An in situ pulse light fluorometer for chlorophyll determination as a monitor for vertical and horizontal phytoplankton distribution in lakes

Methodological problems with in vivo, fluorescence (IVF) measurement using an in situ pulse light fluorometer were investigated in order to validate this method for monitoring the vertical and horizontal chlorophyll a (chl. a) distribution in lakes. The correlation between chl. a and IVF was poor in the upper epilimnion (0-5 m) of a mesotrophic lake. The IVF of algal cultures and natural phytoplankton is very sensitive to changes in the light environment. The response of the IVF to rapid light fluctuations depends on the amplitude of the light intensity and the light conditions to which the algae were exposed before the onset of light fluctuations. The variability of the ratio IVF:chl. a concentration makes a permanent calibration of the IVF against chl. a necessar

Honoring a Legacy, Inviting a New Generation: A Very Brief Introduction to the Stamp Seals from the Southern Levant Project

The aim of this introductory article is threefold: (1) to situate the Stamp Seals from the Southern Levant (SSSL) project in the broader history of twentieth-century glyptic research, especially with regard to Othmar Keel’s multi-volume _Corpus of Stamp Seals from Palestine/Israel_ launched in the 1980s; (2) to explain the SSSL project’s research design as a strategic response to that unfinished initiative, the intrinsic potential of stamp seals research and the demands of a specific funding opportunity which emphasizes interdisciplinarity; (3) to consider SSSL as a trans-generational project, attentive to both transmission and innovation. The Digital Humanities transition offers crucial opportunities and challenges regarding all three aspects

COVID-19: A Black Swan?

A Black Swan, as termed by Nassim Taleb, is an unexpected, high magnitude event that is often rationalized in hindsight. 9/11 and the Financial Crisis of 2008 are two examples of these tail probability events. Though COVID-19 has been regarded as momentous and unexpected, Taleb does not credit it as a true Black Swan. This paper aims to compare COVID-19 to these recent Black Swans in terms of predictability and significance. Cointegration was tested across 11 major sectors. Further economic indicators were explored with the goal of discussing the broader context of each event. It was concluded that COVID-19 was predictable as compared to the other two events. However, the economic weight of COVID-19 is quite comparable to that of the Financial Crisis of 2008 and should not be ignored

Alt und sexy – Thema oder Tabu? : Eine Analyse der Haltung und der daraus folgenden Reaktionen der Mitarbeitenden von Alterspflegeinstitutionen bezüglich Alterssexualität

Darstellung des Themas: Alterssexualität wird sowohl in der Gesellschaft als auch in Alterspflegeinstitutionen tabuisiert. In Alterspflegeinstitutionen greifen die Mitarbeitenden immer wieder in die Intimsphäre der Bewohner ein. So wird die Alterssexualität dort vermehrt wahrgenommen. Zielsetzung: Diese Bachelorarbeit hat zum Ziel, die Haltung der Mitarbeitenden von Alterspflegeinstitutionen gegenüber Alterssexualität zu analysieren. Weiter werden die Reaktionen der Mitarbeitenden auf Alterssexualität untersucht. Methode: Zur Datenerhebung wurde eine Literaturrecherche auf verschiedenen Datenbanken durchgeführt. Relevante Ergebnisse: Die Haltung der Mitarbeitenden gegenüber Alterssexualität ist zusammengefasst weder deutlich restriktiv noch deutlich tolerant. Diese Haltung wird unter anderem von soziodemographischen Faktoren, dem Wissensstand der Mitarbeitenden, der Institution und deren Richtlinien beeinflusst. Reaktionen auf die Alterssexualität resultieren aus der beschriebenen Haltung und fallen unterschiedlich aus. Schlussfolgerung: Zur Verbesserung der Haltung von Mitarbeitenden gegenüber Alterssexualität von Bewohnerinnen und Bewohnern werden Schulungsprogramme, Richtlinien und die Integration in den Pflegeprozess notwendig

Aquatic plant management: ecological effects in two streams of the Swiss Plateau

Effects of plant removal on habitat conditions, stream metabolism and benthic invertebrates were studied in two macrophyte-rich streams (Chriesbach, Mühlibach) of the Swiss Plateau. We monitored a control reach (no treatment) and two impact reaches (removal of plants by cutting or dredging) in each stream. Sampling was conducted during a 2-4 month period before and a 9 month period after the removal of 84-94% of the plant biomass. Oxygen concentrations were continuously recorded for 3-4 months. Plant removal decreased water depth and increased current velocity. The total number of invertebrates decreased by about 65%. Plant cutting mainly affected taxa that used macrophytes as habitat. Highly mobile taxa and taxa living on or within the bed sediment were less affected. Invertebrate densities recovered within 4-6 months. The removal of plants resulted only in a moderate increase in nocturnal oxygen concentrations. In the stream where plants were cut in spring, macrophytes recovered within the same growing season. In the other stream, where plant growth started later, plants were cut in summer and no recovery of plants occurred until the following sprin