praktiken das Erlernen einer Fremdsprache? Wenn nein, welche Erwartungen haben Lehrkräfte und Studierende an die Einführung solcher Praktiken in Sprachkursen?
Basierend auf einer qualitativen Analyse von Daten aus Interviews mit Studierenden und Lehrkräften in Französisch-als-Fremdsprache-Kursen untersucht der in dieser Forschung verwendete wissenschaftliche Ansatz die Vorstellungen dieser Akteure (Lernende und Lehrende) in Bezug auf einen Mehrwert des kollaborativen Schreibens in Kombination mit dem Einsatz von digitalen Medien.
Die im ersten Teil ausgeführten theoretischen Grundlagen lassen darauf schließen, dass eine Annäherung zwischen kollaborativem Schreiben und digitalen Medien ein gewisses Potenzial für die Entwicklung der Schreibkompetenz in der Fremdsprache mit sich bringen würde, auch wenn die Feldforschung in dieser Hinsicht noch keine Bestätigung liefert. Zukünftige Forschungen in einem digital aufgeschlosseneren Feld könnten unser Verständnis der erwähnten Zusammenhänge vertiefen.The present empirical study is devoted to an exploration of language learning in an academic setting. It aims, in particular, to achieve an understanding of whether – and if so, how – collaborative writing develops competence in written production of a foreign language. This is a new problem area in view of the challenges of the 21st century that students must confront to meet the requirements of the labour market: they must reconcile collaboration with written communication in a foreign language in a professional environment that is heavily influenced by the use of digital media.
My question in this context is: are there already practices for collaborative writing in digital learning environments in the field of university language courses? If so, to what extent do those practices facilitate learning of a foreign language? If not, what expectations do teaching staff and students have of the introduction if such practices into language courses?
Based on a qualitative analysis of data from interviews with students and teachers on French-as-a-foreign-language courses, the academic approach adopted in this research investigates the expectations of these stakeholders (learners and teachers) in relation to the added value that might come from collaborative writing in combination with the use of digital media.
The theoretical principles elucidated in the first part lead to the conclusion that bringing together collaborative writing and digital media would entail a certain potential for developing writing competence in a foreign language, even though the field research in this regard has yet to confirm this. Future research in a wider digital field could deepen our understanding of the correlations mentioned above
Veränderungen im Programmbereich Gesundheit – Eine Analyse am Beispiel Berliner Volkshochschulen
No full textDie Corona-Pandemie stellte eine tiefgreifende gesellschaftliche Krise dar, die mit erheb-lichen psychischen, physischen und sozialen Belastungen einherging. Auch die Volks-hochschulen waren davon betroffen: Besonders im Programmbereich Gesundheit kam es zu starken Einschränkungen. Laut VHS-Statistik reduzierte sich das Angebot in die-sem Bereich im Jahr 2020 um rund 57 % gegenüber dem Vorjahr. Während andere Pro-grammbereiche, etwa Sprachen oder Integration, erfolgreich auf digitale Formate umge-stellt wurden, war die digitale Umsetzung gesundheitsbezogener, praxisorientierter Kursangebote nur eingeschränkt möglich. Gleichzeitig wird angenommen, dass die pandemiebedingten Belastungen zu einer ver-stärkten Nachfrage nach Gesundheitsbildung führten – etwa in den Bereichen Resilienz, Achtsamkeit und Selbstfürsorge. Vor diesem Hintergrund untersucht die vorliegende Ar-beit, wie Berliner Volkshochschulen mit diesen Herausforderungen umgingen und ob bzw. in welcher Form sich die Programmplanung im Programmbereich Gesundheit wäh-rend der Pandemie veränderte. Die qualitative Untersuchung basiert auf leitfadengestütz-ten Expert*inneninterviews mit Programmverantwortlichen. Eine Programmanalyse wur-de nur ergänzend durchgeführt, da kurzfristige Angebotsänderungen dokumentarisch nur unzureichend erfasst wurden und somit keine Grundlage für eine systematische Pro-grammanalyse für die Beantwortung der Forschungsfrage herangezogen werden konnte. Die Arbeit liefert Erkenntnisse zur Anpassungsfähigkeit der Volkshochschulen in Krisen-zeiten sowie zu strukturellen und didaktischen Bedingungen gesundheitsbezogener Er-wachsenenbildung unter pandemischen Rahmenbedingungen
Influence of consumer socio-psychological food environment on food choice and its implications for nutrition: evidence from Tanzania
