@phdthesis{Rode2026, author = {Rode, Robert}, title = {Redefining conservation in world society : indigenous peoples' challenges to green colonialism in the UNESCO World Heritage regime}, doi = {10.26127/BTUOpen-7339}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-73392}, school = {BTU Cottbus - Senftenberg}, year = {2026}, abstract = {This study explores how the globalisation of Indigenous human rights is reshaping nature conservation within the UNESCO World Heritage regime and challenging the enduring legacies of "green colonialism." Building on environmental-historical accounts of fortress conservation and on Indigenous critiques of exclusionary protected-area politics, the study expands Thomas Schmitt's cultural-geographic approach to UNESCO World Heritage by including the perspective of a global nature conservation regime in which competing conservation paradigms are negotiated. It asks (1) how the global institutionalisation of Indigenous rights norms, especially the 2007 UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, contests exclusionary conservation practices in World Heritage, and (2) how paradigm competition transforms power relations between Indigenous peoples and the institutional complex of States Parties, Advisory Bodies, and the World Heritage Centre. The analysis combines world society theory, figurational sociology, and decolonial approaches to trace shifting dependencies, normative isomorphism, and the coloniality of knowledge in World Heritage decision-making. Empirically, the dissertation employs a historical and regional comparative approach across four sites: Man{\´u} National Park (Peru), Tongariro National Park (Aotearoa/New Zealand), Lake Bogoria (Kenya), and Pimachiowin Aki (Canada). A qualitative content analysis of official UNESCO records from 1987 to 2023 (including World Heritage Committee decisions, Advisory Body evaluations, State of Conservation reports, nomination files, and management plans) is conducted. Findings show an uneven institutionalisation of Indigenous rights across cases and over time. While formal references to participation and Indigenous human rights have expanded, implementation often remains partial, reflecting a persistent decoupling between normative commitments and conservation practice. Nevertheless, the regime displays limited but notable openness to human rights-based and inclusive conservation, particularly when Indigenous actors and human rights institutions intervene. Overall, the study argues that the World Heritage regime has become a contested platform for addressing historical injustices and that its legitimacy increasingly depends on Indigenous-led approaches to the designation and management of World Heritage properties. Methodologically, it demonstrates how UNESCO's repository of official records can be used to reconstruct organisational "documentary realities" and trace institutional change comparatively.}, subject = {UNESCO World Heritage regime; Indigenous peoples; Green colonialism; Nature conservation; World society; UNESCO-Welterbe-Regime; Indigene V{\"o}lker; Gr{\"u}ner Kolonialismus; Naturschutz; Weltgesellschaft}, language = {en} } @techreport{Schiffner2025, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Schiffner, Johanna}, title = {Die Bedeutung von M{\"a}nnlichkeitsanforderungen im Kontext (extrem) rechter Gewalt in der Transformationszeit in Ostdeutschland : eine genderreflektierende Analyse der autobiografischen Auseinandersetzung von Hendrik Bolz mit der Sozialisation in den „Nullerjahren"}, doi = {10.26127/BTUOpen-7314}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-73143}, year = {2025}, abstract = {Diese Masterarbeit wurde als Qualifikationsarbeit f{\"u}r den M. A. Soziale Arbeit an der BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg eingereicht und untersucht die Rolle von M{\"a}nnlichkeitsanforderungen in (extrem) rechten Gruppenzusammenh{\"a}ngen. Grundlage ist eine genderreflektierende Analyse des autobiografisch gepr{\"a}gten Romans „Nullerjahre. Jugend in bl{\"u}henden Landschaften" von Hendrik Bolz. Im Mittelpunkt steht die Frage nach der Bedeutung von M{\"a}nnlichkeit in Bezug auf die Hinwendung in extrem rechte Gruppenzusammenh{\"a}nge mit einem Fokus auf die m{\"a}nnliche Sozialisation in Ostdeutschland in den sogenannten Baseballschl{\"a}gerjahren. Die Analyse orientiert sich an der Grounded Theory. Theoretisch erfolgt eine Orientierung an Ans{\"a}tzen der kritischen M{\"a}nnlichkeitsforschung, welche mit historischen, sozialr{\"a}umlichen sowie gesellschaftlichen Kontextfaktoren der Nachwendezeit verkn{\"u}pft werden. Im Ergebnis er{\"o}ffnet die Analyse einen differenzierten Blick auf rechte Jugendgewalt: Sie betrachtet die Anschlussf{\"a}higkeit an (extrem) rechte Gruppierungen in der Transformationszeit in Ostdeutschland aus dem Zusammenspiel von m{\"a}nnlicher Sozialisation, kollektiver Zugeh{\"o}rigkeit und spezifischen sozio{\"o}konomischen, kulturellen und sozialen Bedingungen. Die Arbeit leistet einen Beitrag zur geschlechterreflektierenden Forschung zu Rechtsextremismus, indem sie verdeutlicht, dass M{\"a}nnlichkeitsanforderungen und hypermaskuline Selbstinszenierungen zentrale Orientierungspunkte innerhalb (extrem) rechter Gruppenzusammenh{\"a}nge darstellen. Sie betont dar{\"u}ber hinaus die Bedeutung sozialr{\"a}umlicher Verankerungen und langfristiger habitueller Pr{\"a}gungen f{\"u}r Radikalisierungs- und Distanzierungsprozesse und markiert damit pr{\"a}ventive Ansatzpunkte f{\"u}r sozialp{\"a}dagogische Handlungsfelder.}, subject = {M{\"a}nnlichkeit; Rechtsextremismus; Ostdeutschland; Nullerjahre; Gewalt; Masculinity; Right-wing extremism; East Germany; 2000s; Violence; M{\"a}nnlichkeit; Rechtsradikalismus; Gewalt; Transformation}, language = {de} } @article{SchowarteRiedelFischeretal.2026, author = {Schowarte, Julia and Riedel, Ramona and Fischer, Tomas and Helle, Sven and Martienssen, Marion and Arellano-Garcia, Harvey}, title = {Synergistic enhancement of PFOA and 6:2-FTAB photodegradation using Au/Y-doped TiO2 nanocatalysts}, series = {Chemical Engineering Journal Advances}, volume = {26}, journal = {Chemical Engineering Journal Advances}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {2666-8211}, doi = {10.1016/j.ceja.2026.101121}, year = {2026}, abstract = {Efficient degradation of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) requires photocatalysts capable of promoting strong CF bond cleavage and selective interfacial charge transfer. In this proof-of-concept-study, a dual-doped TiO2 nanophotocatalyst (Au2/Y5/P25) was synthesized by combining gold (Au) nanoparticles and yttrium (Y) dopants to enhance charge separation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Structural characterization supported Au deposition on the TiO2 surface and Y incorporation into the lattice, accompanied by a slight bandgap narrowing. Under UV irradiation in aqueous solution (unbuffered pH 5.8, room temperature) the nanophotocatalyst exhibited distinct degradation pathways for 1000 μg L-1 of two representative PFAS, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and Capstone B (6:2 FTAB), reflecting environmentally prevalent groups. PFOA underwent 99 \% degradation within 100 min via a stepwise CF2-cleavage mechanism, generating a sequence of perfluorocarboxylic acids down to perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), consistent with enhanced electron-hole separation. In contrast, Capstone B showed rapid, single-step S-N bond cleavage to 6:2 perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (6:2 PFOS), primarily driven by hole- and •OH-mediated oxidation under oxygen-rich conditions. This process achieved 96 \% degradation within 20 min but did not proceed to further defluorination, indicating oxidative limitations. Dissolved oxygen analysis revealed efficient electron utilization and sustained oxidative turnover without excessive oxygen depletion. The findings demonstrate that Au/Y co-doping promotes selective PFAS activation, enabling rapid precursor oxidation while exposing the kinetic limits of secondary C-F bond cleavage. These discoveries offer new insights into the design of plasmonic-rare-earth-modified TiO2 photocatalysts for efficient PFAS degradation through interface-driven oxidation pathways.