The first contact of polyphenols (tannins) with the human body occurs in the mouth, where they are known to interact with proline-rich proteins (PRPs). These interactions are important at a sensory level, especially for the development of astringency, but affect also various other biochemical processes. Employing thermodynamic measurements, fluorescence and CD spectroscopy, we investigated the binding process of the prototypical polyphenol ellagic acid (EA) to different IB-PRPs and BSA, also ...

This thesis expands the understanding of urban culture's role in the governance of shrinking cities, based on case studies in Riga and Oberhausen. It moves beyond the traditional view of urban culture as merely a tool for economic and physical regeneration, highlighting its importance for urban governance. A typology is introduced, categorizing urban culture into institutional, traditional (folklore), and participatory forms. The latter shows the greatest potential for local governments to fo...

This work deals with the computation of design sensitivities of elastic solid-shell structures extended to anisotropic layered composite structures. Design sensitivities concerning fiber angles and layer thicknesses are derived and quantitatively determined in the context of the finite element method. The anisotropic analysis model is founded on a sophisticated solid-shell formulation based on reduced integration and is extended to discretize the composite with only one element over the eleme...

In this work, a hybrid, that is, discrete in time and continuous in space, sensitivity analysis for dynamic structures using isogeometric analysis is presented. The main focus is placed on using a direct differentiation technique to derive sensitivity matrices for displacement, velocity and acceleration. To gain further understanding of the sensitivity information, a singular value decomposition is used to decompose these sensitivity matrices. The findings are exemplified on an academic example.

Expanding emulsions with liquid CO2 facilitates the creation of aerosols with an average droplet diameter in the low micrometer size range, which is challenging with conventional atomizers. The droplet formation process of the expansion of high-pressure emulsions was investigated using a plain-orifice atomizer and different swirl nozzles. The local droplet size and droplet velocities were measured and used to estimate the local Weber number and thus infer the droplet size reduction. Measureme...

In this work, the methodology for the optimal design, operation and scale-up of reactive extrusion processes in twin-screw extruders previously presented in Reference (Cegla and Engell, 2023). is applied to the production of hydrophobically ethoxylated urethanes (HEURs). The new process is a promising alternative to the current batch technology in large reactors with long residence times. We demonstrate the use of model-based design and scale-up for this case. A novel mechanistic finite volum...

Blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) are the largest animals that have ever lived on earth, but their populations were nearly driven to extinction due to industrial hunting at the beginning of the 20th century. Their numbers were estimated to be between 250,000 and 300,000 before the hunting, but this drastically declined over the years. Continuous models of population dynamics are used to estimate the intrinsic growth rate and other demographic characteristics of their populations. The Eul...

Predicting trends in Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) is crucial in demographic research, shedding light on evolving population dynamics. This study conducts a thorough investigation into the selection and evaluation of optimal forecasting models for SRB data. Utilizing historical SRB records from selected countries, we meticulously assess various models, including Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA), Autoregressive (AR), and White Noise models. Our empirical analysis reveals the promine...

This dissertation explores how former vocational education institutions have achieved and are managing organizational ambidexterity during their transformation into higher education institutions with publicly mandated teaching and research missions. Focusing on universities of applied sciences and universities of teacher education in Switzerland, it examines how these institutions balance the demands of research and teaching in a binary higher education system. The research contributes to the...

This dissertation studies the impacts of research and development (R&D) funding on firm performance and innovation outcomes, focusing on both targeted regional policies and broader R&D initiatives in Germany. Comprising three essays, it explores the direct and spillover effects of these policies at the firm level, using a range of empirical techniques and extensive datasets. The first essay investigates the German Leading-Edge Cluster Competition, finding significant positive effects on innov...

Introduction: Narratives are enriched by taking the perspective of the protagonists, which can be expressed using reported speech. Nevertheless, the use of reported speech is unaddressed internationally among individuals with Down syndrome. Method: Narratives of 28 children and adolescents with Down syndrome were collected using a non-verbal picture book. Occurrence and forms of reported speech were analysed and compared to typically-developing children (TD; n = 33). Results: Parti...

In manufacturing, thermomechanical processes such as static annealing and hot working are commonly used to tailor the microstructure of metals to achieve favourable macroscopic material properties that meet specific application requirements. To improve sequential manufacturing processes and to accurately predict the microstructural changes of the material along the process chain, physically motivated constitutive models are required that simultaneously account for the effects of recovery and ...

Research has shown that impression management helps entrepreneurs access critical resources, but insights into applying concrete impression management techniques in new venture recruitment remain scarce. This knowledge gap represents a challenge for new ventures facing disadvantages in recruitment. We propose self-presentations of entrepreneurial hustle as an effective impression management technique for entrepreneurs. Such self-presentations to applicants increase the perceived competence an...

Based on investment theories and guided by Mussel's (2013) intellect model, the present study investigated reciprocal relations over 1 year (2021–2022) between investment traits (need for cognition, achievement motives, epistemic curiosity) and fluid and crystallized cognitive abilities in 565 German elementary school children (298 girls; Mage = 8.40, SD = 0.59; 59.5% with immigration background). Children's fluid and crystallized abilities increased over time, whereas fear of failure and cur...

This paper examines the German system of vocational rehabilitation and participation from a system- and innovation-theoretical perspective. The German system of vocational rehabilitation and participation, with its established special systems for participation in the labor market, is facing a - long overdue - reorientation. The article presents central instruments of the vocational rehabilitation system based on legal foundations, official labor market statistics, and current research finding...

Die moderne Produktionstechnik strebt ökonomische Effizienz und Nachhaltigkeit an, ohne die Qualität der gefertigten Bauteile zu beeinträchtigen. Die Auswahl und Anpassung von Fertigungsprozessen und die damit einhergehende Erzeugung relevanter Randschichteigenschaften ist entscheidend. Der BTA-Tiefbohrprozess ist ein produktives Verfahren zur Fertigung tiefer Bohrungen mit großen Durchmessern. Das BTA-Tiefbohren ist ein wichtiger Bearbeitungsschritt für die Fertigung hochbelasteter und siche...