@article{NagelHeidenreichSchumann2024, author = {Nagel, Christian and Heidenreich, Sven and Schumann, Jan}, title = {Enhancing adoption of sustainable product innovations : addressing reduced performance with risk-reducing product modifications}, series = {Journal of Business Research (Online ISSN: 1873-7978)}, volume = {2024}, journal = {Journal of Business Research (Online ISSN: 1873-7978)}, number = {179}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, doi = {10.1016/j.jbusres.2024.114684}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:739-opus4-18788}, pages = {12 Seiten}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Past studies have shown that the probability of the successful diffusion of sustainable product innovations is strikingly low. A potentially promising marketing strategy to reduce negative consumer perceptions of sustainable product innovations is risk-reducing product modifications (RPMs), which account for behavioral adjustments and performance uncertainties by employing an additional component that uses established technology. This research strives to empirically test the potential positive effects of RPMs using two studies on electric vehicles with and without range extenders as prime examples of RPM: (1) an online survey of potential adopters and (2) a postadoption survey of early adopters. The results show that RPMs increase the adoption of sustainable product innovations. Consumers' tendency to overestimate their true needs and their need for insurance against insufficient performance explain the effectiveness of RPM.}, language = {en} } @article{OttoTilk2024, author = {Otto, Alena and Tilk, Christian}, title = {Intelligent design of sensor networks for data-driven sensor maintenance at railways}, series = {Omega (Online ISSN: 1873-5274)}, volume = {2024}, journal = {Omega (Online ISSN: 1873-5274)}, number = {127}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, doi = {10.1016/j.omega.2024.103094}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:739-opus4-18771}, pages = {13 Seiten}, year = {2024}, abstract = {With rapid advances in digitization, many critical processes in transportation, industries, and our daily life rely on sensor measurements. With time, however, the measurements may get gradually biased and their precision deteriorates, leading to an enhanced risk of major disruptions caused by false sensor measurements. All single sensor measurements are uncertain and deviate from the true value. To detect malfunctioning sensors early on, a set of recent measurements of each sensor has to be constantly cross-checked against the measurements of a given number of other sensors, i.e., sensors should form a diagnosable network. In this article, we examine the intelligent positioning of safety-relevant sensors at railways such that the installed sensors can constantly cross-check each other and the number of the required sensors is minimized. The arising sensor positioning problem (SPP) belongs to the family of the coordinated set covering problems with two binary matrices: the choice of columns in one matrix implies the selection of specific columns and rows in the other matrix. We formulate an integer program, provide some formal analysis of the SPP and design a customized large neighborhood search metaheuristic RuM, which finds close-to-optimality solutions fast. In our computational experiments, we show that if we ignore the diagnosability requirement, the installed sensors cannot sufficiently cross-check each other in most cases. However, it costs only a few (or even no) additional sensors to ensure the diagnosability of the sensor network.}, language = {en} } @article{GrimmSoubeigaWeber2024, author = {Grimm, Michael and Soubeiga, Sidiki and Weber, Michael}, title = {Supporting small firms in a fragile context : comparing matching and cash grants in Burkina Faso}, series = {Journal of Development Economics (Online ISSN: 1872-6089)}, volume = {2024}, journal = {Journal of Development Economics (Online ISSN: 1872-6089)}, number = {171}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, doi = {10.1016/j.jdeveco.2024.103344}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:739-opus4-18848}, pages = {17 Seiten}, year = {2024}, abstract = {We used a randomized controlled trial to compare matching grants earmarked for technical training and consulting services with more flexible cash grants and with a control group. The experiment was implemented in a semi-urban and rural fragile setting where subsidizing innovative activities might be particularly important. Firms were selected on the basis of a business plan competition. After two years, beneficiaries of cash grants showed higher survival rates, improved business practices, a higher degree of formalization, and more activities for innovation relative to recipients of matching grants and the control group, but we saw no effects on profits, sales, and employment. Across all outcomes, beneficiaries of cash grants performed better than beneficiaries of matching grants, for them the treatment effects are smaller and often insignificant, though implementation costs were higher. Recipients of cash grants also increased their capital stock more and were more resilient to the COVID-19 crisis.