OPUS documents https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/index/index/ Fri, 07 Aug 2026 16:41:18 +0200 Fri, 07 Aug 2026 16:41:18 +0200 https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/frontdoor/index/index/docId/1063 Marketing text analysis often relies on narrow, specialized datasets: too limited for generic large-scale NLP, yet too large for manual review. This dissertation introduces labeled UD-LDA, a topic model that conditions topic propagation on Universal Dependencies, allowing topics to flow along syntactic relations rather than relying solely on word order or co-occurrence. Applied to three customer review datasets, it outperforms standard benchmarks, yielding better model fit and more distinct yet coherent topics. Modeling propagation as a function of dependency type reveals that modifiers and function words promote topic consistency, while relations linking distinct syntactic units suppress it, showing that grammar systematically structures latent thematic content. Thomas Rußer-Strobel doctoralthesis https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/frontdoor/index/index/docId/1063 Fri, 07 Aug 2026 16:41:18 +0200 https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/frontdoor/index/index/docId/1058 Leadership development is often approached as an individual process focused on traits, competencies, and formal learning interventions. This dissertation reconceptualizes leadership development as a socially embedded, observational, and contextually shaped process, termed Observational Leadership Development. With particular attention to management consultancies as dynamic professional environments characterized by frequent exposure to diverse leader role models, the dissertation draws on social learning theory, identity theory, and qualitative analysis to examine how individuals learn leadership through observing, interpreting, and selectively integrating the behaviors, values, and practices of multiple leader role models. Across three studies, it develops a conceptual understanding of leader role models, identifies key characteristics, and shows how career ambitions, organizational context, and career tenure influence role model selection and leadership learning. It further identifies three reflective processing modes — situational adaptation, selective integration, and contrastive delineation — that explain how observed leadership experiences are translated into leader identity formation. Building on these insights, the dissertation proposes a Leadership Learning Cycle that captures the recursive interplay of observation, reflection, identity work, and contextual influence in leadership development. Franziska Weindel doctoralthesis https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/frontdoor/index/index/docId/1058 Fri, 07 Aug 2026 12:16:16 +0200 https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/frontdoor/index/index/docId/1067 Tobias Potoczki doctoralthesis https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/frontdoor/index/index/docId/1067 Wed, 05 Aug 2026 11:08:58 +0200 https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/frontdoor/index/index/docId/1061 Überlegungen zur menschlichen Natur werden bereits seit Jahrtausenden diskutiert. Ausgehend von philosophischen Gedanken aus der Antike werden Fragen nach der Natur des Menschen über die Philosophie hinausgehend in vielen unterschiedlichen Wissenschaften aufgegriffen, wie die Theologie, Biologie, Soziologie, Politikwissenschaft, Wirtschaftswissenschaften, Anthropologie und auch die Psychologie. Wahrend es in der Philosophie um normativ-philosophische Annahmen geht, stehen innerhalb der Psychologie subjektive Annahmen im Vordergrund, die mittels empirischer Methoden untersucht und erhoben werden. Auch auf dieser Grundlage wurden, genau wie in den anderen genannten Disziplinen auch, unterschiedliche Menschenbildannahmen proklamiert, die die implizite Grundlage ebenso unterschiedlicher wissenschaftlicher Strömungen, Theorien und Modelle bilden. Menschenbilder werden in dieser Arbeit aus psychologischer Sicht betrachtet und untersucht. Damit wird die subjektive Seite in den Vordergrund gestellt wird. Denn überraschenderweise gibt es - auch innerhalb der Psychologie - weitaus weniger empirische Forschung zu Menschenbildern und Menschenbildannahmen, als man angesichts der Bedeutung des Forschungsfeldes erwarten könnte. In dieser Arbeit ist von Menschenbildannahmen die Rede, die die Subjektivität der Annahmen betonen, die sich zugleich empirisch betrachten und erheben lassen und die die Vereinbarkeit vielfältiger Annahmen über die menschliche Natur ermöglichen, statt sich auf ein spezifisches und fest definiertes Menschenbild festzulegen. Menschenbildannahmen sind definiert als Annahmen von Individuen über Menschen im Allgemeinen und umfassen die subjektive Zuschreibung vielfältiger Attribute wie Eigenschaften, Fähigkeiten und Neigungen zur menschlichen Natur. Damit sind diese Attribute subjektiv grundsätzlich auf alle Menschen anwendbar. Es ist denkbar, dass das Maß, in welchem diese Annahmen von einem Individuum auf bestimmte Personen angewandt werden, davon abhängt, wie viele spezifische Informationen dem Individuum zu der betreffenden Person zur Verfügung stehen. In Studie 1 (N = 333) wurde, aufbauend auf den Attributen, die im Diskurs zu vermeintlich allgemeingültigen Menschenbildern der menschlichen Natur zugeschrieben wurden, ein Skaleninventar entwickelt, mit dem subjektive Menschenbildannahmen in Fragebogenstudien gemessen werden können. Dieses Skaleninventar wurde in Studie 2 (N = 525) zunächst auf Basis positiver Korrelationen mit verwandten Konstrukten konvergent validiert und anschließend ihr Zusammenhang mit kooperativen Konfliktlösungsverhalten untersucht. Die Ergebnisse darauf hin, dass die Annahme, dass Menschen von Natur aus beziehungsorientiert sind, vermittelt über Empathie, Verantwortung, Beziehungszufriedenheit und Kontakthäufigkeit, einen positiven Zusammenhang mit kooperativem Konfliktlösungsverhalten haben kann. Auch die Annahmen, dass Menschen inhärent eigennützig und hilfsbereit sind, tragen zur Erklärung dieser Konflikt-variable bei. Hierauf wurde in Studie 3 (N = 906) ein erster empirischer Hinweis gefunden, in der kooperatives Konfliktlösungsverhalten mittels der Theorie des geplanten Verhaltens erklärt wurde. Hier haben die beiden Annahmen jeweils einen moderierenden Effekt. Zuletzt wurde in Studie 4 (N = 649) längsschnittlich untersucht, inwiefern Menschenbildannahmen einen Einfluss auf die Präferenzen für Faschismus, Konservatismus, Liberalismus, Sozialismus und Ökologismus haben: Annahmen über die menschliche Natur tragen hier zur Erklärung dieser fünf politischen Einstellungen bei, wobei die Effekte von soziodemographischen Variablen moderiert werden. In der Gesamtschau zeigt die Studienreihe, dass der psychologische Ansatz der Menschenbildannahmen Subjektivität und Vielfältigkeit der Annahmen über die menschliche Natur vereint. Er ermöglicht damit die gemeinsame empirische Erforschung dieser Annahmen. Die ersten empirischen Befunde aus dieser Arbeit sprechen für die Relevanz von Menschenbildannahmen in psychologischen Erklärungsmodellen. Damit legt diese Arbeit einen Grundstein, um mit der empirischen Forschung zu subjektiven Menschenbildannahmen psychologische Erklärungsmodelle in verschiedenen Kontexten zu ergänzen und die Forschung zur menschlichen Natur um eine neue Perspektive zu erweitern. Adrian Landwehr doctoralthesis https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/frontdoor/index/index/docId/1061 Tue, 04 Aug 2026 07:37:34 +0200 https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/frontdoor/index/index/docId/1055 This dissertation investigates fairness and efficiency challenges in urban logistics systems. The research combines mathematical optimization models, heuristic solution approaches, and machine learning methods to support decision-making in collaborative logistics networks and cost allocation problems. A first focus of the dissertation is the collaboration of logistics service providers in two-tier city logistics systems. To this end, mathematical models are developed that integrate strategic and operational planning decisions while accounting for both economic and environmental objectives. Since the resulting optimization problems cannot be solved exactly for realistically sized instances, specialized metaheuristic solution methods are proposed to generate high-quality solutions within reasonable computation times. The results demonstrate that collaboration can substantially reduce transportation costs and emissions, while simultaneously raising important questions regarding the fair distribution of benefits and responsibilities among participating stakeholders. Building upon this foundation, the dissertation examines