@misc{OPUS4-7098, title = {Amtliches Mitteilungsblatt der BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, 2026,03 (27.02.2026)}, doi = {10.26127/BTUOpen-7098}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-70989}, year = {2026}, abstract = {Neufassung der fachspezifischen Pr{\"u}fungs- und Studienordnung f{\"u}r den Bachelor-Studiengang Instrumental- und Gesangsp{\"a}dagogik (B.Mus.) vom 26. Februar 2026}, language = {de} } @misc{OPUS4-7097, title = {Amtliches Mitteilungsblatt der BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, 2026,02 (27.02.2026)}, doi = {10.26127/BTUOpen-7097}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-70979}, year = {2026}, abstract = {Neufassung der fachspezifischen Pr{\"u}fungs- und Studienordnung f{\"u}r den Master-Studiengang Hybrid Electric Propulsion Technology M.Sc. vom 26. Februar 2026}, language = {de} } @article{PillingBaehrWunderlich2026, author = {Pilling, Eric and B{\"a}hr, Martin and Wunderlich, Ralf}, title = {Reinforcement learning methods for the stochastic optimal control of an industrial power-to-heat system}, series = {Energies}, volume = {19}, journal = {Energies}, number = {4}, publisher = {MDPI}, address = {Basel}, issn = {1996-1073}, doi = {10.3390/en19041046}, year = {2026}, abstract = {The optimal control of sustainable energy supply systems, including renewable energies and energy storage, takes a central role in the decarbonization of industrial systems. However, the use of fluctuating renewable energies leads to fluctuations in energy generation and requires a suitable control strategy for the complex systems in order to ensure energy supply. In this paper, we consider an electrified power-to-heat system which is designed to supply heat in the form of superheated steam for industrial processes. The system consists of a high-temperature heat pump for heat supply, a wind turbine for power generation, a sensible thermal energy storage for storing excess heat, and a steam generator for providing steam. If the system's energy demand cannot be covered by electricity from the wind turbine, additional electricity must be purchased from the power grid. For this system, we investigate the cost-optimal operation, aiming to minimize the electricity cost from the grid by a suitable system control depending on the available wind power and the amount of stored thermal energy. This is a decision-making problem under uncertainty regarding the future prices for electricity from the grid and the future generation of wind power. The resulting stochastic optimal control problem is treated as finite-horizon Markov decision process for a multi-dimensional controlled state process. We first consider the classical backward recursion technique for solving the associated dynamic programming equation for the value function and compute the optimal decision rule. Since that approach suffers from the curse of dimensionality, we also apply reinforcement learning techniques, namely Q-learning, that are able to provide a good approximate solution to the optimization problem within reasonable time.}, subject = {Stochastic optimal control; Markov decision process; Dynamic programming; Q-learning; Power-to-heat system}, language = {en} } @article{DjoudiAmosseAvironetal.2026, author = {Djoudi, El Aziz and Amoss{\´e}, Ewen and Aviron, St{\´e}phanie and Birkhofer, Klaus and Libereau, Benjamin and Plantegenest, Manuel and P{\´e}tillon, Julien}, title = {Multi‑trophic arthropod communities modulated by local farming system and landscape heterogeneity}, series = {Landscape Ecology}, volume = {41}, journal = {Landscape Ecology}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, address = {Berlin}, issn = {1572-9761}, doi = {10.1007/s10980-026-02298-y}, year = {2026}, abstract = {Organic farming is increasingly used worldwide in recent decades, but the role of this farming system in shaping the trophic structure of arthropod communities remains poorly understood, especially at different spatial scales. Therefore, the contribution of landscape heterogeneity in shaping arthropod's trophic guilds remain understudied. In this study, we assessed how the evenness, the abundance and the taxonomic richness of arthropod trophic groups were shaped by the local farming system, landscape heterogeneity (including the percentage of semi-natural habitats and organic fields), and their interaction. Arthropod's trophic guilds (ground and vegetation-dwelling) were sampled in 20 spatial independent pairs of conventional (CF) and organic (OF) fields located in Brittany (Western France) by using pitfall traps and sweep nets replicated in time and space. A total of 95,822 arthropods belonging to 197 taxonomic groups were sampled. Farming system has a strong overall positive effect on the community structure of both ground- and vegetation-dwelling arthropods. Landscape heterogeneity, alone and in interaction with farming systems, affected positively the diversity and abundance of most trophic groups for both ground- and vegetation-dwelling arthropods. Organic farming therefore affected the trophic composition of arthropod communities not only locally, but also at the landscape scale. Our study highlights the strong positive effect of farming system and the landscape heterogeneity on arthropod communities and more importantly the interconnection between different spatial scales in this process. Taking these aspects into account is therefore crucial in understanding arthropod community dynamics in agroecosystems.