}, subject = {Nanoparticles; PFAS; PFOA Photocatalysis; TiO2}, language = {en} } @misc{OPUS4-7253, title = {Amtliches Mitteilungsblatt der BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, 2026,08 (24.03.2026)}, doi = {10.26127/BTUOpen-7253}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-72532}, year = {2026}, abstract = {Beitragsordnung der Studierendenschaft der Brandenburgischen Technischen Universit{\"a}t Cottbus-Senftenberg f{\"u}r das Wintersemester 2026/27 vom 17. M{\"a}rz 2026}, language = {de} } @phdthesis{FloresdeLeon2026, author = {Flores de Le{\´o}n, Rafael Maximiliano}, title = {Notions of social cohesion in the making of World Heritage Cities : discursive repertoires articulating social cohesion notions in the UNESCO documents framing the nomination and management of World Heritage Cities inscribed between 2017 and 2021}, doi = {10.26127/BTUOpen-7310}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-73109}, school = {BTU Cottbus - Senftenberg}, year = {2026}, abstract = {UNESCO guidelines for the management of historic cities and World Heritage (WH) sites have pointed out that urban heritage can foster social cohesion. Scholars have also suggested that heritage has the potential to (positively) influence social cohesion. However, it remains unclear how this outcome can be achieved. A central challenge is that social cohesion is a contested and mouldable concept that is subject to interpretations and can encompass diverse notions. Hence, before exploring how urban heritage can contribute to social cohesion, it was necessary to investigate what social cohesion can mean in the context of urban heritage. Using discursive institutionalism as a theoretical foundation and integrating perspectives from critical heritage studies, this research examines how social cohesion notions are articulated in discursive repertoires in UNESCO documents that framed the nomination and management of urban areas inscribed as WH between 2017 and 2021. The analyses and discussions of the investigation were structured using a conceptual framework that integrates eleven recurrent notions considered part of or necessary for social cohesion - which in this research are called constituents of the concept - and three typologies into which social cohesion constructs can be grouped: relational, ideational, and distributive. This research demonstrates that the analysed UNESCO documents articulate multiple notions related to the constituents and typologies of social cohesion. These notions are articulated in various discursive repertoires and provide opportunities to use WH processes to promote social objectives. As for the relational typology, which focuses on fostering and maintaining social relations, the UNESCO documents articulate notions that encourage interaction and enable the regulation and protection of social dynamics. Turning to the ideational typology of social cohesion, which focuses on reinforcing identities, the processes for the identification of Outstanding Universal Values and designation of WH cities move towards critical approaches that acknowledge the power of heritage to shape the acceptance and othering of the many groups converging in cities. In this way, WH can help negotiate and promote intragroup and intergroup social cohesion in cities. Finally, regarding the distributive typology of social cohesion, which aims to address disparities, although the UNESCO guidelines and heritage experts acknowledge unwanted impacts of WH designations related to inequality, such as gentrification and commodification processes, recommendations or statements enabling the use of WH to recognise and address disparities are rarely articulated.}, subject = {Social cohesion; Urban heritage; World Heritage; Discursive institutionalism; Critical heritage studies; Sozialer Zusammenhalt; St{\"a}dtisches Erbe; Welterbe; Diskursiver Institutionalismus; Kritische Kulturerbe-Forschung; Welterbe; Stadt; Gemeinsinn; Gruppenkoh{\"a}sion; Institutionalismus; Diskurs}, language = {en} } @techreport{OPUS4-7290, type = {Working Paper}, title = {My Wilderness II: selected essays in creative writing}, editor = {Rodr{\´i}guez Mansilla, Francesc Gabriel and Schwarz, Astrid}, issn = {2747-8262}, doi = {10.26127/BTUOpen-7290}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-72908}, year = {2026}, abstract = {The course "How to talk about "nature"?" is offered every winter semester to an average of 125 students at the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg. As part of the course, students have the opportunity to critically question and rethink the concept of "nature" and some of its derivative notions, such as "nature as wilderness." After examining how this notion has led to an artificial separation between humanity and a supposedly "human-free nature," students recognize the limitations of this duality. Through an in-depth exploration of the historical and cultural roots of this notion of "nature as wilderness", students are then invited to share their experiences of "wilderness" that challenge this duality. Here we have compiled a selection of their responses from the winter semesters 20/21 and 21/22.}, subject = {Creative writing; Naturecultures; Environmental history; Anthropogenic influence; Environmental ethics; Kreatives Schreiben; Naturkulturen; Umwelt Geschichte; Anthropogener Einfluss; Umweltethik; Kreatives Schreiben; Umwelt; Geschichte; Anthropogener Einfluss; Umweltethik}, language = {en} } @article{SohailMartienssen2026, author = {Sohail, Noman and Martienssen, Marion}, title = {Mechanistic insights into quorum quenching-mediated control of EPS and biofilm formation in submerged MBR}, series = {Molecules}, volume = {31}, journal = {Molecules}, publisher = {MDPI}, address = {Basel}, issn = {1420-3049}, doi = {10.3390/molecules31061022}, year = {2026}, abstract = {Quorum quenching (QQ) is a promising biological approach that has the potential to control membrane biofouling. However, the implementation of the QQ membrane bioreactor still requires a more systematic and comprehensive understanding, including the selection of membrane materials, the determination of the optimal QQ bacterial dosage, and the use of appropriate media for the immobilization of QQ bacteria, all of which are important to ensure long-term operation. The present study investigated the impact of QQ bacteria on biofilm formation across different polymeric membranes. These include flat sheet membranes, Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), Polysulfones (PSs), and hollow-fibre polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membranes. It also evaluated biofilm development, membrane filtration performance, extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) production, and sludge floc properties, which were characterized using fluorescence microscopy. The results revealed that QQ intervention markedly suppressed quorum sensing (QS), leading to a pronounced, dose-dependent reduction in biofilm thickness, membrane fouling, EPS production and sludge floc size. Biofilm thickness was reduced by 63.5\% on PTFE and 55.4\% on PS membranes, accompanied by a notable reduction in EPS protein and polysaccharides, thereby weakening the biofilm formation and enhancing membrane filterability. Therefore, the permeability performance of the PVDF membrane improved by 338.2\%. Furthermore, sludge settleability was enhanced, and floc size was reduced, resulting in the mitigation of biofilm formation without impacting pollutant degradation. These findings elucidate the material-dependent and dose-responsive mechanism by which QQ regulates EPS synthesis and biofilm formation in MBR.}, subject = {Membrane bioreactor (MBR); Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE); Polysulfones (PSs); Extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs)}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Saadi2025, author = {Saadi, Ibtissam}, title = {Improving facial expression recognition in realistic environments using deep learning approaches}, doi = {10.26127/BTUOpen-7317}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-73178}, school = {BTU Cottbus - Senftenberg}, year = {2025}, abstract = {Facial expressions are vital channels of non-verbal communication, conveying rich information about emotional and cognitive states in social interactions. Enabling intelligent systems to automatically recognize these expressions makes Facial Expression Recognition (FER) a key task in affective computing. Despite significant progress, existing FER methods still face limitations in effectively and efficiently recognizing facial expressions under real-world conditions, such as those found in driving environments or dynamic, in-the-wild scenarios. This thesis addresses these challenges by proposing several novel deep learning-based models that improve the performance, robustness, and efficiency of FER systems. To this end, several contributions are presented. The work begins with a comprehensive review of FER, highlighting persistent challenges in the field, particularly within the driving context. Subsequently, DFER-GCViT, a Vision Transformer-based architecture tailored for driver FER, is introduced to improve recognition accuracy under conditions of occlusion, pose variation, and lighting changes. To enhance computational efficiency, ShuffViT-DFER is proposed, a lightweight hybrid model that combines convolutional and transformer-based pretrained networks. Furthermore, multimodal approaches are explored using Vision-Language Models (VLMs), particularly CLIP. CLIVP-FER is developed to integrate visual and textual features, enhancing semantic understanding in the driving context. The research then shifts toward general dynamic FER, leveraging parameter-efficient fine-tuning and temporal modeling of CLIP, and maintains strong performance with reduced computational cost through the proposed PE-CLIP. Extensive experiments on benchmark datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed models across diverse and challenging conditions. The results underscore the importance of optimizing architectures, incorporating multimodal cues, and enabling lightweight FER systems suitable for practical deployment.