different fairness concepts in collaborative logistics systems. Fairness requirements related to cost allocation, workload distribution, and service regularity are incorporated into mathematical planning models. The computational experiments show that fairness constraints significantly influence system performance and that evaluating fairness over longer planning horizons can provide a balanced trade-off between economic, environmental, and social objectives. A second major focus of the dissertation concerns the allocation of routing costs using the Shapley value from cooperative game theory. While the Shapley value is widely regarded as one of the fairest allocation mechanisms, its exact computation becomes computationally prohibitive for large-scale optimization problems. To address this challenge, two approximation approaches are developed. The first employs machine learning techniques to predict Shapley values based on structural characteristics of optimization problems. The second is a problem-independent approach that approximates Shapley values through the aggregation of exact values computed for smaller subcoalitions. Computational results demonstrate that both approaches achieve high approximation accuracy while significantly reducing computation times. Overall, the dissertation contributes to the development of fair and efficient decision-support methods for urban logistics systems. By combining techniques from operations research, cooperative game theory, and machine learning, the proposed models and algorithms provide both theoretical insights and practical guidance for the design of sustainable and collaborative logistics systems. Johannes Gückel doctoralthesis https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/frontdoor/index/index/docId/1055 Wed, 22 Jul 2026 10:20:53 +0200 https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/frontdoor/index/index/docId/1057 The present cumulative thesis is concerned with theoretical properties of (deep) fully connected neural networks. It is based on five publications and can be divided into two parts. In the first part, we establish bounds on the ℓᵖ-Lipschitz constants of deep ReLU neural networks at initialization, that is, networks with random weights and biases. More precisely, we assume that the weights and biases are drawn according to a generalization of the popular He initialization. In the zero-bias case, we prove upper and lower high-probability bounds for wide networks that differ only by a logarithmic factor in the network width and a polynomial factor in the network depth. We then extend the analysis to symmetric bias distributions, for which similar bounds are established. The second part of the thesis investigates the approximation capabilities of complex-valued neural networks (CVNNs), that is, networks with complex-valued weights and biases and with activation functions mapping from ℂ to ℂ. We prove sharp quantitative bounds for the worst-case approximation error when approximating Cʳ-functions by shallow CVNNs, both under continuous weight selection and without any assumptions on the weight selection. As part of this analysis, we generalize well-known results on the approximation properties of univariate ridge functions to the multivariate setting. Moreover, we study the universality of deep, narrow CVNNs, that is, classes of CVNNs with restricted width but arbitrary depth. Paul Geuchen doctoralthesis https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/frontdoor/index/index/docId/1057 Tue, 14 Jul 2026 10:09:28 +0200 https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/frontdoor/index/index/docId/1054 This dissertation examines the role of tax policy in enhancing a country’s attractiveness as a business location and promoting corporate investment, innovation, and economic growth. Against the backdrop of declining economic growth in Germany and increasing structural challenges, the study investigates whether tax incentives and efficient tax frameworks can stimulate private investment and strengthen international competitiveness. The dissertation consists of three empirical studies. Chapter 1 analyzes the effects of tax incentives for automation using a quasi-natural experiment based on a reduction in South Koreas automation tax credit and a difference-in-differences approach combining robot and firm-level data. Chapter 2 evaluates the effectiveness of indirect tax incentives for research and development (R&D), focusing on Germany’s research allowance and drawing on both existing empirical evidence and innovation data. Chapter 3 examines the economic consequences of tax complexity using an international sample of publicly listed firms and a two-way fixed effects regression framework. The findings show that tax incentives significantly influence corporate investment decisions. Automation tax incentives increase investment in automation but may also encourage inefficient over investment, while their reduction leads to lower automation investment and higher employment. R&D tax incentives stimulate research expenditure, innovation output, productivity, and R&D-related employment. At the same time, the results demonstrate that tax complexity imposes substantial economic costs by reducing firm value, increasing compliance burdens, and weakening the effectiveness of tax incentives. Overall, the dissertation highlights that tax policy can contribute to economic growth and location attractiveness when it simultaneously provides targeted investment incentives and maintains a transparent and efficient tax system. The findings offer important implications for the design of tax policy aimed at fostering investment, innovation, and long-term competitiveness. Anna-Sophie Braun doctoralthesis https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/frontdoor/index/index/docId/1054 Tue, 30 Jun 2026 13:10:13 +0200 https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/frontdoor/index/index/docId/1052 Despite significant technological advancements, the development lifecycle of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) bots remains heavily labor-intensive and difficult to scale. Robotic Process Mining (RPM) has emerged to automate this lifecycle by discovering routine behaviors directly from user interaction (UI) logs. However, current state-of-the-art RPM tools depend on clean, pre-segmented recordings, effectively shifting the burden of task isolation onto the user. In reality, unsegmented real-world UI logs are highly unstructured, contextually diverse, and filled with intra- and inter-routine noise. This cumulative dissertation addresses these limitations through a strategic and operational enhancement of the RPM pipeline across four research essays. First, it examines how human developer decision-making shapes RPA bot programming and maps these practices to identify gaps in current automation tools. To bridge the semantic gap between recorded actions and deployable code, an ontology-driven conceptual framework is introduced to formalize user actions and RPA building blocks. The technical core of the dissertation introduces two novel unsupervised time-series data mining approaches designed to decouple routine discovery from human intervention. By leveraging Word2Vec encoding, matrix profiles, and grammar induction, these methods adaptively segment variable-length automation candidates directly from continuous, high-noise work sessions. Ultimately, the artifacts presented in this work resolve critical semantic and scalability bottlenecks, paving the way for fully autonomous and resilient hyper-automation enterprise capabilities. Tom Hohenadl doctoralthesis https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/frontdoor/index/index/docId/1052 Fri, 26 Jun 2026 07:16:25 +0200 https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/frontdoor/index/index/docId/1048 Anxiety disorders (ADs) are one of the most prevalent mental disorders, affecting up to around 30% of the population worldwide (Jacobi et al., 2014; Szuhany & Simon, 2022). They represent pathological anxiety and fear, marked by disproportionate emotional and physiological responses in the absence of real threat, leading to avoidance behavior or safety strategies. They often include panic attacks with cardiovascular and respiratory symptoms. ADs impair functioning, reduce quality of life, and impose a major socioeconomic burden (Baxter et al., 2014; Santomauro et al., 2021). The pathogenesis of AD is multifactorial, including biological, psychological, and environmental causes. