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What You Use is What You Get: Unforced Errors in Studying Cultural Aspects in Agile Software Development
Full text linkContext: Cultural aspects are of high importance as they guide people’s behaviour and thus, influence how people apply methods and act in projects. In recent years, software engineering research emphasized the need to analyze the challenges of specific cultural characteristics. Investigating the influence of cultural characteristics is challenging due to the multi-faceted concept of culture. People’s behaviour, their beliefs and underlying values are shaped by different layers of culture, e.g., regions, organizations, or groups. In this study, we focus on agile methods, which are agile approaches that focus on underlying values, collaboration and communication. Thus, cultural and social aspects are of high importance for their successful use in practice.
Objective: In this paper, we address challenges that arise when using the model of cultural dimensions by Hofstede to characterize specific cultural values. This model is often used when discussing cultural influences in software engineering.
Method: As a basis, we conducted an exploratory, multiple case study, consisting of two cases in Japan and two in Germany.
Contributions: In this study, we observed that cultural characteristics of the participants differed significantly from cultural characteristics that would typically be expected for people from the respective country. This drives our conclusion that for studies in empirical software engineering that address cultural factors, a case-specific analysis of the characteristics is needed
Proceedings of the 3rd OPU-HsH Japanese-German Symposium 2024 : Industry 4.0 and Society 5.0 for Smart Society
Full text linkProceedings of the OPU-HsH symposium on Industry 4.0 and Society 5.0. The symposium was held on February 16th 2024 in Okayama, Japan with members of the Okayama Prefectual University and the Hochschule Hannover. It was sponsored by the Sakura Science Program of Japan
Genome-wide interaction study of dietary intake of fibre, fruits, and vegetables with risk of colorectal cancer
Full text linkBackground: Consumption of fibre, fruits and vegetables have been linked with lower colorectal cancer (CRC) risk. A genome-wide gene-environment (G × E) analysis was performed to test whether genetic variants modify these associations.
Methods: A pooled sample of 45 studies including up to 69,734 participants (cases: 29,896; controls: 39,838) of European ancestry were included. To identify G × E interactions, we used the traditional 1–degree-of-freedom (DF) G × E test and to improve power a 2-step procedure and a 3DF joint test that investigates the association between a genetic variant and dietary exposure, CRC risk and G × E interaction simultaneously.
Findings: The 3-DF joint test revealed two significant loci with p-value <5 × 10−8. Rs4730274 close to the SLC26A3 gene showed an association with fibre (p-value: 2.4 × 10−3) and G × fibre interaction with CRC (OR per quartile of fibre increase = 0.87, 0.80, and 0.75 for CC, TC, and TT genotype, respectively; G × E p-value: 1.8 × 10−7). Rs1620977 in the NEGR1 gene showed an association with fruit intake (p-value: 1.0 × 10−8) and G × fruit interaction with CRC (OR per quartile of fruit increase = 0.75, 0.65, and 0.56 for AA, AG, and GG genotype, respectively; G × E -p-value: 0.029).