}, subject = {Gesichtserkennung; Emotionserkennung; FER; Dynamische FER; Deep learning; Facial expression recognition; Emotion recognition; Driving context; Dynamic FER; Gesichtserkennung; Deep Learning; Autofahren; Modellierung; Multimodales System}, language = {en} } @misc{OPUS4-7252, title = {Amtliches Mitteilungsblatt der BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, 2026,07 (25.03.2026)}, doi = {10.26127/BTUOpen-7252}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-72529}, year = {2026}, abstract = {Satzung zur Vergabe von Stipendien nach dem Stipendienprogramm-Gesetz (Deutschlandstipendien) vom 10. M{\"a}rz 2026}, language = {de} } @phdthesis{Acquah2025, author = {Acquah, Michael}, title = {Tracking electricity access for sustainable rural electrification management : the case of mini-grid experience in Pediatorkope Island, Ghana}, doi = {10.26127/BTUOpen-7282}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-72822}, school = {BTU Cottbus - Senftenberg}, year = {2025}, abstract = {The principal aim of the study was to develop people-centered strategies for sustainable management of rural electrification that is based on the experience of a rural livelihood in Ghana. The concurrent mixed methods were used to collect both qualitative and quantitative data through interviews with sector experts, key informants and community members regarding the delivery, management and usage of electricity. The hybrid mini-grid electricity supply in Pediatorkope, an Island community in Ghana, was adopted as a case of rural electrification for this study. Seven experts (including heads of institutions, agencies and departments), seven community participants and 120 heads of households were surveyed through the administration of semi-structured questionnaire to retrieve the requisite data. Qualitative data was analyzed thematically with 2019 NVivo. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the quantitative data in this study. Analysis such as central tendency including mean, median, maximum, minimum and percentiles were covered. Multi-dimensional analysis, principal component analysis, bivariate analysis standard deviations and frequency analysis were also carried out to ascertain the details of tiers of access to electricity, demographic characteristics of participants and attributes of electricity supply. The results reveal four level of institutional engagement and five stages of policy and regulatory growth from the colonial past to the sustainable era that have shaped the development of rural electrification in Ghana. Two categories of uses of electricity were identified as basic and regular services. Furthermore, exchange value, use value and sign values were identified as important value strands for application in rural electrification. Even though the mini-grid system was designed to allow Tier 5 of electricity access, the quantitative results revealed that the highest experience of access in the community was Tier 4 with the overall access rate of 35\%. Supply side attributes such as capacity of supply, availability of supply and reliability affected access and usage of electricity in the community. Demand side issues identified were misuse of appliance and tariffs misapplication due to non-management of energy culture transition and characteristic additive nature of electricity demand and usage. The various findings based on the experience of electricity usage were consolidated in a proposed model known as multi-value mini-grid to address the identified challenges associated with the use of electricity services from the mini-grid. The multi-value mini-grid, as the name suggests, provides more than one value in a simplified model to meet the different energy needs of higher population of end-users with multiple streams of revenue generation, which enhances the financial feasibility of mini-grids and the livelihoods of the people.}, subject = {Rural electrification; Mini-grid; Sustainable livelihoods; Nationally determined contributions; Pediatorkope Island; L{\"a}ndliche Elektrifizierung; Mini-Grid; Nachhaltige Lebensgrundlagen; National festgelegte Beitr{\"a}ge; Ghana; Ghana; L{\"a}ndliche Entwicklung; Elektrifizierung; Nachhaltigkeit}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Putze2026, author = {Putze, Philip}, title = {Screw dislocation-driven growth of 2D transition metal dichalcogenide nanostructures by chemical vapour transport}, doi = {10.26127/BTUOpen-7302}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-73028}, school = {BTU Cottbus - Senftenberg}, year = {2026}, abstract = {Screw dislocation-driven growth of nanostructures of two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) can feature special physical behaviour like unconventional superconductivity and Moir{\´e} excitons. Three of the outstanding representatives of TMDs are WSe₂, MoSe₂, and WS₂ as they can exhibit intriguing new size- and shape-depended properties compared to its bulk counterpart. Crystal growth control in nanostructures is central for exploiting their structure-related properties. However, bottom-up syntheses of 2D TMDs usually contain 'trial and error' approaches. This work addresses the rational synthesis planning and realizing for the binary systems W:Se, Mo:Se and W:S to achieve nanosized flakes by chemical vapor transport (CVT). For that purpose, key parameters for the CVT were modelled based on thermodynamic datasets and transferred into actual experiments. Regarding WSe₂, crystal growth by CVT under addition of SeCl₄ succeeds for bulk-WSe₂ from 900 °C to 820 °C with a dwell time of 72 h. High-crystalline, right-handed spirals with step heights of around 10 nm are obtained from 850 °C to 800 °C with a dwell time of 60 min, while left-handed spirals occur from 915 °C to 860 °C. These characteristics are linked to theoretical considerations. The terrace widths correlate linearly to the supersaturation condition during the crystal growth, which is represented by the temperature-depended equilibrium constant. Chirality of WSe₂ with screw dislocation-driven growth was investigated by circular-polarised Raman Spectroscopy and showed an intensity increase up to 29 \% for the E¹₂ᶢ mode. For MoSe₂, the primary choice of substrate dictates the resulting crystal shapes. Under essentially identical growth conditions, i.e., 710 °C → 685 °C and a dwell time of 30 min, SiO₂@Al₂O₃(0001) substrates can be used for the controlled precipitation of both hexagonally and triangular shaped nano-MoSe₂. Compared to that, SiO₂@Si(100) substrates enable the growth of predominantly triangular crystals. Individual steps vary from 0.9 nm to 2.9 nm. Nano-MoSe₂ exhibits a twist angles sequence of ca. 5°. Additionally, a twist angle of 19° can be obtained with respect to the [010] zone axis. Supertwisted WS₂ flakes occur from 810 °C to 770 °C under addition of WCl₄(s) and a dwell time of 40 min, while the bulk counterpart in the 2H modification can be obtained from 1030 °C to 950 °C with a dwell time of 96 h. Tailored non-Euclidean Si(100) substrate surfaces with seeded SiO₂ nanoparticles induce WS₂ spirals with twist angles of - 19° for right-handed spirals with individual step heights in the monolayer range.}, subject = {Screw dislocation; 2D materials; CVT; Rational synthesis; Chiral nanostructures; Schraubenversetzung; 2D Materialien; Rationale Synthese; Chirale Nanostrukturen; Schraubenversetzung; Zweidimensionales Material; Chiralit{\"a}t ; {\"U}bergangsmetalldichalkogenide; Syntheseplanung; Wolfram; Molybd{\"a}n; Selen; Schwefel}, language = {en} } @article{AlipoursarbaniTidemanLopezetal.2026, author = {Alipoursarbani, Mozhdeh and Tideman, Jeroen and L{\´o}pez, Mitzy and Abendroth, Christian}, title = {Bioaugmentation in anaerobic digesters : a systematic review}, volume = {19}, publisher = {BMC}, address = {London}, issn = {2731-3654}, doi = {10.1186/s13068-026-02746-6}, year = {2026}, abstract = {Bioaugmentation, the intentional introduction of specific microorganisms into anaerobic digestion (AD) systems, has shown promise in enhancing methane production and in mitigating stressful conditions, particularly in systems operating below optimal performance. This review presents a systematic literature review (SLR) of research on bioaugmentation in AD. This review identified and analysed studies meeting predefined eligibility criteria through a structured methodology involving research protocol, search, appraisal, synthesis, analysis, and reporting. A notable innovation of this review is its comprehensive critical comparison of different controls used in bioaugmentation studies, which has been inadequately addressed in previous literature. To facilitate the functional understanding, strains for bioaugmentation were grouped into the four phases of anaerobic digestion (hydrolysis, acidogenesis, acetogenesis and methanogenesis). A highly diverse set of microbes has been described for bioaugmentation, especially from the families Clostridiaceae, Pseudomonadaceae and Syntrophomonadaceae. Most works are related to hydrolysis. The few works that address acidogenesis are mostly related to dark fermentation. Several studies used methanogenic archaea as well as syntrophic acetate oxidising bacteria, despite the difficulties in culturing them. On the other hand, studies applying strains for acetogenesis were largely underrepresented. Especially works on syntrophic propionate and butyrate oxidation (SPO and SBO) were missing.