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), integrating exposure to feared situations and targeting maladaptive beliefs, is a widely used and highly effective treatment for various AD (Bandelow et al., 2023; Hofmann et al., 2025). Nevertheless, approximately one-third of patients do not respond to treatment. Identifying underlying mechanisms of action for CBT treatments and disentangling biological and psychological risk factors would allow a better understanding of the etiology of ADs. Moreover, it would allow to determine the utility of biomarkers in predicting therapy response and relapse risk as well as the development of a more personalized “precision” medicine to tailor treatments to the individual's needs, which has the potential to improve treatment response rates. Hence, recent research efforts have focused more on individual differences to identify relevant factors for the prediction of therapy response: biological mechanisms, such as (epi-)genetics and stress hormones, environmental factors, such as maltreatment experiences or resulting attachment styles, as well as therapy process variables, such as therapeutic alliance (Bandelow et al., 2016; Bandelow et al., 2017; Fava & Morton, 2009; Zilcha-Mano & Fisher, 2022). However, our understanding of how psychotherapy might be influenced by, e.g., (epi-)genetics and the biological stress response, is still limited. Even less is known about the impact of CBT on biological processes. Understanding the impact of CBT as a positive and predictable environmental factor becomes even more relevant as many studies have highlighted how intertwined the environment, e.g., maltreatment experiences, is with biological mechanisms, e.g., related to stress response (Fischer et al., 2021) and epigenetics (Weber et al., 2025). Interestingly, attachment style has also emerged as a relevant risk factor for the development of ADs (Levy et al., 2011). Further, it seems likely that attachment style influences the psychotherapy success of AD via the therapeutic alliance (for a meta-analysis see Notsu et al., 2025). Hence, it seems important to understand how CBT for AD is influenced by and may influence biological mechanisms and relational processes. An integration of research results from various domains within a bio-psycho-social model could contribute to a better understanding of the contributions of several mechanisms in therapy. Aiming to address this research gap, we conducted the following studies. In Publication I, we conducted a literature review of how CBT might be related to and might influence the functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in patients with ADs. Since it is one of the most relevant biological systems for stress response, understanding changes within this system is particularly relevant for patients suffering from ADs. Overall, we found evidence supporting the idea that cortisol levels have the potential to indicate the AD disease status and serve as a possible biomarker in therapy response prediction. In detail, the reviewed studies suggest that persistently elevated cortisol levels seem to impede therapy response. We further focused on how CBT, specifically therapeutic exposure to feared situations, might influence HPA axis functioning. A beneficial effect of cortisol elevation during exposure or, in reverse, effects of a blunted HPA system response on an unfavorable outcome are supported. Moreover, effective CBT treatment seems to normalize HPA system hyperfunction. Additionally, cognitive processes, e.g., positive anticipatory appraisal, attribution, perceived controllability, and coping, seem to have an impact on adaptive HPA system functioning. Second, we conducted a therapy progress study with patients suffering from panic disorder (PD) undergoing CBT at the outpatient clinic of the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry in Munich. We assessed dynamic changes in epigenetic (gene methylation and expression), metabolomic (small molecules produced by metabolism), and immune system biomarkers, as well as in relational patterns (attachment style, interpersonal distress, and therapeutic alliance). We applied several measures, including various questionnaires and taking blood samples, during a standardized short-term exposure-based CBT (12 sessions and two booster sessions) at several time points: pre-/ post-, mid-treatment, exposure sessions, and follow-up. Biological markers on different levels were analyzed: Publication II identified specific DNA methylation signatures (HECA gene), which, as time-stable heritable gene-regulatory mechanisms, might serve as biomarkers for PD, thereby revealing potential epigenetic mechanisms. Publication III found that exposure to a feared situation induced significant changes in a plasma metabolite, namely glyoxylate, linked to the experienced anxiety level. These findings suggest that the metabolome might serve as a dynamic marker for different anxiety states. The related gene expression changes during exposure therapy were subtle but may indicate biological correlates of acute panic attacks and therapy success. Publication IV found that specific DNA methylation, such as within the gene for the serotonin receptor 3A related to the regulation of panic states and fear circuitry, as well as immune system patterns related to PD and acute fear (including arginase 1 gene methylation, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, B cells, and granulocytes), were altered during and after successful exposure therapy. Further, these changes were related to therapy response. In combination, the findings of studies III and IV highlight the possible role of epigenetics in the effects of CBT and its potential as a biomarker for treatment outcome. In publication V, we analyzed psychological process variables throughout the course of the therapy, namely the relationship between attachment style changes and the working alliance. We found that an insecure, specifically anxious attachment style was reduced after treatment. Further, decreased anxious attachment was associated with improvements in symptom severity, therapeutic alliance, and interpersonal difficulties, which in turn were related to the effectiveness of CBT. Furthermore, findings showed that general attachment style and interpersonal distress seem to moderate the relation between the therapeutic alliance and subsequent symptom severity. The study highlights the dynamics and potential positive effects of standardized short-term CBT on interpersonal patterns. The publications provide insights into both the pathophysiology of AD and the treatment mechanisms involved in CBT, aiming to enhance understanding of effective treatments and personalized approaches for AD patients. They emphasize, on the one hand, biological mechanisms potentially influenced by CBT: changes in the HPA system (cortisol levels), genetics (DNA methylation and gene expression), metabolomic shifts (glyoxylate regulation), and immune system dynamics. On the other hand, psychological processes are corroborated, highlighting the importance of cognitive factors, interpersonal patterns, and therapeutic alliance in the treatment of PD. Overall, multilevel changes are shown, which support a bio-psycho-social approach to PD treatment. Despite its limitations, this work highlights the probable multifaceted impact of CBT on AD/ PD and advances understanding of treatment mechanisms which could guide a more integrative approach to mental health. Future progress lies in tailoring treatments to individual needs and tracking outcomes with both biomarkers and psychological assessments. Jennifer Friederike Lange doctoralthesis https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/frontdoor/index/index/docId/1048 Mon, 01 Jun 2026 13:04:46 +0200 https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/frontdoor/index/index/docId/1023 This cumulative dissertation addresses four problems in resilient network design under disruption uncertainty with a specific focus on waterborne disruptions that affect the transportation costs within the network. The first paper covers the integrated resilient network design problem under transportation cost un-certainty. The focus is on the integration of strategic, tactical, and operational resilience decisions, as well as the influence of the ability to predict disruptions in the short-term, and potential limitations of the operational decisions within capacity limits. The problem is modeled as a two-stage stochastic program. In addition, a problem-specific Benders decomposition algorithm is developed with a non-standard split of decision variables to solve particularly large problem instances. The second paper focuses on the data-driven optimization of the operational inventory replenishment decision under transportation cost uncertainty. The problem is presented as a multi-stage stochastic program. To solve the problem, a cost-focused machine learning framework is proposed that uses the replenishment decisions under perfect information to train a decision tree that then learns a cost-optimal