@misc{Blum2021,
  type      = {Master Thesis},
  author    = {Blum, Franziska},
  title     = {I see you smile, you must be happy! Social-emotional gains and usability evaluation of the new training tool E.V.A.: A pilot study},
  doi       = {10.25932/publishup-50550},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-505509},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {XIX, 80},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {Emotions are a complex concept and they are present in our everyday life. Persons on the autism spectrum are said to have difficulties in social interactions, showing deficits in emotion recognition in comparison to neurotypically developed persons. But social-emotional skills are believed to be positively augmented by training. A new adaptive social cognition training tool "E.V.A." is introduced which teaches emotion recognition from face, voice and body language. One cross-sectional and one longitudinal study with adult neurotypical and autistic participants were conducted. The aim of the cross-sectional study was to characterize the two groups and see if differences in their social-emotional skills exist. The longitudinal study, on the other hand, aimed for detecting possible training effects following training with the new training tool. In addition, in both studies usability assessments were conducted to investigate the perceived usability of the new tool for neurotypical as well as autistic participants. Differences were found between autistic and neurotypical participants in their social-emotional and emotion recognition abilities. Training effects for neurotypical participants in an emotion recognition task were found after two weeks of home training. Similar perceived usability was found for the neurotypical and autistic participants. The current findings suggest that persons with ASC do not have a general deficit in emotion recognition, but are in need for more time to correctly recognize emotions. In addition, findings suggest that training emotion recognition abilities is possible. Further studies are needed to verify if the training effects found for neurotypical participants also manifest in a larger ASC sample.},
  language  = {en}
}
@misc{Donges2009,
  type      = {Master Thesis},
  author    = {Donges, Jonathan Friedemann},
  title     = {Complex networks in the climate system},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-49775},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  year      = {2009},
  abstract  = {Complex network theory provides an elegant and powerful framework to statistically investigate the topology of local and long range dynamical interrelationships, i.e., teleconnections, in the climate system. Employing a refined methodology relying on linear and nonlinear measures of time series analysis, the intricate correlation structure within a multivariate climatological data set is cast into network form. Within this graph theoretical framework, vertices are identified with grid points taken from the data set representing a region on the the Earth's surface, and edges correspond to strong statistical interrelationships between the dynamics on pairs of grid points. The resulting climate networks are neither perfectly regular nor completely random, but display the intriguing and nontrivial characteristics of complexity commonly found in real world networks such as the internet, citation and acquaintance networks, food webs and cortical networks in the mammalian brain. Among other interesting properties, climate networks exhibit the "small-world" effect and possess a broad degree distribution with dominating super-nodes as well as a pronounced community structure. We have performed an extensive and detailed graph theoretical analysis of climate networks on the global topological scale focussing on the flow and centrality measure betweenness which is locally defined at each vertex, but includes global topological information by relying on the distribution of shortest paths between all pairs of vertices in the network. The betweenness centrality field reveals a rich internal structure in complex climate networks constructed from reanalysis and atmosphere-ocean coupled general circulation model (AOGCM) surface air temperature data. Our novel approach uncovers an elaborately woven meta-network of highly localized channels of strong dynamical information flow, that we relate to global surface ocean currents and dub the backbone of the climate network in analogy to the homonymous data highways of the internet. This finding points to a major role of the oceanic surface circulation in coupling and stabilizing the global temperature field in the long term mean (140 years for the model run and 60 years for reanalysis data). Carefully comparing the backbone structures detected in climate networks constructed using linear Pearson correlation