Interpretation: We identified 2 loci associated with fibre and fruit intake that also modify the association of these dietary factors with CRC risk. Potential mechanisms include chronic inflammatory intestinal disorders, and gut function. However, further studies are needed for mechanistic validation and replication of findings
Trade-offs and synergies of digital choice environments: Towards a taxonomy and configurational model
Full text linkThe advancing digitalization of daily life has led to an increasing number of choices in the digital sphere. User interfaces that require either a judgment or a decision, the so-called digital choice environments (DCEs), are essential focal points for interventions to alter behaviors towards individual or societal welfare. However, there is a lack of descriptive and prescriptive knowledge within the field of DCEs. In this research, we follow a multi-stage approach to classify the characteristics of DCEs from a choice-centric viewpoint and disclose configurational trade-offs. To achieve this, we first build a taxonomy of DCEs that we validate through expert interviews. Subsequently, we use cluster analysis to identify four configurations of DCEs, which serve as the basis for the development of a configurational model that outlines configuration-specific user outcomes. Our results contribute to the existing knowledge of digital value creation as well as the explanatory understanding of trade-offs among different DCEs
Explainable Anomaly Detection in Renewable Energy Power Plants by Learning Multidimensional Normality Models
Full text linkRenewable energy production is one of the strongest rising markets and further extreme growth can be anticipated due to desire of increased sustainability in many parts of the world. With the rising adoption of renewable power production, such facilities are increasingly attractive targets for cyber attacks. At the same time higher requirements on a reliable production are raised. In this paper we propose a concept that improves monitoring of renewable power plants by detecting anomalous behavior. The system does not only detect an anomaly, it also provides reasoning for the anomaly based on a specific mathematical model of the expected behavior by giving detailed information about various influential factors causing the alert. The set of influential factors can be configured into the system before learning normal behaviour. The concept is based on multidimensional analysis and has been implemented and successfully evaluated on actual data from different providers of wind power plants
Design Principles and Restrictions for Continuous Fiber-Reinforced Additive Manufacturing
Full text linkIn the development of innovative and high-performance products, design expertise is a critical factor. Nevertheless, novel manufacturing processes often frequently lack an accessible comprehensive knowledge base for product developers. To tackle this deficiency in the context of emerging additive manufacturing processes, substantial design knowledge has already been established. However, novel additive manufacturing processes like continuous fiber-reinforced material extrusion have often been disregarded, complicating the process’s wider dissemination. The importance of design knowledge availability is paramount, as well as the need for user-friendly design knowledge preparation, standardized structure, and methodological support for accessing the accumulated knowledge with precision. In this paper, we present an approach that provides formalized opportunistic and restrictive design knowledge, ensuring both the comprehensive exploitation of process-specific potentials and the consideration of restrictive limitations in the construction of components. Opportunistic knowledge, presented as principle cards, is systematically derived, prepared, and made accessible. Moreover, an access system is developed to ensure the comprehensive utilization of process-specific potentials throughout the development process. Furthermore, we propose linking these principles through a synergy and conflict matrix, aiming to consider synergistic principles and identify potential conflicts at an early stage. Additionally, an approach to provide restrictive design knowledge in the form of a design rule catalog is proposed. The application of the knowledge system is demonstrated exemplarily using a weight-optimized component
Technisch unterstützte Teilhabe und Lebensführung
Full text linkSteigende Digitalisierungs- und Technisierungsprozesse sind mittlerweile in nahezu allen Lebensbereichen allgegenwärtig. Dies gilt auch für den Einsatz von Technologien zur Unterstützung einer selbstständigen Lebensführung von Menschen mit Behinderung. Dieser Beitrag gibt einen Überblick über Potenziale und Herausforderungen, die mit dem Einsatz technischer Systeme als Erweiterung des Unterstützungsarrangements verbunden sind. Zentrale und teilhabeförderliche Einsatzmöglichkeiten für unterstützende Technologien sind u. a. die Bereiche Haustechnik und Gebäudeautomation, Gesundheitsförderung, Tagesstrukturierung und Gestaltung freier Zeit, Mobilität, Gestaltung sozialer Beziehungen und Teilhabeplanung/ -management. Eine erfolgreiche Entwicklung und Anwendung innovativer unterstützender Technologien wird jedoch maßgeblich von technischen, nutzungsbezogenen und ethischen Herausforderungen beeinflusst. Mangelnde Schnittstellen von Fachsoftware und anderer digitaler Tools erschweren eine leistungsträger- und anbieterübergreifende Teilhabe- und Unterstützungsplanung. Darüber hinaus ist für einen erfolgreichen Einsatz die Technikakzeptanz der Nutzer/innen – seien es Menschen mit Behinderung oder deren Bezugs- und Unterstützungspersonen – in Verbindung mit der Barrierefreiheit der Technologie entscheidend. Es bedarf einer möglichst hohen Flexibilität der Technologien und einer bedarfsgerechten Heranführung der Nutzer*innen. Im Rahmen der Entwicklung gilt es, die Nutzer*innen selbst im Sinne partizipativer Technikgestaltung einzubinden
Cognitive frames of depression and their association with accessibility to mental health communication: a cluster analysis for developing stigma-sensitive targeting strategies
Full text linkIntroduction: Depression is a globally prevalent mental disorder; however, the stigmatization of individuals experiencing depression remains a significant challenge. The effectiveness of mental health promotion efforts and anti-stigma messages is contingent upon individuals' existing beliefs and the stigmatizing potential of their attitudes. Thus, understanding how individuals perceive mental disorders such as depression, as well as their communicative accessibility, is vital from a strategic health communication standpoint. This study explored the prevailing cognitive frames regarding depression in Germany, and the corresponding affective reactions toward individuals experiencing depression. Differences in communicative accessibility, individuals' social proximity to the topic, as well as socioeconomic characteristics were used to inform stigma-sensitive targeting strategies.
