Data : a multifaceted, multilayered analysis of the concept of data : a qualitative approach

Data is becoming ever more important in the modern world. Phrases such as “data-driven world” “data society” or “data economy” are common. However, when talking about data there is general confusion as to what this abstract concept refers to specifically and what it means for different perspectives, for companies as data users in contrast to private people or end-users. The purpose of this study was a multifaceted multilayered analysis of “data''. To have a better command on this topic and focus research, four aspects of particular relevance to data have been determined: the potentiality, the economical worth, arguments for the debate on the ownership and, the effects of the legal framework for data. These four aspects were guiding the author in determining the significance of data for two perspectives. This prompts the research question: What is data to the end user and to companies, considering potential, legal, economic and proprietary aspects? To answer the research question, a theoretical framework highlighting each of the four aspects, contrasting between companies and private persons, was established. In an effort to not only have theoretical findings but rather real life practical statements an empirical qualitative study was constructed. Firstly a questionnaire consisting of 19 questions separated by four parts was designed, each part corresponding to one of the aspects. Next a diverse group of 15 participants was recruited and were asked for their expert opinions in regards to their companies´ perspectives and their perceived user perspective. Analysis was done with the help of MAXQDA software following the structured content analysis by Kuckartz (2018). Starkly contrasting viewpoints for aspects such as potential and legal framework could be identified, prevalent confusion and indifference about data for private people can be confirmed with this research. Additionally, recommendations were formulated on the basis of the expert interviews.Termos como "data-driven world", "data society" ou "data economy" são cada vez mais comuns. Com tudo, quando se fala de dados há uma confusão geral quanto ao que este conceito abstracto se refere especificamente a partir de diferentes perspectivas e com diferentes aspectos. O objetivo deste estudo foi uma análise multicamadas de "dados". Para ter pesquisa focada, foram determinados quatro aspectos de particular relevância para os dados: o potencial, o valor económico, os argumentos para o debate sobre a propriedade e, os efeitos do quadro jurídico dos dados. Estes quatro aspectos orientaram o autor na determinação do significado dos dados em perspectivas. Isto suscita a questão da investigação: O que são os dados para o utilizador final e para as empresas, considerando aspectos potenciais, jurídicos, econômicos e de propriedade? Para responder à pergunta de investigação, foi construído um quadro teórico destacando cada um dos quatro aspectos, contrastando empresas e pessoas privadas. Com a intenção de não ter apenas conclusões teóricas, mas sim afirmações práticas da vida real, foi construído um estudo qualitativo empírico. Em primeiro lugar, foi construído um questionário constituído por 19 perguntas separadas por quatro partes, cada parte correspondendo a um dos aspectos. Em seguida, foi recrutado um grupo diversificado de 15 participantes, os quais foram questionados sobre as suas opiniões de especialistas no que diz respeito às perspectivas das suas empresas e à sua percepção da perspectiva do usuário. A análise foi feita com a ajuda do software MAXQDA, seguido da análise de Kuckartz, 2018. Pontos de vista muito contrastantes para os aspectos de potencial e de enquadramento legal puderam ser identificados. A discordância prevalecente e a indiferença sobre os dados para pessoas privadas também podem ser confirmadas com esta investigação. Além disso, as recomendações de ação foram formuladas com base nas entrevistas dos especialistas

Duality between Coronavirus Transmission and Air-based Macroscopic Molecular Communication

This contribution exploits the duality between a viral infection process and macroscopic air-based molecular communication. Airborne aerosol and droplet transmission through human respiratory processes is modeled as an instance of a multiuser molecular communication scenario employing respiratory-event-driven molecular variable-concentration shift keying. Modeling is aided by experiments that are motivated by a macroscopic air-based molecular communication testbed. In artificially induced coughs, a saturated aqueous solution containing a fluorescent dye mixed with saliva is released by an adult test person. The emitted particles are made visible by means of optical detection exploiting the fluorescent dye. The number of particles recorded is significantly higher in test series without mouth and nose protection than in those with a wellfitting medical mask. A simulation tool for macroscopic molecular communication processes is extended and used for estimating the transmission of infectious aerosols in different environments. Towards this goal, parameters obtained through self experiments are taken. The work is inspired by the recent outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures, submitted to IEEE Transactions on Molecular, Biological, and Multi-Scale Communications for the special issue "Section II: Molecular Communications for Diagnostics and Therapeutic Development of Infectious Diseases

