Technology of Bronze Age cooking ware from Akrotiri, Thera.

Cooking wares have been pivotal to the study of technological variation and function in archaeological ceramics. The present study investigated the rich cooking ware assemblage from Neolithic and Bronze Age levels at Akrotiri, Thera in Greece. Using a range of techniques, archaeological materials were analysed to retrieve information on provenance, technological choices and performance characteristics. Thin section petrography was employed in combination with X-ray diffraction methods, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy to identify variability in the archaeological material. Changes in local manufacturing procedures were observed, in addition to the presence of imported vessels from other Cycladic islands. Based on the archaeological material, experimental briquettes were manufactured varying the shape, type and proportion of temper, the base clay and firing conditions. The influence of these manufacturing parameters on selected performance properties was assessed through material testing. Strength, toughness, thermal shock resistance and thermal conductivity were all investigated on the briquettes and evaluated for their applicability to archaeological ceramics. Computer modelling by finite element analysis provided further information, relating vessel shape to material properties. Data generated by the experimental work have implications beyond the specific case study, to the performance of other clay vessels In the case of cooking ware from Akrotiri, a varied picture emerges. Variability observed within certain chronological phases may be connected with different cooking methods employed, and perhaps with specific consumption preferences based on performance criteria. On the other hand, two major shifts in local manufacturing technology are detailed that are unrelated to the performance of the cooking vessels. While the results of this study illuminate the development of a specific technology over much of the Bronze Age, the methodology developed is suggested to have broad applicability in the study of cooking pot technology which has been so central to concepts of ceramic performance

EU-COST Aktion über „Nachhaltige Bekämpfung von Ambrosia artemisiifolia in Europa“ (COST FA1203-SMARTER): Chancen und Herausforderungen

Die 4-jährige EU-COST Aktion FA1203 zur “Nachhaltigen Bekämpfung von Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. (Asteraceae) in Europa” (das englische Kürzel SMARTER steht für „Sustainable management of Ambrosia artemisiifolia in Europe“) konnte im Februar 2013 erfolgreich gestartet werden. Bereits 33 Länder haben die Vereinbarung (Memorandum of Understanding) unterschrieben und über 180 Forschende mit Spezialisten aus Unkrautforschung, Neophyten-Management, Ökologie, Aerobiologie, Allergologie und Ökonomie sind registrierte Teilnehmer von SMARTER. COST Aktionen vernetzen national finanzierte Forschungsprojekte, ermöglichen und finanzieren unter anderem Konferenzen, Arbeitsgruppen, Ausbildungsschulen und den Forschungsaustausch.SMARTER hat zum Ziel, langfristige und nachhaltige Bekämpfungsmethoden zu initiieren und aufzubauen, diese in bestehende mechanische und chemische Kontrollmaßnahmen zu integrieren, sowie den Erfolg dieser Maßnahmen zu quantifizieren, sowohl für die Landwirtschaft als auch für die Gesundheit. Im Fokus stehen biologische Bekämpfungsmethoden mit Insekten und Pilzen (vor allem mit gebietsfremden Arten aus dem Herkunftsgebiet von Ambrosia) und Vegetationsmanagement zum Erreichen einer kompetitiven Pflanzendecke. Hierzu entwickeln