Rules, Norms and Practices. A Comparative Study Exploring Disposal Practices and Facilities in Northern Europe

in Omega: Journal of Death and Dying (2021), 83(4),

We identify and analyse practices and management regimes around burial and handling of ashes across eight case study towns within six Northern European countries. We analyse management of cemeteries and ... [more ▼]

We identify and analyse practices and management regimes around burial and handling of ashes across eight case study towns within six Northern European countries. We analyse management of cemeteries and crematoria gardens, majority practices and provision for minority communities, including various burial types, cremated remains, the re-use of graves, and costs for interments. Comparative data is drawn from analysis of national and local regulations, interviews with stakeholders, and observations at cemeteries and crematoria gardens. The findings show significant variation in national and local regulations and practices for burial and cremation particularly around the re-use of graves, handling of ashes and costs for grave space and cremation. We identify the opportunities and constraints of these variations in terms of accessibility, diversity and equality; and argue for national directions to avoid unequal treatment within nations. Furthermore, we stress the importance of a liberal and inclusive management of European cemeteries and crematoria gardens. [less ▲]

Microscopic energy consumption modelling of electric buses: model development, calibration, and validation

in Transportation Research. Part D, Transport and Environment (2021)

Reduced-Complexity LDPC Decoding for Next-Generation IoT Networks

in Wireless Communications and Mobile Computing (2021)

Low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes have become the focal choice for next-generation Internet of things (IoT) networks. This correspondence proposes an efficient decoding algorithm, dual min-sum (DMS ... [more ▼]

Low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes have become the focal choice for next-generation Internet of things (IoT) networks. This correspondence proposes an efficient decoding algorithm, dual min-sum (DMS), to estimate the first two minima from a set of variable nodes for check-node update (CNU) operation of min-sum (MS) LDPC decoder. The proposed architecture entirely eliminates the large-sized multiplexing system of sorting-based architecture which results in a prominent decrement in hardware complexity and critical delay. Specifically, the DMS architecture eliminates a large number of comparators and multiplexors while keeping the critical delay equal to the most delay-efficient tree-based architecture. Based on experimental results, if the number of inputs is equal to 64, the proposed architecture saves 69%, 68%, and 52% area over the sorting-based, the tree-based, and the low-complexity tree-based architectures, respectively. Furthermore, the simulation results show that the proposed approach provides an excellent error-correction performance in terms of bit error rate (BER) and block error rate (BLER) over an additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) channel. [less ▲]

Functional inequalities on path space of sub-Riemannian manifolds and applications

in Nonlinear Analysis: Theory, Methods and Applications (2021), 210(112387), 1-30

We consider the path space of a manifold with a measure induced by a stochastic flow with an infinitesimal generator that is hypoelliptic, but not elliptic. These generators can be seen as sub-Laplacians ... [more ▼]

We consider the path space of a manifold with a measure induced by a stochastic flow with an infinitesimal generator that is hypoelliptic, but not elliptic. These generators can be seen as sub-Laplacians of a sub-Riemannian structure with a chosen complement. We introduce a concept of gradient for cylindrical functionals on path space in such a way that the gradient operators are closable in L^2. With this structure in place, we show that a bound on horizontal Ricci curvature is equivalent to several inequalities for functions on path space, such as a gradient inequality, log-Sobolev inequality and Poincaré inequality. As a consequence, we also obtain a bound for the spectral gap of the Ornstein-Uhlenbeck operator. [less ▲]

Recent Developments and Overview of the Country and Practitioner’s Reports

in European Data Protection Law Review (2021), 7(3), 413-415

Assessing Equity in Carsharing Systems: the case of Munich, Germany

in Transportation Research Procedia (2021)

On Efficient DCT Type-I Based Low Complexity Channel Estimation for Uplink NB-IoT Systems

in IEEE Access (2021)

Channel estimation is a challenging and timely issue for the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standardized low power wide-area network technology named narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT ... [more ▼]

Channel estimation is a challenging and timely issue for the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standardized low power wide-area network technology named narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT). Channel estimation is crucial to achieve extended radio coverage, energy efficiency, coherent detection, and channel equalization for signal repetition dominated NB-IoT uplink transmission. The NB-IoT inherits simplified baseband radio frequency processing, physical channels, reference signal structure, and numerology from existing Long Term Evolution (LTE) systems to save power and costs. Thus, channel estimation methods extensively employed in LTE systems may not be applied to the NB-IoT uplink systems. In this paper, efficient discrete cosine transform type-I (DCT-I)-based transform-domain channel estimation approaches are proposed by modifying the original definition of DCT-I. The proposed methods can mitigate the problems experienced in the discrete Fourier transform (DFT)-based channel estimation, such as signal aliasing error, and border effect. The proposed approaches improve channel estimation precision by reducing signal distortion from the high-frequency region in the time-domain when non-sample-spaced path delays exist in multipath fading channels. Signal aliasing error experienced from the virtual subcarriers is also minimized with the anticipated schemes. The proposed methods are applied on simple least squares (LS) estimates in time-domain to eliminate estimation noise. The viability of the proposed estimators is verified as compared to the conventional LS, DFT-based de-noising LS, and standard DCT-I based methods through extensive numerical simulations. Based on the numerical simulations, the proposed estimators show better mean square error and bit error rate performances than their competitors in extremely low coverage conditions. [less ▲]

When, why, and how do People Deviate from Physical Distancing Measures During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed-Methods Study

in Psychologica Belgica (2021)

To limit the spread of COVID-19, many countries, including Belgium, have installed physical distancing measures. Yet, adherence to these newly installed behavioral measures has been described as ... [more ▼]

