Managing Diversity in virtuellen Teams – didaktische Strategien zur Unterstützung eines wertschätzenden Umgangs mit kultureller Vielfalt

Der Beitrag geht von der Idee aus, dass Unterschiedlichkeit von Menschen für die Gemeinschaft nicht nur Probleme schafft, sondern ein positives Potential in sich trägt. Dies entspricht der Grundannahme eines Management-Ansatzes, der in den letzten Jahren in der nordamerikanischen Wirtschaft zur Personalführung unter dem Schlagwort "Managing Diversity" entwickelt wurde. In dem Beitrag wird diese grundlegende Idee auf die Zusammenarbeit in interkulturellen virtuellen Teams angewandt. Dabei wird auf Erfahrungen zurückgegriffen, die in standortübergreifenden Lehrveranstaltungen für Studierende unterschiedlicher Fachkulturen und z.T. auch unterschiedlicher Muttersprachen gesammelt wurden. Es werden erste Hypothesen zu didaktischen Strategien der Unterstützung eines wertschätzenden Umgangs mit kultureller Vielfalt in studentischen virtuellen Teams präsentiert. (Der Artikel erscheint vorraussichtlich im Februar 2005 in: Beneke, Jürgen; Jarman, Francis: Interkulturalität in Wissenschaft und Praxis. Schriftenreihe der Universitätsbibliothek Hildesheim

DEPAS (Deutscher Geräte-Pool für amphibische Seismologie): German Instrument Pool for Amphibian Seismology

The German Instrument Pool for Amphibian Seismology (DEPAS) provides the infrastructure for onshore, marine and amphibian seismological experiments. It consists currently of approx. 80 ocean-bottom seismometers (OBS) and 95 onshore seismic stations. Broadband sensors and custom-built data loggers enable a broad range of short- and long-term deployments to study architecture and dynamics of the Earth’s interior. The OBS are operated by the Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI); the onshore stations are managed by the Helmholtz Centre Portsdam GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences. The DEPAS instruments are available upon request for researchers affiliated to German universities or German research institutes within national or international projects. Applications for stations are evaluated by an external steering committee. Data will be stored in national archives and made available to the public after a waiting period

Administration of Tramadol or Buprenorphine via the drinking water for post-operative analgesia in a mouse-osteotomy model

Adequate analgesia is essential whenever pain might occur in animal experiments. Unfortunately, the selection of suitable analgesics for mice in bone-linked models is limited. Here, we evaluated two analgesics - Tramadol [0.1 mg/ml (Tlow) vs. 1 mg/ml (Thigh)] and Buprenorphine (Bup; 0.009 mg/ml) - after a pre-surgical injection of Buprenorphine, in a mouse-osteotomy model. The aim of this study was to verify the efficacy of these opioids in alleviating pain-related behaviors, to provide evidence for adequate dosages and to examine potential side effects. High concentrations of Tramadol affected water intake, drinking frequency, food intake and body weight negatively in the first 2-3 days post-osteotomy, while home cage activity was comparable between all groups. General wellbeing parameters were strongly influenced by anesthesia and analgesics. Model-specific pain parameters did not indicate more effective pain relief at high concentrations of Tramadol. In addition, ex vivo high-resolution micro computed tomography (µCT) analysis and histology analyzing bone healing outcomes showed no differences between analgesic groups with respect to newly formed mineralized bone, cartilage and vessels. Our results show that high concentrations of Tramadol do not improve pain relief compared to low dosage Tramadol and Buprenorphine, but rather negatively affect animal wellbeing

Structure of arthropod communities in Bt maize and conventional maize – results of redundancy analyses of long-term field data from the Oderbruch region in Germany