replenishment policy. The third paper evaluates the influence of product characteristics by considering the multi-product two-echelon resilient network design problem under transportation cost uncertainty. Both different product characteristics and the dependency of considering multiple products are analyzed. The fourth paper outlines a seven-step framework that covers the end-to-end steps a decision maker needs to follow to increase their supply chain resilience. The framework guides decision makers through the process from outlining clear resilience objectives to monitoring overall and enduring success. In addition, problem specifics and characteristics for the network design problem under waterborne disruptions are outlined to facilitate future research. Daniel Müllerklein doctoralthesis https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/frontdoor/index/index/docId/1023 Tue, 26 May 2026 13:26:03 +0200 https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/frontdoor/index/index/docId/1045 Approximately 123.2 million people are currently forcibly displaced worldwide, with many seeking protection in Germany. Traumatic experiences, displacement, and post-migratory stressors often lead to psychological distress and mental health disorders among this vulnerable population. Psychotherapeutic approaches, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and traumaspecific interventions, have proven effective in reducing symptoms of psychological distress among refugees. However, despite high need, few receive adequate care. This is in part due to structural and political barriers, limited access to Germany’s healthcare system, and psychotherapists’ attitudes toward treating refugees. The present dissertation consists of three publications exploring the latter factor, focusing on therapists’ treatment readiness, expected therapeutic outcomes, previous work experience, and professional quality of life as potential obstacles to care. By examining these potential obstacles, this dissertation aims to identify opportunities for enhancing awareness of personal reservations and doubts concerning the treatment of refugee patients among mental health professionals, and to offer a revised perspective on the demands associated with this work. The first publication analyzed the readiness of German psychotherapists to treat refugees, focusing on how patients’ countries of origin affect therapists’ readiness to offer treatment as well as therapists’ expectations of treatment success. The study employed six case vignettes that varied by patients’ gender and country of origin (Syria, Ukraine, Germany). One of these vignettes was randomly presented to a total of n = 623 licensed psychotherapists and n = 218 psychotherapists in training. The participants rated their readiness to treat the presented patient and the anticipated treatment outcome. The results indicate significantly lower readiness to treat refugees than non-refugees. No significant differences were found between Syrian and Ukrainian patients. Regarding expected treatment outcome, therapists anticipated lower success rates for refugees. The vignettes with the Syrian patients received the lowest ratings. The second publication examined whether professional quality of life (ProQOL) and prior experience working with refugees affect therapists’ readiness to provide treatment to this group. ProQOL includes the following three aspects: Burnout, compassion satisfaction, and secondary traumatic stress. Among the 821 licensed psychotherapists and psychotherapists in training surveyed, moderate levels of compassion satisfaction and low levels of burnout and secondary traumatic stress were reported, indicating low overall strain. Compassion satisfaction was positively and secondary traumatic stress negatively correlated with readiness to treat. Incorporating the variable of patients’ refugee background into the analysis negated the effect of secondary traumatic stress on treatment readiness, while the influence of compassion satisfaction remained unchanged. Therapists with prior experience in treating refugees reported higher compassion satisfaction, lower burnout scores, and greater readiness to provide care than those without such experience. However, ProQOL was not significantly correlated with readiness to treat refugees. The third publication examined the ProQOL of psychotherapists and child welfare workers who worked with unaccompanied young refugees (UYR), as well as potential influencing factors. The comparison revealed that child welfare workers experience significantly higher levels of strain than psychotherapists. Psychotherapists with prior experience of treating refugees reported greater compassion satisfaction. Regression analysis showed that a high number of PTSD cases in treatment was associated with increased secondary traumatic stress among psychotherapists. Additionally, trauma-specific training was linked to higher secondary traumatic stress levels in this group. No significant predictors of ProQOL were identified for child welfare workers. This dissertation contributes to the current state of research, as it addresses key barriers in the psychotherapeutic care of refugees. By examining psychotherapists’ treatment readiness, expected treatment success, and professional quality of life, it reveals psychological factors that may impede refugees’ access to care. The findings emphasize the critical need for trauma-specific training, both prior to and following licensure, highlighting its importance for access to qualified care for refugees independent of their countries of origin. Furthermore, the dissertation advocates for early exposure to refugee populations during clinical training. Having prior experience in this area enhances treatment readiness and compassion satisfaction, suggesting that early engagement may foster professional confidence and reduces therapeutic resistance. Adding further depth to this analysis, including child welfare workers working with UYR enriches the understanding of occupational stress and compassion satisfaction in the context of child welfare. By comparing psychotherapists and child welfare workers, this body of work identifies notable disparities in stress levels, thereby calling for more consistent and structured support across professional domains. In sum, this dissertation contributes to the academic discourse on refugees’ mental health and offers practical recommendations for improving mental healthcare utilization by addressing therapists’ characteristics such as ProQOL. To improve these characteristics one may discuss supervision, education or systemic reforms as implications of this dissertation. Pia Maria Schwegler doctoralthesis https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/frontdoor/index/index/docId/1045 Wed, 13 May 2026 14:24:50 +0200 https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/frontdoor/index/index/docId/1044 Understanding redistribution preferences in diverse societies is central to current debates on the European welfare state, yet empirical evidence remains incomplete. This dissertation contributes new evidence towards closing this gap. All three papers build on the large-scale comparative dataset of the ESS. In the first two papers OECD and Eurostat statistics are used to measure immigration. In addition asylum inflows are tracked by means of data from the European Observation Network for Territorial Development and Cohesion (ESPON) in the second paper. In the third paper detailed household income information from the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) is used to enable a microsimulation of transfers required to eliminate poverty under a EU-wide Social Benefit Scheme. Combined, these data allow for both the replication of earlier findings (as in the first paper) and the development of new identification strategies (as in the second and third papers). Across the three studies, three consistent findings emerge. First, material self-interest remains stable over the three research papers: higher income is in general associated with less support for redistribution. Second, the Progressive’s Dilemma is not robust across time or space as the effect of heterogeneity is context-sensitive. Thus, short-run refugee inflows do not automatically undermine solidarity. In contrast, support for redistribution declines in regions less exposed to refugee inflows after 2015, while remaining largely unchanged in regions hosting large numbers of refugees, a robust pattern that runs counter to the Progressive’s Dilemma hypothesis. Third, when redistribution is scaled to the European level, support depends crucially on incidence: individuals in net payer countries, and those who fear lower domestic benefits from EU social policies, are less supportive. Generally, these results