149 research outputs found
VCE-KONUS: Community Engine einer Gemeinschaft mit besonderen Anforderungen in den neuen Medien
Die wachsende Verbreitung, die das Internet bisher gefunden hat macht es zunehmend zum Informationspool Nummer Eins. In der heutigen Informationsgesellschaft ist die Nutzung dieses Mediums unumgĂ€nglich und bietet gerade fĂŒr in der MobilitĂ€t eingeschrĂ€nkte Menschen neue Ressourcen zur Informations- und Kontaktfindung sowie zur Integration in gesellschaftliche Prozesse (Bildung, Kultur, Arbeit). Der Zugang zu diesem neuen Medium wird allerdings durch eine Vielzahl von Barrieren besonders fĂŒr behinderte Menschen erschwert bzw. unmöglich gemacht. Das Internet ist auĂerdem das ideale Medium fĂŒr die Bildung und den Betrieb virtueller Gemeinschaften. Im weit verzweigten Internet ist die Suche nach potentiellen Partnern in der FĂŒlle der verteilt angebotenen Informationen sehr zeitaufwendig und wenig effizient, was durch eine Behinderung noch potenziert wird. Es fehlt eine geeignete Plattform, die virtuelle Gemeinschaften im Internet barrierearm unterstĂŒtzt. Im Rahmen des Projektes KONUS wird eine geeignet Plattform entwickelt. [... aus dem Text
Experimental evidence of a fractal dissipative regime in high-T_c superconductors
We report on our experimental evidence of a substantial geometrical
ingredient characterizing the problem of incipient dissipation in high-T_c
superconductors(HTS): high-resolution studies of differential
resistance-current characteristics in absence of magnetic field enabled us to
identify and quantify the fractal dissipative regime inside which the actual
current-carrying medium is an object of fractal geometry. The discovery of a
fractal regime proves the reality and consistency of critical-phenomena
scenario as a model for dissipation in inhomogeneous and disordered HTS, gives
the experimentally-based value of the relevant finite-size scaling exponent and
offers some interesting new guidelines to the problem of pairing mechanisms in
HTS.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, RevTex; Accepted for publication in Physical
Review B; (figures enlarged
Widespread decline in Central European plant diversity across six decades
Abstract Based on plant occurrence data covering all parts of Germany, we investigated changes in the distribution of 2136 plant species between 1960 and 2017. We analyzed 29 million occurrence records over an area of ~350,000 km 2 on a 5 Ă 5 km grid using temporal and spatiotemporal models and accounting for sampling bias. Since the 1960s, more than 70% of investigated plant species showed declines in nationwide occurrence. Archaeophytes (species introduced before 1492) most strongly declined but also native plant species experienced severe declines. In contrast, neophytes (species introduced after 1492) increased in their nationwide occurrence but not homogeneously throughout the country. Our analysis suggests that the strongest declines in native species already happened in the 1960sâ1980s, a time frame in which often few data exist. Increases in neophytic species were strongest in the 1990s and 2010s. Overall, the increase in neophytes did not compensate for the loss of other species, resulting in a decrease in mean grid cell species richness of â1.9% per decade. The decline in plant biodiversity is a widespread phenomenon occurring in different habitats and geographic regions. It is likely that this decline has major repercussions on ecosystem functioning and overall biodiversity, potentially with cascading effects across trophic levels. The approach used in this study is transferable to other largeâscale trend analyses using heterogeneous occurrence data
Gender Difference or Parallel Publics? The Dynamics of Defense Spending Opinions in the United States, 1965-2007
Gender is now recognized as an important dividing line in American political life, and
scholars have accumulated evidence that national security issues are an important
reason for gender differences in policy preferences. We therefore expect that the
dynamics of support for defense spending among men and women will differ. In
contrast, several scholars have shown that population subgroups exhibit a ââparallelââ
dynamic in which the evolution of their preferences over time is very similar, despite
differences in the average level of support. Unfortunately, there is little time series
evidence on gendered reactions to policy, including defense spending, that would
allow one to arbitrate between these competing perspectives. In this research note,
we assemble a time series of support for defense spending among men and women
and model the determinants of that support for the period 1967â2007. We find that
women are on average less supportive of defense spending than are men. However,
we also find that the over time variation of support for defense spending among men
and women is very similarâeach is conditioned principally by the past yearâs change
in defense spending and occasionally by war casualties and a trade-off between
defense and civilian spending
Propulsion Investigation for Zero and Near-Zero Emissions Aircraft