}, language = {en} } @article{FritschHauptSchnurbus2024, author = {Fritsch, Markus and Haupt, Harry and Schnurbus, Joachim}, title = {Efficiency of poll-based multi-period forecasting systems for German state elections}, series = {International Journal of Forecasting (Online ISSN: 1872-8200)}, volume = {41 (2025)}, journal = {International Journal of Forecasting (Online ISSN: 1872-8200)}, number = {2}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijforecast.2024.04.008}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:739-opus4-18793}, pages = {670 -- 688}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Election polls are frequently employed to reflect voter sentiment with respect to a particular election (or fixed-event). Despite their widespread use as forecasts and inputs for predictive algorithms, there is substantial uncertainty regarding their efficiency. This uncertainty is amplified by judgment in the form of pollsters applying unpublished weighting schemes to ensure the representativeness of the sampled voters for the underlying population. Efficient forecasting systems incorporate past information instantly, which renders a given fixed-event unpredictable based on past information. This results in all sequential adjustments of the fixed-event forecasts across adjacent time periods (or forecast revisions) being martingale differences. This paper illustrates the theoretical conditions related to weak efficiency of fixed-event forecasting systems based on traditional least squares loss and asymmetrically weighted least absolute deviations (or quantile) loss. Weak efficiency of poll-based multi-period forecasting systems for all German federal state elections since the year 2000 is investigated. The inefficiency of almost all considered forecasting systems is documented and alternative explanations for the findings are discussed.}, language = {en} } @article{VorderobermeierAbelSailer2024, author = {Vorderobermeier, Andrea and Abel, Johannes and Sailer, Maximilian}, title = {Theoretical foundations and approaches in research on educational escape rooms : a systematic review}, series = {Educational Research Review (Online ISSN: 1878-0385)}, volume = {2024}, journal = {Educational Research Review (Online ISSN: 1878-0385)}, number = {44}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, doi = {10.1016/j.edurev.2024.100625}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:739-opus4-18863}, pages = {16 Seiten}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Educational Escape Rooms (EER) as a new teaching tool gained significant attention in the research discourse - especially the last two years. So far, research focused on the practicality, feasibility or description of the development. To provide a more comprehensive understanding to mechanisms within this instructional approach, it is valuable to examine it through the lens of established and well-researched theories and approaches of teaching and learning. Therefore, we identified which theoretical foundations were used in research on Escape Rooms as learning tools and took a look at the extent to which and where they are represented. For this purpose, a systematic review was conducted, which resulted in the identification of 24 articles containing a total of nine theoretical foundations. It is presented how these approaches are applied in EERs and how they are interrelated. Furthermore, we developed six patterns that illustrate the integration of the found theories into the articles. The integration of these theoretical approaches ranges from general statements on theoretical grounding in EERs without connection to didactic considerations to theoretical grounding with empirical validation. Result of the systematic review is that the theoretical foundation in current research on EERs is weak. Therefore, it is argued that future research should focus more on the interweaving of theory, didactic instructions, and practice to gain a better understanding of mechanisms behind successful learning environments with EERs.