No full textBackground: Changes in consumer food choices have been associated with transformation in the food environment. Despite the direct impact of consumers' food choices on their diet and health outcomes, there is a lack of comprehensive evidence regarding how various factors within the food environment impact these choices. Methods: This study uses the Theory of Planned Behavior to examine how socio-psychological factors in the food environment influence consumers' healthy food choices. A survey of 714 randomly selected adult consumers was conducted in selected rural and urban areas in Tanzania. Data was analyzed using structural equation modeling. Results: The results indicate that consumers' knowledge, attitudes, and perceived behavioral control significantly explain 93% of the variance in the intention to choose healthy foods. The intention to choose healthy foods was found to be positive and significantly associated with the consumption of fruits and vegetables. Moreover, background factors, namely age, gender, location, and income, significantly influence the intention and actual behavior of healthy eating. Notably, the intentions of female and urban consumers to choose healthy foods do not converge with their consumption patterns of fruits and vegetables. Conclusion: These findings indicate that socio-psychological factors within the personal food environment are key determinants of food choice behavior. Thus, integrating consumers' socio-psychology into the food environment, as well as nutrition-sensitive and nutrition-specific interventions, can enhance consumers' knowledge of food choice and foster positive attitudes and perceptions regarding healthy eating. Food and health literacy programs could serve as effective strategies for achieving healthy eating behavior.Peer Reviewe
Tb3+ and Tm3+ doped Fluoride Solid-state Lasers in the Visible and Near-Infrared
No full textIn dieser Arbeit wurden Tb3+- und Tm3+-dotierte Festkörperlaser untersucht, um die physikalischen Prozesse zu verstehen, welche ihre Leistungsfähigkeit begrenzen, und Wege zu entwickeln, die einen effizienten Laserbetrieb im sichtbaren Spektralbereich ermöglichen. Für Tb:YLF wurde Raumtemperaturlasertätigkeit bei 544, 582 und 587 nm mit Rekordwirkungsgraden von 67%, 22% und 39% erzielt. Absorption aus angeregten Zuständen (ESA) begrenzte die gelbe Effizienz und verhinderte rote Lasertätigkeit. Kryogener Betrieb verbesserte das Verhältnis von Emissions- zu ESA-Wirkungsquerschnitten, wodurch 61% Wirkungsgrad bei 581 nm und rote Lasertätigkeit bei 624 nm mit 47% erreicht wurden. Geringe Übergangswirkungsquerschnitte in Tb3+ führen zu schwacher Verstärkung und Pumpabsorption, während hohe Dotierungen Aufkonversion verursachen, was zu höherer Verstärkung für Tb(28%):YLF im Vergleich zu 55% oder 100% führt. Zur Verbesserung der Pumpabsorption wurden Faserlaser und UV-Pumpen untersucht. Eine 4 m Tb:ZBLAN-Faser erzeugte 6.5 mW bei 544 nm mit 1.2% Effizienz. UV-Pumpen oberhalb 1.9% Tb3+ ermöglichte cw-Lasertätigkeit in 3 mm Tb(28%):LLF mit 40% Effizienz sowie den ersten UV-Dioden-gepumpten Tb3+-Laser. Niedrigere Tb-Konzentrationen ermöglichen unter 130 K Lasertätigkeit aus dem 5D3-Niveau bei 412.7, 435.1 und 1746 nm mit bis zu 29% Wirkungsgrad. Für Tm:YLF wurden die Eigenschaften der 1500 nm-, 800 nm- und 450 nm-Übergänge untersucht. Populationsansammlung im langlebigen 3F4-Niveau reduziert die Verstärkung und führt zu Selbstterminierung. Niedrige Tm3+-Konzentrationen mindern diese Effekte und ermöglichten Raumtemperaturlasertätigkeit auf dem 3H4-3H6-Übergang (813-834 nm) mit 54% Wirkungsgrad und 865 mW Leistung. Kaskadenlasern zur Entvölkerung des 3F4-Niveaus erlaubte cw-Lasing bei 1509 und 1923 nm mit 44% bzw. 35% Wirkungsgrad. In kryogenem Betrieb wurde Lasertätigkeit bei 450 und 1900 nm mit 39 mW bzw. 30 mW sowie bei 742 nm bei 78 K erreicht.This work investigated Tb3+ and Tm3+ doped solid-state lasers to understand the physical processes limiting their performance and to develop approaches for efficient laser operation, particularly in the visible range. For Tb:YLF, room temperature lasers at 544, 582, and 587 nm achieved record slope efficiencies of 67%, 22%, and 39%. Excited state absorption (ESA) was identified as the main factor limiting yellow laser efficiency and preventing red lasing. Cryogenic operation improved the emission-to-ESA cross section ratio, enabling 61% efficiency at 581 nm and 624 nm red lasing with 47% efficiency. Low transition cross sections in Tb3+ limit the gain and absorption, while higher doping causes upconversion quenching, resulting in higher gain of Tb(28%):YLF compared to 55% or 100% Tb. To mitigate the weak pump absorption, Tb3+ fiber and UV-pumped lasers were explored. A 4 m Tb:ZBLAN fiber produced 6.5 mW at 544 nm with 