and nonlinear mutual information, we argue that the high sensitivity of betweenness with respect to small changes in network structure may allow to detect the footprints of strongly nonlinear physical interactions in the climate system. The results presented in this thesis are thoroughly founded and substantiated using a hierarchy of statistical significance tests on the level of time series and networks, i.e., by tests based on time series surrogates as well as network surrogates. This is particularly relevant when working with real world data. Specifically, we developed new types of network surrogates to include the additional constraints imposed by the spatial embedding of vertices in a climate network. Our methodology is of potential interest for a broad audience within the physics community and various applied fields, because it is universal in the sense of being valid for any spatially extended dynamical system. It can help to understand the localized flow of dynamical information in any such system by combining multivariate time series analysis, a complex network approach and the information flow measure betweenness centrality. Possible fields of application include fluid dynamics (turbulence), plasma physics and biological physics (population models, neural networks, cell models). Furthermore, the climate network approach is equally relevant for experimental data as well as model simulations and hence introduces a novel perspective on model evaluation and data driven model building. Our work is timely in the context of the current debate on climate change within the scientific community, since it allows to assess from a new perspective the regional vulnerability and stability of the climate system while relying on global and not only on regional knowledge. The methodology developed in this thesis hence has the potential to substantially contribute to the understanding of the local effect of extreme events and tipping points in the earth system within a holistic global framework.},
  language  = {en}
}
@misc{Gassner2012,
  type      = {Master Thesis},
  author    = {Gassner, Alexandra Carina},
  title     = {The character of the core-mantle boundary : a systematic study using PcP},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-63590},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  year      = {2012},
  abstract  = {Assuming that liquid iron alloy from the outer core interacts with the solid silicate-rich lower mantle the influence on the core-mantle reflected phase PcP is studied. If the core-mantle boundary is not a sharp discontinuity, this becomes apparent in the waveform and amplitude of PcP. Iron-silicate mixing would lead to regions of partial melting with higher density which in turn reduces the velocity of seismic waves. On the basis of the calculation and interpretation of short-period synthetic seismograms, using the reflectivity and Gauss Beam method, a model space is evaluated for these ultra-low velocity zones (ULVZs). The aim of this thesis is to analyse the behaviour of PcP between 10° and 40° source distance for such models using different velocity and density configurations. Furthermore, the resolution limits of seismic data are discussed. The influence of the assumed layer thickness, dominant source frequency and ULVZ topography are analysed. The Gr{\"a}fenberg and NORSAR arrays are then used to investigate PcP from deep earthquakes and nuclear explosions. The seismic resolution of an ULVZ is limited both for velocity and density contrasts and layer thicknesses. Even a very thin global core-mantle transition zone (CMTZ), rather than a discrete boundary and also with strong impedance contrasts, seems possible: If no precursor is observable but the PcP_model /PcP_smooth amplitude reduction amounts to more than 10\%, a very thin ULVZ of 5 km with a first-order discontinuity may exist. Otherwise, if amplitude reductions of less than 10\% are obtained, this could indicate either a moderate, thin ULVZ or a gradient mantle-side CMTZ. Synthetic computations reveal notable amplitude variations as function of the distance and the impedance contrasts. Thereby a primary density effect in the very steep-angle range and a pronounced velocity dependency in the wide-angle region can be predicted. In view of the modelled findings, there is evidence for a 10 to 13.5 km thick ULVZ 600 km south-eastern of Moscow with a NW-SE extension of about 450 km. Here a single specific assumption about the velocity and density anomaly is not possible. This is in agreement with the synthetic results in which several models create similar amplitude-waveform characteristics. For example, a ULVZ model with contrasts of -5\% VP , -15\% VS and +5\% density explain the measured PcP amplitudes. Moreover, below SW Finland and NNW of the Caspian Sea a CMB topography can be assumed. The amplitude measurements indicate a wavelength of 200 km and a height of 1 km topography, previously also shown in the study by Kampfmann and M{\"u}ller (1989). Better constraints might be provided by a joined analysis of seismological data, mineralogical experiments and geodynamic modelling.},