To limit the spread of COVID-19, many countries, including Belgium, have installed physical distancing measures. Yet, adherence to these newly installed behavioral measures has been described as challenging and effortful. Based on the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) model, this study performed an in-depth evaluation of when, why, and how people deviated from the physical distancing measures. An online mixed-method study was conducted among Belgian adults (N = 2055) in the beginning of May 2020. Participants were recruited via an open call through email and social media platforms, using snowball sampling. Conditions wherein people deviated from the physical distancing measures were assessed by means of an open-ended question. HAPA determinants were assessed in a quantitative way. Half of the sample reported to deviate from the measures. Further, deviation from the measures was associated with each determinant outlined by the HAPA. Findings highlight that many people deviated from the measures because of their need for social contact. The majority of the people who deviated from the measures stated that they carefully weighed the risks of their behavior. Need for social contact pushed people to deviate from physical distancing measures in a deliberate manner. Potential areas for future interventions aimed at promoting adherence to physical distancing measures and enhancing psychosocial well-being are discussed. [less ▲]

Stress-induced inflammation evoked by immunogenic cell death is blunted by the IRE1α kinase inhibitor KIRA6 through HSP60 targeting

in Cell Death and Differentiation (2021)

Mounting evidence indicates that immunogenic therapies engaging the unfolded protein response (UPR) following endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress favor proficient cancer cell-immune interactions, by ... [more ▼]

Mounting evidence indicates that immunogenic therapies engaging the unfolded protein response (UPR) following endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress favor proficient cancer cell-immune interactions, by stimulating the release of immunomodulatory/ proinflammatory factors by stressed or dying cancer cells. UPR-driven transcription of proinflammatory cytokines/chemokines exert beneficial or detrimental effects on tumor growth and antitumor immunity, but the cell-autonomous machinery governing the cancer cell inflammatory output in response to immunogenic therapies remains poorly defined. Here, we profiled the transcriptome of cancer cells responding to immunogenic or weakly immunogenic treatments. Bioinformatics-driven pathway analysis indicated that immunogenic treatments instigated a NF-κB/AP-1-inflammatory stress response, which dissociated from both cell death and UPR. This stress-induced inflammation was specifically abolished by the IRE1α-kinase inhibitor KIRA6. Supernatants from immunogenic chemotherapy and KIRA6 co-treated cancer cells were deprived of proinflammatory/chemoattractant factors and failed to mobilize neutrophils and induce dendritic cell maturation. Furthermore, KIRA6 significantly reduced the in vivo vaccination potential of dying cancer cells responding to immunogenic chemotherapy. Mechanistically, we found that the anti-inflammatory effect of KIRA6 was still effective in IRE1α-deficient cells, indicating a hitherto unknown off-target effector of this IRE1α-kinase inhibitor. Generation of a KIRA6-clickable photoaffinity probe, mass spectrometry, and co-immunoprecipitation analysis identified cytosolic HSP60 as a KIRA6 off-target in the IKK-driven NF-κB pathway. In sum, our study unravels that HSP60 is a KIRA6-inhibitable upstream regulator of the NF-κB/AP-1-inflammatory stress responses evoked by immunogenic treatments. It also urges caution when interpreting the anti-inflammatory action of IRE1α chemical inhibitors. [less ▲]

Normative coherence for development – What relevance for responsive regionalism?

in Development Policy Review (2021)

Without a normative dimension, transformative development risks reproducing traditional economic development. In this special issue we focus on norm implementation in different world regions through the ... [more ▼]

Without a normative dimension, transformative development risks reproducing traditional economic development. In this special issue we focus on norm implementation in different world regions through the lens of normative coherence for development. This special issue indicates that regions are an important interlocutor between the global, national, and sub-national level and, as such, are crucial for implementing the sustainable development agenda. The articles show, however, that to date normative coherence for development has not been achieved due to overriding priorities and technical approaches to policy coherence for development. With this special issue we aim to draw more attention to the topic of normative coherence for development and show that policies need to be adjusted in order to reflect the normative dimension of sustainable development. [less ▲]

Software for the frontiers of quantum chemistry: An overview of developments in the Q-Chem 5 package

in Journal of Chemical Physics (2021)

A research-practice cooperation to support elementary school teachers’ diagnostic competencies based on a working theory of talent development in STEM

in Gifted and Talented International (2021)

We present a teacher professionalization project for promoting elementary school teachers’ diagnostic competencies in recognizing their students’ potential in STEM subjects. Teacher professionalization is ... [more ▼]

We present a teacher professionalization project for promoting elementary school teachers’ diagnostic competencies in recognizing their students’ potential in STEM subjects. Teacher professionalization is fostered through the teachers’ personal involvement in the development of subjectspecific diagnostic materials as well as through continuing training on the fundamental knowledge needed to detect and support gifted students. On the basis of the Talent Development in Achievement Domains (TAD) framework, we reached a common working theory of talent and its development in mathematics and science for elementary school-aged students based on the available scientific evidence and approved by teachers. We share a multidimensional, dynamic view of talent development that includes abilities, personality traits, and skills. We describe how our working theory and diagnostic materials can foster teachers’ diagnostic competencies as well as talent discovery and promotion in order to foster students’ development of creative productivity in STEM fields. [less ▲]

Almost global convergence to practical synchronization in the generalized Kuramoto model on networks over the n-sphere

in Communications Physics (2021), 4

From the flashing of fireflies to autonomous robot swarms, synchronization phenomena are ubiquitous in nature and technology. They are commonly described by the Kuramoto model that, in this paper, we ... [more ▼]

From the flashing of fireflies to autonomous robot swarms, synchronization phenomena are ubiquitous in nature and technology. They are commonly described by the Kuramoto model that, in this paper, we generalise to networks over n-dimensional spheres. We show that, for almost all initial conditions, the sphere model converges to a set with small diameter if the model parameters satisfy a given bound. Moreover, for even n, a special case of the generalized model can achieve phase synchronization with nonidentical frequency parameters. These results contrast with the standard n = 1 Kuramoto model, which is multistable (i.e., has multiple equilibria), and converges to phase synchronization only if the frequency parameters are identical. Hence, this paper shows that the generalized network Kuramoto models for n ≥ 2 displays more coherent and predictable behavior than the standard n = 1 model, a desirable property both in flocks of animals and for robot control. [less ▲]

„Raum für Mehrsprachigkeit geben!“

in Die Grundschulzeitschrift (2021)

