@article{CzapkaFestman2021, author = {Czapka, Sophia and Festman, Julia}, title = {Wisconsin Card Sorting Test reveals a monitoring advantage but not a switching advantage in multilingual children}, series = {Journal of experimental child psychology : JECP}, volume = {204}, journal = {Journal of experimental child psychology : JECP}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0022-0965}, doi = {10.1016/j.jecp.2020.105038}, pages = {19}, year = {2021}, abstract = {The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) is used to test higher-level executive functions or switching, depending on the measures chosen in a study and its goal. Many measures can be extracted from the WCST, but how to assign them to specific cognitive skills remains unclear. Thus, the current study first aimed at identifying which measures test the same cognitive abilities. Second, we compared the performance of mono- and multilingual children in the identified abilities because there is some evidence that bilingualism can improve executive functions. We tested 66 monolingual and 56 multilingual (i.e., bi- and trilingual) primary school children (M-age = 109 months) in an online version of the classic WCST. A principal component analysis revealed four factors: problem-solving, monitoring, efficient errors, and perseverations. Because the assignment of measures to factors is only partially coherent across the literature, we identified this as one of the sources of task impurity. In the second part, we calculated regression analyses to test for group differences while controlling for intelligence as a predictor for executive functions and for confounding variables such as age, German lexicon size, and socioeconomic status. Intelligence predicted problem solving and perseverations. In the monitoring component (measured by the reaction times preceding a rule switch), multilinguals outperformed monolinguals, thereby supporting the view that bi- or multilingualism can improve processing speed related to monitoring.}, language = {en} } @article{AmbassaKayemWolthusenetal.2018, author = {Ambassa, Pacome L. and Kayem, Anne Voluntas dei Massah and Wolthusen, Stephen D. and Meinel, Christoph}, title = {Inferring private user behaviour based on information leakage}, series = {Smart Micro-Grid Systems Security and Privacy}, volume = {71}, journal = {Smart Micro-Grid Systems Security and Privacy}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Dordrecht}, isbn = {978-3-319-91427-5}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-319-91427-5_7}, pages = {145 -- 159}, year = {2018}, abstract = {In rural/remote areas, resource constrained smart micro-grid (RCSMG) architectures can provide a cost-effective power supply alternative in cases when connectivity to the national power grid is impeded by factors such as load shedding. RCSMG architectures can be designed to handle communications over a distributed lossy network in order to minimise operation costs. However, due to the unreliable nature of lossy networks communication data can be distorted by noise additions that alter the veracity of the data. In this chapter, we consider cases in which an adversary who is internal to the RCSMG, deliberately distorts communicated data to gain an unfair advantage over the RCSMG's users. The adversary's goal is to mask malicious data manipulations as distortions due to additive noise due to communication channel unreliability. Distinguishing malicious data distortions from benign distortions is important in ensuring trustworthiness of the RCSMG. Perturbation data anonymisation algorithms can be used to alter transmitted data to ensure that adversarial manipulation of the data reveals no information that the adversary can take advantage of. However, because existing data perturbation anonymisation algorithms operate by using additive noise to anonymise data, using these algorithms in the RCSMG context is challenging. This is due to the fact that distinguishing benign noise additions from malicious noise additions is a difficult problem. In this chapter, we present a brief survey of cases of privacy violations due to inferences drawn from observed power consumption patterns in RCSMGs centred on inference, and propose a method of mitigating these risks. The lesson here is that while RCSMGs give users more control over power management and distribution, good anonymisation is essential to protecting personal information on RCSMGs.