@article{RichterWakkerFechneretal.2016, author = {Richter, Philipp and Wakker, Bart P. and Fechner, Cora and Herenz, Peter and Tepper-Garcia, T. and Fox, Andrew J.}, title = {An HST/COS legacy survey of intervening Si III absorption in the extended gaseous halos of low-redshift galaxies}, series = {Climate : open access journal}, volume = {590}, journal = {Climate : open access journal}, publisher = {EDP Sciences}, address = {Les Ulis}, issn = {1432-0746}, doi = {10.1051/0004-6361/201527038}, pages = {29}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Aims. Doubly ionized silicon (Si III) is a powerful tracer of diffuse ionized gas inside and outside of galaxies. It can be observed in the local Universe in ultraviolet (UV) absorption against bright extragalactic background sources. We here present an extensive study of intervening Si III-selected absorbers and study the properties of the warm circumgalactic medium (CGM) around low-redshift (z <= 0.1) galaxies. Methods. We analyzed the UV absorption spectra of 303 extragalactic background sources, as obtained with the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) on-board the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). We developed a geometrical model for the absorption-cross section of the CGM around the local galaxy population and compared the observed Si III absorption statistics with predictions provided by the model. We also compared redshifts and positions of the absorbers with those of similar to 64 000 galaxies using archival galaxy-survey data to investigate the relation between intervening Si III absorbers and the CGM. Results. Along a total redshift path of Delta z approximate to 24, we identify 69 intervening Si III systems that all show associated absorption from other low and high ions (e.g., H I, Si II, Si IV, C II, C IV). We derive a bias-corrected number density of dN/dz(Si III) = 2.5 +/- 0.4 for absorbers with column densities log N(Si III) > 12.2, which is similar to 3 times the number density of strong Mg II systems at z = 0. This number density matches the expected cross section of a Si III absorbing CGM around the local galaxy population with a mean covering fraction of < f(c)> = 0.69. For the majority (similar to 60 percent) of the absorbers, we identify possible host galaxies within 300 km s(-1) of the absorbers and derive impact parameters rho < 200 kpc, demonstrating that the spatial distributions of Si III absorbers and galaxies are highly correlated. Conclusions. Our study indicates that the majority of Si III-selected absorbers in our sample trace the CGM of nearby galaxies within their virial radii at a typical covering fraction of similar to 70 percent. We estimate that diffuse gas in the CGM around galaxies, as traced by Si III, contains substantially more (more than twice as much) baryonic mass than their neutral interstellar medium.}, language = {en} } @article{EbingerRichter2016, author = {Ebinger, Falk and Richter, Philipp}, title = {Decentralizing for performance? A quantitative assessment of functional reforms in the German Lander}, series = {International review of administrative sciences : an international journal of comparative public administration}, volume = {82}, journal = {International review of administrative sciences : an international journal of comparative public administration}, publisher = {Sage Publ.}, address = {London}, issn = {0020-8523}, doi = {10.1177/0020852315586916}, pages = {291 -- 314}, year = {2016}, abstract = {In the last 10 years, the governments of most of the German L{\"a}nder initiated administrative reforms. All of these ventures included the municipalization of substantial sets of tasks. As elsewhere, governments argue that service delivery by communes is more cost-efficient, effective and responsive. Empirical evidence to back these claims is inconsistent at best: a considerable number of case studies cast doubt on unconditionally positive appraisals. Decentralization effects seem to vary depending on the performance dimension and task considered. However, questions of generalizability arise as these findings have not yet been backed by more 'objective' archival data. We provide empirical evidence on decentralization effects for two different policy fields based on two studies. Thereby, the article presents alternative avenues for research on decentralization effects and matches the theoretical expectations on decentralization effects with more robust results. The analysis confirms that overly positive assertions concerning decentralization effects are only partially warranted. As previous case studies suggested, effects have to be looked at in a much more differentiated way, including starting conditions and distinguishing between the various relevant performance dimensions and policy fields.