Im Oderbruch, ein wichtiges Befallsgebiet des Maiszünslers (Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner)), wurde in den Jahren 2000 bis 2008 die Biodiversität der Arthropoden in halben Feldern jeweils mit Bt-Mais (BT) und nicht mit Insektiziden behandelten konventionellen Mais (CV) und teilweise in dreigeteilten Feldern mit BT und CV plus einer isogenen (IS) oder insektizid-behandelten Sorte (IN) untersucht. Drei unterschiedliche Arthropodengesellschaften – Pflanzenbewohner (PB), epigäische Spinnen (ES) und epigäische Laufkäfer (EL) – wurden mittels Bonituren der Pflanzen zu Beginn der Blüte (PB, 2000 bis 2007) und durch wöchentliche Bodenfallenfänge über vier Wochen nach Beginn der Blüte (ES und EL, 2000 bis 2008) erfasst. Die PB wurden je nach den Möglichkeiten auf unterschiedlichem taxonomischen Niveau und die ES und EL nach Arten bestimmt. Die Daten wurden syste­matisiert und für die Wahl der geeigneten statistischen Auswertungsmethode verifiziert. Die Redundanzanalyse erwies sich als geeignete Methode. Die Ergebnisse zeigten, dass 83,2% der Artenvariation der PB aus den Jahr-Ort-Termin-Kombinationen und Maisvarianten zu erklären waren. Bt-Mais steuerte nur 1,2% zur Artenkomposition bei, dennoch war dieser Anteil signifikant. Im Hinblick auf die ES und EL verursachten die Jahr-Ort-Kombinationen und die Maisvarianten 66,3% und 82,7% der Artenvariation. Der Beitrag von Bt-Mais war mit 1,5% und 1,2% in beiden Gesellschaften gering aber signifikant. Die Ergebnisse stimmen überein mit denen anderer Studien. Sie zeigen die enorme Dynamik der Arthropodengesellschaften in Maisbeständen und den geringen Effekt von Bt-Mais auf die Biodiversität.    The arthropod biodiversity was investigated in half-fields planted with Bt maize (BT) and non-insecticide treated conventional maize (CV) and in one-third fields planted with BT and CV plus either isogenic (IS) or insecticide-treated conventional maize (IN) in the Oderbruch region in the state of Brandenburg, Germany, an important outbreak area of the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner), from 2000 to 2008. Three different arthropod communities – plant dwelling arthropods (PDA), epigeic spiders (ES) and ground-dwelling carabids (GDC) – were enumerated by counting arthropods on maize plants during flowering (PDA, 2000 to 2007) or by pitfall trapping four weeks after the beginning of flowering (ES and GDC, 2000 to 2008). The counted arthropods (PDA) were determined to different taxonomic levels, and the spiders and carabids captured in pitfall traps were identified to species level. The data were systematized and verified for choice of appropriate statistical method. Redundancy analysis (RDA) proved to be a suitable method. The results showed that 83.2% of species variation in PDA was explained by year-site-date combinations and maize variant. Bt maize contributed only 1.2% to species composition, but this low rate was significant. Regarding the spiders and carabids communities, 66.3% and 82.7% of species variation was caused by year-site combinations and maize variant, respectively. The contribution of Bt maize was low but significant in both communities (1.5% and 1.2%, respectively). The results correspond with those of other studies. They show the enormous dynamics of arthropod communities on maize plants and on the ground and the relatively low effect of maize variant.   &nbsp

EU-Fördergelder: "Subventions-Hopping" oder sinnvolle Investitionsförderung - brauchen wir mehr Transparenz?

Der Fall Nokia hat in der Öffentlichkeit Empörung hervorgerufen und die Frage des Für und Wider von Subventionen für private Unternehmen aufgeworfen. Sind Investitionsförderungen durch Subventionen sinnvolle Standortpolitik, oder werden nur Mitnahmeeffekte erzielt? Christa Thoben, Ministerin für Wirtschaft, Mittelstand und Energie des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen, weist auf ein grundsätzliches Dilemma hin: Insgesamt ließe sich die erhoffte Wirkung einer langfristigen Standortbindung damit nicht erreichen, und oft würden nur Mitnahmeeffekte bei den Unternehmen ausgelöst. Hartmut Schauerte, Parlamentarischer Staatssekretär beim Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Technologie, verweist auf die Zahlungen, die Deutschland aus den EU-Strukturfonds erhält: "In der laufenden Förderperiode 2007-2013 werden rund 26,3 Mrd. € aus den EU-Strukturfonds nach Deutschland fließen." Auch habe die Europäische Kommission versichert, dass im Fall Nokia keinerlei EU-Strukturfondsmittel geflossen seien. Denn ein "Subventionswettlauf", in dem eine Region die andere mit noch besseren Förderkonditionen zu überbieten versuche, sei nicht im Sinne der EU-Kohäsionspolitik. Markus Pieper, Mitglied des Europäischen Parlaments, unterstreicht die Notwendigkeit von Transparenz. Leider lasse sich auf Grundlage eines recht allgemeinen Berichtswesens der Mitgliedstaaten die Zweckbindung von Subventionen nur schwer überprüfen. Christoph M. Schmidt, Rheinisch-Westfälisches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (RWI), Essen, betont, dass es andere, weniger kostenintensive, anspruchsvollere Wege gebe, um für ansiedlungswillige Unternehmen attraktiv zu sein, als direkte Förderung. So gebe es z.B. aus Sicht der Unternehmen das Bedürfnis, einen konkreten und rasch zu erreichenden Ansprechpartner in den zuständigen Ministerien zu besitzen. Viel versprechend seien auch Investitionen in die Entwicklung einer qualitativ hochwertigen Bildungs- und Forschungsinfrastruktur.Investitionspolitik, Subvention, Standortpolitik, Wettbewerb, EU-Strukturfonds, EU-Regionalfonds, Europäische Wirtschafts- und Währungsunion, Deutschland