und parametrisieren wir Modelle, ausgehend von der Populationsdynamik von Ambrosia, über die Auswirkungen von Bekämpfungsmaßnahmen auf die Häufigkeit und Verbreitung von Ambrosia und schließlich auf die Pollenbelastung und das Allergievorkommen, jeweils mit sowohl ökologischen wie ökonomischen Komponenten. Die dazu notwendigen Daten stammen von den vielzähligen Experimenten, die wir in gut koordinierten Studien über ganz Europa durchführen. SMARTER wird es den verschiedenen Interessensvertretern erlauben, optimale Habitats- und Regionen-spezifische Kombinationen von Bekämpfungsmethoden auszuwählen.Nach einer Einleitung und einem kurzen Überblick über die Struktur und den Stand der Aktion stellen wir exemplarisch zwei geplante Aktivitäten vor: eine Studie zur Populationsdynamik von Ambrosia in verschiedenen Klimazonen und Habitattypen in Europa als Grundlage für die Abschätzung der Effizienz von Bekämpfungsmaßnahmen, sowie eine interdisziplinäre Untersuchung zur Abklärung der Auswirkungen des kürzlich in der Südschweiz und in Norditalien nachgewiesenen, ursprünglich aus Nordamerika stammenden Ambrosia-Blattkäfers Ophraella communa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae).Stichwörter: biologische Bekämpfung, Forschungskonsortium, invasive Pflanze, Ophraella communa, UnkrautbekämpfungEU-COST Action on „Sustainable management of Ambrosia artemisiifolia in Europe“ (COST FA1203-SMARTER): opportunities and challengesThe EU -COST Action FA1203 on «Sustainable management of Ambrosia artemisiifolia in Europe (SMARTER)” was successfully launched in February 2013 and will last for four years. Thirty-three countries have already signed the Memorandum of Understanding and over 180 researchers with specialists in weed research, invasive alien species management, ecology, aerobiology, allergology and economics are registered participants of SMARTER. COST Actions interlink nationally funded research projects and enable and finance conferences, working groups, training schools and research exchanges.SMARTER aims to initiate and develop long-term and sustainable control methods, to integrate these into existing mechanical and chemical control measures, and to quantify the success of these measures both for agriculture and health. The focus is on biological control methods with insects and fungi (especially using alien species from the area of origin of Ambrosia) and vegetation management to achieve a competitive plant cover. For this, we develop and parameterize models, starting from the population dynamics of Ambrosia, on the impact of control measures on the frequency and distribution of Ambrosia and finally on pollen counts and allergy occurrences, each with both ecological and economic components. The necessary data are derived from the many experiments that we carry out in well-coordinated studies across Europe. SMARTER will allow the various stakeholders to select optimal habitat- and region-specific combinations of control methods.After an introduction and overview of the structure and the state of the Action, we briefly describe two planned activities typical for our Action, a study on the population dynamics of Ambrosia in different climates and habitats in Europe as a basis for estimating the efficiency of control measures, and an interdisciplinary study to clarify the impact the of North American native Ambrosia leaf beetle Ophraella communa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) recently found in southern Switzerland and Northern Italy.Keywords: biological control, invasive plant, Ophraella communa, research consortium, weed managemen