As world emissions are further scrutinized to identify areas for improvement, aviation s contribution to the problem can no longer be ignored. Previous studies for zero or near-zero emissions aircraft suggest aircraft and propulsion system sizes that would perform propulsion system and subsystems layout and propellant tankage analyses to verify the weight-scaling relationships. These efforts could be used to identify and guide subsequent work on systems and subsystems to achieve viable aircraft system emissions goals. Previous work quickly focused these efforts on propulsion systems for 70- and 100-passenger aircraft. Propulsion systems modeled included hydrogen-fueled gas turbines and fuel cells; some preliminary estimates combined these two systems. Hydrogen gas-turbine engines, with advanced combustor technology, could realize significant reductions in nitrogen emissions. Hydrogen fuel cell propulsion systems were further laid out, and more detailed analysis identified systems needed and weight goals for a viable overall system weight. Results show significant, necessary reductions in overall weight, predominantly on the fuel cell stack, and power management and distribution subsystems to achieve reasonable overall aircraft sizes and weights. Preliminary conceptual analyses for a combination of gas-turbine and fuel cell systems were also performed, and further studies were recommended. Using gas-turbine engines combined with fuel cell systems can reduce the fuel cell propulsion system weight, but at higher fuel usage than using the fuel cell only
With or without force? : European public opinion on democracy promotion
A Large part of the education provided at colleges and universities of today requires for thestudent to be more independent in their studies. This demands that the physical space,where the students choose to study, is designed in a way that can encourage and supportlearning. It seems as though that many of the learning spaces of today donât always meetthe studentsâ needs. The university library at the University of UmeĂ„ is currently planningto design new learning spaces for the students. The aim of this study is to examine how thephysical learning space can be designed to engage and encourage the students in theirlearning process. Based on literature describing learning spaces we have initially identified three mainareas to examine- Learning, Information Technology and Learning space design. Theseareas are all important features in the design of new learning spaces. With informationdrawn from that literature we conducted an empirical study at the library of the Universityof UmeĂ„. The empirical study was carried out through observations and focus groupinterviews. To give us more insight about the studentsâ thoughts about the learning spacewe also compared our findings with a survey conducted by the library personnel in 2008and 2010. The result of our study shows that there are some areas to be improved in theexisting learning space. The students are working more collaboratively which requiresmore group areas. Our study also shows that flexibility, more student interaction and asocial and engaging environment are all important features in the design of new learningspaces
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Globalisation from Above? Corporate Social Responsibility, the Workers' Party and the Origins of the World Social Forum
In its assessment of the origins and early development of the World Social Forum this article challenges traditional understandings of the Forum as representing âglobalisation from belowâ. By tracing the intricate relations among elements of business, civil society, and the Workersâ Party in the first years of the Forum, this article reveals the major role played by a corporate movement stemming from the Brazilian democratisation process in the 1980s, and how this combined with the transformed agenda of the Workersâ Party as it gained higher political offices to constrain the Forumâs activities from the outset. In so doing, this article challenges not only widespread conceptions of the Forum as a counterâhegemonic alternative but also current critiques concerning its subsequent limitations. Furthermore, it reveals how traditional understandings of the World Social Forum and of global civil society are underpinned by flawed assumptions which typecast political activities in the global âSouthâ
Effective biodiversity monitoring needs a culture of integration
Despite conservation commitments, most countries still lack large-scale biodiversity monitoring programs to track progress toward agreed targets. Monitoring program design is frequently approached from a top-down, data-centric perspective that ignores the socio-cultural context of data collection. A rich landscape of people and organizations, with a diversity of motivations and expertise, independently engages in biodiversity monitoring. This diversity often leads to complementarity in activities across places, time periods, and taxa. In this Perspective, we propose a framework for aligning different efforts to realize large-scale biodiversity monitoring through a networked design of stakeholders, data, and biodiversity schemes. We emphasize the value of integrating independent biodiversity observations in conjunction with a backbone of structured core monitoring, thereby fostering broad ownership and resilience due to a strong partnership of science, society, policy, and individuals. Furthermore, we identify stakeholder-specific barriers and incentives to foster joint collaboration toward effective large-scale biodiversity monitoring
From Democratic Peace to Democratic Distinctiveness: A Critique of Democratic Exceptionalism in Peace and Conflict Studies
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