}, subject = {Bioaugmentation; Anaerobic digestion; Biogas plants; Microorganisms; Microbiomes}, language = {en} } @article{SchwickertGrenzdoerffer2026, author = {Schwickert, Samantha and Grenzd{\"o}rffer, Sinje}, title = {Cycles of (in)visibility : evolvements, constancies, and frictions of menstrual cycles at work}, series = {Frontiers in Sociology}, volume = {11}, journal = {Frontiers in Sociology}, publisher = {Frontiers}, address = {Lausanne}, issn = {2297-7775}, doi = {10.3389/fsoc.2026.1642858}, year = {2026}, abstract = {Around half of all working bodies experience a menstrual cycle for a significant part of their (working) lives, followed by (peri-)menopause. Yet, the implications of cyclic embodiment and bodily transitions remain well-concealed, stigmatized, and insufficiently integrated into work organization. Theoretically positioned within critical menstruation research with focus on work organization, our study enhances existing research by offering a cyclic perspective which considers the whole menstrual cycle, including changing symptoms over time and the transition to (peri-)menopause. For this purpose, we carried out a longitudinal study (2021-2025) to explore and evaluate the effects of the menstrual cycle on the professional lives of women and people with menstrual cycles (WPMC) in Germany. Insights from qualitative interviews and action research workshops during this time period are supplemented by expert perspectives from Germany, Belgium, Ireland and Spain. The results are organized alongside a differentiation between three spheres (1) individual sphere, (2) organizational sphere, (3) societal sphere. We find that growing awareness, generational shifts, and feminist practices are slowly opening spaces for cycle-sensitive and more caring work cultures, despite ongoing stigma, resistant structural barriers, and anticipated backlashes. Moreover, this change is largely individualised, which risks burdening WPMC with the additional work of finding solutions for cyclic symptoms within ongoing linear, meritocratic work structures. By changing the default linear perspective to a cyclic one, we frame the menstrual cycle as a collective workplace issue rather than an individual inconvenience or problem and advocate for policy reforms. This perspective foregrounds a more holistic understanding of work organization that accounts for diverse and changing body realities.}, subject = {Critical menstruation studies; Feminism; Gender; Menstrual Cycle; Menstruation and work}, language = {en} } @misc{OPUS4-7251, title = {Amtliches Mitteilungsblatt der BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, 2026,06 (09.03.2026)}, doi = {10.26127/BTUOpen-7251}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-72511}, year = {2026}, abstract = {Bekanntmachung {\"u}ber die Aufhebung von Studieng{\"a}ngen - Bauen und Erhalten (M.Sc.) - Elektrotechnik (M.Eng.) - K{\"u}nstliche Intelligenz Technologie (B.Sc.) - K{\"u}nstliche Intelligenz Technologie (M.Sc.) - Leichtbau und Werkstofftechnologie (M.Sc.)}, language = {de} } @techreport{OPUS4-7289, type = {Working Paper}, title = {Bazar Abbas : a recovery lab for Port Said ; built heritage, collective memory, and urban rehabilitation}, editor = {Zarrin Ghalam, Sepideh}, isbn = {2941-7406}, doi = {10.26127/BTUOpen-7289}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-72895}, year = {2026}, abstract = {This publication documents the processes and findings of the 'Bazar Abbas: Recovery Lab of Port Said', a pilot initiative addressing the deterioration of Port Said's historic urban landscape. By presenting these results, the publication aims to raise awareness of the city's urban heritage and stimulate a broader discussion on sustainable recovery strategies. Founded as a cosmopolitan hub after the construction of the Suez Canal, Port Said's dual urban structure represents a distinctive architectural and urban heritage. Founded as a cosmopolitan hub after the construction of the Suez Canal, Port Said's dual urban structure represents a distinctive, yet vulnerable, architectural and urban heritage. The city's urban fabric was profoundly shaped by successive wars and forced displacement following the post-colonial transition. Despite the profound impact of these events, however, Port Said has lacked a comprehensive recovery framework to address the resulting damage. Instead, the historic core has faced institutional neglect, with its heritage caught between shifting priorities and chronic underfunding. Today, the city is grappling with historical trauma and physical decay, as well as a development strategy that disconnects heritage from contemporary growth. In response, the Recovery Lab acts as a platform for exploration, bridging the gap between academic research and professional practice. Using the Bazar Abbas building as a living laboratory, the project has evolved from theoretical study to the implementation of site-specific pilot interventions. The Lab has tested a multidisciplinary toolbox ranging from 3D laser scanning to participatory engagement to demonstrate how tangible recovery can be achieved despite limited resources and archival gaps. Ultimately, this volume argues that cities with complex, layered histories require an incremental, tactical approach to rehabilitation. This methodology directly addresses intertwined challenges, including restricted funding, fragmented decision-making, and administrative hurdles. By treating heritage as a vital social asset and adopting a learning-by-doing approach, the Lab overcomes institutional paralysis to deliver results. This framework offers a resilient regeneration alternative that is grounded in the practical realities of Port Said and the collective agency of its residents.}, subject = {Port Said; Bazar Abbas; Stadterneuerung; Gemeinschaftsorientierte Sanierung; Urban recovery; Urban narratives; Community-centred rehabilitation; Port Said; Stadtsanierung; Stadtkern; St{\"a}dtebau; Geschichte; Urbane Narrative}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Alfeus2026, author = {Alfeus, Martha}, title = {Rangeland improvement and biodiversity conservation through bush encroachment control in Southern Africa, Namibia}, doi = {10.26127/BTUOpen-7306}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-73064}, school = {BTU Cottbus - Senftenberg}, year = {2026}, abstract = {Biodiversity underpins ecosystem stability, resilience, and the delivery of ecological services essential to human well-being. However, global biodiversity is declining at unprecedented rates due to land-use change, habitat degradation, and climate variability. In arid and semi-arid savannahs, where ecosystems are constrained by resource scarcity these pressures intensify through bush encroachment, the densification of woody vegetation displacing grasslands. This shift undermines rangeland productivity, alters vegetation structure, and reshapes biodiversity patterns. While vegetation and livestock responses are well-studied, implications for invertebrate biodiversity, particularly arthropods as functionally critical taxa, remain underexplored. This thesis bridges these gaps via three interconnected objectives linking data integrity, ecological patterns, and management interventions in Namibian savannahs. The first assesses arthropod biodiversity data quality across global platforms (iNaturalist, GBIF) and the Namibian Biodiversity Database. Recognition (species-level identifications) and completeness (species coverage) vary markedly by arthropod order, influenced by detectability, morphology, and familiarity. Global datasets provide baselines, but national databases are vital for accuracy, advocating integrated frameworks to strengthen monitoring, conservation, and citizen science. The second study investigates effects of dominant encroaching shrubs, Dichrostachys cinerea, Senegalia mellifera, and Terminalia sericea on arthropod communities across canopy, aerial, and ground strata in wet/dry seasons. Sampling via pitfall, pan, and beating traps revealed shrub-specific compositional shifts, driven by canopy taxa. S. mellifera favoured omnivore guilds and D. cinerea favoured phytophagous. Abundance increased with ground cover but fell with woody density, highlighting habitat heterogeneity's role in sustaining diversity amid encroachment. The third objective evaluates bush thinning management practice: manual/chemical treatments at 50\% (moderate) and 100\% (complete) intensities. Moderate manual thinning boosted arthropod abundance, richness, and functional diversity versus complete/chemical options. Pollinators, herbivores, decomposers, and predators thrived under partial shrub thinning, preserving heterogeneity; while chemical clearing suppressed sensitive groups like Auchenorrhyncha, Opiliones, and Coccinellidae. Soil properties, including pH and nutrient concentrations, further modified arthropod responses across shrub species. In summary, the thesis presents a framework for arthropod conservation based on three pillars: robust data systems, vegetation-arthropod ecology, and balanced rangeland management that restores grasslands (e.g. 50\% moderate manual shrub thinning) without causing arthropod biodiversity loss. Integrating informatics, community ecology, and restoration advances dryland resilience in African savannahs and rangeland ecosystems.