Relating the philosophy and practice of ecological economics: The role of concepts, models, and case studies in inter- and transdisciplinary sustainability research

We develop a comprehensive multi-level approach to ecological economics (CML-approach) which integrates philosophical considerations on the foundations of ecological economics with an adequate operationalization. We argue that the subject matter and aims of ecological economics require a specific combination of inter- and transdisciplinary research, and discuss the epistemological position on which this approach is based. In accordance with this understanding of inter- and transdisciplinarity and the underlying epistemological position, we develop an operationalization which comprises simultaneous analysis on three levels of abstraction: concepts, models and case studies. We explain these levels in detail, and, in particular, deduce our way of generic modeling in this context. Finally, we illustrate the CML-approach and demonstrate its fruitfulness by the example of the sustainable management of semi-arid rangelands. --ecological economics,interdisciplinarity,philosophy of science,transdisciplinarity

DETERMINANTEN UND KONSEQUENZEN DER UMFRAGEEINSTELLUNG. Bewertungsdimensionen unterschiedlicher Umfragesponsoren und die Antwortbereitschaft der Befragten

This article deals with two questions: a) the evaluations of surveys of different sponsors on the dimensions utility, reliability and burden as determinants of the generalized attitude towards surveys, and b) the answer or refusal of the income question as an indicator of cooperative behavior during the interview as a consequence of respondents� attitudes towards surveys. In the first part of the analysis it is furthermore tested whether the quantity of survey experience in the past moderates the strength of the observed associations. The empirical analysis with data from a local survey based on a random probability sample shows increasingly stronger associations between respondents� sponsor-specific evaluations and their attitudes towards surveys when subjects have taken part more often in surveys in the past. The perceived utility of surveys and the evaluation of scientific sponsors proves to be the strongest determinants for the generalized attitude towards surveys. Regarding the second question of this article it is found that the probability of answering or refusing to answer the income question increases considerably when the interviewees have more negative and - as indicated by their response latencies - at the same time cognitively accessible attitude towards surveys. Thus it is concluded that respondents� attitudes towards surveys have serious consequences for the quality of survey data.

Relating the Philosophy and Practice of Ecological Economics. The Role of Concepts, Models, and Case Studies in Inter- and Transdisciplinary Sustainability Research

We develop a comprehensive multi-level approach to ecological economics (CML-approach) which integrates philosophical considerations on the foundations of ecological economics with an adequate operationalization. We argue that the subject matter and aims of ecological economics require a specific combination of inter- and transdisciplinary research, and discuss the epistemological position on which this approach is based. In accordance with this understanding of inter- and transdisciplinarity and the underlying epistemological position, we develop an operationalization which comprises simultaneous analysis on three levels of abstraction: concepts, models and case studies. We explain these levels in detail, and, in particular, deduce our way of generic modeling in this context. Finally, we illustrate the CML-approach and demonstrate its fruitfulness by the example of the sustainable management of semi-arid rangelands.ecological economics, interdisciplinarity, philosophy of science,transdisciplinarity

An optoacoustic field-programmable perceptron for recurrent neural networks

A critical feature in signal processing is the ability to interpret correlations in time series signals, such as speech. Machine learning systems process this contextual information by tracking internal states in recurrent neural networks (RNNs), but these can cause memory and processor bottlenecks in applications from edge devices to data centers, motivating research into new analog inference architectures. But whereas photonic accelerators, in particular, have demonstrated big leaps in uni-directional feedforward deep neural network (DNN) inference, the bi-directional architecture of RNNs presents a unique challenge: the need for a short-term memory that (i) programmably transforms optical waveforms with phase coherence , (ii) minimizes added noise, and (iii) enables programmable readily scales to large neuron counts. Here, we address this challenge by introducing an optoacoustic recurrent operator (OREO) that simultaneously meets (i,ii,iii). Specifically, we experimentally demonstrate an OREO that contextualizes and computes the information carried by a sequence of optical pulses via acoustic waves. We show that the acoustic waves act as a link between the different optical pulses, capturing the optical information and using it to manipulate the subsequent operations. Our approach can be controlled completely optically on a pulse-by-pulse basis, offering simple reconfigurability for a use case-specific optimization. We use this feature to demonstrate a recurrent drop-out, which excludes optical input pulses from the recurrent operation. We furthermore apply OREO as an acceptor to recognize up-to $27$ patterns in a sequence of optical pulses. Finally, we introduce a DNN architecture that uses the OREO as bi-directional perceptrons to enable new classes of DNNs in coherent optical signal processing

The effect of reading aloud daily - differential effects of reading to native-born German and Turkish-origin immigrant children

Literature that examines possible heterogeneous effects of reading aloud to children of immigrants and children of native-born parents is scarce. The current study tries to address this scarcity by examining the effects of daily parent-child reading activities on the German vocabulary knowledge of children with (n = 531) and without migration background (n = 499) between the ages of three to five. Using propensity score matching (PSM), determinants of reading aloud daily to children are analyzed in the first step. Native parents are found to be more likely to read aloud daily to their children. Parents’ education, cultural capital and a high frequency of engaging parenting practices also predict the frequency of parent-child reading. Factors specific to immigrant families are the age of migration and the primary family language. The effect of reading aloud on the vocabulary skills of children is the focus of the second part of the analysis. Positive effects are found among children of immigrants and children of native-born parents. However, this positive effect is reduced over time for native children. Overall, reading aloud daily is most effective among children of immigrant families, using the language of the host country as the primary family language, and among parents with good receiving country language skills