Schöne Digitale Welt: Analysen und Einsprüche (Rezension)

in MEDIENwissenschaft: Rezensionen, Reviews (2021), 38(2),

Towards a computer-assisted aesthetics of user response

in Digital Scholarship in the Humanities (2021)

The article focuses on the analysis of the user as an aesthetic category and proposes a methodology for evaluating user response within a framework that combines theoretical background from different ... [more ▼]

The article focuses on the analysis of the user as an aesthetic category and proposes a methodology for evaluating user response within a framework that combines theoretical background from different areas, the theory of aesthetic response, psycholinguistics, appraisal theory, dialogism, and affective stylistics, with the application of digital tools for corpus linguistics and sentiment analysis. Four user types were derived from the corpus linguistics analysis referred to as immersed, distant, sceptical, and enthusiastic users. Each type may encompass a certain degree of intentionality and convey an attitude, implying features such as commitment and honesty, objectivity and engagement with the audience, critical reflection and circumspection, openness to technological novelty, and enjoyment. This assumes that the users involved in usability testing are not neutral or undifferentiated informational entities placed in an experimental context but individuals that respond to the same stimuli and express themselves differently in light of psycholinguistic factors and rules of social interaction. On the other hand, the results of sentiment analysis showed that an experiential analysis, centred not only on the artefact but also on the response and the experience it generates, may enable understanding the user as involved in a hermeneutic process of interpretation during his/her interaction with the studied artefact. Given the small scale of the analysed data, the study does not intend to provide evidence for general or definitive statements but formulates and illustrates a set of interpretative hypotheses and methodological directions for further enquiry aiming at developing an ‘aesthetics’ of user response. [less ▲]

A Catalogus Immune Muris of the mouse immune responses to diverse pathogens

in Cell Death and Disease (2021)

Role of S100A8/A9 for Cytokine Secretion, Revealed in Neutrophils Derived from ER-Hoxb8 Progenitors

in International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2021)

S100A9, a Ca2+-binding protein, is tightly associated to neutrophil pro-inflammatory functions when forming a heterodimer with its S100A8 partner. Upon secretion into the extracellular environment, these ... [more ▼]

S100A9, a Ca2+-binding protein, is tightly associated to neutrophil pro-inflammatory functions when forming a heterodimer with its S100A8 partner. Upon secretion into the extracellular environment, these proteins behave like damage-associated molecular pattern molecules, which actively participate in the amplification of the inflammation process by recruitment and activation of pro-inflammatory cells. Intracellular functions have also been attributed to the S100A8/A9 complex, notably its ability to regulate nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase activation. However, the complete functional spectrum of S100A8/A9 at the intracellular level is far from being understood. In this context, we here investigated the possibility that the absence of intracellular S100A8/A9 is involved in cytokine secretion. To overcome the difficulty of genetically modifying neutrophils, we used murine neutrophils derived from wild-type and S100A9-/- Hoxb8 immortalized myeloid progenitors. After confirming that differentiated Hoxb8 neutrophil-like cells are a suitable model to study neutrophil functions, our data show that absence of S100A8/A9 led to a dysregulation of cytokine secretion after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. Furthermore, we demonstrate that S100A8/A9-induced cytokine secretion was regulated by the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway. These results were confirmed in human differentiated HL-60 cells, in which S100A9 was inhibited by shRNAs. Finally, our results indicate that the degranulation process could be involved in the regulation of cytokine secretion by S100A8/A9. [less ▲]

Characterizing the Theory of Spreading Electric Vehicles in Luxembourg

in Sustainability (2021)

Intelligent Reflecting Surface Enhanced Secure Transmission Against Both Jamming and Eavesdropping Attacks

in IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology (2021), 70(10, Oct. 2021), 11017-11022

Both the jammer and the eavesdropper pose severe threat to wireless communications due to the broadcast nature of wireless channels. In this paper, an intelligent reflecting surface (IRS) assisted secure ... [more ▼]

Both the jammer and the eavesdropper pose severe threat to wireless communications due to the broadcast nature of wireless channels. In this paper, an intelligent reflecting surface (IRS) assisted secure communication system is considered, where a base station (BS) wishes to reliably convey information to a user, in the presence of both a jammer and an eavesdropper whose channel state information (CSI) is not perfectly known. Specifically, we aim to maximize the system achievable rate by jointly designing the BS’s transmit beamforming and the IRS’s reflect beamforming with imperfect CSI, while limiting the information leakage to the potential eavesdropper. Due to the non-convexity and intractability of the original problem induced by the CSI uncertainty, we utilize the auxiliary variables and General Sign-Definiteness transformation to convert the original optimization problem into a tractable convex optimization problem, and then obtain the high-quality optimal solution by using the successive convex approximation and penalty convex concave procedure. Numerical simulations demonstrate the superiority of our proposed optimization algorithm compared with existing approaches, and also reveal the impact of key parameters on the achievable system performance. [less ▲]

Randomization as Mitigation of Directed Timing Inference Based Attacks on Time-Triggered Real-Time Systems with Task Replication

in LITES: Leibnitz Transactions on Embedded Systems (2021)

Time-triggered real-time systems achieve deterministic behavior using schedules that are constructed offline, based on scheduling constraints. Their deterministic behavior makes time-triggered systems ... [more ▼]

Time-triggered real-time systems achieve deterministic behavior using schedules that are constructed offline, based on scheduling constraints. Their deterministic behavior makes time-triggered systems suitable for usage in safety-critical environments, like avionics. However, this determinism also allows attackers to fine-tune attacks that can be carried out after studying the behavior of the system through side channels, targeting safety-critical victim tasks. Replication – i.e., the execution of task variants across different cores – is inherently able to tolerate both accidental and malicious faults (i.e. attacks) as long as these faults are independent of one another. Yet, targeted attacks on the timing behavior of tasks which utilize information gained about the system behavior violate the fault independence assumption fault tolerance is based on. This violation may give attackers the opportunity to compromise all replicas simultaneously, in par- ticular if they can mount the attack from already compromised components. In this paper, we ana- lyze vulnerabilities of time-triggered systems, focusing on safety-certified multicore real-time systems. We introduce two runtime mitigation strategies to withstand directed timing inference based attacks: (i) schedule randomization at slot level, and (ii) randomization within a set of offline constructed schedules. We evaluate these mitigation strategies with synthetic experiments and a real case study to show their effectiveness and practicality. [less ▲]