}, subject = {Agroecology; Agricultural geography; Biodiversity; Landscape ecology; Organic farming}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{MenaresBarraza2025, author = {Menares Barraza, Esteban Javier}, title = {Beyond species richness : integrating ecological interactions and multiple goals in grassland conservation}, doi = {10.26127/BTUOpen-7233}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-72336}, school = {BTU Cottbus - Senftenberg}, year = {2025}, abstract = {This thesis explores how incorporating trophic interactions and a wider range of conservation goals can enhance the design and implementation of biodiversity conservation measures in permanent grasslands. Based on data from two long-term biodiversity monitoring regions in Germany [Schw{\"a}bische Alb (ALB) and Schorfheide-Chorin (SCH)], the thesis is structured around three main chapters. Together, these chapters examine (1) the reliability of co-occurrence methods for inferring plant-butterfly interactions, (2) the cost-effectiveness of different land-use management practices for achieving multiple conservation goals, and (3) the detection of ecological thresholds for key drivers of change in these goals at species, community, and ecosystem levels. I employed a combination of literature review, field data, statistical inference models, optimisation algorithms, and multivariate analyses to provide a thorough evaluation of grassland biodiversity and move beyond traditional species richness metrics by incorporating interaction networks and other metrics, thus capturing ecological complexity relevant to conservation planning. Chapter I shows that, despite the Relative Interaction Intensity (RII) with pairwise null models approach performing better than the other methods tested, co-occurrence methods fail to reliably predict known plant-butterfly interactions. This highlights the limited usefulness of such methods for mobile species and the importance of directly observing trophic interactions. Chapter II shows that optimising land-use management for multiple conservation goals under cost-effectiveness can achieve substantial ecological benefits (up to 80\% of the maximum) using as little as 30\% of the budget. Although trade-offs were observed, certain goals, including trophic interactions, butterfly richness, and network nestedness, showed more synergies. Optimising for sets of goals consistently outperformed single-goal strategies, though regional variation in optimal management highlights the need for region-specific planning. Chapter III presents ecological thresholds for key biodiversity goals along management and landscape gradients. In ALB, most goals showed sharp declines above one to two cuts per year, and low grazing levels were associated with higher multidiversity and more complex interaction networks. In SCH, network connectance and the number of interactions increased even at low levels of forest cover (2-10\%), highlighting the importance of maintaining forest patches near grasslands for supporting biodiversity. Additionally, even low fertiliser inputs were associated with species-poor butterfly communities composed mainly of common species with wider distribution ranges. These results provide key insights for improving region-specific management strategies in conservation programmes and show the importance of using multiple conservation goals, especially those capturing species interactions, when designing effective conservation strategies.}, subject = {Co-occurrence analysis ; Trophic interactions; Network metrics; Cost-effective optimisation; Trade-off analysis; Kookkurrenzanalyse <{\"O}kologie>; Trophische Interaktionen; Netzwerkkennzahlen; Kosteneffektive Optimierung; Trade-off-Analyse; Biodiversit{\"a}t; Naturschutzmonitoring; Effizienz; Artengruppe; Nahrungskette; Schmetterlinge}, language = {en} } @article{MbuyaPawarJafarietal.2025, author = {Mbuya, Christel Olivier Lenge and Pawar, Kunal and Jafari, Mitra and Shafiee, Parisa and Okoye Chine, Chike George and Tarifa, Pilar and Dorneanu, Bogdan and Arellano-Garcia, Harvey}, title = {Tuning catalyst performance in methane dry reforming via microwave irradiation of nickel-silicon carbide systems}, series = {Journal of CO2 Utilization}, volume = {102}, journal = {Journal of CO2 Utilization}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {2212-9820}, doi = {10.1016/j.jcou.2025.103270}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-72832}, year = {2025}, abstract = {The dry reforming of methane (DRM) is a promising route for converting greenhouse gases such as methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) into valuable syngas, hydrogen (H2) and carbon monoxide (CO). However, traditional nickel (Ni)-based catalysts suffer from rapid deactivation due to carbon deposition and sintering, especially when supported on low thermal conductivity materials. In this work, a novel post-synthesis microwave irradiation (MIR) treatment is introduced to systematically optimize the performance of Ni - β - SiC and Ni - Ti - Cβ - SiC catalysts for DRM. Unlike previous studies that have used MIR during reaction or with different supports, this approach tunes the metal - support interactions and textural properties of Ni - β - SiC and Ni - Ti - Cβ - SiC catalysts by varying the MIR exposure time after catalyst synthesis. MIR post-treatment (10-25 s) increased the CH4 conversion to 65 \% and the CO2 conversions to 62 \% for Ni-β-SiC catalysts and improved the H₂/CO ratio to 0.80, with stable performance over 20 h. For Ni-Ti-Cβ-SiC, MIR (10-20 s) maintained CH4 conversion up to 60 \% and CO2 conversion to 58 \% over 20 h, while the untreated catalyst, though initially higher, deactivated rapidly. Excessive MIR (30 s) reduced performance for both catalyst types, underscoring the need for optimal exposure time. These findings demonstrate post-synthesis MIR provides a tuneable approach for enhancing both the activity and durability of Ni/SiC - based DRM catalysts through controlled modification of metal - support interactions. This work offers new insights for the design of robust catalysts aimed at greenhouse gas utilization and sustainable syngas production, with activity and stability enhancements linked to controlled changes in metal - support interactions.