High-speed coherent photonic random-access memory in long-lasting sound waves

In recent years, remarkable advances in photonic computing have highlighted the need for photonic memory, particularly high-speed and coherent random-access memory. Addressing the ongoing challenge of implementing photonic memories is required to fully harness the potential of photonic computing. A photonic-phononic memory based on stimulated Brillouin scattering is a possible solution as it coherently transfers optical information into sound waves at high-speed access times. Such an optoacoustic memory has shown great potential as it fulfils key requirements for high-performance optical random-access memory due to its coherence, on-chip compatibility, frequency selectivity, and high bandwidth. However, the storage time has so far been limited to a few nanoseconds due to the nanosecond decay of the acoustic wave. In this work, we experimentally enhance the intrinsic storage time of an optoacoustic memory by more than one order of magnitude and coherently retrieve optical information after a storage time of 120 ns. This is achieved by employing the optoacoustic memory in a highly nonlinear fiber at 4.2 K, increasing the intrinsic phonon lifetime by a factor of six. We demonstrate the capability of our scheme by measuring the initial and readout optical data pulse with a direct and double homodyne detection scheme. Finally, we analyze the dynamics of the optoacoustic memory at different cryogenic temperatures in the range of 4.2 K to 20 K and compare the findings to continuous wave measurements. The extended storage time is not only beneficial for photonic computing, but also for Brillouin applications that require long phonon lifetimes, such as optoacoustic filters, true-time delay networks, and synthesizers in microwave photonics

Bedingungen der Wahl vorschulischer Einrichtungen unter besonderer Berücksichtigung ethnischer Unterschiede

"Kinder beginnen ihre Schullaufbahn mit unterschiedlichen Voraussetzungen, wobei die Fähigkeiten und der Wissensbestand der Kinder zu diesem Zeitpunkt vor allem von den in den Familien vorhandenen bildungsrelevanten Ressourcen abhängen. Dies ist auch der Hauptgrund, weswegen man bereits vor Beginn der Schulzeit ethnische Unterschiede bei verschiedenen Kompetenzmessungen feststellen kann. Als geeignete Möglichkeit zur Kompensation erscheint der frühzeitige Besuch einer qualitativ guten institutionellen vorschulischen Einrichtung, da solche Einrichtungen positive Effekte auf verschiedene Kompetenzbereiche ausüben können und möglicherweise bei benachteiligten Kindern sogar besonders positiv wirken. Jedoch ist es zweifelhaft, ob Migrantenkinder wirklich die für sie vorteilhaftesten vorschulischen Einrichtungen nutzen (und dies auch noch möglichst frühzeitig). Wenn Migrantenkinder jedoch gar keine oder weniger förderliche Einrichtungen nutzen (oder förderliche Einrichtungen für eine kürzere Zeitdauer), so könnte sich der Kompetenzunterschied zu den einheimischen Kinder sogar noch vergrößern. Es stellt sich daher die Frage nach der Selektion der Kinder in verschiedene vorschulische Einrichtungen, d.h. welche Kinder ab wann und wie lange welche vorschulische Einrichtung besuchen. Das Arbeitspapier gibt einen allgemeinen Überblick über die wichtigsten Determinanten der Wahl einer institutionellen vorschulischen Einrichtung. Dabei werden vor allem ökonomische Faktoren, aber auch Einstellungen und Qualitätserwartungen, Informationen und schließlich Netzwerke und kulturelle Modelle angesprochen. Schließlich werden ethnische Unterschiede bei der Wahl vorschulischer Betreuungseinrichtungen dargestellt, wobei internationale und deutsche Studien vorgestellt werden." (Autorenreferat

Requirements: The Key to Sustainability

Software's critical role in society demands a paradigm shift in the software engineering mind-set. This shift's focus begins in requirements engineering. This article is part of a special issue on the Future of Software Engineering

Sustainability Design and Software: The Karlskrona Manifesto

Sustainability has emerged as a broad concern for society. Many engineering disciplines have been grappling with challenges in how we sustain technical, social and ecological systems. In the software engineering community, for example, maintainability has been a concern for a long time. But too often, these issues are treated in isolation from one another. Misperceptions among practitioners and research communities persist, rooted in a lack of coherent understanding of sustainability, and how it relates to software systems research and practice. This article presents a cross-disciplinary initiative to create a common ground and a point of reference for the global community of research and practice in software and sustainability, to be used for effectively communicating key issues, goals, values and principles of sustainability design for software-intensive systems. The centrepiece of this effort is the Karlskrona Manifesto for Sustainability Design, a vehicle for a much needed conversation about sustainability within and beyond the software community, and an articulation of the fundamental principles underpinning design choices that affect sustainability. We describe the motivation for developing this manifesto, including some considerations of the genre of the manifesto as well as the dynamics of its creation. We illustrate the collaborative reflective writing process and present the current edition of the manifesto itself. We assess immediate implications and applications of the articulated principles, compare these to current practice, and suggest future steps