Proneural genes define ground-state rules to regulate neurogenic patterning and cortical folding

in Neuron (2021)

Quantitative trait locus mapping identifies a locus linked to striatal dopamine and points to collagen IV alpha-6 chain as a novel regulator of striatal axonal branching in mice

in Genes, Brain, and Behavior (2021)

Dopaminergic neurons (DA neurons) are controlled by multiple factors, many involved in neurological disease. Parkinson's disease motor symptoms are caused by the demise of nigral DA neurons, leading to ... [more ▼]

Dopaminergic neurons (DA neurons) are controlled by multiple factors, many involved in neurological disease. Parkinson's disease motor symptoms are caused by the demise of nigral DA neurons, leading to loss of striatal dopamine (DA). Here, we measured DA concentration in the dorsal striatum of 32 members of Collaborative Cross (CC) family and their eight founder strains. Striatal DA varied greatly in founders, and differences were highly heritable in the inbred CC progeny. We identified a locus, containing 164 genes, linked to DA concentration in the dorsal striatum on chromosome X. We used RNAseq profiling of the ventral midbrain of two founders with substantial difference in striatal DA–C56BL/6 J and A/J—to highlight potential protein-coding candidates modulating this trait. Among the five differentially expressed genes within the locus, we found that the gene coding for the collagen IV alpha 6 chain (Col4a6) was expressed nine times less in A/J than in C57BL/6J. Using single cell RNA-seq data from developing human midbrain, we found that COL4A6 is highly expressed in radial glia-like cells and neuronal progenitors, indicating a role in neuronal development. Collagen IV alpha-6 chain (COL4A6) controls axogenesis in simple model organisms. Consistent with these findings, A/J mice had less striatal axonal branching than C57BL/6J mice. We tentatively conclude that DA concentration and axonal branching in dorsal striatum are modulated by COL4A6, possibly during development. Our study shows that genetic mapping based on an easily measured Central Nervous System (CNS) trait, using the CC population, combined with follow-up observations, can parse heritability of such a trait, and nominate novel functions for commonly expressed proteins. [less ▲]

What accounts for changes in the chances of being NEET in the UK?

in Journal of Education and Work (2021)

A rigged model of the breast for preoperative surgical planning

in Journal of Biomechanics (2021), 128

In breast surgical practice, drawing is part of the preoperative planning procedure and is essential for a successful operation. In this study, we design a pipeline to assist surgeons with patient ... [more ▼]

In breast surgical practice, drawing is part of the preoperative planning procedure and is essential for a successful operation. In this study, we design a pipeline to assist surgeons with patient-specific breast surgical drawings. We use a deformable torso model containing the surgical patterns to match any breast surface scan. To be compatible with surgical timing, we build an articulated model through a skinning process coupled with shape deformers to enhance a fast registration process. On one hand, the scalable bones of the skinning account for pose and morphological variations of the patients. On the other hand, pre-designed artistic blendshapes create a linear space for guaranteeing anatomical variations. Then, we apply meaningful constraints to the model to find a trade-off between precision and speed. The experiments were conducted on 7 patients, in 2 different poses (prone and supine) with a breast size ranging from 36A and 42C (US/UK bra sizing). The acquisitions were obtained using the depth camera Structure Sensor, and the breast scans were acquired in less than 1 minute. The result is a registration method converging within a few seconds (3 maximum), reaching a Mean Absolute Error of 2.3 mm for mesh registration and 8.0 mm for breast anatomical landmarks. Compared to the existing literature, our model can be personalized and does not require any database. Finally, our registered model can be used to transfer surgical reference patterns onto any patient in any position. [less ▲]

Simulation of gas-dynamic, pressure surges and adiabatic compression phenomena in geometrically complex respirator oxygen valves

in Thermal Science and Engineering Progress (2021), 24

Gas-dynamic pressure surges and adiabatic compression phenomena are generally hard to predict numerically. In this contribution, we study the effect of the pressure reserve capacity on the compressible ... [more ▼]

Gas-dynamic pressure surges and adiabatic compression phenomena are generally hard to predict numerically. In this contribution, we study the effect of the pressure reserve capacity on the compressible gas-dynamics pressure surge and adiabatic compression in a fitted respirator oxygen valve geometry. A three-dimensional remeshed smoothed particle hydrodynamics method for the simulation of isotropic turbulence is used, the method is coupled with Brinkman penalisation technique for flow simulation inside the complex valve geometry. Simulations are carried out for three different pressure reserve quantities, to replicate the opening of the valve, two time-based pressure inlet boundary condition functions were simulated along with an impulsively started scenario. A geometrical sensitivity analysis is provided, where the simulation is performed on a modified valve design which exhibits a damping effect on the gas dynamics and flow characteristics, which has a favourable effect on the valve functionality and safety. It is found that the capacity of the pressure reserve has a considerable effect on the simulated flow fields (velocity, temperature), as the temperature could rise 6.0X the reference temperature, and up to 2.7X the reference velocity. The numerical results are compared with a previous study carried out by Rotarex S.A., demonstrating that the remeshed particle-mesh method coupled with Brinkman penalisation provides a good quality simulation and the results are in agreement with the reference solution. [less ▲]

Optimizing Resource Allocation for 6G NOMA-Enabled Cooperative Vehicular Networks

in IEEE Open Journal of Intelligent Transportation Systems (2021)

In recent years, the concept of non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) has gathered much attention due to its potential to offer high spectral efficiency, present user fairness and grant free access to ... [more ▼]

