1654 research outputs found
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Research on Blueberry Maturity Detection Based on Receptive Field Attention Convolution and Adaptive Spatial Feature Fusion
Full text linkDetecting small objects in complex outdoor conditions remains challenging. This paper proposes an improved version of YOLOv8n for the detection of blueberry in challenging outdoor scenarios. In this context, this article addresses feature extraction, small-target detection, and multi-scale feature fusion. Specifically, the C2F-RFAConv module is introduced to enhance spatial receptive field learning and a P2-level detection layer is introduced for small and distant targets and fused by a four-head adaptive spatial feature fusion detection head (Detect-FASFF). Additionally, the Focaler-CIoU loss is chosen to mitigate sample imbalance, accelerate convergence, and improve overall model performance. Experiments on our blueberry maturity dataset show that the proposed model outperforms YOLOv8n, achieving 2.8% higher precision, 4% higher recall, and a 4.5% increase in [email protected], with an FPS of 80. It achieves 89.1%, 91.0%, and 85.5% AP for ripe, semi-ripe, and unripe blueberries, demonstrating robustness under varying lighting, occlusion, and distance conditions. Compared to other lightweight networks, the model offers superior accuracy and efficiency. Future work will focus on model compression for real-world deployment
Navigating Networks: A Literature Review of Strategic Alliances
Full text linkInternational business management students are trained to become future international business managers, necessitating a thorough education including current and relevant information to be able to live up to their professional responsibilities. This study evaluates the quality of international business management textbooks in imparting knowledge about strategic alliances, a critical aspect of international business management. Nineteen textbooks were examined using a two-step approach: first, a theoretical framework was established based on academic papers and specialized literature; second, the relevant sections of the textbooks were identified and coded into a self-developed deductive-inductive category system. Through evaluative qualitative content analysis, a framework was developed to assess the alignment of textbook content with current, correct, and relevant information on strategic alliances. The findings reveal that while international business management textbooks generally provide information slightly below medium alignment with the current state of research, they exhibit variability in quality across different categories. Furthermore, some textbooks excel, while others perform poorly, indicating disparity in content quality. This study underscores the importance of ensuring that educational materials adequately prepare future international business managers with up-to-date and accurate information on strategic alliances, so they can make well-considered research-based decisions
Prävalenz und Prädiktoren von Neuromythen bei (Musik-) Studierenden: Eine Teilreplikation der Studie von Düvel et al. (2017)
Full text linkDer Begriff Neuromythen kennzeichnet falsche bzw. durch Vereinfachung verfälschte Darstellungen neurowissenschaftlicher Forschungsergebnisse im wissenschaftlichen Diskurs, in der öffentlichen Wahrnehmung und in pädagogischen Praxisfeldern. Bislang vorliegende Befunde belegen das Vorherrschen von Neuromythen in pädagogischen Kontexten. Düvel et al. (2017) haben erstmals die Prävalenz und Prädiktoren von musikbezogenen Neuromythen vergleichend bei Musiklehrenden und Musik-Lehramtsstudierenden im Paradigma der Signalentdeckungstheorie ermittelt. Daran anschließend fragt unsere Replikation (N = 439) nach etwaigen Veränderungen der Diskriminationsleistung von Musik-Lehramtsstudierenden in Bezug auf musikbezogene und allgemeine Thesen zu neurowissenschaftlichen Befunden (Neuromythen und Neurofakten) und auch im Vergleich mit Studierenden anderer Studienfächer sowie im Vergleich mit der studentischen Stichprobe der Referenzstudie. Die Ergebnisse der Replikation zeigen, dass Musik-Lehramtsstudierende, Studierende anderer Lehramtsfächer und Studierende anderer Studiengänge keine signifikanten Unterschiede dahingehend aufweisen, wie gut sie musikbezogene oder allgemeine Neuromythen und Neurofakten als wissenschaftlich belegt oder wissenschaftlich nicht belegt beurteilen können. Im Vergleich mit der Referenzstudie ist die Diskriminationsleistung der Musik-Lehramtsstudierenden in der Replikation signifikant geringer; auch konnten die in der Referenzstudie ermittelten Prädiktoren (Anzahl gelesener Medien, bisherige Studiendauer) nicht repliziert werden. Um die Ausformung und Akzeptanz von Neuromythen im Studium weiterführend zu ergründen, sollten neben individuellen Hintergründen und Interessen auch Lehr- und Studieninhalte sowie die Vermittlung von Bedeutungen und Funktionsweisen des Gehirns und kognitiver Prozesse in der Beschäftigung mit Musik (Hören, Machen, Lernen) untersucht werden
On the Harmonisation of Time Series Data for the Optimisation of Machine Learning Using the Example of Rejection Prediction After Kidney Transplantation
Full text linkA significant risk following a kidney transplantation is graft loss. The Screen Reject Project has developed a Clinical Data Warehouse (CDWH) as a foundation for a clinical decision support system designed to improve the diagnosis of graft rejections. The CDWH integrates patient data and event records of n = 141 kidney transplant patients. These data are not directly comparable within the cohort as they consist of irregular time series, particularly of laboratory values. Therefore, a pre-processing routine was developed which divides a relative time window before the last biopsy (the relevant end event of the reference period for subsequent machine learning procedures) into equal time intervals for each patient. For each of these intervals a representative value is calculated from the contained laboratory values. These representative values are used to train models for predicting kidney rejection. The comparison with an existing study from the project, in which a classification model was developed without considering the temporal dependencies, shows an improved sensitivity and specificity in predicting kidney rejection for the harmonised data using the same random forest model
Nietzsche as a Twenty-First-Century Church Father?