Rumination Detection in Sheep: A Systematic Review of Sensor-Based Approaches

The use of sensors to analyze behavior in sheep has gained increasing attention in scientific research. This systematic review aims to provide an overview of the sensors developed and used to detect rumination behavior in sheep in scientific research. Moreover, this overview provides details of the sensors that are currently commercially available and describes their suitability for sheep based on the information provided in the literature found. Furthermore, this overview lists the best sensor performances in terms of achieved accuracy, sensitivity, precision, and specificity in rumination detection, detailing, when applicable, the sensor position and epoch settings that were used to achieve the best results. Challenges and areas for future research and development are also identified. A search strategy was implemented in the databases PubMed, Web of Science, and Livivo, yielding a total of 935 articles. After reviewing the summaries of 57 articles remaining following filtration (exclusion) of repeated and unsuitable articles, 17 articles fully met the pre-established criteria (peer-reviewed; published between 2012 and 2023 in English or German; with a particular focus on sensors detecting rumination in sheep) and were included in this review. The guidelines outlined in the PRISMA 2020 methodology were followed. The results indicate that sensor-based systems have been utilized to monitor and analyze rumination behavior, among other behaviors. Notably, none of the sensors identified in this review were specifically designed for sheep. In order to meet the specific needs of sheep, a customized sensor solution is necessary. Additionally, further investigation of the optimal sensor position and epoch settings is necessary. Implications: The utilization of such sensors has significant implications for improving sheep welfare and enhancing our knowledge of their behavior in various contexts

Program for sound generation based on image color spectrum with using the recurrent neural network

This work is devoted to development and approbation of the program for sound generation based on image color spectrum with using the recurrent neural network. The work contains a description of the transition between color and music characteristics, the rationale for choosing and the description of a recurrent neural network. The choices of the neural network implementation technology as well as the results of the experiment are described

Non-utilisation of health care services during the COVID-19 pandemic: Results of the CoMoLo study

Based on data from the CORONA-MONITORING lokal (CoMoLo) study conducted in four municipalities particularly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, this article investigates the non-utilisation of health care services in the population aged 18 years and older (n=9,002) in relation to the period after the introduction of the containment measures in March 2020. The results show that about one third of the respondents (35.5%) gave up at least one of the surveyed health care services. The most frequent cancellations were dental (15.2%) and specialist check-ups (11.8%), followed by postponement of physiotherapy, ergotherapy or speech therapy (6.1%), cancellation of general practitioner (GP) check-ups (5.8%), postponement of psychotherapy (2.0%), postponement of planned hospital treatment (1.8%) and not going to an emergency room (0.7%). Almost 10% of the respondents reported not visiting a physician despite health complaints. Compared to respondents without such a waiver, these respondents were more often female and younger than 35 years, less often rated their health as very good or good, more often had a diagnosis of depression and more often used telemedical contacts as an alternative to visiting the practice during the pandemic. Further analyses of trends in utilisation behaviour and changes in health status over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic are important

Effects of Relationship Education on Emerging Adults’ Relationship Beliefs and Behaviors [post-print]

In this multisite study, we used a randomized controlled trial to examine how a relationship education intervention affected emerging adults\u27 maladaptive relationship beliefs, mutuality, relationship decision making, relationship quality, and psychological distress. In addition, we explored whether one intervention modality (i.e., facilitated group discussion) was more/less effective than another (i.e., self-facilitated online) and whether there were differential effects for participants in a relationship. We found that the facilitated group evidenced a decline in maladaptive relationship beliefs and an improvement in deliberate decision making. Moreover, facilitated group participants in a relationship reported higher levels of mutuality. Contrary to our hypothesis, there were no changes in relationship quality or psychological distress. Implications for the content and delivery of relationship education for emerging adults are discussed

Biomimic Vein-Like Transparent Conducting Electrodes with Low Sheet Resistance and Metal Consumption

Abstract: In this contribution, inspired by the excellent resource management and material transport function of leaf veins, the electrical transport function of metallized leaf veins is mimicked from the material transport function of the vein networks. By electroless copper plating on real leaf vein networks with copper thickness of only several hundred nanometre up to several micrometre, certain leaf veins can be converted to transparent conductive electrodes with an ultralow sheet resistance 100 times lower than that of state-of-the-art indium tin oxide thin films, combined with a broadband optical transmission of above 80% in the UV–VIS–IR range. Additionally, the resource efficiency of the vein-like electrode is characterized by the small amount of material needed to build up the networks and the low copper consumption during metallization. In particular, the high current density transport capability of the electrode of > 6000 A cm−2 was demonstrated. These superior properties of the vein-like structures inspire the design of high-performance transparent conductive electrodes without using critical materials and may significantly reduce the Ag consumption down to < 10% of the current level for mass production of solar cells and will contribute greatly to the electrode for high power density concentrator solar cells, high power density Li-ion batteries, and supercapacitors.[Figure not available: see fulltext.]. © 2020, © 2020, The Author(s)