}, language = {en} } @article{LischeidKalettkaMerzetal.2016, author = {Lischeid, Gunnar and Kalettka, Thomas and Merz, Christoph and Steidl, J{\"o}rg}, title = {Monitoring the phase space of ecosystems: Concept and examples from the Quillow catchment, Uckermark}, series = {Ecological indicators : integrating monitoring, assessment and management}, volume = {65}, journal = {Ecological indicators : integrating monitoring, assessment and management}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {1470-160X}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecolind.2015.10.067}, pages = {55 -- 65}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Ecosystem research benefits enormously from the fact that comprehensive data sets of high quality, and covering long time periods are now increasingly more available. However, facing apparently complex interdependencies between numerous ecosystem components, there is urgent need rethinking our approaches in ecosystem research and applying new tools of data analysis. The concept presented in this paper is based on two pillars. Firstly, it postulates that ecosystems are multiple feedback systems and thus are highly constrained. Consequently, the effective dimensionality of multivariate ecosystem data sets is expected to be rather low compared to the number of observables. Secondly, it assumes that ecosystems are characterized by continuity in time and space as well as between entities which are often treated as distinct units. Implementing this concept in ecosystem research requires new tools for analysing large multivariate data sets. This study presents some of them, which were applied to a comprehensive water quality data set from a long-term monitoring program in Northeast Germany in the Uckermark region, one of the LTER-D (Long Term Ecological Research network, Germany) sites. Short-term variability of the kettle hole water samples differed substantially from that of the stream water samples, suggesting different processes generating the dynamics in these two types of water bodies. However, again, this seemed to be due to differing intensities of single processes rather than to completely different processes. We feel that research aiming at elucidating apparently complex interactions in ecosystems could make much more efficient use from now available large monitoring data sets by implementing the suggested concept and using corresponding innovative tools of system analysis. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.}, language = {en} } @article{KarpTallisSachseetal.2015, author = {Karp, Daniel S. and Tallis, Heather and Sachse, Rene and Halpern, Ben and Thonicke, Kirsten and Cramer, Wolfgang and Mooney, Harold and Polasky, Stephen and Tietjen, Britta and Waha, Katharina and Walt, Ariane and Wolny, Stacie}, title = {National indicators for observing ecosystem service change}, series = {Global environmental change : human and policy dimensions}, volume = {35}, journal = {Global environmental change : human and policy dimensions}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {0959-3780}, doi = {10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2015.07.014}, pages = {12 -- 21}, year = {2015}, abstract = {Earth's life-support systems are in rapid decline, yet we have few metrics or indicators with which to track these changes. The world's governments are calling for biodiversity and ecosystem-service monitoring to guide and evaluate international conservation policy as well as to incorporate natural capital into their national accounts. The Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON) has been tasked with setting up this monitoring system. Here we explore the immediate feasibility of creating a global ecosystem-service monitoring platform under the GEO BON framework through combining data from national statistics, global vegetation models, and production function models. We found that nine ecosystem services could be annually reported at a national scale in the short term: carbon sequestration, water supply for hydropower, and non-fisheries marine products, crop, livestock, game meat, fisheries, mariculture, and timber production. Reported changes in service delivery over time reflected ecological shocks (e.g., droughts and disease outbreaks), highlighting the immediate utility of this monitoring system. Our work also identified three opportunities for creating a more comprehensive monitoring system. First, investing in input data for ecological process models (e.g., global land-use maps) would allow many more regulating services to be monitored. Currently, only 1 of 9 services that can be reported is a regulating service. Second, household surveys and censuses could help evaluate how nature affects people and provides non-monetary benefits. Finally, to forecast the sustainability of service delivery, research efforts could focus on calculating the total remaining biophysical stocks of provisioning services. Regardless, we demonstrated that a preliminary ecosystem-service monitoring platform is immediately feasible. With sufficient international investment, the platform could evolve further into a much-needed system to track changes in our planet's life-support systems. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.