In recent years, the concept of non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) has gathered much attention due to its potential to offer high spectral efficiency, present user fairness and grant free access to sixth generation (6G) vehicular networks. This paper proposes a new optimization framework for NOMA-enabled cooperative vehicular network. In particular, we jointly optimize the vehicle paring, channel assignment, and power allocation at source and relaying vehicles. The objective is to maximize the sum rate of the system subject to the power allocation, minimum rate, relay battery lifetime and successive interference cancelation constraints. To solve the joint optimization problem efficiently, we adopt duality theory followed by Karush-Kuhn-Tucker (KKT) conditions, where the dual variables are iteratively computed through sub-gradient method. Two less complex suboptimal schemes are also presented as the benchmark cooperative vehicular schemes. Simulation results compare the performance of the proposed joint optimization scheme compared to the other benchmark cooperative vehicular schemes. [less ▲]

Talent development in natural science in elementary school: A juxtaposition of research and practice

in Teaching and Teacher Education (2021), 104

We present a working theory of person-related predictors of talent development in natural science during elementary school. The working theory resulted from the juxtaposition of scientific findings and ... [more ▼]

We present a working theory of person-related predictors of talent development in natural science during elementary school. The working theory resulted from the juxtaposition of scientific findings and teachers' expertise. The results showed that both teachers and researchers conceive of talent development in natural science as a complex process including abilities, personality traits, and skills as predictors. However, teachers focused mainly on skills whereas the scientific literature emphasized cognitive abilities. The working theory can be used for the identification and promotion of natural science talent and the development of teachers' diagnostic skills to assess students’ potential in natural science. [less ▲]

Supervised machine learning for power and bandwidth management in very high throughput satellite systems

in International Journal of Satellite Communications and Networking (2021)

In the near future, very high throughput satellite (VHTS) systems are expected to have a high increase in traffic demand. However, this increase will not be uniform over the service area and will be also ... [more ▼]

In the near future, very high throughput satellite (VHTS) systems are expected to have a high increase in traffic demand. However, this increase will not be uniform over the service area and will be also dynamic. A solution to this problem is given by flexible payload architectures; however, they require that resource management is performed autonomously and with low latency. In this paper, we propose the use of supervised machine learning, in particular a classification algorithm using a neural network, to manage the resources available in flexible payload architectures. Use cases are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach, and a discussion is made on all the challenges that are presented. [less ▲]

Policy Experimentation in Committees: A Case Against Veto Rights Under Redistributive Constraints

in American Economic Journal. Microeconomics (2021), 13(3), 124-162

We study optimal policy experimentation by a committee. We consider a dynamic bargaining game in which committee members choose either a risky reform or a safe alternative each period. When no ... [more ▼]

We study optimal policy experimentation by a committee. We consider a dynamic bargaining game in which committee members choose either a risky reform or a safe alternative each period. When no redistribution is allowed the unique equilibrium outcome is generically inefficient. When redistribution is allowed (even small amounts), there always exists an equilibrium that supports optimal experimentation for any voting rule without veto players. With veto players, however, optimal policy experimentation is possible only with a sufficient amount of redistribution. We conclude that veto rights are more of an obstacle to optimal policy experimentation than the constraints on redistribution themselves. [less ▲]

Guest Editorial: Space Information Networks: Technological Challenges, Design Issues, and Solutions

in IEEE Network (2021), 35(4), 16-18

It has been expected that the space information networks (SIN), as an extension of the terrestrial network, would provide high-speed, high-capacity, global continuous communication, and data transmission ... [more ▼]

It has been expected that the space information networks (SIN), as an extension of the terrestrial network, would provide high-speed, high-capacity, global continuous communication, and data transmission services anywhere for anyone at any time. With rapid advances in relevant technologies (e.g., satellite miniaturization technology, reusable rocket launch technology, and semiconductor technology), low-orbit satellites, drones, and airships can be integrated into the SIN to supply more comprehensive network connectivity. The standard development organizations including 3GPP, ITU, and ETSI already starts corresponding standardization activities to support nonterrestrial networks in SIN. It can be foreseen that SIN will be expanded to provide not only telephone services but also various kinds of Internet services, and it is thus able to serve many more users with different demands. [less ▲]

Editoriaal. Kinderen.

in Tijdschrift. Erfgoedpraktijk in Vlaanderen (2021), 11(2), 4-5

Elliptical Symmetry Tests in R

in R Journal (2021), 13:2

The assumption of elliptical symmetry has an important role in many theoretical develop ments and applications. Hence, it is of primary importance to be able to test whether that assumption actually holds ... [more ▼]

The assumption of elliptical symmetry has an important role in many theoretical develop ments and applications. Hence, it is of primary importance to be able to test whether that assumption actually holds true or not. Various tests have been proposed in the literature for this problem. To the best of our knowledge, none of them has been implemented in R. This article describes the R package elliptical symmetry which implements several well-known tests for elliptical symmetry together with some recent tests. We demonstrate the testing procedures with a real data example. [less ▲]

Modelling COVID-19 dynamics and potential for herd immunity by vaccination in Austria, Luxembourg and Sweden

in Journal of Theoretical Biology (2021)

Against the COVID-19 pandemic, non-pharmaceutical interventions have been widely applied and vaccinations have taken off. The upcoming question is how the interplay between vaccinations and social ... [more ▼]

Against the COVID-19 pandemic, non-pharmaceutical interventions have been widely applied and vaccinations have taken off. The upcoming question is how the interplay between vaccinations and social measures will shape infections and hospitalizations. Hence, we extend the Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Removed (SEIR) model including these elements. We calibrate it to data of Luxembourg, Austria and Sweden until 15 December 2020. Sweden results having the highest fraction of undetected, Luxembourg of infected and all three being far from herd immunity in December. We quantify the level of social interaction, showing that a level around 1/3 of before the pandemic was still required in December to keep the effective reproduction number Refft below 1, for all three countries. Aiming to vaccinate the whole population within 1 year at constant rate would require on average 1,700 fully vaccinated people/day in Luxembourg, 24,000 in Austria and 28,000 in Sweden, and could lead to herd immunity only by mid summer. Herd immunity might not be reached in 2021 if too slow vaccines rollout speeds are employed. The model thus estimates which vaccination rates are too low to allow reaching herd immunity in 2021, depending on social interactions. Vaccination will considerably, but not immediately, help to curb the infection; thus limiting social interactions remains crucial for the months to come. [less ▲]