}, language = {en} } @article{KleinePeschkeWagner2024, author = {Kleine, Jens and Peschke, Thomas and Wagner, Niklas}, title = {Beyond financial wealth: The experienced utility of collectibles}, series = {The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance (Online ISSN: 1878-4259)}, volume = {2024}, journal = {The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance (Online ISSN: 1878-4259)}, number = {97}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, doi = {10.1016/j.qref.2024.101865}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:739-opus4-18808}, pages = {11 Seiten}, year = {2024}, abstract = {We argue that the utility of specific assets, in our case collectibles, is not only derived from the financial outcome, but also from the conditions that prevail until a financial outcome may be realized. Therefore, we derive a multi-attribute utility function that measures financial returns — using a mean-variance utility function — on the one hand, and non-financial returns — using an experienced utility function — on the other. We then reveal the trade-off between financial and non-financial utility by analyzing 363 owners of collectibles. We divide the owners into the group of collectors and the group of investors, based on their self-reported motivation. Our results suggest that collectors receive almost no utility from financial returns, but rather from experience. The opposite is the case for investors. Our findings help to explain the reported financial underperformance of collectibles and suggest to adjust existing models of utility.}, language = {en} } @article{KabluchkoProchnoSonnleitner2024, author = {Kabluchko, Zakhar and Prochno, Joscha and Sonnleitner, Mathias}, title = {A probabilistic approach to Lorentz balls l(^n)(q,1)}, series = {Journal of Functional Analysis (Online ISSN: 1096-0783)}, volume = {2025}, journal = {Journal of Functional Analysis (Online ISSN: 1096-0783)}, number = {288, 1}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, doi = {10.1016/j.jfa.2024.110682}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:739-opus4-18878}, pages = {32 Seiten}, year = {2024}, abstract = {We develop a probabilistic approach to study the volumetric and geometric properties of unit balls |B(^n)(q,1) of finite-dimensional Lorentz sequence spaces l(^n)(q,1). More precisely, we show that the empirical distribution of a random vector X^(n) uniformly distributed on its volume normalized unit ball converges weakly to a compactly supported symmetric probability distribution with explicitly given density; as a consequence we obtain a weak Poincar{\´e}-Maxwell-Borel principle for any fixed number k in |N of coordinates of X^(n) as n grows infinitly. Moreover, we prove a central limit theorem for the largest coordinate of X^(n), demonstrating a quite different behavior than in the case of the l(^n)(q) balls, where a Gumbel distribution appears in the limit. Finally, we prove a Schechtman-Schmuckenschl{\"a}ger type result for the asymptotic volume of intersections of volume normalized l(^n)(q,1) and l(^n)(p) balls.}, language = {en} } @article{GruenerPostelSchumann2024, author = {Gr{\"u}ner, Alina and Postel, Lea and Schumann, Jan}, title = {Sharing is caring? The effect of negative peer-to-peer experiences on loyalty intentions in the sharing economy}, series = {Journal of Business Research (Online ISSN: 1873-7978)}, volume = {2024}, journal = {Journal of Business Research (Online ISSN: 1873-7978)}, number = {181}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, doi = {10.1016/j.jbusres.2024.114757}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:739-opus4-18820}, pages = {14 Seiten}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Negative experiences with other users (i.e., negative peer-to-peer [P2P] experiences), are a highly prevalent problem of sharing economy business models with potentially negative consequences for the platform. This paper investigates the effect of negative P2P experiences on users' platform loyalty intentions. Based on trust transfer theory, we test a moderated serial mediation suggesting that negative P2P experiences negatively affect platform loyalty intentions via a decrease in peer trust and a subsequent decrease in platform trust. The results of an online scenario-experiment (n = 265) and an online survey (n = 237) in the home-sharing context support this notion by showing a negative peers-to-platform trust transfer effect. In addition, we identified the type of negative experience (outcome-related vs. process-related) and prior relationship satisfaction as contingency factors. This paper draws platform providers' attention to the potential threat stemming from negative experiences between users and provide advice on how to attenuate a negative spillover-effect on the platform.}, language = {en} } @article{BauerHauptLinner2024, author = {Bauer, Ida and Haupt, Harry and Linner, Stefan}, title = {Pinball boosting of regression quantiles}, series = {Computational Statistics \& Data Analysis (Online ISSN: 1872-7352)}, volume = {2024}, journal = {Computational Statistics \& Data Analysis (Online ISSN: 1872-7352)}, number = {200}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, doi = {10.1016/j.csda.2024.108027}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:739-opus4-18850}, pages = {12 Seiten}, year = {2024}, abstract = {An algorithm for boosting regression quantiles using asymmetric least absolute deviations, better known as pinball loss, is proposed. Existing approaches for boosting regression quantiles are essentially equal to least squares boosting of regression means with the single difference that their working residuals are based on pinball loss. All steps of our boosting algorithm are embedded in the well-established framework of quantile regression, and its main components - sequential base learning, fitting, and updating - are based on consistent scoring rules for regression quantiles. The Monte Carlo simulations performed indicate that the pinball boosting algorithm is competitive with existing approaches for boosting regression quantiles in terms of estimation accuracy and variable selection, and that its application to the study of regression quantiles of hedonic price functions allows the estimation of previously infeasible high-dimensional specifications.