1.2% efficiency. UV pumping required a Tb3+ concentration above 1.9%, enabling efficient continuous-wave lasing in 3 mm Tb(28%):LLF samples with 40% optical efficiency and the first UV laser diode pumped Tb3+ laser. Cooling Tb:YLF below 130 K suppressing the quenching of the 5D3 level by low Tb concentrations enabled the first lasing from this level at 412.7, 435.1, and 1746 nm with slope efficiencies up to 29%. For Tm:YLF, fluorescence and gain spectra of the 1500 nm, 800 nm, and 450 nm transitions revealed population trapping in the long-lived 3F4 level, causing gain reduction and self-termination. Low Tm3+ concentrations mitigated this, enabling the first room temperature cw lasing on the 3H4-3H6 transition (813-834 nm) with 54% slope efficiency and 865 mW output. Cascade lasing depopulating the 3F4 level enabled efficient lasing at 1509 and 1923 nm with slope efficiencies of 44% and 35%. Cryogenic operation allowed cascade lasing at 450 nm and 1923 nm with 39 mW and 30 mW output and single lasing at 742 nm at 78 K
Erste Änderung der fachspezifischen Studienordnung und zweite Änderung der fachspezifischen Prüfungsordnung für den internationalen weiterbildenden Masterstudiengang Deutsches und Europäisches Recht und Rechtspraxis (LL.M.) (AMB Nr. 54/2017)
No full textThe general health status of employees in Germany aged 45 to 59 years (Ü45-Check) – a cross-sectional study
No full textObjective: This study was performed to evaluate the general health status of employees aged 45–59 years using data from the Ü45-Check study (2021–2024). In addition, the health status of individual occupational groups was assessed to investigate potential associations within these groups. Methods: Clinical and occupational data were collected from 1,040 employees aged 45–59 years from Berlin and Brandenburg, Germany, who participated in the Ü45-Check study. The data were derived from a preventive health examination conducted to identify potential preventive or rehabilitation needs. The clinical examination included anthropometric measurements, bioelectrical impedance analysis, handgrip strength, 12-lead resting electrocardiogram, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, anamnesis, and blood analyses. To categorize health status by occupation, the International Standard Classification of Occupations 2008 (ISCO-08) was applied. Results: Data from 1,040 participants ( n = 631 male, 61%) revealed occupational and sex-related disparities. The mean body mass index (BMI) of the total sample was 26.89 kg/m 2 (sd = 4.90). Plant and Machine Operators and Assemblers had a mean BMI of 28.25 kg/m 2 (sd = 5.19), while those in Elementary Occupations had a mean BMI of 28.45 kg/m 2 (sd = 4.88), which was the highest among the occupational groups. In terms of percent body fat, the highest means were found in Elementary Occupations , 31.03% (sd = 8.65), and Service and Sales Workers , 32.35% (sd = 8.73). Mean systolic blood pressure values were also elevated: Elementary Occupations (139.02 mmHg, sd = 15.92), Skilled Agricultural , Forestry , and Fishery Workers and Craft and Related Trades Workers (139.63 mmHg, sd = 15.60), and Plant and Machine Operators and Assemblers (139.78 mmHg, sd = 17.90). Resting electrocardiograms and clinical examinations were largely unremarkable. However, blood analyses revealed elevated total cholesterol (mean = 204.03 mg/dL, sd = 40.18) and low-density lipoprotein (mean = 126.28 mg/dL, sd = 35.30) in both women and men, exceeding reference ranges. Conclusion: These results highlight occupational and sex-based disparities in anthropometric and clinical measures, pointing to significant health concerns such as obesity and increased cardiovascular risk. The findings underscore the importance of occupational health initiatives tailored to specific job demands and sex differences. Clinical trial registration: DRKS ID: DRKS00030982.Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL.Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin (3093)Peer Reviewe
Phenothiazine‐Based Self‐Assembled Monolayer with Thiophene Head Groups Minimizes Buried Interface Losses in Tin Perovskite Solar Cells