}, language = {en} } @article{GuberRichter2016, author = {Guber, Christoph R. and Richter, Philipp}, title = {Dust depletion of Ca and Ti in QSO absorption-line systems}, series = {Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews : Water}, volume = {591}, journal = {Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews : Water}, publisher = {EDP Sciences}, address = {Les Ulis}, issn = {1432-0746}, doi = {10.1051/0004-6361/201628466}, pages = {16}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Aims. To explore the role of titanium-and calcium-dust depletion in gas in and around galaxies, we systematically study Ti/Ca abundance ratios in intervening absorption-line systems at low and high redshift. Methods. We investigate high-resolution optical spectra obtained by the UVES instrument at the Very Large Telescope (VLT) and spectroscopically analyze 34 absorption-line systems at z <= 0.5 to measure column densities (or limits) for Ca II and Ti II. We complement our UVES data set with previously published absorption-line data on Ti/Ca for redshifts up to z similar to 3.8. Our absorber sample contains 110 absorbers including damped Lyman alpha systems (DLAs), sub-DLAs, and Lyman-Limit systems (LLS). We compare our Ti/Ca findings with results from the MilkyWay and the Magellanic Clouds and discuss the properties of Ti/Ca absorbers in the general context of quasar absorption-line systems. Results. Our analysis indicates that there are two distinct populations of absorbers with either high or low Ti/Ca ratios with a separation at [Ti/Ca] approximate to 1. While the calcium-dust depletion in most of the absorbers appears to be severe, the titanium depletions are mild in systems with high Ti/Ca ratios. The derived trend indicates that absorbers with high Ti/Ca ratios have dust-to-gas ratios that are substantially lower than in the Milky Way. We characterize the overall nature of the absorbers by correlating Ti/Ca with other observables (e.g., metallicity, velocity-component structure) and by modeling the ionization properties of singly-ionized Ca and Ti in different environments. Conclusions. We conclude that Ca II and Ti II bearing absorption-line systems trace predominantly neutral gas in the disks and inner halo regions of galaxies, where the abundance of Ca and Ti reflects the local metal and dust content of the gas. Our study suggests that the Ti/Ca ratio represents a useful measure for the gas-to-dust ratio and overall metallicity in intervening absorption-line systems.}, language = {en} } @misc{BondueRichter2016, author = {Bond{\"u}, Rebecca and Richter, Philipp}, title = {Interrelations of justice, rejection, provocation, and moral disgust sensitivity and their links with the hostile attribution bias, trait anger, and aggression}, series = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Humanwissenschaftliche Reihe}, journal = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Humanwissenschaftliche Reihe}, number = {446}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-407697}, pages = {15}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Several personality dispositions with common features capturing sensitivities to negative social cues have recently been introduced into psychological research. To date, however, little is known about their interrelations, their conjoint effects on behavior, or their interplay with other risk factors. We asked N = 349 adults from Germany to rate their justice, rejection, moral disgust, and provocation sensitivity, hostile attribution bias, trait anger, and forms and functions of aggression. The sensitivity measures were mostly positively correlated; particularly those with an egoistic focus, such as victim justice, rejection, and provocation sensitivity, hostile attributions and trait anger as well as those with an altruistic focus, such as observer justice, perpetrator justice, and moral disgust sensitivity. The sensitivity measures had independent and differential effects on forms and functions of aggression when considered simultaneously and when controlling for hostile attributions and anger. They could not be integrated into a single factor of interpersonal sensitivity or reduced to other well-known risk factors for aggression. The sensitivity measures, therefore, require consideration in predicting and preventing aggression.