Full text linkThe first section, “Nietzsche as a Theologian,” reflects on whether Nietzsche can be described as a theologian and which theological positions he represented (image of God, ethics, Christology, soteriology). The second section, “Nietzsche’s Influence on Theology,” presents the reception of Nietzsche in twentieth-century theology, particularly with regard to the concept of truth, the image of God, orientation toward this world, secularization, and anthropology. The third section, “What Theology and the Church Can Learn from Nietzsche Today,” argues that Nietzsche can provide important suggestions for twenty-first-century theology, especially with regard to overcoming a purely historicizing approach, regaining competence in the critique of ideology, a necessary critique of moralization, a search for new forms of spirituality, and overcoming trivializing images of God
Generative AI and copyright: between fair use and theft
Full text linkThis paper takes a closer look at the question of whether an AI-generated artwork infringes on copyrights of human creators. To this purpose, a number of relevant terms are defined, and the legal framework of copyright in the EU and the USA outlined. Afterwards, an explanation of how generative AI is trained follows before the paper examines the process with which an AI generates content. The conclusion analyses ethical aspects of using copyrighted works, especially without the creators’ permissions, to train a generative AI that then produces similar works that could directly compete with human creators on whose data it was trained
Genomic analysis of the 2017 Aotearoa New Zealand outbreak of Mycoplasma bovis and its position within the global population structure
Full text linkIn 2017 an outbreak of Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis), an infectious agent of cattle, was identified in Aotearoa New Zealand. This study characterizes the genomic population structure of the outbreak in New Zealand and compares it with the known global population structure using multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and genomic analysis. The New Zealand outbreak strain was MLST genotyped as ST21. A comprehensive collection of 840 genomes from the New Zealand outbreak showed a pattern of clonal expansion when characterized by MLST, core genome MLST (cgMLST) and whole genome MLST (wgMLST). A lineage of genomes was found with no in silico identifiable pta2 locus, a housekeeping gene used in the MLST scheme. We compared a sample set of 40 New Zealand genomes to 47 genomes from other countries. This group had 79 ST21 genomes and eight genomes that were single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) variants within the MLST loci of ST21. Two of the 47 international genomes showed signs of extensive unique recombination. Unique alleles in six genes were identified as present only in the New Zealand genomes. These novel variants were in the genes; haeIIIM encoding for cytosine-specific methyltransferase, cysC encoding for cysteinyl tRNA synthetase, era encoding for GTPase Era, metK encoding for S-adenosylmethionine synthase, parE encoding for DNA topoisomerase, and hisS encoding for histidine-tRNA ligase. This finding could be due to a population bottleneck, genetic drift, or positive selection. The same sample set of 40 New Zealand genomes were compared using MLST to 404 genomes from 15 other countries and 11 genomes without a known country. A FastBAPS analysis of 455 genomes showed a global population structure with 11 clusters. Some countries, such as Canada, Denmark and Australia contained both internally closely related genomes and some genomes that were more closely related to genomes found in other countries. Our results support the need for Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) as well as MLST genotyping in M. bovis outbreaks. They also support the importance of understanding the national and international movement patterns of cattle and their genetic material, as possible routes of transmission, when managing the spread of M. bovis
Dynamic Junction Temperature Evaluation: On-State Voltage Measurement Device vs. IR Thermography