suggest that while self-interest is a stable driver, diversity and ethnic heterogeneity are far more complex and indeed context-dependent. This dissertation contributes to the literature in three ways. First, it demonstrates the importance of replication and extension tests that vary along temporal, spatial, and measurement dimensions. The current literature should consider how its empirical basis evolves over time and space. Also, the second paper provides new causal evidence on how asylum inflows shape redistribution preferences by exploiting the so-called “asylum crisis” as a natural experiment that generated exogenous variation in regional ethnic heterogeneity rates. Third, it highlights the role of fiscal incidence in shaping support for cross-national redistribution schemes. Taken together, these contributions advance our understanding of how solidarity, self-interest, and ethnic heterogeneity interact in modern European welfare states. The first paper features an extension test of David Rueda’s (2018) study “Food Comes First, Then Morals: Redistribution Preferences, Parochial Altruism, and Immigration in Western Europe”. It analyzes how household size, an extended time horizon, and the inclusion of Eastern European countries affect the original findings. Building on these results, the second essay—joint work with Jakob Sch¨auble and J¨org Althammer—exploits the European refugee crisis of 2015/16 as a quasi-natural experiment to study the causal effects of increased ethnic heterogeneity on natives’ willingness to support welfare programs. The third essay analyzes how support for a European-wide minimum income scheme differs between individuals living in net payer versus net recipient countries. All essays are based on stand-alone research papers that are included below in their current form. Martin Johannes Mehl doctoralthesis https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/frontdoor/index/index/docId/1044 Tue, 12 May 2026 13:32:39 +0200 https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/frontdoor/index/index/docId/1042 This dissertation investigates how the extractivist model has affected the empowerment of women engaged in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) in post-Havana Colombia, focusing on five mining regions in the department of Antioquia. While much research on Latin American extractivism centres on environmental impacts or organised resistance, this study places the voices of women miners at the centre of analysis. Women miners traditionally play an indispensable role in gold mining, either as alluvial artisanal miners in the ancient form of the barequeo or as scrap workers, known as chatarreras. These women operate in a paradoxical space: as both participants in and disproportionately affected by neoliberal extractive economies, their labour is essential yet criminalised, while their presence is visible yet institutionally and academically ignored. Framed by a revised feminist empowerment (RFE) framework developed through Latin American feminist theory, this research draws on feminist phenomenology, positionality, and qualitative fieldwork, including semi-structured group interviews in the regions of Andes, Buriticá, Zaragoza, Toledo, and Segovia, carried out between April 2022 and February 2024. It demonstrates that empowerment is not a static outcome, but a circular, relational, and negotiated process shaped by patriarchal power relations, critical consciousness, intersectionality, and multiple forms of violence, including economic, territorial, and sexual violence. ASGM, while a source of subsistence and cultural identity, also exposes the miner women, the Mineras, to mercury pollution, precarious labour, and systemic invisibilisation. Formalisation efforts and extractivist policies place the Mineras in a state of invisibility and exclusion rather than providing solutions. Yet, through collective organising, sisterhood, ancestral practices, and community-based alternatives, these women envision and actively create post-extractivist feminist visions grounded in dignity and community care. This dissertation contributes to feminist theory, critical development studies, and extractivist scholarship by making visible the lived realities and empowerment strategies of women miners in one of Colombia’s most gold-rich and conflict-affected territories. Hannah Araxie Rachel Reed doctoralthesis https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/frontdoor/index/index/docId/1042 Tue, 12 May 2026 08:44:46 +0200 https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/frontdoor/index/index/docId/1041 Óscar Daniel Hernández Quiñones doctoralthesis https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/frontdoor/index/index/docId/1041 Fri, 08 May 2026 07:42:42 +0200 https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/frontdoor/index/index/docId/1035 Sturzprozesse stellen einen wesentlichen geomorphologischen Prozess dar und nehmen insbesondere in Hochgebirgsregionen eine bedeutsame Rolle in der Prozessmorphologie ein. Sie beeinflussen die langfristige Relief- und Landschaftsentwicklung sowie den Sedimenttransport und die Sedimentproduktion. In mehreren wissenschaftlichen Studien wird von einer zunehmenden Häufigkeit von Sturzprozessen berichtet. Als Hauptursache für diese Entwicklung wird die fortschreitende Klimaveränderung diskutiert. Obwohl Sturzprozesse überwiegend in hochalpinen und abgelegenen Regionen auftreten, stellen sie aufgrund der zunehmenden Besiedlung und anthropogenen Nutzung des Alpenraums ein ernst zu nehmendes Naturgefahrenpotential für Mensch und Infrastruktur dar. Die Stabilität von Felswänden stellt ein komplexes Phänomen dar, das sich durch eine hohe Variabilität in Bezug auf Frequenz und Magnitude auszeichnet. In der vorliegenden Dissertation wurden Felswände und Schutthalden in verschiedenen hochalpinen und geomorphologisch aktiven Untersuchungsgebieten, darunter die Drei Zinnen (Italien), Gampenalm (Italien), Dreitorspitze (Deutschland), Zwieselbachtal (Österreich) sowie der Krater Dolomieu auf La Réunion, mit Hilfe multitemporaler terrestrischer Fotografien, terrestrischer historischer Fotoaufnahmen, terrestrischen Laserscannings sowie automatisierter Kamerasysteme mit photogrammetrischen Verfahren analysiert. Ziel dieser Dissertation ist es, zu prüfen, inwiefern historische Bilddaten in Kombination mit terrestrischen digitalen Fotografien und TLS zur Rekonstruktion vergangener Veränderungen der Felsoberfläche beitragen können. Dazu wurde die bekannte Felsformation Drei Zinnen in den Dolomiten (Italien) ausgewählt. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass nach aufwendiger und individueller Bearbeitung der Datensätze eine Quantifizierung der Oberflächenveränderungen an steilen Felswänden möglich ist. Volumenänderungen von 101 m³ und 1.873 m³ konnten für zwei Bereiche an den Felswänden für einen Zeitraum von 1970 bis 2018 bestimmt werden. Aussagen zum Einfluss des Klimawandels bleiben jedoch aufgrund der begrenzten Datenverfügbarkeit und Auflösung spekulativ. Zur Untersuchung der Sturz- und Prozessdynamik unter aktuellen Prozessbedingungen, insbesondere zur Vermeidung von Überlagerungen von unterschiedlich auftretenden Prozessen wie Muren oder Rutschungen, wurden am Dolomieu Krater Fotoaufnahmen eines fest installierten, automatisierten Kamerasystems (Webcam) zur kontinuierlichen Datenerfassung genutzt. Durch hochfrequente Daten soll eine Differenzierung der stattfindenden Einzelprozesse ermöglicht werden. Anhand der TLS-Daten so-wie ergänzender terrestrischer digitaler Fotoaufnahmen konnten neben sturzprozessbedingten Bereichen zwei weitere Areale mit Gesteinsablagerungen identifiziert werden. Für den Zeitraum von 2010 bis 2016 ließen sich dabei erfolgreich Oberflächenveränderungen berechnen. Die durch Sturzprozesse geprägten Bereiche zeigen Volumenänderungen von 18.606 m³ bzw. 2.921 m³. In den beiden weiteren, durch Ablagerungen gekennzeichneten Gebieten wurden Veränderungen von 2.995 m³ und 20.430 m³ festgestellt. Für zukünftige Untersuchungen dieser Art wird jedoch empfohlen, das Kamerasystem so zu positionieren und auszurichten, dass es den Anforderungen der Photogrammetrie entspricht. Eine weitere Untersuchung am Dolomieu-Krater auf La Réunion widmet sich dem Einfluss von Niederschlag und Seismizität auf Hanginstabilitäten. Ziel ist unter anderem die Bewertung der Eignung von TLS und Photogrammetrie zur Validierung von Volumenangaben, die auf seismischen Aufzeichnungen basieren. Im ersten Schritt wurde auf Grundlage seismischer Daten ein Katalog mit Informationen der Lage und den Volumina der Felsstürze im Krater erstellt. Ergänzend dazu erfolgten TLS-Messungen sowie digitale terrestrische Fotoaufnahmen entlang des Kraterrandes. Mithilfe photogrammetrischer Auswertungen konnte das Volumen der größten