Räumliche Differenzierung des ÖPNV-Modalsplits zur Integration in die Standortbetrachtung für Ladeinfrastrukturen

Eine Grundvoraussetzung für die Verbreitung der Elektromobilität ist der Zugang zu Ladeinfrastruktur (LIS). Neben der LIS im privaten Raum, wie sie derzeit 92 % der elektromobilen Verkehrsteilnehmer [Trommer et al. 2015] zur Verfügung haben, ist die im öffentlichen Raum positionierte LIS abgesehen von der öffentlichen Wahrnehmung vor allem für die Grundversorgung und als Lademöglichkeit für ungeplante Fälle von besonderer Bedeutung. Spätestens beim Eintritt in den Massenmarkt kann nicht mehr von dem derzeitig hohen Anteil an privater LIS ausgegangen werden. Während der Potentialbestimmung der zu erwartenden LIS Nutzung innerhalb der Modellierungsmethodik STELLA ist es entscheidend, die Abschätzung der durch Personen entstehenden Fahrten nach der Verkehrserzeugung und Verkehrsverteilung möglichst zutreffend auf die verschiedenen Fahrmodi zu verteilen. Diese modale Aufteilung der Fahrten kann je nach räumlicher Lage sowie weiteren Begleitumständen, wie zum Beispiel unterschiedlichen Verkehrsmittelangeboten variieren. Durch spezifische Analysen des ÖPNV-Angebots lassen sich auf der einen Seite räumlich differenzierte ÖPNV-Anteile in das Modell STELLA integrieren, auf der anderen Seite sind auf Basis dieser Daten ebenfalls Aussagen zur Versorgungsqualität durch den ÖPNV ableitbar

Encoding and Decoding Gender: Investigating Bias and Language in Artificial Intelligence Models

As artificial intelligence (AI) models have become increasingly embedded within social systems, there has been a rise in discussion surrounding the ethics of AI creation and application. This study explores how AI models, specifically large language models (LLMs) such as OpenAI’s GPT-4.o mini encode, and possibly progress, harmful social biases. Through analysis of quantitative and qualitative data generated through a paired prompt experiment, this study attempts to assess (1) how gender is encoded within LLMs such as GPT-4.o mini, (2) how language influences the gendering of output, and (3) the extent of how AI-generated models’ gender bias(or lack thereof) aligns with or diverges from a human understanding of gender. By creating a series of paired prompts with subtle gendered differences, this study aims to identify specific patterns regarding word correlations with gender and the relationship between human and AI gender biases. Additionally, by drawing on insights from previously published studies of gender, linguistics, AI development and ethics, this research can contribute to the growing discourse surrounding biased LLMs

The fit of mobile work support functions with mobile sales-force worker tasks

In recent years, mobile computing technologies (MCT) have developed and matured to a stage where they now have the potential to transform organisational work. However, the wide-spread diffusion of innovative MCT within pharmaceutical companies in Germany has still not taken place. This research seeks to provide an in-depth understanding of how MCT fits with pharmaceutical sales-force work and whether MCT can add value to their relationship with physicians. The purpose of this research is to investigate (1) how and to what extent are specific mobile work support functions enabled by MCT perceived to be useful with pharmaceutical sales-force worker tasks, (2) to what extent is perceived usefulness influenced by individual sales-force worker characteristics, (3) to what extent does perceived usefulness and intention to use mobile work support functions influence sales-force worker performance and (4) does the perceived degree of innovativeness of mobile work support functions moderate the relationship between perceived usefulness and intention to use and the relationship between perceived usefulness and perceived impact on mobile work performance of mobile work support functions. Drawing on task-technology fit (TTF) and technology acceptance model (TAM) theory, this study used two research phases and a mixed methodological approach to conduct an in-depth case study of the German division of a large pharmaceutical company. The first research phase collected primarily qualitative data using semi-structured interviews to determine how and why specific mobile work support functions are perceived to be useful with pharmaceutical sales-force worker tasks. The first research phase informed the second research phase by providing support for the conceptual model proposed for this research and assisted in the refinement of the online survey instrument in the context of the case study organisation by developing real-life usage scenarios for each of mobile work support functions investigated. The second research phase collected quantitative data to validate and test the research's conceptual model. Thereby, the second research phase sought to determine to what extent there is a perceived fit between sales-force worker tasksand mobile work support functions and to what extent this fit and individual characteristics of sales-force workers influence sales-force worker performance and intention to use mobile work support functions. The research findings indicate that except for mobile job scheduling and dispatching functionalities, all mobile work support functions investigated in this research were considered to be moderately useful and innovative. Moreover, mobile work support functions are perceived to accelerate communication, improve information delivery, reduce paper-based work, reduce double-handling of data entries, improve preparation for ad-hoc sales calls and facilitate a more efficient usage of dead times. However, MCT might be also misused as a control tool, might reduce work autonomy and might increase workload and stress. Regarding the task characteristics investigated in this research, time criticality and location dependence of mobile sales-force workers positively affect perceived usefulness of mobile work support functions. Furthermore, this study confirmed the relationships established by TTF theory as the research results indicate that perceived usefulness of mobile work support functions positively affects intention to use and perceived impact on mobile work performance of mobile work support functions. In addition, no moderating effect of the perceived degree of innovativeness could be determined for both the influence of perceived usefulness on intention to use and the influence of perceived usefulness on perceived impact on mobile work performance. Lastly, this study revealed that differences across job roles, across length of tenure and across business units affect perceived usefulness of mobile work support functions - but not across gender. This study contributes to theory by examining the impact of individual characteristics on perceived usefulness of mobile applications, by conducting a large-scale test of the TTF model for mobile technologies at the operational level, by adding contextual extensions to the TTF model and by examining the link between sales technology and sales-force worker performance using TTF theory. The study contributed to practice by establishing a generalisable model that is not tied to pharmaceutical sales-force work and can be retested in a different industry setting. The scope of this research is limited to in-depth research conducted in a single-case organisation focusing on pharmaceutical sales-force work in Germany. This research provides a unique opportunity often not available to researchers to conduct an in-depth test of the proposed research model within a large organisation. Future research should retest the research model empirically validated and tested in this study in other contexts and industries to analyse the impact of the perceived degree of innovativeness on intention to use and perceived impact on mobile work performance. In addition, the research model should be retested with more recent and advanced MCT and particularly the use of 'mobile apps' and tablet PCs (e.g., iPads/android tablets) and their potential impact on work performance