  language  = {en}
}
@misc{Herrmann2022,
  type      = {Master Thesis},
  author    = {Herrmann, Tanja},
  title     = {Die Loi Blanquer - eine Chance f{\"u}r die deutsch-franz{\"o}sische Lehramtsausbildung im Sekundarbereich II?},
  series = {MEGA-Schriftenreihe},
  journal   = {MEGA-Schriftenreihe},
  number    = {8},
  publisher = {Universit{\"a}tsverlag Potsdam},
  address   = {Potsdam},
  issn      = {2701-391X},
  doi       = {10.25932/publishup-55942},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-559423},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {80},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {„Europ{\"a}ische Bildung beginnt in der Schule." Gerade in Zeiten einer Renaissance von Nationalismen und einem sp{\"u}rbaren Rechtsruck in Europa scheint diese Maxime wichtiger denn je zu sein. Die umfassendste M{\"o}glichkeit, mittel- und langfristig eine europ{\"a}ische Dimension in den Schulen der EU-Mitgliedsstaaten zu verankern, stellt eine binationale oder sogar internationale Lehramtsausbildung dar. Die Einrichtung derartiger Ausbildungen ist jedoch mit hohen H{\"u}rden verbunden. Ihre Anzahl ist {\"u}berschaubar und allein im deutsch-franz{\"o}sischen Kontext vorhanden. Hintergrund hierf{\"u}r sind erstens die nur schwer zu {\"u}berwindbaren Hindernisse, die sich aus den stark divergierenden Studien-, Rekrutierungs- und Ausbildungssystemen ergeben. Zweitens ist der Lehramtsbereich besonders stark durch Reformen gepr{\"a}gt. Eine Nutzen-Kosten-Analyse der h{\"a}ufig ben{\"o}tigten und ressourcenintensiven Anpassungen von Programmen auf der einen Seite und der geringen Anzahl der Absolventinnen und Absolventen auf der anderen Seite f{\"a}llt demnach an vielen Universit{\"a}ten negativ aus. Ein R{\"u}ckblick auf die seit 2000 bestehenden Bem{\"u}hungen der Kooperation Mainz-Dijon hinterl{\"a}sst eine durchmischte Bilanz. Die Gelegenheit, die lehramtsbezogene binationale Ausbildung dieser Kooperation integrierter zu gestalten, bietet die sich derzeit auf franz{\"o}sischer Seite vollziehende Neustrukturierung der franz{\"o}sischen Lehramtsausbildung. Die Loi Blanquer vom 26. Juli 2019 f{\"u}hrt zu einer Ann{\"a}herung der beiden Systeme und erm{\"o}glicht - auch dank bereits bestehender juristischer Instrumente - eine Verk{\"u}rzung der Ausbildungszeit sowie eine verbesserte Anerkennungspraxis.},
  language  = {de}
}
@misc{Kunde2013,
  type      = {Master Thesis},
  author    = {Kunde, Felix},
  title     = {CityGML in PostGIS : Portierung, Anwendung und Performanz-Analyse am Beipiel der 3D City Database von Berlin},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-63656},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  year      = {2013},
  abstract  = {Der internationale Standard CityGML ist zu einer zentralen Schnittstelle f{\"u}r die geometrische wie semantische Beschreibung von 3D-Stadtmodellen geworden. Das Institut f{\"u}r Geod{\"a}sie und Geoinformationstechnik (IGG) der Technischen Universit{\"a}t Berlin leistet mit ihren Entwicklung der 3D City Database und der Importer/Exporter Software einen entscheidenden Beitrag die Komplexit{\"a}t von CityGML-Daten in einer Geodatenbank intuitiv und effizient nutzen zu k{\"o}nnen. Die Software des IGG ist Open Source, unterst{\"u}tzte mit Oracle Spatial (ab Version 10g) aber bisher nur ein propriet{\"a}res Datenbank Management System (DBMS). Im Rahmen dieser Masterarbeit wurde eine Portierung auf die freie Datenbank-Software PostgreSQL/PostGIS vorgenommen und mit der Performanz der Oracle-Version verglichen. PostGIS gilt als eine der ausgereiftesten Geodatenbanken und wurde in diesem Jahr mit dem Release der Version 2.0 nochmals um zahlreiche Funktionen und Features (u.a. auch 3D-Unterst{\"u}tzung) erweitert. Die Ergebnisse des Vergleiches sowie die umfangreiche Gegen{\"u}berstellung aller verwendeten Konzepte (SQL, PL, Java) geben Aufschluss auf die Charakteristika beider r{\"a}umlicher DBMS und erm{\"o}glichen einen Erkenntnisgewinn {\"u}ber die Projektgrenzen hinaus.},
  language  = {de}
}
@misc{Koechert2007,
  type      = {Master Thesis},
  author    = {K{\"o}chert, Karl},
  title     = {Development of a method to assess EAAT1 transcription levels in Alzheimer's disease},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-15965},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  year      = {2007},