In Pursuit of an Easy to Use Brain Computer Interface for Domestic Use in a Population with Brain Injury

This paper presents original research investigating a sensor based, ambient assisted smart home platform, within the framework of a brain computer interface (BackHome). This multimodal system integrates home-based sensors, mobile monitoring, with communication tools, web browsing, smart home control and cognitive rehabilitation. The target population are people living at home with acquired brain injury. This research engaged with the target population and those without brain injury, who provided a control for system testing. Aligned with our ethical governance a strong user centric ethos was foundational to participant engagement. Participant experience included three individual sessions to complete a pre-set protocol with supervision. Evaluation methodology included observations, time logging, completion of protocol and usability questionnaires. Results confirmed the average accuracy score for the people without brain injury was 82.6% (±4.7), performing best with the cognitive rehabilitation. Target end users recorded an average accuracy score of 76% (±11.5) with the speller logging the highest accuracy score. Additional outcomes included the need to refine the aesthetic appearance, as well as improving the reliability and responsiveness of the BCI. The findings outline the importance of engaging with end users to design and develop marketable BCI products for use in a domestic environment. DOI: 10.17762/ijritcc2321-8169.150610

P300 Brain Computer Interface Control after an Acquired Brain Injury

Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI) are systems that can be controlled by the user through harnessing their brain signals. Extensive research has been undertaken within a laboratory setting with healthy users to illustrate the usability of such systems. To bring these systems to users with severe disabilities it is necessary to develop simple, easy to use systems that can be operated by non-experts outside of the lab and are evaluated by real end users preferably through a user centered design approach. This paper presents a user centered evaluation of a P300 BCI operated by non-expert users in a rehabilitation center with a control group of five healthy participants without acquired brain injury (ABI) and five end users with ABI. Each participant aimed to complete the 30-step protocol three separate times and rate his or her satisfaction from 0 to 10 on the Visual Analogue Scale after each session. Participants then rated their satisfaction with the BCI on the extended QUEST 2.0 and a customized usability questionnaire. The results indicated that end-users were able to achieve an average accuracy of 55% compared to the control group that reported an average of 78%. The findings indicated that participants were satisfied with the BCI but felt frustrated when it did not respond to their commands. This work was phase one of three to move the BCI system into end users homes. Key recommendations for advancing the P300 BCI towards an easy to use, home-based system were identified, including reducing the complexity of the setup, ensuring the system becomes more responsive and increasing the overall functionality. DOI: 10.17762/ijritcc2321-8169.15016

An early suitability assessment of two exotic Ophraella species (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) for biological control of invasive ragweed in Europe

Classical biological control is an important means of managing the increasing threat of invasive plants. It constitutes the introduction of natural enemies from the native range of the target plant into the invaded area. This method may be the only cost-effective solution to control the rapidly expanding common ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, in non-crop habitats in Europe. Therefore, candidate biocontrol agents urgently need to be assessed for their suitability for ragweed control in Europe. A previous literature review prioritized the host-specific leaf beetle Ophraella slobodkini as a candidate agent for ragweed control in Europe, whereas it rejected its oligophagous congener O. communa. Meanwhile, O. communa was accidentally introduced and became established south of the European Alps, and we show here that it is expanding its European range. We then present a short version of the traditional pre-release risk- benefit assessment for these two candidate agents to facilitate fast decision-making about further research efforts. We selected two complementary tests that can be conducted relatively rapidly and inform about essential risks and benefits. We conducted a comparative no-choice juvenile performance assay using leaves of ragweed and sunflower, the most important non-target plant, in Petri dishes in climatic conditions similar to that in the current European range of O. communa. This informs on the fundamental host range and potential for increasing abundance on these host plants. The results confirm that O. slobodkini does not survive on, and is hence unlikely to cause severe damage to sunflower, while O. communa can survive but develops more slowly on sunflower than on ragweed. In parallel, our species distribution models predict no suitable area for the establishment of O. slobodkini in Europe, while O. communa is likely to expand its current range to include a maximum of 18% of the European ragweed distribution. Based on this early assessment, the prioritization and further assessment of O. slobodkini seem unwarranted whereas the results urgently advocate further risk-benefit analysis of O. communa. Having revealed that most of the European area colonized by ragweed is unlikely to be suitable for these species of Ophraella we suggest the use of such relatively short and cheap preliminary assessment to prioritise other candidate agents or strains for these areas

Dimethyl ether in its ground state, v=0, and lowest two torsionally excited states, v11=1 and v15=1, in the high-mass star-forming region G327.3-0.6

The goal of this paper is to determine the respective importance of solid state vs. gas phase reactions for the formation of dimethyl ether. This is done by a detailed analysis of the excitation properties of the ground state and the torsionally excited states, v11=1 and v15=1, toward the high-mass star-forming region G327.3-0.6. With the Atacama Pathfinder EXperiment 12 m submillimeter telescope, we performed a spectral line survey. The observed spectrum is modeled assuming local thermal equilibrium. CH3OCH3 has been detected in the ground state, and in the torsionally excited states v11=1 and v15=1, for which lines have been detected here for the first time. The emission is modeled with an isothermal source structure as well as with a non-uniform spherical structure. For non-uniform source models one abundance jump for dimethyl ether is sufficient to fit the emission, but two components are needed for the isothermal models. This suggests that dimethyl ether is present in an extended region of the envelope and traces a non-uniform density and temperature structure. Both types of models furthermore suggest that most dimethyl ether is present in gas that is warmer than 100 K, but a smaller fraction of 5%-28% is present at temperatures between 70 and 100 K. The dimethyl ether present in this cooler gas is likely formed in the solid state, while gas phase formation probably is dominant above 100 K. Finally, the v11=1 and v15=1 torsionally excited states are easily excited under the density and temperature conditions in G327.3-0.6 and will thus very likely be detectable in other hot cores as well.Comment: 12 pages (excluding appendices), 8 figures, A&A in pres