}, subject = {Carbon dioxide; Dry reforming; Methane; Microwave irradiation; Ni Silicon carbide catalysts}, language = {en} } @article{SharmaRadomskyMathiazhaganetal.2025, author = {Sharma, Dikshant and Radomsky, Lukas and Mathiazhagan, Akilan and Asli, Majid and H{\"o}schler, Klaus and Mallwitz, Regine}, title = {Thermal analysis of metal foam integrated heatsink for electrified aircraft applications}, series = {International Journal of Thermofluids}, volume = {30}, journal = {International Journal of Thermofluids}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {2666-2027}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijft.2025.101465}, year = {2025}, abstract = {Metal foams facilitate large heat dissipation in high-power dense systems such as power electronics for electrified propulsion application. This work addresses the cooling of a power semiconductor device with aluminium and copper metal foam integrated hybrid heatsink and its comparative analysis to a conventional finned heatsink using 0D and 3D modelling approach. Two-equation foam model in Fluent is utilized and the numerical approach is validated against experimental dataset. Inlet air velocity is varied such that the Darcy to turbulent regimes of the open-cellular foams are covered. Foam porosities from ∼ 0.85-0.95 with 10-20 PPI are investigated and the thermal performance of the heatsink is found to be independent of the foam material. High porosity (> 0.9), 20 PPI foams are found to aid forced-convection by improving the thermal resistance by more than 10\% against the 10 PPI counterparts. The hybrid heatsink outperforms the foam-based and conventional heatsink by 40\% and 15\% respectively when considering the reduction in junction temperatures, while the hydraulic resistance increases 10 times when compared to the conventional one. The 0D thermal resistance model is robust in predicting the junction temperatures for metal foam heatsinks with only a 5\%-6\% discrepancy for both the 50 W and 100 W heat load scenarios. The key and novel contribution of this study is the integration of detailed 3D simulations of a power electronics cooling environment with the development of a corresponding 0D thermal model. This approach not only eases the physical representation of the system but also enables the model to be extended to diverse heat load conditions.}, subject = {Electric propulsion; Electronics thermal management; Metal foam heatsink; Porous media; Forced convection}, language = {en} } @article{YangHenkeMoehlenkamp2025, author = {Yang, Yinghui and Henke, Markus and M{\"o}hlenkamp, Georg}, title = {Analytical investigation of short-circuit protection and post-fault operation in dual three-phase PMSMs for hybrid electric counter-rotating compressor applications}, series = {IEEE Access}, volume = {14}, journal = {IEEE Access}, publisher = {IEEE}, address = {New York}, issn = {2169-3536}, doi = {10.1109/ACCESS.2026.3658195}, pages = {17303 -- 17323}, year = {2025}, abstract = {The hybrid electric counter-rotating compressor (CRC) has the potential to improve power-specific fuel consumption in aircraft engines. However, due to its cascaded structure, a reduction or loss of driving power in a single compressor stage can significantly degrade the overall compressor performance. A short-circuit fault is a typical electrical failure in an electric motor that can lead to a complete loss of driving power. One innovative post-fault operation strategy is to utilize the braking capability of the failed motor at low speed to lock its corresponding compressor stage. In this way, the failed stage can function as a stator stage, still providing degraded flow-guiding capability and preventing reverse rotation. This article investigates the short-circuit protection strategy and post-fault operation of dual three-phase permanent magnet synchronous motors (DTP-PMSMs) for hybrid electric CRC applications. Analytical models are developed to characterize the post-fault behavior of the DTP-PMSM. Key design factors are defined, and their influence on post-fault performance is analyzed. Critical post-fault operating points are identified to evaluate and compare different protection strategies. Based on these results, an optimized shortcircuit protection strategy is proposed for DTP-PMSMs in CRC applications. Finally, the analytical findings and the proposed strategy are validated through simulation.}, subject = {Windings; Circuit faults; Rotors; Torque; Protection}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Schiller2025, author = {Schiller, Josepha}, title = {Explainable artificial intelligence for understanding cross-scale diversification in agricultural landscapes}, doi = {10.26127/BTUOpen-7245}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-72457}, school = {BTU Cottbus - Senftenberg}, year = {2025}, abstract = {Agricultural production is expected to cope with numerous challenges in the future. Therefore, the diversification of agricultural systems has gained attention as a promising solution to meet ecological, economic, and social needs in the long term. Despite the overall positive reports of diversification effects, the joint distribution of temporal and spatial diversity and their influencing factors remains largely unexplored. This thesis aims to assess the interrelations of diversity within the agricultural system at the field, farm, and landscape levels and to investigate the links between temporal and spatial crop diversity in Brandenburg, Germany, from 2011 to 2020 using machine learning (ML) combined with explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) tools. This approach involves identifying influencing factors of agricultural diversity such as farm attributes, landscape complexity, and environmental conditions. Data