Classification of product data for a Digital Product Passport in the manufacturing industry

The European Commission set out the goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, which shall be achieved by fostering the twin transition - sustainability through digitalization. A keystone in this transition is the implementation of a prospering Circular Economy (CE). However, product information required to establish a flourishing CE is hardly available or even accessible. The Digital Product Passport (DPP) offers a solution to that problem but in the current discussion, two separate topics are focused on: its architecture and its application on batteries. The content of the DPP has not been an essential part of the discussion, although access to high-quality data about a product's state, composition and ecological footprint is required to enable sustainable decision-making. Therefore, this paper presents a classification of product data for circularity in the manufacturing industry to emphasize the discussion about the DPP's content. Developed through a systematic literature review combined with a case-study-research based on common operational information systems, the classification comprises three levels with 62 data points in four main categories: (1) Product information, (2) Utilization information, (3) Value chain information and (4) Sustainability information. In this paper, the potential content structure of a DPP is demonstrated for a use case in the machinery sector. The contribution to the science and operations community is twofold: Building a guideline for DPP developers that require scientific input from available real-world data points as well as motivating manufacturers to share the presented data points enabling a circular product information management

From Lampoldshausen to Orbit: DLR Spin-off GreenDelta and the Development Status of Green Propellant Thrusters Based on H\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3eO\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3e and N\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3eO

The German Aerospace Center\u27s Institute of Space Propulsion in Lampoldshausen has more than a decade of experience in green propellant research and green propulsion hardware development. In the frame of internal research projects as well as ESA and third-party projects DLR employees gained a deep and extensive knowledge of propulsion hardware. Based on this knowledge, thrusters and propulsion hardware were developed in-house and the TRL was increased step by step. Currently, the two most promising technologies are: the HyNOx bipropellant technology, based on nitrous oxide and hydrocarbon fuels, as well as the hypergolic HIP_11 technology. The HyNOx bipropellant offers a high Isp, non-toxic components, self-pressurized propulsion systems, easy handling and very low cost. HIP_11 is a patented, hypergolic combination based on hydrogen peroxide and ionic liquid fuels, which offers a comparable Isp, significantly reduced costs, and easy to handle propellants. To commercialize the two propulsion technologies, a DLR spin-off called GreenDelta will be founded in summer 2023. The preparation of the spin-off is currently funded by the Helmholtz Association and DLR. This paper gives an overview on the development of the two technologies and their development status. First thrusters from GreenDelta will be commercially available at Q4 2023

From Lampoldshausen to Space: DLR Spin-off InSpacePropulsion Technologies and the Development Status of Green Propellant Thrusters Based on H2O2 and N2O

The German Aerospace Center’s Institute of Space Propulsion in Lampoldshausen has more than a decade of experience in green propellant research and green propulsion hardware development. Over time, thrusters and propulsion hardware were developed in-house and the TRL of the hardware was increased step by step. Currently, the two most promising technologies are: the HyNOx bipropellant technology, based on nitrous oxide and hydrocarbon fuels, as well as the hypergolic HIP_11 technology. To commercialize the two propulsion technologies, a DLR spin-off called InSpacePropulsion Technologies will be founded in summer 2023. The preparation of the spin-off is currently funded by the Helmholtz Association and DLR. This paper gives an overview on the development of the two technologies and their development status

Survival benefit with checkpoint inhibitors versus chemotherapy is modified by brain metastases in patients with recurrent small cell lung cancer