}, language = {en} } @article{LaflammeKolloscheConnoretal.2013, author = {Laflamme, Simon and Kollosche, Matthias and Connor, Jerome J. and Kofod, Guggi}, title = {Robust flexible capacitive surface sensor for structural health monitoring applications}, series = {Journal of engineering mechanics}, volume = {139}, journal = {Journal of engineering mechanics}, number = {7}, publisher = {American Society of Civil Engineers}, address = {Reston}, issn = {0733-9399}, doi = {10.1061/(ASCE)EM.1943-7889.0000530}, pages = {879 -- 885}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Early detection of possible defects in civil infrastructure is vital to ensuring timely maintenance and extending structure life expectancy. The authors recently proposed a novel method for structural health monitoring based on soft capacitors. The sensor consisted of an off-the-shelf flexible capacitor that could be easily deployed over large surfaces, the main advantages being cost-effectiveness, easy installation, and allowing simple signal processing. In this paper, a capacitive sensor with tailored mechanical and electrical properties is presented, resulting in greatly improved robustness while retaining measurement sensitivity. The sensor is fabricated from a thermoplastic elastomer mixed with titanium dioxide and sandwiched between conductive composite electrodes. Experimental verifications conducted on wood and concrete specimens demonstrate the improved robustness, as well as the ability of the sensing method to diagnose and locate strain.}, language = {en} } @article{LischeidKalettka2012, author = {Lischeid, Gunnar and Kalettka, Thomas}, title = {Grasping the heterogeneity of kettle hole water quality in Northeast Germany}, series = {Hydrobiologia : acta hydrobiologica, hydrographica, limnologica et protistologica}, volume = {689}, journal = {Hydrobiologia : acta hydrobiologica, hydrographica, limnologica et protistologica}, number = {1}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Dordrecht}, issn = {0018-8158}, doi = {10.1007/s10750-011-0764-7}, pages = {63 -- 77}, year = {2012}, abstract = {In the young moraine landscape in Northeast Germany, small glacially created ponds, the so-called kettle holes, are very abundant. They exhibit large spatial heterogeneity, seemingly rendering each kettle hole unique. However, this would not be consistent with any scientific approach. Thus, a classification scheme has been developed for kettle holes in Northeast Germany based on morphology, hydrodynamics and connection to stream networks of the kettle holes as well as size, topography and land use of the respective catchment. These indices are assumed to be related both to water quality as well as to biological issues of the kettle holes. Starting in the mid-1990s, an extensive monitoring program has been established in the federal state of Brandenburg, Germany. In this study, a subset comprising 1,316 samples from 79 kettle holes was analysed, where 21 parameters had been determined. Sampling intervals varied widely, and were between bi-weekly and three-monthly at most sites. A nonlinear principal component analysis was performed. The first four components explained 90\% of the variance. These components seem to provide quantitative measures of phosphorus release from the sediments during hypoxic periods, agricultural solute input, algae primary production, and geogenic compounds. This allowed differentiating between the natural and anthropogenic impact factors on water quality. In addition, scores of single components were related to properties of the kettle holes and their environments. The results contribute to a better understanding of biological and biogeochemical processes and can be used to verify the effects of conservation and management strategies for kettle holes.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Huebner2007, author = {H{\"u}bner, Sebastian Valentin}, title = {Wissensbasierte Modellierung von Audio-Signal-Klassifikatoren : zur Bioakustik von Tursiops truncatus. - 2., {\"u}berarb. Aufl.}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-16631}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2007}, abstract = {Die vorliegende Arbeit befasst sich mit der wissensbasierten Modellierung von Audio-Signal-Klassifikatoren (ASK) f{\"u}r die Bioakustik. Sie behandelt ein interdisziplin{\"a}res Problem, das viele Facetten umfasst. Zu diesen geh{\"o}ren artspezifische bioakustische Fragen, mathematisch-algorithmische Details und Probleme der Repr{\"a}sentation von Expertenwissen. Es wird eine universelle praktisch anwendbare Methode zur wissensbasierten Modellierung bioakustischer ASK dargestellt und evaluiert. Das Problem der Modellierung von ASK wird dabei durchg{\"a}ngig aus KDD-Perspektive (Knowledge Discovery in Databases) betrachtet. Der grundlegende Ansatz besteht darin, mit Hilfe von modifizierten KDD-Methoden und Data-Mining-Verfahren die Modellierung von ASK wesentlich zu erleichtern. Das etablierte KDD-Paradigma wird mit Hilfe eines detaillierten formalen Modells auf den Bereich der Modellierung von ASK {\"u}bertragen. Neunzehn elementare KDD-Verfahren bilden die Grundlage eines umfassenden Systems zur wissensbasierten Modellierung von ASK. Methode und Algorithmen werden evaluiert, indem eine sehr