The uses of sodium selenate, P-40, and parathion in the control of red spider on ageratum.

Thesis (M.S.

Drop Impact on Liquid Surfaces: Formation of Lens and Spherical Drops at the Air-Liquid Interface

Droplets at the air-liquid interface of immiscible liquids usually form partially-submerged lens shapes (e.g. water on oil). In addition to this structure, we showed that droplets released from critical heights above the target liquid can sustain the impact and at the end maintain a spherical ball-shape configuration above the surface, despite undergoing large deformation. Spherical drops are unstable and will transform into the lens mode due to slight disturbances. Precision dispensing needles with various tip diameter sizes were used to release pendant drops of deionized water onto the surface of fluorocarbon liquid (FC-43, 3M). A cubic relationship was found between the nozzle tip diameter and the released droplet diameter. Drop impact was recorded by a high speed camera at a rate of 2000 frames per second. In order for the water drops to sustain the impact and retain a spherical configuration at the surface of the target liquid pool, it is required that they be of a critical size and be released from a certain height; otherwise the commonly observed lens shape droplets will form at the surface

ICEB

This paper reports on research which sought to identify and understand why specific mobile work support functionalities are a good fit with mobile work tasks of pharmaceutical sales-force. The findings from the case interviews support the notion that specific mobile work support functionalities are useful and in some instances innovative in improving customer service, communication with customers and colleagues, reduce double-handling of data entries, and facilitate the handling of administrative work during dead times. This research also identified that mobile work support functionalities such as location-related services and mobile job scheduling and dispatching of work are not a good fit and are likely to be strongly resisted by sales-force workers

Clinical performance of a new hybrid contact lens for keratoconus

Objectives: To compare the clinical performance of the Clearkone hybrid contact lens for the treatment of keratoconus against the habitual contact lens of the patients. Methods: A total of 33 eyes from 18 patients were fitted with the Clearkone. High- and low-contrast visual acuity (HCVA and LCVA), central corneal thickness (CCT), and contrast sensitivity acuity (CSF) were recorded with habitual lenses (prestudy visit) and after 1 week, 15 days, and 1 month of wear of prescribed Clearkone. Subjective vision and comfort were rated using visual analogue scales (VAS). Results: Three patients discontinued the study, one because of diffuse corneal staining after 1 day of use and the other two because of extreme discomfort. The rest of the patients completed the 1-month study. High contrast visual acuity and LCVA (logMAR) improved significantly from 0.16 6 0.12 and 0.44 6 0.22, respectively, with the patient’s habitual contact lenses to 20.006 6 0.058 and 0.23 6 0.13 after 1 day wearing Clearkone, remaining significant during all follow-up visits (P,0.001; repeated measures analysis of variance [RM-ANOVA]). There were no statistically significant differences in the mean CCT. The improvement of CSF was statistically significant with hybrid contact lenses prescribed compared with the patient’s habitual contact lenses (P,0.001; RM-ANOVA test). Improvement in VAS score, with prescribed Clearkone, was statistically significant for comfort (P=0.043; RM-ANOVA test), but not for the subjective vision (P=0.759; RM-ANOVA test). Conclusions: Clearkone provides an improvement in visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and subjective comfort in patients with keratoconus when compared with other contact lens options. However, clinicians must get specific training to fit the lens and be aware of potential adverse event

Hvordan behandles erektil dysfunksjon med akupunktur og hvilken effekt har det?