When a Master Dies: Speculation and Asset Float

in Review of Financial Studies (2021), 34(8), 38403879

Outage Probability Analysis of IRS-Assisted Systems Under Spatially Correlated Channels

in IEEE Wireless Communications Letters (2021), 10(8), 1815-1819

This paper investigates the impact of spatial channel correlation on the outage probability of intelligent reflecting surface (IRS)-assisted single-input single-output (SISO) communication systems. In ... [more ▼]

This paper investigates the impact of spatial channel correlation on the outage probability of intelligent reflecting surface (IRS)-assisted single-input single-output (SISO) communication systems. In particular, we derive a novel closed-form expression of the outage probability for arbitrary phase shifts and correlation matrices of the indirect channels. To shed light on the impact of the spatial correlation, we further attain the closed-form expressions for two common scenarios met in the literature when the large-scale fading coefficients are expressed by the loss over a propagation distance. Numerical results validate the tightness and effectiveness of the closed-form expressions. Furthermore, the spatial correlation offers significant decreases in the outage probability as the direct channel is blocked. [less ▲]

Radio Resource Management Techniques for Multibeam Satellite Systems

in IEEE Communications Letters (2021), 25(8), 2448-2452

Next–generation of satellite communication (SatCom) networks are expected to support extremely high data rates for a seamless integration into future large satellite-terrestrial networks. In view of the ... [more ▼]

Next–generation of satellite communication (SatCom) networks are expected to support extremely high data rates for a seamless integration into future large satellite-terrestrial networks. In view of the coming spectral limitations, the main challenge is to reduce the cost (satellite launch and operation) per bit, which can be achieved by enhancing the spectral efficiencies. In addition, the capability to quickly and flexibly assign radio resources according to the traffic demand distribution has become a must for future multibeam broadband satellite systems. This article presents the radio resource management problems encountered in the design of future broadband SatComs and provides a comprehensive overview of the available techniques to address such challenges. Firstly, we focus on the demand matching formulation of the power and bandwidth assignment. Secondly, we present the scheduling design in practical multibeam satellite systems. Finally, a number of future challenges and the respective open research topics are described. [less ▲]

An Enhanced Spectrum Reservation Framework for Heterogeneous Users in CR-Enabled IoT Networks

in IEEE Wireless Communications Letters (2021)

Fulfilling the diverse communication requirements of heterogeneous users is envisioned to be one of the key challenges in cognitive radio-enabled IoT networks. To this end, we propose a novel scheme ... [more ▼]

Fulfilling the diverse communication requirements of heterogeneous users is envisioned to be one of the key challenges in cognitive radio-enabled IoT networks. To this end, we propose a novel scheme focused on multi-tier prioritized and heterogeneous regime of users and reservation-based resources allocation. The proposed scheme manipulates the secondary users’ (SUs’) heterogeneity based on their priorities for improving their capacities and blocking probabilities. Besides, the scheme systematically deals with SUs’ dropping for bringing fairness in the service provisioning to SUs. Furthermore, the scheme allows primary users (PUs) to follow an organized approach when accessing channels for mitigating the number of handoffs. Additionally, we propose a dynamic channel reservation algorithm for PUs to enhance spectrum utilization. We leverage the continuous-time Markov chain for system modeling and consider channel failures for making the analysis more realistic. Results confirm the effectiveness of our scheme as compared to the state-of-the-art. [less ▲]

LEO Satellite Constellations for 5G and Beyond: How Will They Reshape Vertical Domains?

in IEEE Communications Magazine (2021), 59(7), 30-36

The rapid development of communication technologies in the past decades has provided immense vertical opportunities for individuals and enterprises. However, conventional terrestrial cellular networks ... [more ▼]

The rapid development of communication technologies in the past decades has provided immense vertical opportunities for individuals and enterprises. However, conventional terrestrial cellular networks have unfortunately neglected the huge geographical digital divide, s ince high-bandwidth wireless coverage is concentrated in urban areas. To meet the goal of “connecting the unconnected,” integrating low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites with the terrestrial cellular networks has been widely considered as a promising solution. In this article, we first introduce the development roadmap of LEO sa tellite constellations (SatCons), including early attempts in LEO satellites with the emerging LEO constellations. Further, we discuss the unique opportunities of employing LEO SatCons for the delivery of integrating 5G networks. Specifically, we present their key performance indicators, which offer important guidelines for the design of associated enabling techniques, and then discuss the potential impact of integrating LEO SatCons with typical 5G use cases, where we engrave our vision of various vertical domains reshaped by LEO SatCons. Technical challenges are finally provided to specify future research directions. [less ▲]

BlockPerf: A Hybrid Blockchain Emulator/Simulator Framework

in IEEE Access (2021), 9

Blockchain is increasingly used for registering, authenticating and validating digital assets (financial assets, real estate, etc.) and transactions, governing interactions, recording data and managing ... [more ▼]

Blockchain is increasingly used for registering, authenticating and validating digital assets (financial assets, real estate, etc.) and transactions, governing interactions, recording data and managing identification among multiple parties in a trusted, decentralized, and secure manner. Today, a large variety of blockchain technologies is expanding in order to fulfill technical and non-technical needs and requirements. Within this context, determining and most importantly evaluating the characteristics/performance of a given blockchain platform is crucial for system designers before deploying it. A number of blockchain simulators have been proposed in the literature over the past few years, as reviewed in this paper, but are often limited in several respects (lack of extensibility, do not allow for evaluating all aspects of a blockchain...). This paper extends and improves a state-of-the-art simulator (BlockSim) into a new simulator called ‘‘BlockPerf’’ to overcome those limitations. Both simulators are compared based on a real-life (benchmarking) Bitcoin scenario, whose results show that BlockPerf provides more realistic results than BlockSim, improving by around ≈50% (in average) the outcomes. [less ▲]

Dual pairs in the Pin-group and duality for the corresponding spinorial representation

in Algebras and Representation Theory (2021), 24(6), 16251640

In this paper, we give a complete picture of Howe correspondence for the setting (O(E,b),Pin(E,b),Π), where O(E,b) is an orthogonal group (real or complex), Pin(E,b) is the two-fold Pin-covering of O(E,b ... [more ▼]