umfangreiche Sammlung akustischer Signale des Großen T{\"u}mmlers mit ihrer Hilfe untersucht wird. Die Sammlung wurde speziell f{\"u}r diese Arbeit in Eilat (Israel) angefertigt. Insgesamt werden auf Grundlage dieses Audiomaterials vier empirische Einzelstudien durchgef{\"u}hrt: - Auf der Basis von oszillographischen und spektrographischen Darstellungen wird ein ph{\"a}nomenologisches Klassifikationssystem f{\"u}r die vielf{\"a}ltigen Laute des Großen T{\"u}mmlers dargestellt. - Mit Hilfe eines Korpus halbsynthetischer Audiodaten werden verschiedene grundlegende Verfahren zur Modellierung und Anwendung von ASK in Hinblick auf ihre Genauigkeit und Robustheit untersucht. - Mit einem speziell entwickelten Clustering-Verfahren werden mehrere Tausend nat{\"u}rliche Pfifflaute des Großen T{\"u}mmlers untersucht. Die Ergebnisse werden visualisiert und diskutiert. - Durch maschinelles mustererkennungsbasiertes akustisches Monitoring wird die Emissionsdynamik verschiedener Lauttypen im Verlaufe von vier Wochen untersucht. Etwa 2.5 Millionen Klicklaute werden im Anschluss auf ihre spektralen Charakteristika hin untersucht. Die beschriebene Methode und die dargestellten Algorithmen sind in vielf{\"a}ltiger Hinsicht erweiterbar, ohne dass an ihrer grundlegenden Architektur etwas ge{\"a}ndert werden muss. Sie lassen sich leicht in dem gesamten Gebiet der Bioakustik einsetzen. Hiermit besitzen sie auch f{\"u}r angrenzende Disziplinen ein hohes Potential, denn exaktes Wissen {\"u}ber die akustischen Kommunikations- und Sonarsysteme der Tiere wird in der theoretischen Biologie, in den Kognitionswissenschaften, aber auch im praktischen Naturschutz, in Zukunft eine wichtige Rolle spielen.}, language = {de} } @phdthesis{Schorling2005, author = {Schorling, Markus}, title = {{\"O}kologische und phytomedizinische Untersuchungen zum Anbau von Bt-Mais im Maisz{\"u}nsler-Befallsgebiet Oderbruch}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-6260}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2005}, abstract = {In den letzten 20 Jahren hat sich der Maisz{\"u}nsler (Ostrinia nubilalis H{\"U}BNER), aus der Schmetterlingsfamilie der Pyralidae oder Z{\"u}nsler, zum bedeutendsten tierischen Sch{\"a}dling des Maises (Zea mays) entwickelt. Eine M{\"o}glichkeit den Befall des Maisz{\"u}nslers abzuwenden, bietet der Anbau von Bacillus thuringiensis-Mais (Bt-Mais). Mit Hilfe der Gentechnik wurden Gene des Bakteriums Bacillus thuringiensis {\"u}bertragen, die einen f{\"u}r Fraßinsekten giftigen Wirkstoff bilden, wodurch die Pflanzen w{\"a}hrend der kompletten Vegetation vor den Larven des Maisz{\"u}nslers gesch{\"u}tzt sind. Ziel des vorliegenden Projektes war es, in einer 3-j{\"a}hrigen Studie die Auswirkungen des großfl{\"a}chigen Anbaus von Bt-Mais auf die {\"o}kologische Situation und den Handlungsrahmen des integrierten Pflanzenschutzes komplex zu untersuchen. Dazu wurden in Betrieben im Oderbruch, das als permanentes Befallsgebiet des Maisz{\"u}nslers gilt, in den Jahren 2002 bis 2004 j{\"a}hrlich zwei Felder mit jeweils einer Bt-Sorte und einer konventionellen Sorte angelegt. Zus{\"a}tzlich wurden biologische und chemische Maisz{\"u}nsler-Bek{\"a}mpfungsvarianten gepr{\"u}ft. Durch verschiedene Methoden wie Bonituren, Ganzpflanzenernten, Bodenfallenf{\"a}nge und Beobachtungen des Wahlverhaltens von (Flug-)insekten konnten Aussagen zum Vorkommen von Insekten und Spinnentieren getroffen werden, wobei hierf{\"u}r Daten aus Untersuchungen der Jahre 2000 und 2001 im Oderbruch erg{\"a}nzend herangezogen werden konnten. Durch Ertragsmessungen, Energie- und Qualit{\"a}tsermittlungen, sowie Fusarium- und Mykotoxinanalysen konnte der Anbau von Bt-Mais als neue Alternative zur Bek{\"a}mpfung des Maisz{\"u}nslers bewertet werden. Bez{\"u}glich des Auftretens von Insekten und Spinnentieren wurden im Mittel der f{\"u}nfj{\"a}hrigen Datenerhebung beim Vergleich der Bt-Sorte zur konventionellen Sorte, mit Ausnahme der fast 100 \%igen Bek{\"a}mpfung des Maisz{\"u}nslers, keine signifikanten Unterschiede festgestellt. Hierf{\"u}r wurde ein besonderes Augenmerk auf Thripse, Wanzen, Blattl{\"a}use und deren Fraßfeinde, sowie mittels Bodenfallenf{\"a}ngen auf Laufk{\"a}fer und Spinnen gerichtet. Die erwarteten {\"o}konomischen Vorteile wie etwa Ertragsplus oder bessere N{\"a}hrstoff- und Energiegehalte durch geringeren Schaden beim Anbau von Bt-Mais als Silomais blieben in den Untersuchungsjahren aus. Allerdings zeigten Fusarium- und Mykotoxinanalysen eine geringere Belastung des Bt-Maises, was m{\"o}glicherweise auf den geringeren Schaden zur{\"u}ckzuf{\"u}hren ist, da besch{\"a}digte Pflanzen f{\"u}r Fusarium und Mykotoxine anf{\"a}lliger sind. Desweiteren konnten erste methodische Ans{\"a}tze f{\"u}r ein auf EU-Ebene gefordertes, den Anbau von Bt-Mais begleitendes Monitoring, erarbeitet werden. So konnten Vorschl{\"a}ge f{\"u}r geeignete Methoden, deren Umfang sowie des Zeitpunktes der Durchf{\"u}hrungen gemacht werden.}, subject = {Maisz{\"u}nsler}, language = {de} }