}, language = {en} } @article{BondueRichter2016, author = {Bond{\"u}, Rebecca and Richter, Philipp}, title = {Interrelations of Justice, Rejection, Provocation, and Moral Disgust Sensitivity and Their Links with the Hostile Attribution Bias, Trait Anger, and Aggression}, series = {Frontiers in psychology}, volume = {7}, journal = {Frontiers in psychology}, publisher = {Frontiers Research Foundation}, address = {Lausanne}, issn = {1664-1078}, doi = {10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00795}, pages = {15}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Several personality dispositions with common features capturing sensitivities to negative social cues have recently been introduced into psychological research. To date, however, little is known about their interrelations, their conjoint effects on behavior, or their interplay with other risk factors. We asked N = 349 adults from Germany to rate their justice, rejection, moral disgust, and provocation sensitivity, hostile attribution bias, trait anger, and forms and functions of aggression. The sensitivity measures were mostly positively correlated; particularly those with an egoistic focus, such as victim justice, rejection, and provocation sensitivity, hostile attributions and trait anger as well as those with an altruistic focus, such as observer justice, perpetrator justice, and moral disgust sensitivity. The sensitivity measures had independent and differential effects on forms and functions of aggression when considered simultaneously and when controlling for hostile attributions and anger. They could not be integrated into a single factor of interpersonal sensitivity or reduced to other well-known risk factors for aggression. The sensitivity measures, therefore, require consideration in predicting and preventing aggression.}, language = {en} } @article{BondueRichter2016, author = {Bond{\"u}, Rebecca and Richter, Philipp}, title = {Linking Forms and Functions of Aggression in Adults to Justice and Rejection Sensitivity}, series = {Psychology of violence}, volume = {6}, journal = {Psychology of violence}, publisher = {American Psychological Association}, address = {Washington}, issn = {2152-0828}, doi = {10.1037/a0039200}, pages = {292 -- 302}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Objective: Research has linked individual differences in justice and rejection sensitivity to aggression in different age groups. However, different forms and functions of aggression have not been considered when investigating these links in adults. Furthermore, no attention has been paid to verbal aggression or the conjoint effects of justice and rejection sensitivity. Method: The present study assessed rejection sensitivity as well as victim, observer, and perpetrator justice sensitivity in 349 German adults. Links with self-reported forms (physical, relational, verbal) and functions (proactive, reactive) of aggression were examined. Results: In structural equation models controlling for age and gender, higher victim sensitivity predicted higher relational, proactive, and reactive aggression and higher observer sensitivity predicted higher physical and verbal aggression. In contrast, higher perpetrator sensitivity predicted lower physical, relational, verbal, and proactive aggression. Higher rejection sensitivity predicted higher physical and reactive, but lower verbal aggression. Using a 2-dimensional definition of aggression considering forms and functions of aggression at the same time yielded similar results. There were marked gender differences. Conclusion: Justice and rejection sensitivity may explain individual differences in forms and functions of aggression in adults and should therefore be considered in the planning of preventive and intervention measures.}, language = {en} } @article{BoucheFinleySchroetteretal.2016, author = {Bouche, Nicolas and Finley, H. and Schroetter, I. and Murphy, M. T. and Richter, Philipp and Bacon, Roland and Contini, Thierry and Richard, J. and Wendt, Martin and Kamann, S. and Epinat, Benoit and Cantalupo, Sebastiano and Straka, Lorrie A. and Schaye, Joop and Martin, C. L. and Peroux, C. and Wisotzki, Lutz and Soto, K. and Lilly, S. and Carollo, C. M. and Brinchmann, Jarle and Kollatschny, W.}, title = {POSSIBLE SIGNATURES OF A COLD-FLOW DISK FROM MUSE USING A z similar to 1 GALAXY-QUASAR PAIR TOWARD SDSS J1422-0001}, series = {The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics}, volume = {820}, journal = {The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics}, publisher = {IOP Publ. Ltd.