on agricultural land use were derived from the Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS), covering more than 5,642 farms and over 150,000 fields annually. The results revealed (1) a negative relationship between temporal crop diversity at the field level and landscape level complexity associated with soil quality and (2) a positive link between temporal and spatial crop diversity associated with higher crop diversity at the farm level. The potential of using XAI as a trust-enhancing tool for machine learning in such an interdisciplinary research setting was explored by reviewing the recent use of XAI tools in environmental and Earth system sciences in 575 studies. This revealed (3) that despite the increasing use of XAI tools in the environmental and Earth system sciences over time, the question of whether XAI can contribute to increased trust, e.g., in high-stakes decision contexts, has been addressed in only 1.2\% of the studies. These findings contribute to understanding synergies and trade-offs between diversity within agricultural systems across levels and scales and its influencing factors. They also provide insights into the potential of XAI tools toward trustworthy ML applications. These findings can serve to develop targeted diversification strategies that enhance the resilience of agricultural systems and the sustainability of agricultural landscapes and improve the trustworthiness of ML and XAI in interdisciplinary research settings.}, subject = {Explainable artificial intelligence; Machine learning; Agricultural landscapes; Crop diversification; Heterogeneous landscapes; Erkl{\"a}rbare k{\"u}nstliche Intelligenz; Maschinelles Lernen; Kulturpflanzenvielfalt; Landschaftsheterogenit{\"a}t; Agrarlandschaften; Agrarlandschaft; Kulturpflanzen; Diversifikation ; Landschafts{\"o}kologie; Maschinelles Lernen; Erkl{\"a}rbare k{\"u}nstliche Intelligenz}, language = {en} } @article{JuliaJuliaTobias2025, author = {Julia, Zscherneck and Julia, Binder and Tobias, Mettenberger}, title = {Rural network assemblages : disentangling egocentric networks of digital pioneers in peripheral German regions}, series = {Regional studies, regional science}, volume = {12}, journal = {Regional studies, regional science}, number = {1}, publisher = {Routledge}, address = {London}, issn = {2168-1376}, doi = {10.1080/21681376.2025.2594312}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-72787}, pages = {996 -- 1012}, year = {2025}, abstract = {Digital solutions are seen as promising ways of addressing current challenges in rural regions. Individual or group key actors accessing resources foster these developments through networks. In light of regional clustering and agglomeration effects on the one hand and increased virtual mobility on the other hand, assumptions about the spatiality of such networks are highly controversial. Our paper takes this as a point of departure, asking how spatiality is constructed in the networks of so-called 'digital pioneers' (DPs). The sampling process took place in two German rural regions with different preconditions for digital technology adoption, where we conducted egocentric network analysis and qualitative interviews. Employing the assemblage perspective, we analysed networks of 30 individuals in terms of the analytical categories of territoriality, stability and connectivity. Our findings distinguish between three important roles of network contacts: (1) multipliers in social networking, (2) users of the DP's products and services, as well as (3) close family members that are important in professional contexts. Although DPs are often deeply embedded in and feel attached to their region, networks vary significantly in their territorial radius, also including highly functional problem-solving contacts to distant places. Consequently, our evidence challenges static territorial models of innovation processes, advocating for processual and multidimensional perspectives that consider social networks and individual agency. Likewise, our study complements current research on rural governance by shifting the focus from key institutions and formal networks to less formally integrated actors and problem-solving networks.}, subject = {Qualitative network analysis; Assemblage; Bridging and bonding ties; Peripheral regions Germany}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Schulte2025, author = {Schulte, Clara Jiva}, title = {St{\"a}hlerne Bahnbr{\"u}cken als Erbe der Hochmoderne : Grundlagen f{\"u}r eine ganzheitliche Entscheidungsfindung zwischen Instandsetzung und Erneuerung}, doi = {10.26127/BTUOpen-7218}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-72182}, school = {BTU Cottbus - Senftenberg}, year = {2025}, abstract = {Im Netz der DB AG befinden sich ca. 5.000 Br{\"u}cken aus Stahl. Etwa die H{\"a}lfte wurde zwischen 1880 und 1920 errichtet. Einige stehen wegen ihrer baukulturellen Bedeutung als identit{\"a}tspr{\"a}gende Zeugnisse der industriellen Revolution unter Denkmalschutz. Der Erhalt dieser Bauwerke bietet nicht nur aus Sicht der in ihnen gespeicherten Goldenen Energie, den immateriellen Wert eines Bauwerks, ein enormes Potenzial, sondern auch in {\"o}kologischer Hinsicht durch die Graue Energie. Dar{\"u}ber hinaus bringt die Weiternutzung der Br{\"u}cken angesichts steigender Baukosten infolge von Ressourcenknappheit und globalen Krisen {\"o}konomische Vorteile. Dennoch sind zahlreiche historische, st{\"a}hlerne Bahnbr{\"u}cken abgebrochen und ersetzt worden, da ein Neubau als sicherer, planbarer und wirtschaftlicher gilt. Die M{\"o}glichkeit, eine Br{\"u}cke durch Instandsetzungs- oder Ert{\"u}chtigungsmaßnahmen an ge{\"a}nderte Anforderungen anzupassen, wird h{\"a}ufig bereits zu Beginn der Planungen mit Verweis auf technische oder wirtschaftliche Aspekte verworfen. Dies liegt an Finanzierungsbedingungen sowie einem