Ablagerung im nordwestlichen Kraterbereich ermittelt werden, das sich auf rund 80.000 m³ beläuft. Die seismischen Daten führten zu einer Volumenschätzung von etwa 100.000 m³. Neben der Quantifizierung von Oberflächenveränderungen und der entsprechenden Nutzung von TLS-Daten wird im Rahmen der Dissertation außerdem die Frage beantwortet, ob sich aus solchen hochaufgelösten topographischen Daten Prozesszusammenhänge von Sturzprozessen ableiten lassen. Untersucht wurden die Einflüsse von Blockgröße, -form, Lithologie und Rauigkeit auf die Reichweite von Sturzprozessen in mehreren Gebieten des Alpenraums (Gampenalm, Dreitorspitze, Zwieselbachtal) und am Krater Dolomieu unter unterschiedlichen geologischen Bedingungen. Die Analysen zeigen eine komplexe Beziehung zwischen Blockgröße und Blockform in Bezug auf die Reichweite der abgelagerten Blöcke innerhalb der unterschiedlichen lithologischen Bedingungen. Aus den Ergebnissen kann jedoch weder eine Bestätigung noch eine Ablehnung der Theorie der gravitativen Sortierung abgeleitet werden. Zwischen Blockgröße und -form sowie Reichweite konnte kein eindeutiger Zusammenhang festgestellt werden. Die Ergebnisse deuten darauf hin, dass die Blockgröße nicht die alleinige Einflussgröße ist und vielmehr ein komplexes Zusammenspiel mehrerer geomorphologischer Faktoren die Reichweite bestimmt. Kerstin Wegner doctoralthesis https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/frontdoor/index/index/docId/1035 Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:15:59 +0200 https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/frontdoor/index/index/docId/1032 In seinen literarischen Werken beschreibt Hermann Hesse das Gewissen nur äußerst selten begrifflich-theoretisch, sehr oft aber gegenständlich und bildhaft. Anhand der Romane Demian, Siddhartha, Der Steppenwolf, Das Glasperlenspiel sowie der Erzählung Die Morgenlandfahrt wird gezeigt, welche konkrete narrative Gestalt er dem Phänomen des Gewissens darin jeweils gibt. Seine literarischen Beschreibungen sind jedoch nicht voraussetzungslos, sondern stützen sich auf eine Vielzahl von begrifflichen Formulierungen in Briefen, Rezensionen, Zeitungsartikeln, Essays und Tagebüchern. Dort legt er seine Vorstellungen von der Beschaffenheit des Gewissens schriftlich dar und nennt dabei neben eigenen Beobachtungen häufig auch weitere Quellen, die zur Bildung seiner Auffassungen diesbezüglich beigetragen haben. Als Beispiele solcher Quellen seien hier die Werke Nietzsches, Kierkegaards und Dostojewskis genannt, denen er wichtige Anregungen für eigene Formulierungsversuche entnahm. Darüber hinaus werden auch die historischen Voraussetzungen für seine Auseinandersetzung mit dem Gewissen betrachtet, in erster Linie seine Erfahrungen aus der Zeit des Ersten Weltkriegs. Die verheerenden Folgen eines kriegerischen und autoritären Nationalismus bestärkten ihn in der Überzeugung, zu einer neuen Friedensordnung mit einer Literatur beitragen zu können, die der Entwicklung eines autonomen Gewissens förderlich ist. Hierfür erprobt er in den letzten Kriegs- und ersten Zwischenkriegsjahren neue publizistische und literarische Verfahren. Diese Verfahren sind Ausdruck einer radikalen inhaltlichen wie formalen Neugestaltung seines Schreibens und bilden den Kern seiner literarischen Ethik. Ihre Parameter werden in der vorliegenden Arbeit anhand literatur- und ethiktheoretischer Beiträge von Martha Nussbaum, Charles Taylor und Paul Ricoeur überprüft und näher erläutert. Nicht zuletzt kann die Darstellung des Gewissens in den Werken Hermann Hesses damit vor dem Hintergrund des kulturellen Paradigmas einer "Ethik der Authentizität" verortet werden. Christian Hübner doctoralthesis https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/frontdoor/index/index/docId/1032 Wed, 15 Apr 2026 14:47:05 +0200 https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/frontdoor/index/index/docId/1027 Both the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and the Primary School English Curriculum in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, place a strong emphasis on the development of communicative competences, particularly speaking (Council of Europe, 2020; Zentrum für Schulqualität und Lehrerbildung Baden-Württemberg, 2016). However, the acquisition of EFL speaking skills is a process which takes time (Böttger, 2016) and is challenging for young learners in educational settings, where there is limited time in the curriculum for English teaching each week (Read, 2020). Learning to speak is a complex process (Levelt, 1989). Therefore, learners need support for understanding and production (Cameron, 2001). They need to be offered ample opportunities to speak in different situations (Böttger, 2016). This research project explored whether drama based on picturebooks had the potential to help mixed-ability learners to develop their speaking skills and in what ways. Picturebooks were chosen because they are recommended for use in the primary classroom (ZSL Zentrum für Schulqualität und Lehrerbildung) and are often used in English lessons (Böttger, 2020). The intervention was tested with 9–10-year-old learners in the final year of primary school in four different schools. A mixed method approach was taken and the data was merged to draw inferences about the development of learners’ speaking skills (Creswell, 2022). Quantitative data was collected from pre and post speaking assessments, structured classroom observations and learner self-assessments. The data was analysed using SPSS. Qualitative data was collected from unstructured classroom observations recorded in a research journal. This were analysed with MAXQDA. The analysis of the data indicated that the intervention had the potential to help mixed-ability learners to develop their oral skills. Linguistic skills developed because learners’ use of vocabulary in speech broadened, and learners used more English after the intervention, including more chunks of language. Assessment of cognitive skills showed some evidence of the development of thinking skills, planning simple speech, the ability to pay attention, concentrate, and memorize repeated phrases and vocabulary. However, very little evidence of self-repair of utterances was found and no development could be confirmed in learners’ phonology or pronunciation skills. All the learners who participated in the intervention established basic social contact. There was evidence for an increase in the amount of interaction and confidence in speaking if the picturebooks and drama activities were not too linguistically or cognitively challenging. Rachel Suzanne Hall doctoralthesis https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/frontdoor/index/index/docId/1027 Wed, 04 Mar 2026 11:49:01 +0100 https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/frontdoor/index/index/docId/1025 En Colombia, después de 50 años de conflicto armado se logró la firma del Acuerdo Final para la Terminación del Conflicto y la Construcción de una Paz Estable y Duradera en 2016, dentro de este acuerdo de paz, se creó la Comisión para el Esclarecimiento de la Verdad, la Convivencia y la No Repetición que tuvo el mandato elaborar un informe que explicara el contexto histórico, los orígenes y múltiples causas del conflicto. Con la creación de la Comisión, las dinámicas de disputa del conflicto armado se trasladaron al campo de la historia y la memoria, generando un escenario de tensión entre los actores involucrados en torno a las narrativas que esta maneja. Bajo este panorama mi investigación analiza las dinámicas de tensión para identificar como estos fueron tratados en el informe final territorial del Magdalena Medio, zona que se eligió por su importancia histórica en el conflicto. Manuel Faustino Cardozo Ruidiaz doctoralthesis https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/frontdoor/index/index/docId/1025 Thu, 12 Feb 2026 09:05:48 +0100 https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/frontdoor/index/index/docId/1024 Error monitoring allows humans to detect errors in their performance and adapt behavior accordingly. A key neural marker of this process is the error negativity (Ne/ERN), a negative deflection at frontocentral electrodes shortly after an error, which reflects fast and automatic error processing. Theoretical accounts attributed the Ne/ERN to conflict monitoring and prediction error, but the exact mechanism remains unclear. In three studies, I investigated the Ne/ERN’s role in error monitoring and its relationship with other error-related phenomena. Study 1 found that the Ne/ERN varies with the level of post-response conflict. Study 2 showed that conscious error detection can occur without the Ne/ERN, suggesting separate neural bases for early error processing and error awareness. Study 3 explored links between the Ne/ERN and