}, address = {Bristol}, issn = {0004-637X}, doi = {10.3847/0004-637X/820/2/121}, pages = {1872 -- 1882}, year = {2016}, abstract = {We use a background quasar to detect the presence of circumgalactic gas around a z = 0.91 low-mass star-forming galaxy. Data from the new Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) on the Very Large Telescope show that the galaxy has a dust-corrected star formation rate (SFR) of 4.7 +/- 2.0. M-circle dot yr(-1), with no companion down to 0.22 M-circle dot yr(-1) (5 sigma) within 240 h(-1) kpc ("30"). Using a high-resolution spectrum of the background quasar, which is fortuitously aligned with the galaxy major axis (with an azimuth angle alpha of only 15 degrees), we find, in the gas kinematics traced by low-ionization lines, distinct signatures consistent with those expected for a "cold-flow disk" extending at least 12 kpc (3 x R-1/2). We estimate the mass accretion rate M-in to be at least two to three times larger than the SFR, using the geometric constraints from the IFU data and the H (I) column density of log N-H (I)/cm(-2) similar or equal to 20.4 obtained from a Hubble Space Telescope/COS near-UV spectrum. From a detailed analysis of the low-ionization lines (e.g., Zn II, Cr II, Ti II, MnII, Si II), the accreting material appears to be enriched to about 0.4 Z(circle dot) (albeit with large uncertainties: log Z/Z(circle dot) = -0.4 +/- 0.4), which is comparable to the galaxy metallicity (12 + log O/H = 8.7 +/- 0.2), implying a large recycling fraction from past outflows. Blueshifted Mg II and Fe II absorptions in the galaxy spectrum from the MUSE data reveal the presence of an outflow. The Mg II and Fe II absorption line ratios indicate emission infilling due to scattering processes, but the MUSE data do not show any signs of fluorescent Fe II* emission.}, language = {en} } @article{RauchQuinetHoyeretal.2016, author = {Rauch, Thomas and Quinet, P. and Hoyer, D. and Werner, K. and Richter, Philipp and Kruk, J. W. and Demleitner, M.}, title = {VII. New Kr IV - VII oscillator strengths and an improved spectral analysis of the hot, hydrogen-deficient DO-type white dwarf RE 0503-289}, series = {Plant physiology : an international journal devoted to physiology, biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology, biophysics and environmental biology of plants}, volume = {590}, journal = {Plant physiology : an international journal devoted to physiology, biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology, biophysics and environmental biology of plants}, publisher = {EDP Sciences}, address = {Les Ulis}, organization = {VERITAS Collaboration}, issn = {1432-0746}, doi = {10.1051/0004-6361/201628131}, pages = {26}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Context. For the spectral analysis of high-resolution and high signal-to-noise (S/N) spectra of hot stars, state-of-the-art non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (NLTE) model atmospheres are mandatory. These are strongly dependent on the reliability of the atomic data that is used for their calculation. Aims. New Kr IV-VII oscillator strengths for a large number of lines enable us to construct more detailed model atoms for our NLTE model-atmosphere calculations. This enables us to search for additional Kr lines in observed spectra and to improve Kr abundance determinations. Methods. We calculated Kr IV-VII oscillator strengths to consider radiative and collisional bound-bound transitions in detail in our NLTE stellar-atmosphere models for the analysis of Kr lines that are exhibited in high-resolution and high S/N ultraviolet (UV) observations of the hot white dwarf RE 0503-289. Results. We reanalyzed the effective temperature and surface gravity and determined T-eff = 70 000 +/- 2000 K and log (g/cm s(-2)) = 7.5 +/- 0.1. We newly identified ten Kr V lines and one Kr vi line in the spectrum of RE 0503-289. We measured a Kr abundance of 3.3 +/- 0.3 (logarithmic mass fraction). We discovered that the interstellar absorption toward RE 0503-289 has a multi-velocity structure within a radial-velocity interval of -40 km s(-1) < upsilon(rad) < +18 km s(-1). Conclusions. Reliable measurements and calculations of atomic data are a prerequisite for state-of-the-art NLTE stellar-atmosphere modeling. Observed Kr V-VII line profiles in the UV spectrum of the white dwarf RE 0503-289 were simultaneously well reproduced with our newly calculated oscillator strengths.}, language = {en} }