Bakgrunn for oppgaven: Det kan være vanskelig for menn å søke hjelp for ED (1,2). Det kan være mange grunner til dette, blant annet manglende støtte og fornektelse av problemet. Menn som knytter sin selvfølelse opp mot seksuell prestasjon kan oppleve depresjon, angst og lav selvtillit (1). Alvorlighetsgraden av depresjonen er direkte koblet til graden av ED. Samtidig vil depresjonen bedres når ereksjonssvikten behandles. Det antydes at ED er involvert i 1/5 av mislykkede ekteskap. DiMeo siterer Laumann et al. på at 31% av menn i alderen 18-59 år lider av seksuell dysfunksjon. Forskjellige norske studier viser tilsvarende tall (2). Problemstilling: Hvordan behandles erektil dysfunksjon med akupunktur og hvilken effekt har det? En litteraturstudie av teori og nyere forskning. Metode: Metoden for denne oppgaven er litteraturstudie. Forsberg og Wengström siterer Mulrow og Oxmans definisjon av et litteraturstudie som at den utgår fra en tydelig formulert problemstilling som besvares systematisk gjennom å identifisere, velge, vurdere og analysere relevant forskning (5:31). Søkeord ble kombinert med Boolske operatorer slik: (impotence OR erectile dysfunction) AND acupuncture. Søkene ble gjort i følgende databaser: PubMed, MEDLINE, SweMed+, EMBASE og the Cochrane Library. Det ble også søkt i The Journal of Chinese Medicines arkiv. Syndromer som er omtalt av samtlige forfattere har blitt inkludert i oppgaven. Denne utvelgelsen har vært nødvendig på grunn av oppgavens begrensede omfang, samt at det har gitt best mulighet til drøfting. Ett syndrom har blitt inkludert utover dette kriteriet siden dette er det eneste syndromet som nevnes i forskningen. Resultater: Forfatterne Ching, Maciocia og Damone omtaler syndromene LR Qi Stagnasjon, Damp-Hete, KI Yang Xu, KI Yin Xu og HT og GB Qi Xu i syndromdifferensieringen for ED (4,15,16). Maciocia omtaler i tillegg HT og KI Qi Xu, som også omtales av Khamba et al (4,21). Khamba et al. er en studie på ED sekundært etter bruk av antidepressiva (21). De 3 andre kliniske studiene fokuserer på psykogen ED (8,10,12). En systematisk review-studie konkluderer med at det ikke er grunnlag for å hevde at akupunktur har effekt på ED (7). Blant forfatterne er det generell enighet om etiologi og syndromene. Etiologiske faktorer som fremheves er emosjoner, for mye sex, kosthold og overbelastning. Det er også stor enighet om behandling. Akupunkturforskningen på ED er små studier, men forskernes punktvalg samsvarer ofte med punktene som beskrives i litteraturen. Studiene med best resultater har til felles at deltakerne har fått fra 11 til 20 behandlinger. Disse studiene viser effekt i opptil 95% av tilfellene. Studiene er små og derfor er generaliserbarheten begrenset. Konklusjon: ED er en tilstand som påvirker menn fysisk, emosjonelt og sosialt. Behandlingen innen vestlig medisin fokuserer kun på symptomet, ikke årsaken. Derimot tar TKM hensyn til både fysikken og emosjonene under behandling. TKM fremhever individuell behandling gjennom syndromdifferensiering, til forskjell fra vestlig medisin der behandlingen stort sett er lik for de fleste. Det er ikke mulig å konkludere om akupunktur har effekt på ED, men forskningsresultatene bør gi grunnlag for større studier

Fauna of the Permian rocks near Quinn River Crossing, Nevada

The Permian rocks near Quinn River Crossing, Humboldt County, Nevada, crop out as a north-trending block-faulted ridge and consist of more than 2600 feet of middle Permian fossiliferous limestone. About 1000 feet of unfossiliferous cherty shales, sandstones, and conglomerates are associated with the limestone and are assumed also to be of Permian age. In addition, tertiary igneous rocks make up part of the ridge. Normal faults transect the ridge at several localities along its 9500-foot length, and some of the beds have been folded. The fauna of the limestone is middle and upper Leonardian in age and consists mainly of fusulinids and associated small Foraminifera, solitary and colonial corals, bryozoans, and brachiopods. The fusulinid fauna is described and illustrated as are two corals and one bryozoan. The fusulinid fauna is considered to be correlative, at least in part, with that of the Coyote Butte Formation in central Oregon, the upper part of the McCloud Formation in northern California, the middle part of the Owens Valley Formation in east central California, and the upper part of the lower limestone member of the Garden Valley Formation and the upper part of the Carbon Ridge Formation in east central Nevada. The fusulinids are believed to be somewhat older than those of the lower Nosoni Formation in northern California and the second member of the Garden Valley Formation in east central Nevada

Gas-cushioned droplet impacts with a thin layer of porous media

The authors are grateful to Dr. Manish Tiwari for introducing them to experiments involving droplet impacts with textured substrates. PDH is grateful for the use of the Maxwell High-Performance Computing Cluster of the University of Aberdeen IT Service. RP is grateful for the use of the High-Performance Computing Cluster supported by the Research and Specialist Computing Support service at the University of East Anglia.Peer reviewedPostprin