Aleksandr Sekackij und der Petersburger Fundamentalismus

Der Philosophiedozent und Schriftsteller Aleksandr Sekackij ist Mitglied der Petersburger Fundamentalisten, einem seit 2001 bestehenden Zusammenschluss Petersburger Schriftsteller, der dem neoimperialen Lager zugerechnet wird. Bekannt ist die Gruppe vor allem durch einen offenen Brief an Vladimir Putin aus dem Jahre 2001. Darin fordern sie Putin auf, Car’grad und die Dardanellen zu erobern. Sekackij gilt als Vordenker der Gruppierung. Die Arbeit untersucht den Zusammenhang zwischen dem Petersburger Fundamentalismus und Sekackij und analysiert Sekackijs Subjektpositionen, die dieser in seinen Werken anhand verschiedener Figuren ausarbeitet. Im Ergebnis offerieren Sekackijs Texte einen Umwertungsmechanismus, der Orientierung in Form eines vielfältigen Überhöhungsprogramms für Individuen anbietet. Das Individuum kann sich mit Bezug auf Sekackijs fiktionale Welten überzeichnen und durch die dort geschilderten Subjektkonsolidierungen mit verschiedenen Arten von Handlungsmacht ausstatten. Dergestalt wird das Individuum, wenn auch nur fiktional, von aller Kontingenz befreit. Im Petersburger Fundamentalismus wird dieses Kompensationsprinzip zum Sekackij-Prinzip und dort nachhaltig mit Vorstellungen einer imperialen Jüngerschaft verbunden, die sich um den zum Seher oder zum Weisen stilisierten Sekackij gruppieren

Aleksandr Sekackij und der Petersburger Fundamentalismus

Der Philosophiedozent und Schriftsteller Aleksandr Sekackij ist Mitglied der Petersburger Fundamentalisten, einem seit 2001 bestehenden Zusammenschluss Petersburger Schriftsteller, der dem neoimperialen Lager zugerechnet wird. Bekannt ist die Gruppe vor allem durch einen offenen Brief an Vladimir Putin aus dem Jahre 2001. Darin fordern sie Putin auf, Car’grad und die Dardanellen zu erobern. Sekackij gilt als Vordenker der Gruppierung. Die Arbeit untersucht den Zusammenhang zwischen dem Petersburger Fundamentalismus und Sekackij und analysiert Sekackijs Subjektpositionen, die dieser in seinen Werken anhand verschiedener Figuren ausarbeitet. Im Ergebnis offerieren Sekackijs Texte einen Umwertungsmechanismus, der Orientierung in Form eines vielfältigen Überhöhungsprogramms für Individuen anbietet. Das Individuum kann sich mit Bezug auf Sekackijs fiktionale Welten überzeichnen und durch die dort geschilderten Subjektkonsolidierungen mit verschiedenen Arten von Handlungsmacht ausstatten. Dergestalt wird das Individuum, wenn auch nur fiktional, von aller Kontingenz befreit. Im Petersburger Fundamentalismus wird dieses Kompensationsprinzip zum Sekackij-Prinzip und dort nachhaltig mit Vorstellungen einer imperialen Jüngerschaft verbunden, die sich um den zum Seher oder zum Weisen stilisierten Sekackij gruppieren

LOF: Identifying density-based local outliers

For many KDD applications, such as detecting criminal activities in E-commerce, finding the rare instances or the outliers, can be more interesting than finding the common patterns. Existing work in outlier detection regards being an outlier as a binary property. In this paper, we contend that for many scenarios, it is more meaningful to assign to each object a degree of being an outlier. This degree is called the local outlier factor (LOF) of an object. It is local in that the degree depends on how isolated the object is with respect to the surrounding neighborhood. We give a detailed formal analysis showing that LOF enjoys many desirable properties. Using realworld datasets, we demonstrate that LOF can be used to find outliers which appear to be meaningful, but can otherwise not be identified with existing approaches. Finally, a careful performance evaluation of our algorithm confirms we show that our approach of finding local outliers can be practical

LOF: Identifying density-based local outliers

For many KDD applications, such as detecting criminal activities in E-commerce, finding the rare instances or the outliers, can be more interesting than finding the common patterns. Existing work in outlier detection regards being an outlier as a binary property. In this paper, we contend that for many scenarios, it is more meaningful to assign to each object a degree of being an outlier. This degree is called the local outlier factor (LOF) of an object. It is local in that the degree depends on how isolated the object is with respect to the surrounding neighborhood. We give a detailed formal analysis showing that LOF enjoys many desirable properties. Using realworld datasets, we demonstrate that LOF can be used to find outliers which appear to be meaningful, but can otherwise not be identified with existing approaches. Finally, a careful performance evaluation of our algorithm confirms we show that our approach of finding local outliers can be practical