}, language = {en} } @article{FritschPuaSchnurbus2024, author = {Fritsch, Markus and Pua, Andrew Adrian and Schnurbus, Joachim}, title = {Teaching advanced topics in econometrics using introductory textbooks : the case of dynamic panel data methods}, series = {International Review of Economics Education (Online ISSN: 2352-4421)}, volume = {2024}, journal = {International Review of Economics Education (Online ISSN: 2352-4421)}, number = {47}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, doi = {10.1016/j.iree.2024.100297}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:739-opus4-18835}, pages = {19 Seiten}, year = {2024}, abstract = {We show how to use the introductory econometrics textbook by Stock and Watson (2019) as a starting point for teaching and studying dynamic panel data methods. The materials are intended for undergraduate students taking their second econometrics course, undergraduate students in seminar-type courses, independent study courses, capstone, or thesis projects, and beginning graduate students in a research methods course. First, we distill the methodological core necessary to understand dynamic panel data methods. Second, we design an empirical and a theoretical case study to highlight the capabilities, downsides, and hazards of the method. The empirical case study is based on the cigarette demand example in Stock and Watson (2019) and illustrates that economic and methodological issues are interrelated. The theoretical case study shows how to evaluate current empirical practices from a theoretical standpoint. We designed both case studies to boost students' confidence in working with technical material and to provide instructors with more opportunities to let students develop econometric thinking and to actively communicate with applied economists. Although we focus on Stock and Watson (2019) and the statistical software R, we also show how to modify the material for use with another introductory textbook by Wooldridge (2020) and Stata, and highlight some possible further pathways for instructors and students to reuse and extend our materials.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Zerhoudi2025, author = {Zerhoudi, Saber}, title = {User Simulation in Interactive Information Retrieval : methods and frameworks for simulating complex search behavior}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:739-opus4-18936}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Passau}, pages = {xii, 196 Seiten}, year = {2025}, abstract = {Modern information retrieval (IR) systems, including web search engines and digital libraries, face challenges in simulating realistic user search behavior. Evolving interaction patterns and the integration of AI-powered interfaces make these challenges even harder. Traditional evaluation methods struggle to capture the dynamic nature of user interactions, particularly in complex search tasks and multi-stage information-seeking processes. User simulation offers a promising solution, providing a controlled environment for experimentation and allowing customization to model specific user behaviors and task contexts. This research develops advanced techniques for user simulation in IR, creating more realistic and dynamic models than were previously possible. Key contributions include new methods for representing query reformulation, modeling how information needs change, and measuring the impact of different search environments on simulated user behavior. Specifically, this work introduces contextual Markov models, cognitive state models, and embedding space alignment techniques to accurately represent interactive search behavior. Beyond model development, new evaluation methods and metrics are proposed for assessing the quality of simulated search sessions. These include statistical comparisons of session characteristics and classification-based approaches to distinguish between simulated and real user behavior. Additionally, this work leverages emerging technologies, such as large language models (LLMs) and retrieval-augmented generation, to improve the realism of user search behavior simulation. The practical outcome of this research is a modular and extensible simulation framework. This framework incorporates advanced techniques like user type-specific Markov models, advanced query generation using LLMs, and conversational user models.