  abstract  = {Zur Zeit leiden ca. 24 Millionen Menschen auf der ganzen Welt unter Demenz, Alzheimer macht dabei 50-60\% aller Demenzf{\"a}lle aus. Da der Anteil der Bev{\"o}lkerung, der an Demenz leidet, proportional zum Alter zunimmt und der Anteil {\"a}lterer Menschen in der Gesellschaft von Jahr zu Jahr steigt, wird Alzheimer immer mehr zu einem ernstzunehmenden, gesellschaftlichen Problem. Zum Stand der heutigen Forschung ist es etabliert, dass die Aminos{\"a}ure Glutamat - quantitativ einer der wichtigsten Neurotransmitter im Zentralen Nervensystem (ZNS) - toxische Konzentrationen erreichen kann wenn sie - im Zuge der {\"U}bertragung von Aktionspotentialen - nach ihrer Freisetzung nicht aus dem Synaptischen Spalt entfernt wird. Viele Studien haben gezeigt, dass in der Alzheimerschen Krankheit die Glutamataufnahme beeintr{\"a}chtigt ist, was zu toxischen Konzentrationen von Glutamat und dem daraus folgenden Absterben von Neuronen f{\"u}hrt. Der exitatorische Aminos{\"a}uretransporter 1 (EAAT1) geh{\"o}rt zu der Familie der Na+-abh{\"a}ngigen Glutamattransporter und stellt nach EAAT2 den quantitativ wichtigsten Glutamattransporter im ZNS dar. In diesem Projekt wurde eine bis dahin f{\"u}r den Menschen nicht bekannte EAAT1 Spleißvariante, in der Exon 3 ausgeschnitten wird, nachgewiesen. Diese Variante wurde EAAT1Δ3 genannt und stellt damit mit EAAT1Δ9 die zweite f{\"u}r EAAT1 nachgewiesene Spleißvariante dar. Eine auf real-time RT-PCR basierende Methode wurde entwickelt, um die Transkripte von EAAT1 wildtyp (EAAT1 wt), EAAT1Δ3 und EAAT1Δ9 zu quantifizieren. Proben aus verschiedenen Hirnarealen wurden aus einem Set von Kontrollen und Alzheimerf{\"a}llen bei der Quantifizierung verwendet. Die gew{\"a}hlten Areale sind von der Alzheimerschen Krankheit unterschiedlich stark betroffen. Dies diente als interne Kontrolle f{\"u}r die durchgef{\"u}hrten Experimente und erm{\"o}glichte so die Differenzierung zwischen beobachteten Effekten: Nur Effekte die alleinig in von Alzheimer betroffenen Gehirnarealen auftreten, k{\"o}nnen als spezifisch f{\"u}r die Krankheit angesehen werden. Die Resultate diese Projektes zeigen, dass EAAT1Δ3 in sehr geringer Anzahl transkribiert wird, die nur 0.15\% der EAAT1 wt Transkription entspricht. Dahingegen entspricht das EAAT1 Δ9 Transkript im Durchschnitt 26.6\% des EAAT1 wt Transkripts. Es wurde nachgewiesen, dass die Transkriptionsrate aller EAAT1 Varianten in Alzheimerf{\"a}llen signifikant reduziert ist (P<0.0001). Dies unterst{\"u}tzt die Theorie, dass bei Alzheimerf{\"a}llen die EAAT1 Proteinexpression stark reduziert und der Glutamattransport, der normalerweise durch diesen Transporter gew{\"a}hrleistet wird, stark eingeschr{\"a}nkt ist. Dies wiederum resultiert in toxisch hohen Glutamatkonzentrationen und damit dem Absterben von Neuronen. Die gefundene Reduktion der EAAT1Transkription ist nicht spezifisch f{\"u}r Gehirnareale die von Alzheimer betroffen sind, sondern tritt in selbem Maße in nicht von Alzheimer betroffenen Gehirnarealen auf. Daraus l{\"a}sst sich schließen, dass die Reduktion der EAAT1 Transkription eher ein Resultat eines in der Alzheimerschen Krankheit pr{\"a}senten, grundlegenden Krankheitsmechanismus ist als deren Ursache.},
  language  = {en}
}
@misc{Paetzel2023,
  type      = {Master Thesis},
  author    = {P{\"a}tzel, Jonas},
  title     = {Seismic site characterization using broadband and DAS ambient vibration measurements on Mt Etna, Italy},
  doi       = {10.25932/publishup-61379},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-613793},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {95},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {Both horizontal-to-vertical (H/V) spectral ratios and the spatial autocorrelation method (SPAC) have proven to be valuable tools to gain insight into local site effects by ambient noise measurements. Here, the two methods are employed to assess the subsurface velocity structure at the Piano delle Concazze area on Mt Etna. Volcanic tremor records from an array of 26 broadband seismometers is processed and a strong variability of H/V ratios during periods of increased volcanic activity is found. From the spatial distribution of H/V peak frequencies, a geologic structure in the north-east of Piano delle Concazze is imaged which is interpreted as the Ellittico caldera rim. The method is extended to include both velocity data from the broadband stations and distributed acoustic sensing data from a co-located 1.5 km long fibre optic cable. High maximum amplitude values of the resulting ratios along the trajectory of the cable coincide with known faults. The outcome also indicates previously unmapped parts of a fault. The geologic interpretation is in good agreement with inversion results from magnetic survey data. Using the neighborhood algorithm, spatial autocorrelation curves obtained from the modified SPAC are inverted alone and jointly with the H/V peak frequencies for 1D shear wave velocity profiles. The obtained models are largely consistent with published models and were able to validate the results from the fibre optic cable.},
  language  = {en}
}