}, subject = {Arthropod biodiversity; Citizen science; Rangeland restoration; Shrub thinning; Namibia biodiversity; Arthropoden; Biodiversit{\"a}t; Namibia; Weidefl{\"a}chenrestaurierung; Strauchverj{\"u}ngung; Namibia; Trockensavanne; Weide ; Gliederf{\"u}ßer; Artenreichtum; Landschafts{\"o}kologie}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{ReyesPacheco2026, author = {Reyes Pacheco, Juan-Francisco}, title = {Explaining large language models for passage-level political statement extraction using linguistic rule-based models}, doi = {10.26127/BTUOpen-7293}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-72930}, school = {BTU Cottbus - Senftenberg}, year = {2026}, abstract = {The complexity of processing the language in political discourse presents a challenge due to its ambiguity and nuance. However, the growing volume of digital political content and the proven efficiency of Large Language Models (LLMs) in processing and "understanding" such statements presents an opportunity to explore new approaches. Therefore, the automatic extraction of coherent political statements at the passage level is an opportune task in the current era of increasing digitization of political discourse. This research addresses the problem of accurately extracting "relevant" political statements. Moving beyond traditional rule-based information extraction (IE) techniques, we propose a Natural Language Processing (NLP) pipeline composed of state-of-the-art LLMs. Given the opaque nature of Transformer models and the need for AI transparency — moreover, within the intricate nature of political language — this thesis develops an approach based on Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) tools to explain LLM classification behavior from a linguistic perspective across the pipeline's NLP tasks. The empirical approach is structured around three specific NLP challenges, addressed in dedicated papers: (1) Text Genre Classification, employing a BERT model to distinguish between speeches and interviews based on the number of speakers, thereby addressing text genre identification and filtering; (2) Stance Classification, utilizing a few-shot learning model (SetFit) for binary classification of stance expressions, enhancing the detection of relevant political statements; and (3) Topic Continuity Analysis, using Sentence Pair Modeling (SPM) and BERT to analyze topic continuity between sentence pairs, ensuring the coherence of extracted passages. This research enhances explainability across these challenges by combining linguistic rule-based models (LRBMs) with contemporary explainability tools like SHAP and Transformers Interpret. By leveraging corpus linguistics, tailored lexicons, and lexicogrammatical rules, our research adds transparency to LLMs' decision-making processes, bridging traditional linguistic theories with modern neural models. Likewise, although not the primary focus, our research emphasized model performance, consequently increasing the accuracy of their explanatory capacity. For each challenge, ad hoc datasets focused on American political discourse in English were created. LRBMs played a crucial role in feature engineering and dataset annotation, further improving the explainability and performance of XAI tools. Fusing linguistic insight with neural outputs allowed for granular token-level analysis of morphosyntactic, semantic, and pragmatic features, offering a novel contribution by aligning outputs with established linguistic theories. This thesis advances the understanding of LLM explainability by approaching the extraction of relevant political statements from a linguistically grounded framework.}, subject = {Large language models; Information extraction; NLP; Politics; Discourse analysis; XAI; Politik; Diskursanalyse; LLM; Explainable artificial intelligence; Politik; Diskursanalyse; Großes Sprachmodell; Automatische Sprachanalyse; Erkl{\"a}rbare K{\"u}nstliche Intelligenz}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Hady2025, author = {Hady, Mohamed Elfatih Ahmed Omer}, title = {Stochastic optimal control of occupational pension funds}, doi = {10.26127/BTUOpen-7286}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-72867}, school = {BTU Cottbus - Senftenberg}, year = {2025}, abstract = {In this dissertation, we consider occupational pension funds that are set up by a company for its employees. A special feature of such pension funds is that the collectives of insured individuals are typically smaller, and benefit payments depend on the seniority and salary of the insured. Therefore, fluctuations over time in the composition of the collective of insured persons in terms of age, length of service, and salary cannot be ignored when calculating the actuarial liabilities and the company's financial contributions to the fund. We describe the stochastic dynamics of the composition of the collective of insured individuals by a discrete-time Markov chain model. This allows us to derive the dynamics of the expected aggregated actuarial liabilities for all insured individuals of the collective as a functional of the Markov chain. They are then approximated by mean-reverting processes, which facilitate the formulation of stochastic optimal control problems that arise in the cost-optimal management of occupational pension funds. Here, the objective is to invest the fund's capital in a financial market such that the expected net present value of all future contributions to the fund is minimized. The resulting optimal funding problem is studied under additional constraints that capture the obligations imposed by a regulator. They are intended to ensure that the fund capital is always sufficient to finance current benefit payments and future actuarial obligations. This problem is analyzed firstly under additional dynamic risk constraints and secondly under tracking constraints, which are included in the performance criterion with the help of penalties. While the risk constraints aim to keep the fund assets above the actuarial liabilities, the tracking constraints aim to keep these assets as close as possible to the liabilities. The resulting discrete-time stochastic optimal control problems are treated as Markov decision processes (MDPs). The corresponding Bellman equation for the value function is solved numerically using a backward recursion algorithm. We present the results of extensive numerical experiments showing the properties of the value function and the optimal decision rules, as well as their dependence on the various risk constraints.}, subject = {Occupational pension fund; Stochastic optimal control; Markov chain model; Actuarial liabilities; Dynamic risk constraints; Betriebliche Altersvorsorge; Stochastische optimale Steuerung; Markovketten-Modell; Versicherungsmathematischen Verpflichtungen; Dynamische Risikobeschr{\"a}nkung; Betriebliche Altersversorgung; Versicherungsmathematik; Markov-Kette}, language = {en} } @misc{OPUS4-7100, title = {Amtliches Mitteilungsblatt der BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, 2026,05 (02.03.2026)}, doi = {10.26127/BTUOpen-7100}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-71002}, year = {2026}, abstract = {1. Erste {\"A}nderungssatzung zur Pr{\"u}fungs- und Studienordnung f{\"u}r den Master-Studiengang Leichtbau und Werkstofftechnologie (M.Sc.) vom 26. Februar 2026 2. Lesefassung: Fachspezifische Pr{\"u}fungs- und Studienordnung f{\"u}r den Master-Studiengang Leichtbau und Werkstofftechnologie (M.Sc.) vom 28. August 2023 (AMbl. 13/2023) i. d. F. der Ersten {\"A}nderungssatzung zur Pr{\"u}fungs- und Studienordnung f{\"u}r den Master-Studiengang Leichtbau und Werkstofftechnologie (M.Sc.) vom 26. Februar 2026}, language = {de} } @misc{OPUS4-7099, title = {Amtliches Mitteilungsblatt der BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, 2026,04 (02.03.2026)}, doi = {10.26127/BTUOpen-7099}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-70995}, year = {2026}, abstract = {Neufassung der fachspezifischen Pr{\"u}fungs- und Studienordnung f{\"u}r den Bachelor-Studiengang Wirtschaftsingenieurwesen (B.Sc.) vom 26. Februar 2026}, language = {de} } @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} } @book{OPUS4-7027, title = {Hybrid urbanisms in secondary cities of the global south : insights from urban planning and infrastructure delivery in Ghana and Peru}, editor = {Rosen, Christian and Gribat, Nina}, publisher = {Routledge}, address = {London}, isbn = {978-1-003-51113-7}, doi = {10.4324/9781003511137}, publisher = {BTU Cottbus - Senftenberg}, pages = {194}, year = {2025}, abstract = {This book presents the concept of Hybrid Urbanisms aiming to deconstruct the still-existing and often critiqued dualism of formalised and informalised practices in urban planning and infrastructure delivery. Using an innovative perspective, the book addresses this issue by focusing on the complex configurations in which both forms always co-exist and compete as powerful social constructs. It unveils the juxtaposition, simultaneity, dependency and intertwining of in-/formalised practices and highlights the relevance of this perspective to better understand urban development, especially in the global South. At the same time, the book focuses on secondary cities of Ghana and Peru that are often overlooked in the existing literature but play a relevant role in global urbanisation quantitively and qualitatively. In offering a comparative perspective on two very diverse geographical contexts, ten empirical studies are framed by a conceptualisation of 'Hybrid Urbanisms' and a concluding systematisation of perspectives on this central aspect of urban development. Taken together, this volume makes an innovative contribution on how to produce new and more diverse urban theories of cities of the global South. This book is essential for scholars, students and practitioners in the fields of urban planning, urban studies, infrastructure studies and international cooperation alike. In addition, it will be of interest to those in the fields of urban sociology, public policy, urban geography and development studies. This publication was supported by funds from the Publication Fund for Open-Access Monographs of the Federal State of Brandenburg, Germany and by the Faculty of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Urban Planning of Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg.}, subject = {Geography; Global development; Urban studies}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{GhomsiWabo2025, author = {Ghomsi Wabo, Samuel}, title = {Aktivierung stickstoffmodifizierter Kohlenstoffmaterialien mit KOH : Untersuchungen zum Porenbildungsprozess sowie zum Stickstoffaustrag}, doi = {10.26127/BTUOpen-7260}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-72602}, school = {BTU Cottbus - Senftenberg}, year = {2025}, abstract = {In dieser Arbeit wurden der Aktivierungsprozess und der Stickstoffaustrag w{\"a}hrend der KOH-Aktivierung stickstoffmodifizierter Kohlenstoffmaterialien untersucht, um die spezifischen und synergistischen Beitr{\"a}ge von Stickstoff und KOH zur Porosit{\"a}tsbildung in diesen Materialien zu kl{\"a}ren. Hierf{\"u}r wurden geeignete Referenzsysteme aus verschiedenen Kohlenstoffquellen (Cellulose und Phenolharz) hergestellt, bei denen Syntheseparameter wie der Harnstoffgehalt, die KOH-Konzentration und die Karbonisierungstemperatur systematisch variiert wurden. Es wurde festgestellt, dass eine Erh{\"o}hung des Harnstoffgehalts in der Synthesemischung zu einem h{\"o}heren Stickstoffgehalt in den Charcoals f{\"u}hrt - ein Effekt, der bei cellulosebasierten Materialien ausgepr{\"a}gter ist. Die KOH-Aktivierung f{\"u}hrte, unabh{\"a}ngig von der verwendeten Kohlenstoffquelle, zu einem erheblichen Stickstoffaustrag. Bei hohen KOH-Konzentrationen (> 10 M) war kein Stickstoff mehr im Material nachweisbar, was eng mit der Bildung einer ausgepr{\"a}gten Porosit{\"a}t zusammenh{\"a}ngt. Allerdings zeigte sich, dass der Gewinn an Porenvolumen durch den Austrag stickstoffhaltiger Spezies relativ gering ist. Stickstoff wirkt haupts{\"a}chlich als Katalysator f{\"u}r Redoxreaktionen zwischen KOH bzw. dessen Zersetzungsprodukten und Kohlenstoff, indem er die Bildung von K₂CO₃ beg{\"u}nstigt. Diese Kaliumspezies k{\"o}nnen die graphitische Struktur des Materials zerst{\"o}ren und zus{\"a}tzliche chemische Prozesse unterst{\"u}tzen, was zu einer intensiveren Aktivierung f{\"u}hrt. Die Bildung von K₂CO₃ ist stark vom Stickstoffgehalt abh{\"a}ngig und wurde ausschließlich bei Kohlenstoffen beobachtet, die mit einer Kombination aus hoher KOH-Konzentration und hohem Stickstoffgehalt hergestellt wurden. Im Gegensatz dazu f{\"u}hrte eine Kombination aus hoher KOH-Konzentration und niedrigem Stickstoffgehalt nicht zur Bildung von K₂CO₃, was darauf hinweist, dass die chemischen Wechselwirkungen des Kaliums in diesem Szenario eine untergeordnete Rolle bei der Porosit{\"a}tsbildung spielen. In solchen F{\"a}llen erfolgt die Aktivierung des Materials prim{\"a}r {\"u}ber Redoxreaktionen, bei denen Kohlenmonoxid (CO) und Kohlendioxid (CO₂) als Reaktionsprodukte entstehen. Diese Redoxreaktionen bewirken eine Umstrukturierung des Materials, jedoch ohne eine signifikante Ver{\"a}nderung der graphitischen Struktur durch Kaliumspezies. Anderseits ist die hohe KOH-Konzentration entscheidend f{\"u}r die Bereitstellung von Kaliumverbindungen, die gezielt in die Schichtstruktur des Materials eindringen und diese effektiv aufbrechen.}, subject = {KOH-Aktivierung; Stickstoffmodifizierte Kohlenstoffen; Por{\"o}se Kohlenstoffe; Porenbildung; Katalytischer Effekt von Stickstoff; Porous carbons; Nitrogen-modified carbons; KOH activation; Pore formation; Catalytic effect of nitrogen; Kohlenstoffwerkstoff; Stickstoffverbindungen; Por{\"o}ser Stoff; Aktivierung ; Kaliumhydroxid}, language = {de} } @phdthesis{Nghinaunye2025, author = {Nghinaunye, Teopolina}, title = {Investigation into the potential of 𝘈𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘢 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 as a source for anticancer compounds}, doi = {10.26127/BTUOpen-7249}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-72493}, school = {BTU Cottbus - Senftenberg}, year = {2025}, abstract = {Hepatozellul{\"a}res Karzinom (HCC) erfordert sicherere und wirksamere Behandlungsoptionen. In dieser Studie wurde die Zytotoxizit{\"a}t eines w{\"a}ssrigen Extrakts von Arthrospira platensis (AP), der unter optimierten Bedingungen kultiviert wurde, an humanen Upcyte-Hepatozyten aus kanzer{\"o}sem und nicht-kanzer{\"o}sem Gewebe untersucht. AP zeigte einen konzentrationsabh{\"a}ngigen zytotoxischen Effekt, der gezielt die Krebszellen angriff, w{\"a}hrend nicht-kanzer{\"o}se Zellen weniger beeintr{\"a}chtigt wurden. Dies deutet auf ein selektives Antikrebspotenzial hin. Der hohe Gehalt an bioaktiven Verbindungen wie Phycocyanin k{\"o}nnte zu diesem Effekt beitragen. Die Ergebnisse st{\"u}tzen die Einsch{\"a}tzung, dass AP eine vielversprechende Quelle f{\"u}r nat{\"u}rliche Antikrebsverbindungen darstellt.}, subject = {Antikrebsverbindungen; Arthrospira platensis; Hepatozellul{\"a}res Karzinom; Optimierte Kulturbedingungen; Upcyte humane Hepatozyten; Anticancer compounds; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Optimized culture conditions; Upcyte human hepatocytes; Krebsforschung; Leberzellkrebs; Spirulina platensis; Cytotoxizit{\"a}t}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Popiela2025, author = {Popiela, Bartosz Maciej}, title = {Einfluss fertigungsbedingter Eigenspannungen auf die Betriebssicherheit von nassgewickelten Composite-Druckbeh{\"a}ltern mit einem nichttragenden Liner}, doi = {10.26127/BTUOpen-7238}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-72383}, school = {BTU Cottbus - Senftenberg}, year = {2025}, abstract = {Im Hinblick auf die globale Herausforderung der Energietransformation steigt der Bedarf an M{\"o}glichkeiten zur Energiespeicherung. Eine Technologie, die zunehmend in den Fokus r{\"u}ckt, ist die Energiespeicherung mittels komprimiertem Wasserstoffgas. Insbesondere f{\"u}r mobile und Transport-Anwendungen ist eine geringe Masse des Speichers vorteilhaft, weshalb vollumwickelte Composite-Druckbeh{\"a}lter des Typs 4 zum Einsatz kommen. Diese werden {\"u}berwiegend im Nasswickelverfahren gefertigt, das durch zahlreiche Prozessparameter und physikalische Effekte charakterisiert wird. Die Wahl der Wickelprozessparameter sowie Schwankungen der Materialkennwerte beeinflussen den Eigenspannungszustand in der Composite-Struktur eines Druckbeh{\"a}lters. Somit wirken sie sich auch auf den Spannungszustand im Betrieb aus. Die vorliegende Dissertation beinhaltet Untersuchungen des Einflusses von fertigungsbedingten Eigenspannungen auf die Sicherheit von Composite-Druckbeh{\"a}ltern mit nichttragendem Kunststoff-Liner. Ziel ist es, das mechanische Verhalten von Composite-Druckbeh{\"a}ltern besser zu verstehen und deren Sicherheitsniveau sowie Konkurrenzf{\"a}higkeit weiter zu steigern. Schwerpunkte der Arbeit sind experimentelle Untersuchungen der Eigenspannungsentstehung und -entwicklung sowie deren Einfluss auf die Beh{\"a}lter-Sicherheit. Im Fokus befindet sich die Exploration von M{\"o}glichkeiten zur Verbesserung der Zuverl{\"a}ssigkeit der Beh{\"a}lter durch Variation der Fertigungsparameter und eine Konditionierung nach der Fertigung. Der Eigenspannungszustand wird in numerischen Simulationen sowie mit dem zerst{\"o}renden Bohrlochverfahren charakterisiert. Die {\"U}berwachung der Spannungsumlagerung w{\"a}hrend einer Konditionierung unter Zeitstandbelastung erfolgt mit eingebetteten faseroptischen Sensoren, die sp{\"a}ter zur Dehnungsmessung in zerst{\"o}renden, langsamen Berstpr{\"u}fungen eingesetzt werden. Zur Vertiefung des Verst{\"a}ndnisses des Versagensverhaltens der verwendeten 6,8 l-Druckbeh{\"a}lter wird die Finite-Elemente-Methode eingesetzt. Dar{\"u}ber hinaus werden Qualit{\"a}tsuntersuchungen der Composite-Struktur mittels Mikro-Computertomographie und Impuls-Echo-Verfahren beschrieben. Die Ergebnisse der Untersuchungen zeigen, dass eine Steigerung der Zuverl{\"a}ssigkeit durch eine gezielte Innendruckbeanspruchung der gewickelten Beh{\"a}lter nahezu kostenneutral m{\"o}glich ist. Dies wird im Rahmen der Arbeit anhand eines Baumusters demonstriert. Dar{\"u}ber hinaus wird die Verbesserung der Zuverl{\"a}ssigkeit der Beh{\"a}lter im Rahmen einer Konditionierung unter Zeitstandbelastung vertieft diskutiert. Diese stellt eine weiterf{\"u}hrende M{\"o}glichkeit dar, das Beh{\"a}lterverhalten positiv zu beeinflussen und das Sicherheitsniveau zu steigern.