autonomic signals, showing that error-related pupil dilation is associated with the Ne/ERN while heart rate deceleration is not. These findings clarify the functional role of early error processes as reflected by the Ne/ERN and their relationship with other aspects of error processing. Julia Dumsky doctoralthesis https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/frontdoor/index/index/docId/1024 Tue, 13 Jan 2026 15:07:25 +0100 https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/frontdoor/index/index/docId/1021 Die Smart City ist seit den späten 2000er-Jahren zu einem Paradigma der Stadtplanung und -entwicklung geworden. Mit diesem Begriff hält die digitale Transformation in vielen kommunalen Bereichen Einzug. Unter der Nutzung von intelligenter Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologie (IKT) sollen die Lebensqualität und Teilhabe in städtischen Umgebungen erhöht und nachhaltige Kommunen geschaffen werden. Die vorliegende Dissertation schlägt eine medienhistorische Perspektivierung der Smart City vor. In einem genealogisch-komparativen Ansatz werden drei Fallstudien gebildet, die als Vorläufer digitaler Transformationsprozesse in Städten beschrieben werden. Im untersuchten Material werden kybernetische Denkweisen herausgearbeitet, die sich in Bezug auf städtische Umgebungen auch heute im Rahmen smarter Städte artverwandt wiederfinden lassen. Jean-Luc Godards „Alphaville“ (1965) wird filmanalytisch beleuchtet und die Analyse zeigt, inwiefern der Film gegenwärtige Kontrollzentralen smarter Städte wie Rio de Janeiro oder Songdo vorausdenkt. Medienarchäologisch nähert sich die Arbeit den kybernetischen Türmen des ungarisch-französischen Künstlers Nicolas Schöffer (1912-1992) und untersucht, wie urbane Leuchtturmprojekte einer künstlerisch-technologischen Avantgarde gerade durch deren Staatsnähe möglich werden können. Im Hinblick auf Gordon Pasks Modell der Konversation untersucht die Arbeit Berichte der Social Development Unit innerhalb der Milton Keynes Development Corporation (1967-1992). In der britischen New Town nehmen sogenannte arrivals workers Muster der responsiven Stadt vorweg, die heute als Variation der smarten Stadt verstanden wird. Die medienhistorische Perspektivierung der Smart City wird anhand einer konzeptuellen Trias vorgeschlagen: Anekdotische Evidenz, theoretische Empirie und historische Fallformung rahmen die Materialstudien und bringen im Ergebnis hervor, dass die smarte Stadt im Kern als kybernetische Stadt gedacht werden kann. Damit geht auch einher, dass eine Mediengeschichte der smarten Stadt als Geschichte von Rekonfigurationen erscheint, wie Städte gedacht und gewusst werden können. Die kybernetische und die smarte Stadt verbinden zentral die Implementierung mannigfaltiger Feedbackmechanismen, die Steuerung und Regulierung von Prozessen an den Schnittstellen zwischen Stadträumen, menschlichen und nicht-menschlichen Akteuren ermöglichen. Nicht zuletzt weist die Dissertation auf historische Musterbildungen hin, die gerade in technologischen Disruptionserzählungen oftmals überdeckt werden. Fabian Ebeling doctoralthesis https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/frontdoor/index/index/docId/1021 Fri, 12 Dec 2025 09:20:51 +0100 https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/frontdoor/index/index/docId/1009 1. Dual holdings and shareholder-creditor agency conflicts: Evidence from the syndicated loan market We examine implications from the expansion of private equity (PE) firms into the CLO (i.e. leveraged lending) business. Due to similarities in the investment universes of CLO managers and PE firms, asset management groups running both of them frequently hold debt and equity claims of the same company. Our results indicate lower credit costs for these companies through mitigation of shareholder-creditor agency conflicts. The lower funding costs imply increased equity returns for the sponsoring PE firms. In addition, our findings suggest that PE-affiliated CLO managers benefit from informed trading in the secondary leveraged loan market. 2. Affiliated investment bias in collateralized loan obligations Collateralized loan obligation (CLO) managers are often part of asset management groups that also operate private equity (PE) firms. This paper examines whether these CLO managers exhibit a bias towards loans to companies sponsored by their affiliated PE firms. We find that CLO managers overweight these affiliated investments in their portfolios. Purchase level analyses reveal that the positive relationship between affiliation and investment is highly concentrated in primary market trades. Evidence suggests that the affiliated investment bias is partially explained by group-level incentives to support the funding of the PE firm’s portfolio companies. Moreover, preferential allocations by loan arrangers contribute to the observed bias. 3. Revisions to the Basel securitization framework and their impact on CLOs In December 2017, the European regulation on capital requirements for securitizations was comprehensively revised. This paper examines the impact of these revisions on collateralized loan obligations (CLOs). A comparison of the results of risk weight calculations for a typical CLO under the previous and revised frameworks shows an overall increase in capital requirements. The increase is particularly pronounced under the new standardized approach (SEC-SA). However, difference-in-difference analyses of credit spreads indicate no effect of the higher capital requirements on the interest rates of CLO tranches. These results suggest that the cost of regulatory capital requirements for banks is limited. Ingo Geburtig doctoralthesis https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/frontdoor/index/index/docId/1009 Wed, 12 Nov 2025 10:09:44 +0100 https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/frontdoor/index/index/docId/1013 This dissertation explores key challenges and innovations in contemporary asset management through three self-contained empirical essays. Each paper examines a distinct but interrelated topic in portfolio construction, contributing to a more resilient and practically viable approach to investing. Paper 1: The Performance of Risk-Based Asset Allocation in Downward Markets – An Empirical Examination The first paper investigates the effectiveness of risk-based portfolio strategies – such as minimum variance, equal risk contribution, and risk parity – during periods of market stress. Motivated by the shortcomings of return-optimized models in crisis periods, the paper conducts an extensive backtest using a multi-asset dataset across several downturns. It finds that risk-based strategies consistently offer superior downside protection and more stable performance compared to traditional approaches. These results underscore the robustness of risk-focused allocations when facing uncertain or volatile markets. Paper 2: A Performance “Horse Race”: Does Anything Beat the 1/N Portfolio? The second paper revisits the enduring puzzle of the 1/N (equal-weighted) portfolio's performance. Despite its simplicity, previous research has shown it often rivals or outperforms optimized strategies. Using an expanded dataset and robust methodology, this paper compares a wide range of portfolio construction techniques – including mean-variance optimization and shrinkage methods – against the 1/N benchmark. The findings reaffirm the strong performance of the naïve strategy, particularly when estimation error and real-world frictions are considered. While some optimized models perform better in specific contexts, none dominate consistently. Paper 3: Index Tracking in Crisis Periods – An Empirical Investigation of the German DAX Index The third paper shifts focus to passive investment strategies, specifically the accuracy and stability of index tracking during market crises. Using the German DAX as a case study, the paper compares multiple tracking approaches – such as constrained regression and relative optimization – under both normal and crisis conditions. Results reveal that tracking performance deteriorates notably in turbulent markets, with simpler, constraint-based methods offering more consistent tracking accuracy. This highlights the limitations of passive strategies under stress and points to the need for more adaptive frameworks. Christian Cara doctoralthesis https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/frontdoor/index/index/docId/1013 Wed, 05 Nov 2025 11:47:56 +0100 https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/frontdoor/index/index/docId/1012 Hunting is typically regarded and publicly often criticized as a rather archaic and outdated process of tracking and shooting an animal. However, it can also be understood in a more symbolic way. As a superordinate term, hunting can be referred