Full text linkTemperature monitoring of power semiconductors is essential to ensure component reliability and longevity. During the operation of an inverter, this is typically done using infrared thermography or temperature sensors placed nearby the chip. An alternative method utilizes the chip itself as a temperature sensor by exploiting the fact that the on-state voltage is temperature-dependent. Precise measurement of this voltage allows for an accurate evaluation of the chip temperature. During pulsed operation, a specialized measurement circuit, called Isoclipper, is used, which suppresses high switching voltages, allowing high-resolution observation of the conduction voltage. In combination with a detailed calibration and a modified inverter control, a correlation with an IR camera within a range of 3 K can be achieved, as verified through an experimental setup
Lebensdauerprognose von Drahtisolierungen unter Umrichterbelastung : Konzeption und Validierung von DoE-Versuchsplänen zur Lebensdauerabschätzung
Full text linkDie kontinuierliche Weiterentwicklung der Leistungselektronik bringt neue Herausforderungen für die Hersteller von Isolierstoffen mit sich. Insbesondere die schnellen Spannungssprünge von Umrichtern können die Lebensdauer und Zuverlässigkeit von Isolationsanordnungen beeinflussen. Für die Entwicklung entsprechender Gegenmaßnahmen ist es notwendig, die Auswirkung der Umrichterbelastung auf die Isolierung zu analysieren und durch Modelle abbilden zu können. Diese Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit der Entwicklung von Versuchsplänen auf Basis statistischer Versuchsplanung (DoE) und der Anwendung mithilfe relevanter statistischer Methoden. Die Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit zeigen, dass für das verwendete PEEK-isolierte Material eine Mindestanzahl von 20 bis 25 Proben pro Durchgang notwendig ist. Weiterhin wird gezeigt, dass sich die Messwerte bei Temperaturen ≤50 °C nicht mehr durch eine einzelne Verteilungsfunktion abbilden lassen. Die Untersuchung mit einer Wärmebildkamera führt zu der Vermutung, dass die thermische Belastung bei diesen Temperaturen nicht konstant ist und sich daraus eine fehlende Unabhängigkeit der Messwerte ergibt. Final werden Möglichkeiten zum weiteren Umgang mit diesen Abweichungen aufgezeigt.The continuous advancement of power electronics poses new challenges for manufacturers of insulation materials. In particular, the rapid voltage changes generated by inverters can affect the lifetime and reliability of insulation systems. To develop effective countermeasures, it is necessary to analyze and model the impact of the stresses on the insulation. This bachelor thesis focuses on the development of experimental plans based on the design of experiments (DoE) and the application of relevant statistical methods. The results show that a minimum of 20 to 25 samples per run is required for the PEEK-insulated material used in this thesis. Furthermore, it is shown that the lifetimes at temperatures ≤50 °C can no longer be represented by a single distribution function. An investigation using a thermal imaging camera suggests that the thermal stress at these temperatures is not constant, resulting in a lack of independence of the measurement values. Finally, possibilities for addressing these deviations are presented
Existenzsicherung für eine vielfältige Gesellschaft : Diversitätssensible Leistungsgewährung in Deutschland am Beispiel der Jobcenter
Full text linkDieser Band liefert praxisorientierte Empfehlungen zur diversitätssensiblen Gestaltung der Leistungsgewährung im deutschen Sozialleistungssystem. Aufbauend auf einem interdisziplinären Forschungsprojekt werden strukturelle Herausforderungen und Umsetzungsstrategien für eine möglichst diskriminierungsfreie Praxis in Jobcentern aufgezeigt. Die Untersuchung bietet Handlungsempfehlungen, die auf den Perspektiven von Jobcenter-Mitarbeitenden basieren, und macht Vorschläge für gesetzliche Anpassungen sowie für organisationskulturelle Veränderungen, um eine inklusive und chancengleiche Sozialverwaltung zu fördern.This volume provides practical recommendations for incorporating diversity awareness into Germany’s welfare benefits system. Based on an interdisciplinary research project, it highlights structural challenges and implementation strategies for fostering a discrimination-free environment in job centers. The study offers actionable insights from the perspectives of job center staff, proposing both legislative adjustments and organizational cultural changes to support an inclusive and equitable public welfare administration