stark monodisziplin{\"a}ren Entscheidungs- und Planungsprozess. Die maßgeblichen Stakeholder werden oft erst sp{\"a}t einbezogen, sodass {\"A}nderungen nicht mehr ohne erhebliche Zeit- und Kostenverluste m{\"o}glich sind. Nicht selten f{\"u}hrt dies zu Auseinandersetzungen, die Baumaßnahmen verz{\"o}gern. Die Dissertation verfolgt das Ziel, durch die Entwicklung methodischer Grundlagen f{\"u}r eine parametrisierte, wertebasierte Bewertungsmethodik einen ganzheitlichen Vergleich von Interventionsvarianten an denkmalgesch{\"u}tzten, st{\"a}hlernen Bahnbr{\"u}cken bereits in einer fr{\"u}hen Planungsphase zu erm{\"o}glichen. Neben technischen und {\"o}konomischen Kriterien werden Aspekte der Baukultur und {\"O}kologie gleichberechtigt ber{\"u}cksichtigt. Dynamische Steuerungsparameter erm{\"o}glichen einen iterativen Entscheidungsprozess, in dem die Stakeholderinteressen transparent gegeneinander abgewogen werden. Ausgehend von einer bautechnikgeschichtlichen Kontextualisierung st{\"a}hlerner Br{\"u}cken um 1900 sowie der Analyse zentraler Potenziale und Hindernisse f{\"u}r die Integration von Nachhaltigkeitsprinzipien werden Bewertungskriterien f{\"u}r die vier Kategorien formuliert. Im Abgleich mit Kriterien und Verfahren aus Hoch- und Straßenbr{\"u}ckenbau wird ein auf die Anforderungen denkmalgesch{\"u}tzter Bestandsbahnbr{\"u}cken aus Stahl abgestimmtes, synoptisches Bewertungssystem entwickelt. Die Validierung erfolgt anhand von vier realen Br{\"u}ckenbauprojekten der DB AG, bei denen historische Br{\"u}cken {\"u}berwiegend durch Neubauten ersetzt wurden. F{\"u}r jede Fallstudie werden zwei alternative Erhaltungskonzepte entwickelt und ganzheitlich bewertet. Die Dissertation zeigt, dass ein ganzheitliches Bewertungsverfahren f{\"u}r st{\"a}hlerne, denkmalgesch{\"u}tzte Bestandsbr{\"u}cken zielf{\"u}hrend ist, wenn es fr{\"u}hzeitig und partizipativ integriert wird. Die Fallstudien belegen, dass unter Ber{\"u}cksichtigung baukultureller und {\"o}kologischer Kriterien Ert{\"u}chtigungsvarianten einem Ersatzneubau h{\"a}ufig ebenb{\"u}rtig sind.}, subject = {St{\"a}hlerne Bahnbr{\"u}cken; Bautechnische Denkmalpflege; Instandsetzung und Ert{\"u}chtigung; Suffizienz-Strategien; Entscheidungshilfe; Steel railway bridges; Structural heritage conservation; Rehabilitation and strengthening; Sufficiency strategies; Decision support; Eisenbahnbr{\"u}cke; Stahl; Baudenkmal; Modernisierung ; Bausubstanz; Erhaltung; Suffizienz; Entscheidungsunterst{\"u}tzung}, language = {de} } @phdthesis{Agunbiade2025, author = {Agunbiade, Michael Bode}, title = {Human perceptions, ecological role and threats to the hooded vultures (𝘕𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘺𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘶𝘴) in the Gambia : conservation implications}, doi = {10.26127/BTUOpen-7270}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-72705}, school = {BTU Cottbus - Senftenberg}, year = {2025}, abstract = {Hooded Vultures (Necrosyrtes monachus) are critically endangered urban scavengers that are declining rapidly across West Africa due to poisoning, habitat destruction, and belief-based exploitation. In cities and towns, they provide vital ecosystem services by removing organic waste, limiting pest outbreaks, and reducing disease risks. Despite their importance, their populations and habitats remain undervalued and insufficiently protected in many regions, including The Gambia. Conservation planning is further constrained by limited quantitative information on (i) belief-based use of vultures, (ii) the influence of organic waste availability on scavenger community composition at slaughterhouses, and (iii) local perceptions and attitudes toward vulture conservation. This thesis assesses ecosystem services provided by Hooded Vultures in The Gambia, focusing on their role in urban organic waste removal, while identifying threats and proposing strategies for effective conservation. Specifically, it (1) investigates belief-based use of vultures in West Africa, (2) maps suitable habitats in The Gambia, (3) evaluates how organic waste availability shapes scavenger communities and interactions at slaughterhouses, and (4) examines community perceptions and perceived threats. A systematic review of 92 studies demonstrates that belief-based use is a major driver of vulture mortality in West Africa, contributing up to 29\% of documented deaths, with Hooded Vultures disproportionately affected and comprising over 90\% of trafficked parts in some areas. Poisoning, both intentional and accidental, is the primary method of killing, and increasing demand has raised the cost of vulture parts, further incentivizing exploitation. Habitat suitability modeling using MaxEnt and road surveys (791 km, 2017-2021) indicates that only 11.6\% of The Gambia represents highly suitable habitat, concentrated mainly in the western region and Greater Banjul, where food resources associated with human settlements are abundant. Built-up area density, proximity to roads, and water availability explain most variation in occurrence. Surveys of five slaughterhouses reveal that Hooded Vultures dominate where organic waste is highest, confirming their ecological role, although domestic dogs frequently outcompete them during direct interactions. Finally, questionnaires from 200 respondents show predominantly positive attitudes (74\%) and recognition of the species' benefits, while highlighting poisoning, habitat loss, and belief-based use as key threats and revealing limited awareness of conservation initiatives. Overall, conserving Hooded Vultures in The Gambia requires integrated actions combining habitat protection, waste management, poisoning prevention, and community engagement to safeguard both biodiversity and essential ecosystem services.