}, language = {en} } @article{HerkenhoffKrautheimSaure2024, author = {Herkenhoff, Philipp and Krautheim, Sebastian and Saur{\´e}, Philip}, title = {A simple model of buyer-seller networks in international trade}, series = {European Economic Review (Online ISSN: 1873-572X)}, volume = {2024}, journal = {European Economic Review (Online ISSN: 1873-572X)}, number = {170}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, doi = {10.1016/j.euroecorev.2024.104868}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:739-opus4-18949}, pages = {29 Seiten}, year = {2024}, abstract = {The recent literature on firm-to-firm trade has documented salient empirical regularities of the buyer-seller network. We show that surprisingly many of these regularities emerge by superimposing the stochastic balls-and-bins structure of Armenter and Koren (2014) to firms in a classical Krugman (1980) model. Our approach amounts to a re-interpretation of Krugman (1980) and relies on randomized bundling of Krugman-varieties into heterogeneous firms, economically neutral 'sales units' that import foreign varieties but belong to local firms, and a statistical reporting threshold that applies to firm-to-firm transactions. We argue that our model provides an important benchmark for the assessment of theoretical models that aim to identify the determinants of firm-to-firm networks.}, language = {en} } @article{GeschwindGrafLambsdorff2024, author = {Geschwind, Stephan and Graf Lambsdorff, Johann}, title = {Does scarcity induce hostility? An experimental investigation of common-pool resources}, series = {Ecological Economics (Online ISSN: 1873-6106)}, volume = {2025}, journal = {Ecological Economics (Online ISSN: 1873-6106)}, number = {227}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecolecon.2024.108388}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:739-opus4-18958}, pages = {17 Seiten}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Climate change is leading to an increased scarcity of resources such as freshwater, energy, arable land and wildlife. This is perceived as a major security threat. However, the literature remains unclear on whether scarcity mitigates or exacerbates conflict. We design a novel laboratory experiment to investigate hostile behavior under scarcity. Participants interact repeatedly in a dynamic common-pool resource (CPR) and a joy-of-destruction game. The experiment distinguishes between two types of scarcity: Endogenous scarcity in the form of a deliberate human choice to overexploit resources and exogenous scarcity in the form of adverse environmental conditions. Our results show that endogenous scarcity exacerbates hostility. We trace this to participants being guided by negative reciprocity while finding no support for inequality aversion. The results indicate that to avoid hostility, policy makers will have to reduce human-induced scarcity. However, our results also show that exogenous scarcity mitigates hostility. This is in line with a vast body of literature from psychology, anthropology and biology finding increased levels of cooperation for all forms of life under environmental distress. It suggests that managing perceptions around increasing scarcities could be a second potential avenue for policy action.}, language = {en} } @article{MuellerGronbachYaroslavtseva2024, author = {M{\"u}ller-Gronbach, Thomas and Yaroslavtseva, Larisa}, title = {On the complexity of strong approximation of stochastic differential equations with a non-Lipschitz drift coefficient}, series = {Journal of Complexity (Online ISSN: 1090-2708)}, volume = {2024}, journal = {Journal of Complexity (Online ISSN: 1090-2708)}, number = {85}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, doi = {10.1016/j.jco.2024.101870}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:739-opus4-18819}, pages = {17 Seiten}, year = {2024}, abstract = {We survey recent developments in the field of complexity of pathwise approximation in p-th mean of the solution of a stochastic differential equation at the final time based on finitely many evaluations of the driving Brownian motion. First, we briefly review the case of equations with globally Lipschitz continuous coefficients, for which an error rate of at least 1/2 in terms of the number of evaluations of the driving Brownian motion is always guaranteed by using the equidistant Euler-Maruyama scheme. Then we illustrate that giving up the global Lipschitz continuity of the coefficients may lead to a non-polynomial decay of the error for the Euler-Maruyama scheme or even to an arbitrary slow decay of the smallest possible error that can be achieved on the basis of finitely many evaluations of the driving Brownian motion. Finally, we turn to recent positive results for equations with a drift coefficient that is not globally Lipschitz continuous. Here we focus on scalar equations with a Lipschitz continuous diffusion coefficient and a drift coefficient that satisfies piecewise smoothness assumptions or has fractional Sobolev regularity and we present corresponding complexity results.