to as a practice of going after or chasing a specific desire – be it a material object, a living being or immaterialities. One thing that has gained a special value in today´s modern(ised) world, is the experience of seemingly “original” nature and animals – often phrased under the term “the wild”. More and more people can be found participating in a variety of practices of hunting “the wild”, influenced by certain desires, motivations, and geographical imaginations at predestined places. While there already is a great range of research revolving around what is understood as wilderness, it is rarely discussed how these varying desires and seemingly pre-existing configurations come into practice and thereby shape the places of “the wild”. Therefore, this project aims at dissecting elements of practices and imaginations revolving around “the wild” and place them in a wider context of postcolonial discussions. Furthermore, it wants to contribute to a practice-based approach to better understand desire as well as the process of succeeding at its fulfillment and its volatility. As tools, a variety of ethnographic methods like observatory participation, go-along interviews or hanging outs is used and complemented by semi-structured interviews to capture different practices and types of hunting “the wild”. Nina Welters doctoralthesis https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/frontdoor/index/index/docId/1012 Wed, 05 Nov 2025 07:47:41 +0100 https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/frontdoor/index/index/docId/1015 Ash dieback, a disease caused by the fungal pathogen Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, is severely threatening the existence of the European common ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.). The invasive pathogen leads to progressive symptoms such as leaf loss, shoot dieback, and stem necrosis, often resulting in high mortality in affected forest stands. While these visual symptoms are well documented, finer-scale physiological and morphological leaf responses remain largely unexplored. Ash dieback symptom severity is typically assessed through time-intensive field-based ratings; however, remote sensing technologies such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) offer new opportunities for large-scale, remote assessment of disease impact. Therefore, this dissertation applies a multiscale and multisensory approach to assess the effects of ash dieback. The main research questions were: (1) Does ash dieback, beyond visible symptoms such as leaf loss and shoot dieback, also induce fine-scale morphological and physiological alterations in the leaves of infected ash trees? (2) Can multisensory UAV data and the thereof calculated vegetation indices detect different degrees of damage caused by ash dieback? (3) What level of segmentation accuracy is required to ensure reliable estimation of mean vege-tation index values for individual ash tree crowns? Field investigations were carried out at four study sites in 2022 and 2023, combining visual vitality assessments with detailed analyses of leaf physiology and morphology in ash trees affected by ash dieback. The examined leaf traits included chlorophyll fluorescence, chlorophyll content, Specific Leaf Area (SLA), leaf thickness, and Fluctuating Asymmetry (FA), all of which were evaluated in relation to visually assessed damage severity. In addition, at two of the sites, repeated UAV-based aerial surveys were conducted from May to October over two consecutive years to capture the whole vegetation period of the common ash, using RGB, multispectral and thermal sensors. Complementing this, close-range multispectral images of individual tree crowns were acquired in 2023 to provide higher spatial resolution data for detailed crown analysis. In Publication 1 of this dissertation, physiological and morphological leaf traits were investigated in relation to visually assessed disease severity. Among the measured traits, SLA exhibited the most consistent and significant correlation with increasing damage severity, highlighting a potential link between leaf morphology and ash dieback. In Publication 2 a novel UAV-based monitoring workflow that utilizes RGB and multispectral imagery is introduced to classify ash dieback severity via vegetation index thresholds. The study demonstrated that both RGB and multispectral indices, particularly the Green-Red Vegetation Index (GRVI) and Difference Vegetation Index (DVI), can effectively distinguish between mildly and severely damaged trees. The combination of both multispectral and RGB indices achieved a combined classification accuracy of 77.2 %. Publication 3 explored the influence of ash tree crown segmentation precision on vegetation index reliability. A newly developed fine segmentation method, based on unsupervised machine learning, successfully excluded non-foliar elements such as ground pixels and canopy gaps, improving spectral data interpretation. Although mean vegetation index values per crown did not differ significantly between coarse and fine segmentation, vegetation index heterogeneity increased with disease severity, emphasizing the added value of detailed crown delineation for detecting subtle stress patterns. Collectively, these studies contribute a scalable and interdisciplinary framework that bridges leaf-level physiological and morphological measurements with crown-level spectral data and machine learning–based crown segmentation. They further demonstrate how UAV-based remote sensing can be effectively integrated into long-term conservation strategies for Fraxinus excelsior L. This work underscores the importance of combining plant physiology, remote sensing, and machine learning to advance forest health monitoring and offers practical insights for the conservation of Fraxinus excelsior L. under ongoing disease pressure. Lisa Buchner doctoralthesis https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/frontdoor/index/index/docId/1015 Mon, 03 Nov 2025 15:48:44 +0100 https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/frontdoor/index/index/docId/1004 Konflikte entstehen oftmals, wenn eine Person das Verhalten einer anderen als Verletzung persönlicher oder sozialer Normen, als Vertrauensbruch oder als Ungerechtigkeit wahrnimmt. Entscheidend für den weiteren Verlauf der Interaktion ist die Reaktion der betroffenen Person auf diese wahrgenommene Transgression. Die vorliegende Dissertation untersucht daher ausgewählte personale und situationale Einflussfaktoren auf diese individuellen Reaktionen. Diese Faktoren werden in vier Publikationen aus unterschiedlichen Perspektiven beleuchtet, um spezifische Ansatzpunkte zur Prävention und Deeskalation von Konflikten zu identifizieren. In Publikation 1 stehen individuelle Macht- und Gerechtigkeitsmotive im Fokus, die zur Entwicklung von Rachebedürfnissen nach einem Vertrauensbruch in engen Beziehungen beitragen. Es zeigt sich, dass Personen mit starken Macht- und Gerechtigkeitsmotiven eher zu überproportionalen Racheformen neigen. Zudem bevorzugen gerechtigkeitsorientierte Personen eine indirekte Bestrafung durch Dritte oder das Schicksal gegenüber einem gänzlichen Racheverzicht. Publikation 2 widmet sich produktiven konfliktbezogenen Einstellungen und Verhaltensweisen und bestätigt die Wirksamkeit einer videobasierten Intervention zur Stärkung ebendieser. Durch diese präventive Maßnahme können produktive konfliktbezogene Überzeugungen sowie flexibles Konfliktverhalten über längere Zeit gestärkt werden, während sich negativ erlebte Emotionen in Konflikten nicht signifikant verändern. Publikation 3 bestätigt durch qualitative Interviews die differenziellen Zusammenhänge zwischen verschiedenen Dimensionen organisationaler (Un-)Gerechtigkeit und diversen Vertrauensdynamiken in der interorganisationalen Zusammenarbeit. Darauf aufbauend wird exemplarisch gezeigt, dass nur positiv, nicht aber negativ erlebte Emotionen die Beziehung zwischen erlebter informationaler Gerechtigkeit und wahrgenommener Vertrauenswürdigkeit vermitteln. In Publikation 4 wird die Bedeutung der wahrgenommenen Aufrichtigkeit einer Bitte um Verzeihung in kollegialen Arbeitsbeziehungen untersucht. Demnach reduziert eine Bitte um Verzeihung Rache- und Vermeidungsmotivationen und erhöht wohlwollende Tendenzen nur dann, wenn sie als aufrichtig empfunden wird. Wird die Aufrichtigkeit in Frage gestellt, bleiben die Motivationen wie bei fehlender Bitte um Verzeihung bestehen. In der Gesamtschau erweitern diese Befunde das bisherige Verständnis von Konfliktdynamiken und bieten vielfältige Ansatzpunkte für die Prävention und Deeskalation konflikthafter Situationen. Martina Grunenberg doctoralthesis https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-ku-eichstaett/frontdoor/index/index/docId/1004 Wed, 01 Oct 2025 12:18:18 +0200