}, subject = {Composite; Druckbeh{\"a}lter; Eigenspannungen; Faser-Kunststoff-Verbund; Wasserstoff; Composite material; Pressure vessel; Residual stress; Hydrogen; Fibre reinforced plastic; Energiespeicherung; Druckbeh{\"a}lter; Faserverst{\"a}rkter Kunststoff; Nasswickelverfahren; Eigenspannung}, language = {de} } @phdthesis{Afitiri2025, author = {Afitiri, Abdul-Rahaman}, title = {Development of a solar water disinfection treatment system for sustainable water use in developing countries}, doi = {10.26127/BTUOpen-7247}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-72471}, school = {BTU Cottbus - Senftenberg}, year = {2025}, abstract = {Direct dependence on surface water poses a threat to human health when consumed without treatment. While solar water disinfection treatment systems (SODIS) help improve the quality of surface water for rural households, SODIS approaches, implementation, and adoption have some limitations. Consequently, this study developed a hybrid water disinfection treatment system at the laboratory scale, integrating novel Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOP). Additionally, surface water quality, the challenges, and enablers of effective implementation of SODIS in rural Ghana were assessed. Two hybrid disinfection systems in continuous flow with reactor volumes of 300 ml each were operated. The disinfection of Staphylococcus aureus in the hybrid disinfection system achieved a 99.60\% reduction at 360 min, while complete disinfection (100\%) was achieved with photocatalyst integration without regrowth after post-treatment storage for 24 hr. A proportionate 96.24\% disinfection rate was achieved for Salmonella senftenberg within 360 min in the hybrid disinfection system while 100\% disinfection was achieved with the integration of a photocatalyst. Similarly, no regrowth of Salmonella senftenberg was observed after 24 hr post-treatment storage. The disinfection of Bacillus subtilis was optimized from 95.46\% in the hybrid treatment system to 99.99\% in the hybrid system with photocatalyst within 360 min. Furthermore, a disinfection proportion of 99.97\% was achieved in the hybrid system at 360 min, while 100\% disinfection was achieved with the hybrid disinfection system at 300 min for Escherichia coli with the integration of photocatalyst. No Escherichia coli re-growth was observed after a 24 hr post treatment storage. The water quality index generated based on the surface water quality assessment showed that all surface water sources are polluted largely due to total and faecal coliforms. The results proved that SODIS can serve as a suitable water treatment approach for adoption in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba (STK) District. Out of 1155 respondents, 97\% of the respondents are willing to accept and adopt a SODIS. Based on the findings, the enablers of effective SODIS implementation were willingness to pay for SODIS, household and community participation, and willingness to use water from SODIS. The identified barriers to the implementation of SODIS were environmental, technological, political and legal, and economic barriers. Compositional and contextual factors such as age, marital status, education, religion, and geographical location significantly mediate and attenuate households' willingness to accept and adopt SODIS in the STK District of Ghana.}, subject = {Water disinfection; Optimization; Photocatalyst; Solar water disinfection treatment systems; Willingness to accept; Wasserdesinfektion; Optimierung; Photokatalysator; SODIS; Bereitschaft zur Annahme; Region Savannah; Solartechnik; Desinfektion; Oberfl{\"a}chenwasser; Photokatalysator}, language = {en} } @misc{OPUS4-7096, title = {Amtliches Mitteilungsblatt der BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, 2026,01 (09.01.2026)}, doi = {10.26127/BTUOpen-7096}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-70963}, year = {2026}, abstract = {Neufassung der fachspezifischen Pr{\"u}fungs- und Studienordnung f{\"u}r den Bachelor-Studiengang Angewandte Naturwissenschaften B.Sc. vom 08. Januar 2026}, language = {de} } @article{MathiazhaganKimVeginietal.2025, author = {Mathiazhagan, Akilan and Kim, Dongsuk and Vegini, George and Montemurro, Marco and Baltag, Serghei and Asli, Majid and H{\"o}schler, Klaus}, title = {Design strategies for enhancement of mechanical behaviour of hybrid cellular structures based on schwarz primitive geometry}, series = {Materials \& Design}, volume = {240}, journal = {Materials \& Design}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0264-1275}, doi = {10.1016/j.matdes.2025.115161}, year = {2025}, abstract = {Hybrid cellular structures are gaining attention for their multi-functionality in load-bearing, heat-transfer, and energy-absorption applications. Schwarz Primitive (SCP)-based geometries, a subclass of Triply Periodic Minimal Surfaces (TPMS), with their high surface area, tunable properties, and continuous topology, provide strong potential for such applications. To further enhance mechanical performance and stability, this work conducts a thorough investigation of hybrid designs that integrate SCP TPMS with Kelvin truss-based geometries, combining the high connectivity of TPMS with the reinforcement and directional stiffness benefits of struts. A theoretical strain-based homogenization framework was implemented over a design matrix that independently varies the relative densities of the SCP and the truss geometries, quantifying how each constituent proportion influences the overall mechanical response of the hybrid. These predictions were corroborated by finite element analyses in ANSYS 2023 and by mechanical testing of 3D-printed polylactic acid samples, providing independent validation of homogenization trends across orientations. The resulting formulation enables rapid property mapping, sensitivity analysis, and optimization of SCP-Kelvin hybrids, thereby reducing the prototyping effort while guiding application-based design selection and customization.}, subject = {Lightweight design; Anisotropy control; Homogenization; Triply periodic minimal surfaces; Periodic open cellular structures}, language = {en} } @techreport{HackenbergWeidnerLangetal.2025, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Hackenberg, Sinah and Weidner, Silke and Lang, Christian and Lange, Mara and Prokesova, Laura and Reinhardt, Annsophie and Rudolph, Marie and Schneider, Anne-Kathrin and Schneider, Emilia and Siemeister, Frederik and Stix, Charlotte and Strom, Johannes and Tauber, Eric and Murimets, Natalia}, title = {Manifest f{\"u}r einen offenen Campus}, issn = {2941-7406}, doi = {10.26127/BTUOpen-7200}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-72004}, year = {2025}, abstract = {Der Campus der BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg und die Stadt Cottbus stehen in einem wechselseitigen, potenzialreichen Verh{\"a}ltnis zueinander: W{\"a}hrend die Universit{\"a}t kontinuierlich Impulse f{\"u}r Wissen, Innovation und kulturelle Vielfalt gibt, bietet Cottbus mit seinem historischen, sozialen und r{\"a}umlichen Gef{\"u}ge einen inspirierenden Kontext f{\"u}r Lehre, Forschung und st{\"a}dtisches Leben. Dennoch ist der Campus r{\"a}umlich wie funktional vom Stadtkern getrennt. Neben physischen Barrieren erschweren auch mentale Hemmschwellen und eine geringe Nutzungsvielfalt seine Integration in den {\"o}ffentlichen Raum. Im Seminar „Beteiligungsprozesse in Stadt- und Regionalplanung" untersuchten Studierende daher, wie r{\"a}umliche, programmatische und soziale „Trittsteine" geschaffen werden k{\"o}nnen, um den Campus st{\"a}rker mit dem st{\"a}dtischen Alltag zu verkn{\"u}pfen. Ausgangspunkt war eine Analyse informeller Beteiligungsverfahren, aus der ein „Katalog der Beteiligung" als methodischer Werkzeugkasten hervorging. Darauf aufbauend realisierten die Studierenden zwei konkrete Formate: eine Zukunftswerkstatt mit {\"u}ber f{\"u}nfzig Teilnehmenden sowie einen Stadtspaziergang, der den Campus als Teil des {\"o}ffentlichen Raums erfahrbar machte. Die Ergebnisse wurden in einer Ausstellung pr{\"a}sentiert und in einem Manifest zusammengef{\"u}hrt, das konkrete Handlungsempfehlungen an die Stadt Cottbus und die BTU formuliert. Ziel ist es, den Campus als offenen, urbanen Freiraum f{\"u}r alle Stadtbewohner:innen zu verankern und die Trennung zwischen Universit{\"a}t und Stadt nachhaltig zu {\"u}berwinden.}, subject = {Offener Campus; Stadtentwicklung; Stadtmanagement; Campus f{\"u}r alle; Stadt als Campus; Citydevelopment; Citymanagement; University; Urban campus; Participation; Cottbus; Campus; Stadtteilplanung; Strategisches Management; B{\"u}rgerbeteiligung; {\"O}ffentlicher Raum; Freifl{\"a}che; Stadtgr{\"u}n; Biodiversit{\"a}t; Barrierefreiheit}, language = {de} } @techreport{NowakowskiWiechers2025, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Nowakowski, Jan and Wiechers, Henk}, title = {Leitstrategien nachhaltiger Mobilit{\"a}t im l{\"a}ndlichen Tourismus : Handlungsans{\"a}tze in der Lausitz am Beispiel des Spreewaldes und des Lausitzer Seenlandes}, issn = {2941-7406}, doi = {10.26127/BTUOpen-7177}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-71775}, year = {2025}, abstract = {Das Working Paper untersucht Leitstrategien nachhaltiger Mobilit{\"a}t im l{\"a}ndlichen Tourismus am Beispiel der Lausitz, mit Fokus auf die Tourismusregionen Spreewald und Lausitzer Seenland. Grundlage ist das Konzept der drei Leitstrategien nachhaltiger Mobilit{\"a}t - Suffizienz (vermeiden), Konsistenz (verlagern) und Effizienz (verbessern) -, die als strategischer Rahmen f{\"u}r eine sozial-{\"o}kologische Mobilit{\"a}tswende etabliert sind. Eine systematische {\"U}bertragung auf die touristische Mobilit{\"a}t blieb bislang jedoch weitgehend unber{\"u}cksichtigt. Ziel der Untersuchung ist es, Handlungsans{\"a}tze nachhaltiger touristischer Mobilit{\"a}t in beiden Regionen zu identifizieren und den Leitstrategien zuzuordnen. Methodisch kombiniert das Working Paper eine qualitative Dokumentenanalyse von zw{\"o}lf tourismusbezogenen Konzeptpapieren mit drei leitfadengest{\"u}tzten Expert*inneninterviews. Die Analyse ergibt f{\"u}nf zentrale Handlungsans{\"a}tze: (1) Ausbau des {\"O}PNV, (2) Qualifizierung des Fahrradtourismus, (3) Antriebswende {\"u}ber E-Mobilit{\"a}t, (4) Besucher*innenlenkung sowie (5) G{\"a}stekarten mit kostenfreier Nutzung des {\"O}PNV. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass bestehende Handlungsans{\"a}tze vorrangig auf Optimierung (Effizienz) und Verlagerung (Konsistenz) setzen. Eine tiefgreifende Transformation touristischer Mobilit{\"a}t erfordert jedoch auch die Integration suffizienzorientierter Strategien. Nur die kombinierte Anwendung aller drei Leitstrategien bietet die M{\"o}glichkeit, die Herausforderungen nachhaltiger touristischer Mobilit{\"a}t in l{\"a}ndlichen R{\"a}umen umfassend zu bew{\"a}ltigen.}, subject = {Nachhaltige Mobilit{\"a}t; Tourismus; Nachhaltigkeitsstrategien; Spreewald; Lausitzer Seenland; Tourism; Sustainble mobility; Lusatian Lakeland; Spreewald; Lausitzer Seenland; Spreewald; Tourismus; Mobilit{\"a}t; Nachhaltigkeit}, language = {de} } @phdthesis{Shubhani2025, author = {Shubhani,}, title = {Greening the institutions : curatorial activism's impact on environmental awareness in South India}, doi = {10.26127/BTUOpen-7195}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-71950}, school = {BTU Cottbus - Senftenberg}, year = {2025}, abstract = {This practice-based PhD explores the pivotal role of curators in enhancing the relationship between audiences and environmental art projects, focusing on the transformative potential of curatorial activism in the unique cultural context of India. Employing the counterhegemonic strategy of the relational approach, this research examines curatorial activism across various institutional settings. Through a practice-based methodological design, this project evaluates the efficacy of cultural institutions to communicate environmental crises and climate science to the public. It aims to generate a rich, original inquiry by organising exhibitions and events collaborating with environmental activists, artists, and institutions. This thesis highlights the curator's role as a researcher, educator, and mediator, bridging the gap between environmental art activism and curatorial discourse. Critical analysis of audience engagement in curated events like 'Who will Speak: Me? You? Or Nobody?' (2022), 'Waking up to the Fierce Urgency' (2022), and 'Ink \& Ecology: Eco-stories for a Sustainable Future' (2023) vividly demonstrate the profound impact of combining relational strategies with curatorial practices. This research significantly contributes to curatorial discourse and environmental art theory by questioning how curatorial activism can enhance audience engagement and foster transformative impacts, inspiring curators to recognise the power of their roles in shaping public discourse. The conceptual framework draws on Maura Reilly's curatorial activism and the scholarly reflections of Jean-Paul Martinon and Irit Rogoff on curatorial knowledge events. The insights of activist artist Ravi Agarwal and cultural critic TJ Demos on contemporary Indian environmental art practices further inform this study, emphasising a move beyond aesthetic approaches to critical curating. By intersecting political ecology with curatorial activism, this research meticulously analyses curatorial strategies and their ethical responsibilities towards the environmental crisis. It identifies current trends, evaluates the impact of curated projects, and investigates the relationship between institutional frameworks and art activism. The study strongly asserts that in the Indian context, curatorial activism, enriched with cultural and regional nuances, cannot just emerge but also stand as a potent tool for advancing politicised and critical curatorial practices, underlining the urgency and importance of this research.}, subject = {Activist art; Audience engagement; Curatorial activism; Environmental art; Relational approach; Aktivistische Kunst; Publikumsbeteiligung; Kuratorischer Aktivismus; Umweltkunst; Relationaler Ansatz; Indien (S{\"u}d); Kunstverein; Kulturverein; Veranstaltung; Ausstellung; Kuratieren; Kunst; Politische {\"O}kologie; Publikum; Beteiligung}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Lehniger2025, author = {Lehniger, Kai}, title = {Stack buffer overflow attacks and countermeasures with register windows on the example of Xtensa LX}, doi = {10.26127/BTUOpen-7226}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-72262}, school = {BTU Cottbus - Senftenberg}, year = {2025}, abstract = {Stack buffer overflows are vulnerabilities that occur due to missing bounds checks when writing data into local buffers. These vulnerabilities have been exploited for decades and persist until today due to the usage of popular programming languages like C and C++, which allow arrays to be accessed without any checks. Over the years a wide variety of countermeasures was introduces, ranging from static analysis to various forms of runtime checks. Register windows are a hardware architecture feature that was developed for Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC) architectures to reduce the overhead for function calls and returns due to the necessary load and store instructions. With register windows, a processor is equipped with a large number of registers, but only a part, the register window, is visible to the program. With a function call, the register window moves to a new set of registers for the function to use. When the function returns, the register window moves back. The physical register set is used like a ring buffer and if it overflows, an exception interrupts the program execution to save the content of the overflown registers to the stack. Underflow exceptions on the other hand are responsible to restore the content when the control flow returns to a function that had its registers overflown. With return addresses, stack pointers, and function arguments being held in registers, often being targeted by stack buffer overflow attacks, the register window mechanism has a direct influence on these attacks and their countermeasures. This thesis investigates these influences using the Xtensa Lx architecture as an example, as it is used in the popular ESP32 microcontroller. In a first part, window overflows and underflows are used to craft stack buffer overflow based attacks, with a focus being Return-Oriented Programming (ROP). A second part investigates selected countermeasures, including canaries, XOR cookies, shadow stacks, and encryption. Here the focus is how these countermeasures can or need to be adjusted in order to be used with register windows or how register windows can be used to improve performance or security. A following chapter addresses specific aspects of the implementation of said countermeasures. All countermeasure implementations have been evaluated using Bristol/Embecosm Embedded Benchmark Suite (BEEBS), a collection of 80 benchmarks for embedded devices, to show their performance for a wide variety of use-cases. The presented results show the potential of register windows to implement very performant countermeasures against stack buffer overflow attacks.}, subject = {Buffer overflow; IT-security; Xtensa; Register window; Puffer{\"u}berl{\"a}ufe; Registerfenster; IT-Sicherheit; Gegenmaßnahmen; Angriffe ; Puffer{\"u}berlauf; Computersicherheit; Gegenmaßnahme}, language = {en} } @article{EltaherBreuss2025, author = {Eltaher, Mahmoud and Breuß, Michael}, title = {Deep learning for unsupervised 3D shape representation with superquadrics}, series = {AI}, volume = {6}, journal = {AI}, number = {12}, publisher = {MDPI}, address = {Lausanne}, issn = {2673-2688}, doi = {10.3390/ai6120317}, year = {2025}, abstract = {The representation of 3D shapes from point clouds remains a fundamental challenge in computer vision. A common approach decomposes 3D objects into interpretable geometric primitives, enabling compact, structured, and efficient representations. Building upon prior frameworks, this study introduces an enhanced unsupervised deep learning approach for 3D shape representation using superquadrics. The proposed framework fits a set of superquadric primitives to 3D objects through a fully integrated, differentiable pipeline that enables efficient optimization and parameter learning, directly extracting geometric structure from 3D point clouds without requiring ground-truth segmentation labels. This work introduces three key advancements that substantially improve representation quality, interpretability, and evaluation rigor: (1) A uniform sampling strategy that enhances training stability compared with random sampling used in earlier models; (2) An overlapping loss that penalizes intersections between primitives, reducing redundancy and improving reconstruction coherence; and (3) A novel evaluation framework comprising Primitive Accuracy, Structural Accuracy, and Overlapping Percentage metrics. This new metric design transitions from point-based to structure-aware assessment, enabling fairer and more interpretable comparison across primitive-based models. Comprehensive evaluations on benchmark 3D shape datasets demonstrate that the proposed modifications yield coherent, compact, and semantically consistent shape representations, establishing a robust foundation for interpretable and quantitative evaluation in primitive-based 3D reconstruction.}, subject = {3D shape representation; Superquadrics; Deep learning; Unsupervised learning; Point clouds; Geometric modeling}, language = {en} }