In this paper, we give a complete picture of Howe correspondence for the setting (O(E,b),Pin(E,b),Π), where O(E,b) is an orthogonal group (real or complex), Pin(E,b) is the two-fold Pin-covering of O(E,b), and Π is the spinorial representation of Pin(E,b). More precisely, for a dual pair (G,G′) in O(E,b), we determine explicitly the nature of its preimages (G̃,G′~) in Pin(E,b), and prove that apart from some exceptions, (G̃,G′~) is always a dual pair in Pin(E,b); then we establish the Howe correspondence for Π with respect to (G̃,G′~). [less ▲]

An Innovative Strategy Allowing a Holisitic System Change towards Circular Economy within Supply-Chains

in Energies (2021), 14(14),

: The concept of the circular economy (CE) is receiving encouraging attention among scholars and practitioners, as a convenient solution to move away from the linear economy concept without neglecting the ... [more ▼]

: The concept of the circular economy (CE) is receiving encouraging attention among scholars and practitioners, as a convenient solution to move away from the linear economy concept without neglecting the goals of sustainable development. The main goals of the CE are the closing of resource loops and the keeping of resources in the system for as long as possible at the highest utility level. However, as a result of the lack of internationally accepted definitions of the CE and several unsolved barriers, an excessive and inconsistent number of different CE applications exist. Most fields are mainly focusing on making a linear system circular instead of applying the CE principles in a holistic way. This paper presents a strategy to close the mentioned inconsistency gap, by contrasting currently discussed CE barriers and goals and thereof deriving two areas with a need for action (1. identifying the needed collection, sorting, and recovery infrastructure, and 2. developing circular product design guidelines). The strategy itself consists of connecting these two areas through an improved information exchange between the end-of-life (EOL) and beginning-of-life (BOL) of products. The result is CE design guidelines which are in accordance with the available or needed collection, sorting, and recovery infrastructure. The proposed strategy presents an innovative solution to apply CE principles in a holistic manner, based on EOL-driven product design. [less ▲]

Hybrid Beamforming, User Scheduling, and Resource Allocation for Integrated Terrestrial-Satellite Communication

in IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology (2021), 70(9), 8868-8882

In this paper, we investigate hybrid beamforming, user scheduling, and resource allocation optimization based on spectrum coexisting forward transmission in integrated terrestrial-satellite network (ITSN ... [more ▼]

In this paper, we investigate hybrid beamforming, user scheduling, and resource allocation optimization based on spectrum coexisting forward transmission in integrated terrestrial-satellite network (ITSN) with the purpose of improving system sum rate and energy efficiency. Considering the limitation of on-board beamforming, a hybrid analog-digital beamforming scheme is designed under the scenario of millimeter wave (mmWave) coexisting in the ITSN framework. Besides, in order to further mitigate intra-beam and inter-beam interference, we propose an adaptive user scheduling scheme, which first determines the cluster center based on adaptive threshold, and then selects users with less channel correlation into a scheduling cluster. Moreover, we model system sum rate maximization problem that incorporates maximum power constrains and minimum data rate requirements. Combined with the aforementioned hybrid beamforming and user scheduling strategy, we formulate the sum rate maximizing problem to a pure power allocation issue. In view of the non-convexity and high complexity, we propose a feasible optimization method based on the minimum mean square error (MMSE) criterion and logarithmic linearization to optimize the power allocation for each user terminal (UT). Simulation results show that our proposed joint beamforming and resource allocation optimization scheduling scheme can achieve an attractive gain in system sum rate and energy efficiency compared with conservative beamforming and allocations. [less ▲]

Digital twinning of Cellular Capsule Technology: emerging outcomes from the perspective of porous media mechanics

in PLoS ONE (2021)

Spheroids encapsulated within alginate capsules are emerging as suitable in vitro tools to investigate the impact of mechanical forces on tumor growth since the internal tumor pressure can be retrieved ... [more ▼]

Spheroids encapsulated within alginate capsules are emerging as suitable in vitro tools to investigate the impact of mechanical forces on tumor growth since the internal tumor pressure can be retrieved from the deformation of the capsule. Here we focus on the particular case of Cellular Capsule Technology (CCT). We show in this contribution that a modeling approach accounting for the triphasic nature of the spheroid (extracellular matrix, tumor cells and interstitial fluid) offers a new perspective of analysis revealing that the pressure retrieved experimentally cannot be interpreted as a direct picture of the pressure sustained by the tumor cells and, as such, cannot therefore be used to quantify the critical pressure which induces stress-induced phenotype switch in tumor cells. The proposed multiphase reactive poro-mechanical model was cross-validated. Parameter sensitivity analyses on the digital twin revealed that the main parameters determining the encapsulated growth configuration are different from those driving growth in free condition, confirming that radically different phenomena are at play. Results reported in this contribution support the idea that multiphase reactive poro-mechanics is an exceptional theoretical framework to attain an in-depth understanding of CCT experiments, to confirm their hypotheses and to further improve their design. We show in this contribution that a modeling approach accounting for the triphasic nature of the spheroid (extracellular matrix, tumor cells and interstitial fluid) offers a new perspective of analysis revealing that the pressure retrieved experimentally cannot be interpreted as a direct picture of the pressure sustained by the tumor cells and, as such, cannot therefore be used to quantify the critical pressure which induces stress-induced phenotype switch in tumour cells. The proposed multiphase reactive poro-mechanical model was cross-validated. Parameter sensitivity analyses on the digital twin revealed that the main parameters determining the encapsulated growth configuration are different from those driving growth in free condition, confirming that radically different phenomena are at play.Results reported in this contribution support the idea that multiphase reactive poro-mechanics is an exceptional theoretical framework to attain an in-depth understanding of CCT experiments, to confirm their hypotheses and to further improve their design. [less ▲]

Stromal fibroblasts shape the myeloid phenotype in normal colon and colorectal cancer and induce CD163 and CCL2 expression in macrophages

in Cancer Letters (2021)