}, language = {en} } @article{BiglerJanzen2024, author = {Bigler, Patrick and Janzen, Benedikt}, title = {Too hot to sleep}, series = {Journal of Environmental Economics and Management (Online ISSN: 1096-0449)}, volume = {2024}, journal = {Journal of Environmental Economics and Management (Online ISSN: 1096-0449)}, number = {128}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, doi = {10.1016/j.jeem.2024.103063}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:739-opus4-18966}, pages = {17 Seiten}, year = {2024}, language = {en} } @article{KinatederGurribChoudhury2024, author = {Kinateder, Harald and Gurrib, Ikhlaas and Choudhury, Tonmoy}, title = {Navigating crises: Gold's role as a safe haven for U.S. sectors}, series = {Finance Research Letters (Online ISSN: 1544-6131)}, volume = {2024}, journal = {Finance Research Letters (Online ISSN: 1544-6131)}, number = {69 B}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, doi = {10.1016/j.frl.2024.106210}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:739-opus4-18974}, pages = {6 Seiten}, year = {2024}, abstract = {This paper investigates the correlation between U.S. sectors and gold, and whether gold can serve as a safe haven for investors in specific U.S. sectors during the global financial crisis, COVID-19, and the Russia-Ukraine war. We use data from the Standard \& Poor's Depository Receipts (SPDR) Select Sector Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) to capture the performance of the respective sectors. Our findings document that gold is a weak safe haven for most U.S. sectors. Gold is not a safe investment for energy, materials, utilities, and consumer staples. Gold does provide vital protection for financial, consumer discretionary, industrial, technology, and healthcare.}, language = {en} } @book{Benkel2021, author = {Benkel, Thorsten}, title = {Wissenssoziologie des Todes}, editor = {Benkel, Thorsten and Meitzler, Matthias}, edition = {1. Auflage}, publisher = {Beltz Juventa}, address = {Weinheim, Basel}, isbn = {978-3-7799-5277-0}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:101:1-2021051822342509363561}, publisher = {Universit{\"a}t Passau}, pages = {328 Seiten}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Sterben, Tod und Trauer sind keine substanziellen Leiberfahrungen oder anthropologisch vordefinierten Verhaltensmechanismen. Tats{\"a}chlich handelt es sich um Wissensbest{\"a}nde und darauf bezogene Praktiken, die als bloß vermeintliche ›Natur des Menschen‹ verinnerlicht werden. Das Ende des Lebens ist weit mehr als der biologisch-reduktionistisch interpretierte Abschluss der Funktionst{\"u}chtigkeit des menschlichen K{\"o}rpers. Die entscheidenden Prozesse sind nicht unabh{\"a}ngig von Sinnsetzungen und Aushandlungen. Vielmehr muss das gesellschaftlich so verstandene Lebensende als je vorl{\"a}ufiges Ergebnis einer epistemologischen Debatte angesehen werden, die sich permanent im Wandel befindet. Was k{\"o}nnte Wissen {\"u}ber den Tod also anderes sein als das Resultat einer kulturabh{\"a}ngigen Standortbestimmung?}, subject = {Trauer}, language = {de} } @article{ToepflKravetsRyzhovaetal.2022, author = {T{\"o}pfl, Florian and Kravets, Daria and Ryzhova, Anna and Beseler, Arista}, title = {Who are the plotters behind the pandemic?}, series = {Information, Communication \& Society}, volume = {26 (2023)}, journal = {Information, Communication \& Society}, number = {10}, publisher = {Taylor \& Francis}, address = {London}, doi = {10.1080/1369118X.2022.2065213}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:739-opus4-19119}, pages = {2033 -- 2051}, year = {2022}, abstract = {This article advances extant research that has audited search algorithms for misinformation in four respects. Firstly, this is the first misinformation audit not to implement a national but a cross-national research design. Secondly, it retrieves results not in response to the most popular query terms. Instead, it theorizes two semantic dimensions of search terms and illustrates how they impact the number of misinformative results returned. Furthermore, the analysis not only captures the mere presence of misinformative content but in addition whether the source websites are affiliated with a key misinformation actor (Russia's ruling elites) and whom the conspiracy narratives cast as the malicious plotters. Empirically, the audit compares Covid-19 conspiracy theories in Google search results across 5 key target countries of Russia's foreign communication (Belarus, Estonia, Germany, Ukraine, and the US) and Russia as of November 2020 (N = 5280 search results). It finds that, across all countries, primarily content published by mass media organizations rendered conspiracy theories visible in search results. Conspiratorial content published on websites affiliated with Russia's ruling elites was retrieved in the Belarusian, German and Russian contexts. Across all countries, the majority of conspiracy narratives suspected plotters from China. Malicious actors from the US were insinuated exclusively by sources affiliated with Russia's elites. Overall, conspiracy narratives did not primarily deepen divides within but between national communities, since - across all countries - only plotters from beyond the national borders were blamed. To conclude, the article discusses methodological advice and promising paths of research for future cross-national search engine audits.