}, subject = {Urban waste management; Conservation strategies; Suitable habitats; Community perceptions; St{\"a}dtische Abfallwirtschaft; Erhaltungsstrategien; Geeignete Lebensr{\"a}ume; Gemeinschaftswahrnehmungen; Gambia; Geier; {\"O}kosystemdienstleistung; Vogelschutz}, language = {en} } @article{MalkRiedelHinzetal.2025, author = {Malk, Konrad and Riedel, Ramona and Hinz, Christoph and Fischer, Thomas and Martienssen, Marion}, title = {Adsorption of phosphonates to iron- or aluminum-based flocculants in wastewater treatment}, series = {Water}, volume = {18}, journal = {Water}, number = {1}, publisher = {MDPI}, address = {Basel}, issn = {2073-4441}, doi = {10.3390/w18010116}, year = {2025}, abstract = {In this study, we investigated the impact of varying iron (Fe) and aluminum (Al) contents on the adsorption of phosphonates to activated sludge. Phosphonates originating from household applications account for up to 40\% of the non-reactive dissolved phosphorus in domestic sewage treatment plants and thus can contribute to the eutrophication of water bodies. Although these substances are not readily degradable, substantial quantities, ranging from 40\% to more than 90\%, are removed by sludge adsorption. The results demonstrate a strong correlation between the adsorption of aminophosphonates and the Fe3+ content of the sludge. The maximum phosphonate loadings were 5.94 mmol g-1 Fe3+ for ATMP, 4.94 mmol g-1 Fe3+ for EDTMP, 4.74 mmol g-1 Fe3+ for DTPMP, and 2.25 mmol g-1 Fe3+ for glyphosate. In contrast to pure ferric hydride flocs, the adsorption of phosphonates was approximately threefold higher when the hydroxides were located within activated sludge flocs. It is concluded that native sludge flocs provide larger iron surfaces than ferric hydroxide alone. Based on the weight of the adsorbents, aluminum salts were four times less efficient than ferric salts. In sludge without ferric or aluminum hydroxides, phosphonate adsorption was negligible.}, subject = {Adsorption; Activated sludge; Ferrous oxide; Phosphonates; Wastewater treatment}, language = {en} } @article{SenguelReiterLotfietal.2025, author = {Seng{\"u}l, Akant and Reiter, Sebastian and Lotfi, Zahra and Efremenko, Julia and Laroussi, Arwa and Corley-Wiciak, Agnieszka Anna and Ratzke, Markus and Mirsky, Vladimir M. and Wenger, Christian and Fischer, Inga Anita}, title = {Titanium nitride plasmonic nanohole arrays with polymer coating : optical properties and their humidity-induced modifications}, series = {Optical Materials Express}, volume = {16}, journal = {Optical Materials Express}, number = {2}, publisher = {Optica Publishing Group}, address = {Washington D.C.}, issn = {2159-3930}, doi = {10.1364/OME.578871}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-72739}, pages = {184 -- 196}, year = {2025}, abstract = {The use of titanium nitride (TiN) for the fabrication of plasmonic structures such as nanohole arrays (NHAs) can enable their integration into optoelectronic devices on the silicon (Si) platform, for example, for the realization of on-chip chemical sensors and biosensors based on refractometric transduction. With a corresponding functionalization of the TiN nanohole arrays, these ultra-compact devices can be utilized in the development of various affinity sensors and sensor systems, such as cost-effective electronic noses for the early detection of gases in the food industry or agriculture. In this work, we focus on two types of coating for functionalization of TiN nanohole arrays: electrochemically synthesized poly-N-methylaniline and layer-by-layer deposited polyacrylic-acid/poly-allylamine (PAA/PAH). Our investigation comprises the experimental characterization of the optical properties of TiN nanhole arrays coated with polymer layers of different thicknesses as well as a comparison with simulation results. We demonstrate the potential of our setup sensing applications by measuring changes in optical properties of TiN nanohole arrays coated with PAA/PAH upon exposure to air of different humidity.}, subject = {Chemical sensors; Extraordinary optical transmission; Localized surface plasmon resonance; Optical coatings; Optical properties; Refractive index}, language = {en} } @article{OleynikRyzhakSchlipfetal.2025, author = {Oleynik, Paul and Ryzhak, Diana and Schlipf, Jon and Alvarado Chavarin, Carlos and Yamamoto, Yuji and Berkmann, Fritz and Ratzke, Markus and Fischer, Inga Anita}, title = {Influence of illumination conditions on photoluminescence enhancement in an Al/Si/Ge metasurface}, series = {Optics Express}, volume = {34}, journal = {Optics Express}, number = {1}, publisher = {Optica Publishing Group}, address = {Washington D.C.}, issn = {1094-4087}, doi = {10.1364/OE.577751}, pages = {78 -- 86}, year = {2025}, abstract = {Strong field enhancement supported by metasurfaces at resonance can be used to control and enhance the spontaneous emission rate of emitters. This is particularly relevant for emitters with comparatively low quantum yield such as germanium. Here, we investigate the µ-photoluminescence response obtained from a hybrid metasurface comprising a square lattice of Al/Si/Ge pillars. We explore how variations in excitation energy, excitation intensity and number of excited meta-atoms affect the spectral dependence of the photoluminescence signal and, in particular, the contribution of the metasurface to it. Our metasurface exhibits a magnetic dipole collective lattice resonance, whose contribution to the photoluminescence signal increases with increasing number of excited meta-atoms. Measuring only one metasurface under different illumination conditions can potentially be an alternative approach to probe the transition between finite-size effects and collective effects.