No full textSelf‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) have revolutionized the fabrication of lead‐based perovskite solar cells, but they still remain underexplored in tin perovskite systems. To date, PEDOT remains the most effective hole‐selective layer in tin perovskite solar cells (TPSCs), yet it presents challenges for both performance and stability. MeO‐2PACz, the only SAM reported for tin perovskites consistently underperforms when compared to PEDOT. In this work, it is identified that MeO‐2PACz's limitations stem from excessively strong interactions with the perovskite surface and poor lattice matching, which leads to inferior interface quality. To address these issues, a novel SAM‐forming molecule called Th‐2EPT is designed, synthesized, and characterized. Density functional theory (DFT) is used to evaluate coordination strength and lattice compatibility, complemented by electro‐optical characterisation techniques that show significantly reduced interfacial recombination and improve material crystallinity in Th‐2EPT/Perovskite films. With Th‐2EPT, the first SAM‐based tin perovskite solar cells that outperform PEDOT‐based devices, delivering a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 8.2% with a DMSO‐free solvent system, are demonstrated.Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and SpaceMission‐driven Implementation of Science and Innovation ProgrammesGerman Federal Environmental Foundation 10.13039/100007636HORIZON EUROPE Marie Sklodowska‐Curie Actions 10.13039/100018694Peer Reviewe
Optoelectronic excitations of hybrid inorganic organic systems including electron-phonon interaction
No full textHybride anorganisch-organische Systeme (HIOS), die anorganische Halbleiter und konjugierte organische Materialien kombinieren, haben in der Festkörperphysik und den Materialwissenschaften große Aufmerksamkeit erregt. Sie bilden eine aufstrebende Grundlage für künftige Anwendungen wie Beleuchtungsvorrichtungen, feldelektrische Transistoren, Solarzellen und Fotoschalter. In diesem Dissertationsprojekt untersuchen wir Vielteilcheneffekte in drei prototypischen Systeme, i.e., Pyrene@MoS2, Pyridine@MoS2 und PTCDA@WSe2. Unter Anwendung der G0W0-Approximation berechnen wir die quasiparticle-Bandstruktur und analysieren den Einfluss der dynamischen Abschirmung auf die Ausrichtung der Energieniveaus. Die Absorptionsspektren werden durch Lösen der Bethe-Salpeter equation (BSE) berechnet, und die niederenergetischen Anregungen werden anhand der Analyse der Exzitonen-Wellenfunktionen und ihrer Projektionen auf die konstituierenden Materialien klassifiziert. Um die Elektron-Phonon-Kopplung (EPI) einzubeziehen, bewerten wir die \ac{FM}-Eigenenergie und können so die Auswirkungen von EPI auf die quasiparticle-Energien und somit die Renormierung der Bandkanten beurteilen. Neben der genauen theoretischen Beschreibung der optoelektronischen Eigenschaften stellt die Modellierung von hybriden Grenzflächen aufgrund ihrer großen Einheitszellen eine große rechnerische Herausforderung dar. Ein besonders effizienter Ansatz für schwach gebundene Grenzflächen besteht in einem additiven Ansatz, bei dem die Polarisierbarkeit der Heterostruktur durch Summierung der Beiträge der einzelnen Komponenten ermittelt wird. Im letzten Kapitel dieser Arbeit wird die expansion and addition (EAS)-Methode zur effizienten Berechnung der Polarisierbarkeit von physisorbierten Systemen sowohl in G0W0- als auch in BSE-Rechnungen vorgestellt. Dieser Ansatz ist im \exciting~code implementiert.Hybrid inorganic organic systems (HIOS), combining inorganic semiconductors and conjugated organic materials, have attracted significant attention in solid state physics and materials science. They represent an up-and-coming basis for future applications, such as lighting devices, field-effect transistors, solar cells, and photoswitches. In this PhD project, we investigate many-body effects in three prototypical HIOS, i.e., pyrene@MoS2, pyridine@MoS2 and PTCDA@WSe2. Applying the G0W0 approximation, we compute the quasiparticle (QP) band structure and analyze the influence of dynamical screening on the energy-level alignment. The absorption spectra are calculated by solving the Bethe-Salpeter equation (BSE), and the low-energy excitations are classified based on the analysis of the exciton wavefunctions and their projections onto the constituent materials. To incorporate electron-phonon coupling, we evaluate the Fan-Migdal self-energy, thus allowing us to assess the impact of electron-phonon interaction on the QP energies and thus the renormalization of band edges. Beyond the accurate theoretical description of the optoelectronic properties, modeling hybrid interfaces represents a significant computational challenge due to their large unit cells. A particularly efficient approach for weakly bonded interfaces consists in an additive ansatz, where the polarizability of the heterostructure is obtained by summing the contributions of the individual components. In the final chapter of this thesis, we introduce the expansion and addition screening method to efficiently calculate the polarizability of physisorbed systems in both G0W0 and BSE calculations. This approach is implemented in the exciting code, a full-potential all electron code based on the (L)APW method