}, language = {en} } @article{FekihHassenSchoppikSchieggetal.2024, author = {Fekih Hassen, Wiem and Schoppik, Luis and Schiegg, Sascha and Gerl, Armin}, title = {Power management approach of hybrid energy storage system for electric vehicle charging stations}, series = {Smart Cities}, volume = {7 (2024)}, journal = {Smart Cities}, number = {6}, publisher = {MDPI}, address = {Basel}, issn = {2624-6511}, doi = {10.3390/smartcities7060156}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:m347-opus-6045}, pages = {4025 -- 4051}, year = {2024}, abstract = {The applicability of Hybrid Energy Storage Systems (HESSs) has been shown in multiple application fields, such as Charging Stations (CSs), grid services, and microgrids. HESSs consist of an integration of two or more single Energy Storage Systems (ESSs) to combine the benefits of each ESS and improve the overall system performance. In this work, we propose a novel power management controller called the Hybrid Controller for the efficient HESS's charging and discharging, considering the State of Charge (SoC) of the HESS and the dynamic supply and load. The Hybrid Controller optimises the use of the HESS, i.e., minimises the amount of energy drawn from and discharged to the grid, thus utilising and prioritising the provided Photovoltaic (PV) power. The performance of our proposal was assessed via simulation using various evaluation metrics, i.e., Autarky, charge/discharge cycle, and Self-Consumption (SC), where we defined 24 scenarios in different locations in Germany.}, language = {en} } @article{BeselerToepfl2024, author = {Beseler, Arista and Toepfl, Florian}, title = {Conduits of the Kremlin's Informational Influence Abroad? How German-Language Alternative Media Outlets Are Connected to Russia's Ruling Elites}, series = {The International Journal of Press/Politics (ISSN: 1940-1620)}, volume = {30}, journal = {The International Journal of Press/Politics (ISSN: 1940-1620)}, number = {3}, publisher = {SAGE Publications}, address = {Los Angeles, CA}, issn = {1940-1612}, doi = {10.1177/19401612241230284}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:739-opus4-16755}, pages = {659 -- 678}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Extant research on alternative media in Western democracies has focused on scrutinizing their content, organization, production, and audiences. However, the extent to which alternative outlets are linked to powerful foreign actors has not yet been analyzed, despite the fact that a plethora of outlets have openly sided with Russia after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, spreading the Kremlin's propagandistic narratives. To fill this gap, this study adopts a case study approach. It selects Germany as a revelatory case of a key target country of Russia's foreign influence efforts, raising the question of how and to what extent German-language alternative media outlets are connected to Russia's ruling elites. Grounded in qualitative analysis of a wide range of documents, this study proposes a categorization that divides the connections into three different types: organizational, media, and personal connections. Subsequently, it is demonstrated that half of the analyzed German-language alternative media outlets maintain at least one of these three types of connections to the Kremlin. These findings contribute to our knowledge of alternative media, as well as Russia's overt and covert foreign influence operations, the so-called "active measures." They also highlight the need for more transparency in alternative media landscapes in democratic contexts across the globe.}, subject = {-}, language = {en} } @article{EpperleinWirth2024, author = {Epperlein, Jeremias and Wirth, Fabian}, title = {The joint spectral radius is pointwise H{\"o}lder continuous}, series = {Linear Algebra and its Applications}, volume = {2025}, journal = {Linear Algebra and its Applications}, number = {704}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {1873-1856}, doi = {10.1016/j.laa.2024.09.016}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:739-opus4-19140}, pages = {92 -- 122}, year = {2024}, abstract = {We show that the joint spectral radius is pointwise H{\"o}lder continuous. In addition, the joint spectral radius is locally H{\"o}lder continuous for ε-inflations. In the two-dimensional case, local H{\"o}lder continuity holds on the matrix sets with positive joint spectral radius.}, language = {en} }