IntroductionSmall cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a rapidly growing malignancy with early distant metastases. Up to 70% will develop brain metastases, and the poor prognosis of these patients has not changed considerably. The potential of checkpoint inhibitors (CPI) in treating recurrent (r/r) SCLC and their effect on brain metastases remain unclear.MethodsIn this retrospective multicenter study, we analyzed r/r SCLC patients receiving second or further-line CPI versus chemotherapy between 2010 and 2020. We applied multivariable-adjusted Cox regression analysis to test for differences in 1-year mortality and real-world progression. We then used interaction analysis to evaluate whether brain metastases (BM) and/or cranial radiotherapy (CRT) modified the effect of CPI versus chemotherapy on overall survival.ResultsAmong 285 patients, 99 (35%) received CPI and 186 (65%) patients received chemotherapy. Most patients (93%) in the CPI group received nivolumab/ipilimumab. Chemotherapy patients were entirely CPI-naïve and only one CPI patient had received atezolizumab for first-line treatment. CPI was associated with a lower risk of 1-year mortality (adjusted Hazard Ratio [HRadj] 0.59, 95% CI 0.42 to 0.82, p=0.002). This benefit was modified by BM and CRT, indicating a pronounced effect in patients without BM (with CRT: HRadj 0.34, p=0.003; no CRT: HRadj 0.50, p=0.05), while there was no effect in patients with BM who received CRT (HRadj 0.85, p=0.59).ConclusionCPI was associated with a lower risk of 1-year mortality compared to chemotherapy. However, the effect on OS was significantly modified by intracranial disease and radiotherapy, suggesting the benefit was driven by patients without BM

Reduced anthropogenic aerosol radiative forcing caused by biogenic new particle formation

The magnitude of aerosol radiative forcing caused by anthropogenic emissions depends on the baseline state of the atmosphere under pristine preindustrial conditions. Measurements show that particle formation in atmospheric conditions can occur solely from biogenic vapors. Here, we evaluate the potential effect of this source of particles on preindustrial cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) concentrations and aerosol-cloud radiative forcing over the industrial period. Model simulations show that the pure biogenic particle formation mechanism has a much larger relative effect on CCN concentrations in the preindustrial atmosphere than in the present atmosphere because of the lower aerosol concentrations. Consequently, preindustrial cloud albedo is increased more than under present day conditions, and therefore the cooling forcing of anthropogenic aerosols is reduced. The mechanism increases CCN concentrations by 20-100% over a large fraction of the preindustrial lower atmosphere, and the magnitude of annual global mean radiative forcing caused by changes of cloud albedo since 1750 is reduced by 0.22 W m-2 (27%) to -0.60 W m-2. Model uncertainties, relatively slow formation rates, and limited available ambient measurements make it difficult to establish the significance of a mechanism that has its dominant effect under preindustrial conditions. Our simulations predict more particle formation in the Amazon than is observed. However, the first observation of pure organic nucleation has now been reported for the free troposphere. Given the potentially significant effect on anthropogenic forcing, effort should be made to better understand such naturally driven aerosol processes

Measuring cyclists' visual attention and interaction with an interactive real-time 3D simulation

In recent years, the safety of Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs) has improved much more slowly than that of motorized road users. A promising solution are Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) for cyclists in the context of Vehicle-to-X (V2X) communication. To ensure their effectiveness and safety, these systems have to be tested psychologically without risking the lives of participants. Suitable simulators such as the Virtual Cycling Environment (VCE) can help with this task by letting cyclists interact with simulated networked traffic. So far, such simulators have rarely been used for VRUs in long scenarios with complex traffic. In this thesis, I evaluate the suitability of the improved VCE in an empirical study and I present a method for measuring cyclists visual attention in different traffic densities. Results align with the literature in showing that higher-density traffic requires more attention. The VCE is therefore considered suitable for human-in-the-loop experiments. Acting on feedback from participants can further enhance this suitability, e.g., by improving the way other cars react to the cyclist.vorgelegt von Lukas Stratmann ; angefertigt in der Fachgruppe Distributed Embedded Systems (CCS Labs), Heinz Nixdorf Institut, Universität Paderborn ; Gutachter: Falko Dressler, Ingrid ScharlauTag der Abgabe: 31.05.2019Universität Paderborn, Masterarbeit, 201

Infectious Disease Transmission via Aerosol Propagation from a Molecular Communication Perspective : Shannon Meets Coronavirus

Molecular communication is not only able to mimic biological and chemical communication mechanisms, but also provides a theoretical framework for viral infection processes. In this tutorial, aerosol and droplet transmission is modeled as a multiuser scenario with mobile nodes, related to broadcasting and relaying. In contrast to data communication systems, in the application of pathogen-laden aerosol transmission, mutual information between nodes should be minimized. Towards this goal, several countermeasures are reasoned. The findings are supported by experimental results and by an advanced particle simulation tool. This work is inspired by the recent outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, but also applicable to other airborne infectious diseases like influenza.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, 1 table, submitted to IEEE Communications Magazine for the Feature Topic on "Nano-Networking for Nano-, Micro-, and Macro-Scale Applications