Defoliation of common ragweed by Ophraella communa beetle does not affect pollen allergenicity in controlled conditions

Ragweed allergy is one of the primary causes of seasonal allergies in Europe and its prevalence is expected to rise. The leaf beetle Ophraella communa, recently and accidentally established in N-Italy and S-Switzerland, represents a promising approach to control ragweed, but negative side effects should be excluded before its use. Since biotic and abiotic stresses are known to influence the allergenicity of pollen, we set out to assess the effect of sub-lethal defoliation by O. communa on the quantity and quality of ragweed pollen. Seventeen sister pairs (including six clones) of ragweed plants were grown in controlled conditions. One of each pair was exposed to O. communa as soon as the plant started to produce reproductive structures. After 10 weeks of exposure, plant traits were measured as a proxy for pollen quantity. Pollen quality was assessed by measuring its viability and allergenicity. Generally, plants produced very few male flowers and little amount of pollen. Damage by the beetle was severe with most of the leaf tissue removed, but no treatment effect was found on any of the quantitative and qualitative traits assessed. In conclusion, O. communa did not increase the amount or allergenicity of ragweed pollen grains in our experimental conditions

Time to cut: Population models reveal how to mow invasive common ragweed cost-effectively

Roadsides are an important habitat for invasive common ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia L., by facilitating seed dispersal. Reducing the size of roadside populations is therefore essential for confining this highly allergenic species. Here, we aim to determine the cost-effectiveness of mowing regimes varying in frequency and timing, by analysing population-level effects and underlying demographic processes. We constructed population models of A. artemisiifolia parameterised by demographic data for four unmanaged reference populations across Europe in two years. We integrated the effects of four experimental mowing regimes along Austrian road sides on plant performance traits of five years and experimental data on seed viability after cutting. All four experimental regimes reduced the projected intrinsic population growth rates (r) compared to the unmanaged controls by reducing plant height and seed viability, thereby counteracting increased size-dependent fecundity. The prevailing 2-cut regime in Austria (cutting during vegetative growth, here in June and just before seed ripening, here in September) performed least well and the reduction in r was mainly due to reduced seed viability after the second cut. The efficacy of the two best experimental regimes (alternative schemes for 2 or 3 cuts) was mainly due to cutting just before female flowering (here in August) by decreasing final adult plant height dramatically and thereby reducing seed numbers. Patterns were consistent across reference populations and years. Whether regimes reduced r below replacement level, however, varied per population, year and the survival rate of the seeds in the soil bank. Our model allowed projecting effects of five theoretical mowing regimes with untested combinations of cuts on r. By plotting r-cost relationships for all regimes, we identified the most cost-effective schemes for each cutting frequency (1-3 cuts). They all included the cut just before female flowering, highlighting the importance of cutting at this moment (here in August). Our work features i) the suitability of a modelling approach for the demography of an annual species with a seed bank, ii) the importance of seed viability in assessing mowing effects, iii) the use of population models in designing cost-effective mowing regimes

Speeches on the occasion of the conferment of Honorary Citizenship of the Universität Stuttgart Nov. 26, 2004

Inhalt: Programm / Program (S. 7); Fritsch, Dieter (Rektor der Universität Stuttgart): Welcome address on the occasion of the conferment of Honorary Citizenship of the Universität Stuttgart upon Her Excellency Suzanne Mubarak (S. 9); Müller, Ulrich (Minister im Staatsministerium und für europäische Angelegenheiten des Landes Baden-Württemberg): Grußwort / Welcoming address (S. 19); Mohn, Liz (Geschäftsführerin der Bertelsmann Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Mitglied des Aufsichtsrates der Bertelsmann AG): Laudatio - Übetragung ins Arabische durch Prof. Dr. Ashraf Mansour (S. 27); Mubarak, Suzanne (First Lady of the Arab Republic of Egypt): On the occasion of the Reception of the Degree of Ehrenbürger der Universität Stuttgart (S. 39); Der Herausgeber: Frau Suzanne Mubarak - Die erste Frau Ägyptens / Mrs Suzanne Mubarak - The First Lady of the Arab Repblic of Egypt (S. 49) - Die Autoren / Authors (S. 59