}, subject = {Field enhancement; Germanium; Light emitting diodes; Photonic crystals; Quantum light sources; Scanning electron microscop}, language = {en} } @article{KimGerstbergerAslietal.2025, author = {Kim, Dongsuk and Gerstberger, Ulf and Asli, Majid and H{\"o}schler, Klaus}, title = {U-Net Driven Semantic Segmentation for Detection and Quantification of Cracks on Gas Turbine Blade Tips}, series = {Results in Engineering}, volume = {29}, journal = {Results in Engineering}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {2590-1230}, doi = {10.1016/j.rineng.2025.108864}, year = {2025}, abstract = {Crack detection and quantification on gas turbine blades is crucial for component validation during the development phase and for operational efficiency in service, as unexpected cracks can compromise blade integrity and lead to early engine removals. Gas turbine blades operate under extreme thermal and mechanical stresses, making them particularly susceptible to crack formation. At the same time deterministic predictions of crack formation are subject to high uncertainty in material data and actual loading conditions. Accurate detection and quantification of cracks, therefore, is essential for the validation and calibration of life predictions in order to prevent in-service failures, to extend component lifespan, and to reduce maintenance costs. This study introduces a U-Net based semantic segmentation model designed to automate crack detection on turbine blade tips. The model was trained on a dataset of 210 surface images with and without evidence of cracks, each divided into 128  ×  128 pixel patches. Data augmentation techniques were applied to address the class imbalance between cracked and non-cracked pixels. The U-Net architecture, optimized with a Dice loss function, achieved a validation IoU of 0.7557, along with approximately 85\% recall and precision in identifying cracked pixels. The pixel-based accuracy of the model primarily affects the quantification of cracks rather than their identification. A sliding window pipeline was implemented to extend the model's applicability, enabling segmentation of entire blade tip images for comprehensive crack localization. While the model may occasionally miss low-contrast cracks, it holds potential as a supplementary tool for manual inspection as part of the life prediction validation. By providing automated crack localization and quantification, the model can assist in analyzing crack characteristics relative to engine operating conditions.}, subject = {Crack detection; Semantic segmentation; Gas turbine blade; U-Net; Deep learning; Convolutional neural network}, language = {en} } @article{WeissLiedtkeStefan2025, author = {Weiss, Romano and Liedtke, Victoria and Stefan, R{\"o}diger}, title = {Cannabidiol does not cause DNA double-strand breaks in a human liver-derived cell model}, series = {Journal of Cannabis Research}, volume = {8}, journal = {Journal of Cannabis Research}, number = {12}, publisher = {BMC}, address = {London}, issn = {2522-5782}, doi = {10.1186/s42238-025-00365-w}, year = {2025}, abstract = {Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid with potential therapeutic applications, including anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anticancer effects. However, experts raised concerns about its potential to induce DNA damage and chromosomal aberrations at low concentrations. Notably, these studies used liver cell lines, which may not fully reflect the metabolic processing of CBD, potentially limiting the generalizability of their findings. This study investigated the short time effects of CBD on DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and proliferation in the human liver-derived cell line HepG2. HepG2 cells were treated with CBD (5 - 50 μM, 3 - 72h incubation). To investigate potential imbalances in the expression of cannabinoid receptors 1 and 2 (CB1 / CB2) within HepG2 cells, we examined their expression using Western blot analysis. We hypothesized that such an imbalance could be associated with pathogenic processes. Double-strand breaks were then detected (5 μM Etoposide (ETP) served as positive control) via indirect immunofluorescence analysis using H2AX and 53BP1 antibodies, followed by quantification of DSB foci. Expression of CB2 but not CB1 was downregulated by 30 \% in HepG2 cells after exposure to 5 μM CBD (24h incubation; 0.05) and 70 \% downregulated after exposure to 50 μM CBD (24h incubation; 0.01). This effect was dose-dependent. Whilst ETP induced dose dependent DSBs, we could not confirm findings by others that CBD significantly increases the number of H2AX and 53BP1 foci between 5 μM and 50 μM (3h incubation; 0.05). In our model, CBD stimulated the cells, as confirmed by modulation of CB2 expression as well as changes in intracellular cAMP. Our results show that CBD in ranges between 5 μM to 50 μM does not significantly increase the amount of DNA double strand breaks in HepG2 cells compared to the control. However, we did observe a significant reduction in cell proliferation and a significant increase in intracellular cAMP levels following CBD treatment.}, subject = {Cannabidiol; DNA damage; Proliferation; CAMP; HepG2}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{OPUS4-7259, title = {24th EEEIC International Conference on Environment and Electrical Engineering - Student Edition : Wrocław - Ostrava - Cottbus, June 2025}, editor = {Schenk, Mario and Janik, Przemysław and Michalec, Łukasz and Lehmann, Dirk}, doi = {10.26127/BTUOpen-7259}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-72596}, year = {2025}, abstract = {In a time of growing public awareness of environmental challenges, intensified international efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and the increasing demand for electrical energy to support industrial growth, this conference makes a significant contribution to advancing the goals of diversification and sustainable development. The primary aim of the student conference is to foster dialogue among scientists and students from Wroclaw University of Technology, the Technical University of Ostrava, and Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg. This conference serves as a unique educational opportunity, encouraging students to author scientific papers, deliver presentations, and engage in discussions about future developments. It is an integral part of the curriculum, offered as an elective module and complemented by a technical excursion.