Method: A representative survey of the German adult population (N = 1,530) was conducted, using a vignette describing a person with symptoms of major depression. Factor and cluster analyses identified four distinct cognitive frames of depression, characterized by varying stigmatizing attitudes and attributions of responsibility.
Results: The study has revealed that stigmatizing cognitive frames demonstrate lower receptivity to mental health information. Individuals with stigmatizing perspectives represent a significant portion of the population, have reduced receptivity to mental health information, and are likely to exhibit defensive or even negative affective responses to anti-stigma efforts.
Discussion: The findings underscore the significance of considering cognitive frames as complex but suitable approaches for target group segmentation in mental health communication strategies. The development of tailored and creative low-threshold strategies fitting well within the cognitive frames of individuals with stigmatizing perspectives seems essential
ChatGPT im Studium der Sozialen Arbeit : Eine quantitative Studie zur Nutzung, Bewertung und Thematisierung in der Hochschule aus Studierendensicht
Full text linkKünstliche-Intelligenz-Systeme beeinflussen fundamental die Bildungslandschaft und werden voraussichtlich immer relevanter werden. Besonders das Large Language Model ChatGPT hat zu einer tiefgreifenden Perturbation der Hochschullandschaft geführt. Auch im Studium der Sozialen Arbeit hat ChatGPT Einzug gehalten und Hochschulangehörige stehen vor der Herausforderung, einen adäquaten Umgang damit zu entwickeln. Ein wesentlicher Ausgangspunkt, um einen Umgang mit solchen Systemen zu entwickeln, kann in einer Beschreibung des aktuellen Nutzungsverhaltens von Studierenden zu finden sein. Die vorliegende quantitative Studie widmete sich dieser Aufgabe und bietet einen solchen Ausgangspunkt konkret für das Studienfeld der Sozialen Arbeit. Es wurden deutschlandweit und semesterübergreifend 875 Sozialarbeitstudierende verschiedener Hochschulen zu ihrem Nutzungsverhalten von ChatGPT befragt. Neben dem Nutzungsverhalten wurden in der Studie auch die Bewertung des KI-Tools, dessen Thematisierung im Studium und die Technikaffinität der Studierenden erhoben. Die Ergebnisse der vorliegenden Forschung zeigen eine hohe Nutzung des Tools mit über 80% und betonen somit die Relevanz einer Thematisierung im Studium der Sozialen Arbeit zur Nutzung von KI-Tools wie ChatGPT und bieten eine Grundlage für zukünftige Forschungen sowie didaktische Innovationen
Pressing of Functionalized Polymer Composite Materials to Improve Mössbauer Measurement Signals
Full text linkCoordination compounds, like iron(II) triazole complexes, exhibit spin crossover (SCO) behavior at around room temperature. Therefore, they are interesting for a variety of possible applications, and it is convenient to integrate them into polymers. Due to a reduction of the iron content and thus also 57Fe content in the sample through integration in polymers, Mössbauer measurements are only possible with greater difficulty or very long measurement times without expensive enrichment of the samples with 57Fe. So, other ways of improving the Mössbauer signal for these composite materials are necessary. Therefore, we pressed these composite materials to improve the Mössbauer spectra. In this study, we synthesized an iron(II) triazole spin crossover complex and an electrospun polymer complex composite nanofiber material including the same complex. For both products, Mössbauer measurements were performed at room temperature before and after using a press to show that the complex composite is not harmed through pressing. We investigate the influence of the pressing impact on the Mössbauer measurements in the context of measurement statistics and the measured signals. We show that pressing is not connected to any changes in the sample regarding the spin and oxidation state. We present that pressing improves the statistics of the Mössbauer measurements significantly. Furthermore, we use SEM measurements and PXRD to investigate whether or not the obtained fiber mats are destroyed in the pressing process