Geospatial Data Management Research: Progress and Future Directions

Without geospatial data management, today´s challenges in big data applications such as earth observation, geographic information system/building information modeling (GIS/BIM) integration, and 3D/4D city planning cannot be solved. Furthermore, geospatial data management plays a connecting role between data acquisition, data modelling, data visualization, and data analysis. It enables the continuous availability of geospatial data and the replicability of geospatial data analysis. In the first part of this article, five milestones of geospatial data management research are presented that were achieved during the last decade. The first one reflects advancements in BIM/GIS integration at data, process, and application levels. The second milestone presents theoretical progress by introducing topology as a key concept of geospatial data management. In the third milestone, 3D/4D geospatial data management is described as a key concept for city modelling, including subsurface models. Progress in modelling and visualization of massive geospatial features on web platforms is the fourth milestone which includes discrete global grid systems as an alternative geospatial reference framework. The intensive use of geosensor data sources is the fifth milestone which opens the way to parallel data storage platforms supporting data analysis on geosensors. In the second part of this article, five future directions of geospatial data management research are presented that have the potential to become key research fields of geospatial data management in the next decade. Geo-data science will have the task to extract knowledge from unstructured and structured geospatial data and to bridge the gap between modern information technology concepts and the geo-related sciences. Topology is presented as a powerful and general concept to analyze GIS and BIM data structures and spatial relations that will be of great importance in emerging applications such as smart cities and digital twins. Data-streaming libraries and “in-situ” geo-computing on objects executed directly on the sensors will revolutionize geo-information science and bridge geo-computing with geospatial data management. Advanced geospatial data visualization on web platforms will enable the representation of dynamically changing geospatial features or moving objects’ trajectories. Finally, geospatial data management will support big geospatial data analysis, and graph databases are expected to experience a revival on top of parallel and distributed data stores supporting big geospatial data analysis

Differences in Fabry Cardiomyopathy Between Female and Male Patients Consequences for Diagnostic Assessment

ObjectivesWe hypothesized that Fabry cardiomyopathy in female patients might differ substantially from that in male patients and sought to prove this hypothesis in a large cohort consisting of 104 patients with Fabry disease.BackgroundFabry cardiomyopathy in male patients is characterized by left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy, impaired myocardial function, and subsequent progressive myocardial fibrosis. In contrast, the occurrence of these 3 cardiomyopathic hallmarks in female patients remains unknown.MethodsIn 104 patients (58 females, age 42 ± 16 years; 46 males, age 42 ± 13 years) with genetically proven Fabry disease, LV hypertrophy, regional myocardial deformation and myocardial fibrosis were assessed by standard echocardiography, strain rate imaging, and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging–guided late enhancement (LE).ResultsIn men, end-diastolic left ventricular wall thickness (LVWT) ranged from 6 to 19.5 mm (LV mass CMR 55 to 200 g/m2), and LE was never seen with LVWT <12 mm (LV mass <99 g/m2). In contrast in female patients, LVWT ranged from 5 to 15.5 mm, LV mass ranged from 39 to 146 g/m2, and LE was already detectable with an LVWT of 9 mm (LV mass 56 g/m2). When LV mass was examined in CMR, LE was detected in 23% of the female patients without hypertrophy (n = 9), whereas LE was never seen in male patients with normal LV mass. LE was always associated with low systolic strain rate, but the severity of impairment was independent of LVWT in female patients (lateral strain rate in patients with LV hypertrophy with LE −0.7 ± 0.2 s−1; patients without LV hypertrophy with LE −0.8 ± 0.2 s−1; p = 0.45).ConclusionsIn contrast to male patients, the loss of myocardial function and the development of fibrosis do not necessarily require myocardial hypertrophy in female patients with Fabry disease. Thus, in contrast to actual recommendations, initial cardiac staging and monitoring should be based on LV hypertrophy and on replacement fibrosis in female patients with Fabry disease

Modeling plasticity and dysplasia of pancreatic ductal organoids derived from human pluripotent stem cells