}, subject = {Elektrische Energie; Energietechnik; Energievorrat; Umweltbezogenes Management; Energiequalit{\"a}t; Energieressourcen; Energietechnik; Energiewende; Umweltmanagement; Energy ressources; Energy system transformation; Environmental management; Power quality}, language = {en} } @misc{HessmannWeidner2025, author = {Heßmann, Alexandra and Weidner, Silke}, title = {Jugendliche und Innenstadt : Dokumentation der Studienergebnisse des Masterprojektes Stadtmanagement im Sommersemester 2025}, issn = {2941-7406}, doi = {10.26127/BTUOpen-7246}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-72467}, year = {2025}, abstract = {Die Innenstadt stellt f{\"u}r viele Jugendliche einen zentralen Lebensraum dar, in dem sie sich entfalten, soziale Kontakte kn{\"u}pfen und ihre Freizeit gestalten k{\"o}nnen. Diese R{\"a}ume sind nicht nur Zentren von Handel und Kultur, sondern auch Orte der sozialen Interaktion und Identit{\"a}tsbildung. Gleichzeitig sind Jugendliche auch mit Herausforderungen konfrontiert, wie etwa fehlender R{\"u}ckzugsorte oder einem Mangel an geeigneten (konsumfreien) Freizeitangeboten. Eingebettet in das hochschul{\"u}bergreifende Studienprojekt des Wissensnetzwerkes Stadt und Handel e.V. zum Thema „Jugend und Innenstadt" nahm das Masterprojekt Stadtmanagement im Sommersemester 2025 die Zielgruppe der Jugendlichen und deren Interaktion mit der Innenstadt in den Blick und entwarf Strategien, um eine (f{\"u}r alle Altersstufen) attraktive Innenstadt zu gestalten. Ausgehend von einer Analyse des Untersuchungsraumes Senftenberg (Brandenburg) entwickelten die Studierenden Szenarien, Leitbilder und anschließend vertiefende Zukunftsbilder f{\"u}r eine jugendgerechte Innenstadt. Im Ergebnis entstanden Ans{\"a}tze zur Neugestaltung des Bahnhofsumfeldes, Ideen zur Leerstandsbehebung einbettet in einen partizipativen Prozess, freir{\"a}umliche Impulse f{\"u}r die Reaktivierung von Brach- und Stellfl{\"a}chen sowie Vorschl{\"a}ge f{\"u}r die digital-analoge Jugendbeteiligung. Die Ergebnisse wurden abschließend beim WSH-Studienwettbewerb eingereicht. Die vorliegende Publikation dokumentiert diesen Prozess und fasst die entwickelten Ideen, Ans{\"a}tze und Vorschl{\"a}ge f{\"u}r eine k{\"u}nftige Entwicklung der Innenstadt Senftenbergs zusammen.}, subject = {Jugendliche; Innenstadt; Zukunftsvisionen; Transformation; Brandenburg; Young people; Inner city; City center; Urban development; Senftenberg; Stadtplanung; Innenstadt; Jugend; Transformation; Partizipation}, language = {de} } @techreport{OPUS4-7212, type = {Working Paper}, title = {Feministisches Denken in Stadtplanung und Architektur : Essays aus einer gemeinsam entwickelten P{\"a}dagogik}, editor = {Quintero Gonz{\´a}lez, Natacha}, issn = {2941-7406}, doi = {10.26127/BTUOpen-7212}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-72128}, year = {2025}, abstract = {Auf dem Weg zu gerechten und inklusiven Gesellschaften bleibt noch viel zu tun, um Machtsysteme abzubauen, die strukturelle Ungleichheiten aufrechterhalten. Die Ausbildung in unseren raumbezogenen Disziplinen kann dazu beitragen, indem sie eine kontinuierliche {\"U}berarbeitung der Planungsethik f{\"o}rdert und eine kritische Auseinandersetzung mit unterdr{\"u}ckerischen Strukturen anregt. Dazu geh{\"o}rt auch, Stadtplanung und Architektur mit patriarchalen, kolonialen, und kapitalistischen Machtstrukturen in Verbindung zu bringen und ihre Rolle in r{\"a}umlichen Praktiken der Ausbeutung, Segregation und Ausgrenzung zu problematisieren. Im Seminar „Feministisches Denken in der Stadtplanung" (Winter-Semester 2023/2024), haben wir in w{\"o}chentlichen Sitzungen erforscht, wie ein feministischer Ansatz dabei helfen kann, solche Verbindungen herzustellen. Dabei stellten wir uns die Frage, wie feministische Perspektiven Arenen bieten k{\"o}nnen, um bestehende Normen und Unterdr{\"u}ckungsformen zu hinterfragen und sich eine gerechtere r{\"a}umliche Praxis vorzustellen, insbesondere in Zeiten tiefer Fragmentierung, Ungerechtigkeit und Spaltung. Diese Publikation ist eine Sammlung von Essays, in denen Studierende ihre {\"U}berlegungen zu den Seminarthemen und den in jeder Sitzung erprobten experimentellen Methoden reflektieren. Der erste Teil umfasst Essays, die sich mit zentralen Str{\"o}mungen und theoretischen Perspektiven innerhalb des breiten Spektrums des feministischen Denkens befassen. Ein zweiter Teil vereint Essays, die sich mit feministischen Perspektiven in der Stadtplanung und Stadtforschung auseinandersetzen. Zuletzt sind Essays enthalten, die sich dem feministischen Denken in Design und Architektur widmen. Insgesamt ist diese Publikation als Einstieg f{\"u}r Studierende und alle Interessierten gedacht, die sich mit feministischen Ideen zum Thema Raum und dessen (Re)Produktion auf kollaborative Weise auseinandersetzen m{\"o}chten. Anstatt zu versuchen, eine allumfassende Definition von Feminismus oder feministischer Praxis zu liefern, zielt diese Sammlung von Aufs{\"a}tzen darauf ab, das Peer-to-Peer-Lernen zu f{\"o}rdern und kritische Aspekte der Raumproduktion hervorzuheben, die unserer Meinung nach im Mittelpunkt der Lehrpl{\"a}ne f{\"u}r Architektur und Planung stehen sollten.}, subject = {Feminist thinking; Feministisches Denken; Kollaboratives Lernen; Experimentelle Methoden; Critical urban pedagogy; Collaborative learning; Stadtplanung; Architektur; Feminismus; Hochschule; Lehre}, language = {de} }