Personalized in vitro models for dysplasia and carcinogenesis in the pancreas have been constrained by insufficient differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) into the exocrine pancreatic lineage. Here, we differentiate hPSCs into pancreatic duct-like organoids (PDLOs) with morphological, transcriptional, proteomic, and functional characteristics of human pancreatic ducts, further maturing upon transplantation into mice. PDLOs are generated from hPSCs inducibly expressing oncogenic GNAS, KRAS, or KRAS with genetic covariance of lost CDKN2A and from induced hPSCs derived from a McCune-Albright patient. Each oncogene causes a specific growth, structural, and molecular phenotype in vitro. While transplanted PDLOs with oncogenic KRAS alone form heterogenous dysplastic lesions or cancer, KRAS with CDKN2A loss develop dedifferentiated pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas. In contrast, transplanted PDLOs with mutant GNAS lead to intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasia-like structures. Conclusively, PDLOs enable in vitro and in vivo studies of pancreatic plasticity, dysplasia, and cancer formation from a genetically defined background

Human pluripotent stem cell-derived acinar/ductal organoids generate human pancreas upon orthotopic transplantation and allow disease modelling

Objective The generation of acinar and ductal cells from human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) is a poorly studied process, although various diseases arise from this compartment. Design We designed a straightforward approach to direct human PSCs towards pancreatic organoids resembling acinar and ductal progeny. Results Extensive phenotyping of the organoids not only shows the appropriate marker profile but also ultrastructural, global gene expression and functional hallmarks of the human pancreas in the dish. Upon orthotopic transplantation into immunodeficient mice, these organoids form normal pancreatic ducts and acinar tissue resembling fetal human pancreas without evidence of tumour formation or transformation. Finally, we implemented this unique phenotyping tool as a model to study the pancreatic facets of cystic fibrosis (CF). For the first time, we provide evidence that in vitro, but also in our xenograft transplantation assay, pancreatic commitment occurs generally unhindered in CF. Importantly, cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) activation in mutated pancreatic organoids not only mirrors the CF phenotype in functional assays but also at a global expression level. We also conducted a scalable proof-of-concept screen in CF pancreatic organoids using a set of CFTR correctors and activators, and established an mRNA-mediated gene therapy approach in CF organoids. Conclusions Taken together, our platform provides novel opportunities to model pancreatic disease and development, screen for disease-rescuing agents and to test therapeutic procedures.This study was funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, K.L. 2544/1-1 and 1-2), the Forschungskern SyStaR to AK, BIU (Böhringer Ingelheim Ulm to AK), the Fritz-Thyssen Foundation (Az. 10.15.2.040), the German Cancer Aid (111879) and the Else-Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung (2011_A200). AK is indebted to the Baden-Württemberg Stiftung for the financial support of this research project by the Eliteprogramme for Postdocs. AK is also an Else-Kröner-Fresenius Memorial Fellow. LP is supported by a research fellowship of the Else-Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung. MH was supported by the International Graduate School in Molecular Medicine and the Bausteinprogramme (L.SBN. 110), Ulm University. MM is supported by a grant of Ulm University (Baustein for Senior Clinician Scientists). IGC is funded by the Interdisciplinary Center for Clinical Research (IZKF Aachen) and Start Program, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, Aachen, German

Changing urbanity in Istanbul - Analysis of megacity developments using synergistic potentials of multi-temporal SAR and optical data

The current process of megacity development and urban sprawl are unique in human history. More and more socalled megacities with more than 10 million inhabitants are evolving throughout the world. The presented study is focusing on the earthquake-prone megacity Istanbul officially counting 12 million inhabitants in 2007. During the past decades, the megacity has undergone an enormous suburbanization into its outskirts. Recent urban developments, however, seem to indicate changing housing trends respectively types of urbanization in Istanbul. In our study we focus on a multi-temporal and multisensoral analysis using Landsat and TerraSAR-X data. By implementing an object-oriented classification approach settlement masks for 1975, 1987, 2000, and 2008 have been created. Furthermore, post-classification change detection is displaying medium and large scale urban developments of the megacity for the past decades. The results are conforming to current social studies focusing on urbanity and lifestyle: Istanbul is facing new types and factors of urban development. The study demonstrates both the synergistic usage of multi-temporal and multi-sensoral remotely sensed data. Additionally, the synergistic potential of remote sensing and applied urban studies to work out useful information for urban planners is presented

Water body detection from TanDEM-X data: concept and first evaluation of an accurate water indication mask

Additionally to the global DEM which is the main product of the TanDEM-X mission a global water body mask will be produced. The main goal of this water mask is to deliver an information layer for any subsequent DEM editing process. It is derived from the SAR amplitude and coherence. In this paper, the concept of the global water body detection is explained and a first evaluation of the single coverage water body detection is presented