Colorectal cancer (CRC) accounts for about 10% of cancer deaths worldwide. Colon carcinogenesis is critically influenced by the tumor microenvironment. Cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and tumor ... [more ▼]

Colorectal cancer (CRC) accounts for about 10% of cancer deaths worldwide. Colon carcinogenesis is critically influenced by the tumor microenvironment. Cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) represent the major components of the tumor microenvironment. TAMs promote tumor progression, angiogenesis and tissue remodeling. However, the impact of the molecular crosstalk of tumor cells (TCs) with CAFs and macrophages on monocyte recruitment and their phenotypic conversion is not known in detail so far. In a 3D human organotypic CRC model, we show that CAFs and normal colonic fibroblasts are critically involved in monocyte recruitment and for the establishment of a macrophage phenotype, characterized by high CD163 expression. This is in line with the steady recruitment and differentiation of monocytes to immunosuppressive macrophages in the normal colon. Cytokine profiling revealed that CAFs produce M-CSF, and IL6, IL8, HGF and CCL2 secretion was specifically induced by CAFs in co-cultures with macrophages. Moreover, macrophage/CAF/TCs co-cultures increased TC invasion. We demonstrate that CAFs and macrophages are the major producers of CCL2 and, upon co-culture, increase their CCL2 production twofold and 40-fold, respectively. CAFs and macrophages expressing high CCL2 were also found in vivo in CRC, strongly supporting our findings. CCL2, CCR2, CSF1R and CD163 expression in macrophages was dependent on active MCSFR signaling as shown by M-CSFR inhibition. These results indicate that colon fibroblasts and not TCs are the major cellular component, recruiting and dictating the fate of infiltrated monocytes towards a specific macrophage population, characterized by high CD163 expression and CCL2 production. [less ▲]

Joint Spectrum and Energy Optimization of NOMA-Enabled Small-Cell Networks With QoS Guarantee

in IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology (2021)

In recent years, wireless communication has experienced a massive shift from a single service (i.e., voice) to an interconnected web of networks. Although many techniques have been developed improving the ... [more ▼]

In recent years, wireless communication has experienced a massive shift from a single service (i.e., voice) to an interconnected web of networks. Although many techniques have been developed improving the offered services to mobile users, still the demand for high-quality services cannot be reached. Therefore, this paper proposes a joint non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA)-enabled optimization framework for small-cell network (SCNet) by utilizing the concepts of multi-objective problem. In particular, the transmit power of base station (BS) in each small-cell simultaneously optimizes to maximize the sum-capacity and total energy efficiency (EE) of SCNet. The multi-objective optimization problem is formulated as non-convex subject to several practical constraints, i.e., individual quality of service requirement, maximum power budget of small-cell BS, and efficient decoding of superimposed signal using successive interference cancellation. Based on the nature of the problem, the optimal solutions are provided using sequential quadratic programming, and Karush-Kuhn-Tucker approaches. The obtained results show significant performance gains over conventional orthogonal multiple access technique in terms of sum-capacity and total EE. [less ▲]

FAIR chemical structures in the Journal of Cheminformatics

in Journal of Cheminformatics (2021), 13(1), 50

Abstract The ability to access chemical information openly is an essential part of many scientific disciplines. The Journal of Cheminformatics is leading the way for rigorous, open cheminformatics in many ... [more ▼]

Abstract The ability to access chemical information openly is an essential part of many scientific disciplines. The Journal of Cheminformatics is leading the way for rigorous, open cheminformatics in many ways, but there remains room for improvement in primary areas. This letter discusses how both authors and the journal alike can help increase the FAIR ness (Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, Reusability) of the chemical structural information in the journal. A proposed chemical structure template can serve as an interoperable Additional File format (already accessible ), made more findable by linking the DOI of this data file to the article DOI metadata, supporting further reuse . [less ▲]

Can Offline Testing of Deep Neural Networks Replace Their Online Testing?

in Empirical Software Engineering (2021), 26(5),

We distinguish two general modes of testing for Deep Neural Networks (DNNs): Offline testing where DNNs are tested as individual units based on test datasets obtained without involving the DNNs under test ... [more ▼]

We distinguish two general modes of testing for Deep Neural Networks (DNNs): Offline testing where DNNs are tested as individual units based on test datasets obtained without involving the DNNs under test, and online testing where DNNs are embedded into a specific application environment and tested in a closed-loop mode in interaction with the application environment. Typically, DNNs are subjected to both types of testing during their development life cycle where offline testing is applied immediately after DNN training and online testing follows after offline testing and once a DNN is deployed within a specific application environment. In this paper, we study the relationship between offline and online testing. Our goal is to determine how offline testing and online testing differ or complement one another and if offline testing results can be used to help reduce the cost of online testing? Though these questions are generally relevant to all autonomous systems, we study them in the context of automated driving systems where, as study subjects, we use DNNs automating end-to-end controls of steering functions of self-driving vehicles. Our results show that offline testing is less effective than online testing as many safety violations identified by online testing could not be identified by offline testing, while large prediction errors generated by offline testing always led to severe safety violations detectable by online testing. Further, we cannot exploit offline testing results to reduce the cost of online testing in practice since we are not able to identify specific situations where offline testing could be as accurate as online testing in identifying safety requirement violations. [less ▲]

Nationwide implementation of media literacy training sessions on internet safety

in Communications: the European Journal of Communication Research (2021)

Although numerous media literacy training sessions on internet safety for children and adolescents have been conducted, their number contrasts sharply with the few systematic studies on their ... [more ▼]

Although numerous media literacy training sessions on internet safety for children and adolescents have been conducted, their number contrasts sharply with the few systematic studies on their effectiveness. In this study, we describe the evaluation of nationwide-implemented training sessions on internet safety in Luxembourg, which included perceptions of learning outcomes and evaluations of implementation and effectiveness. Training data from 2011 to 2018 were analyzed, including 28,060 students and 5,031 teachers. Students reported pronounced learning effects, especially for younger students and for repeated training participation. Teachers greatly appreciated the implementation and effectiveness, which generally increased over the years. The perceived effectiveness of the training was significantly related to teachers’ planning to cover internet safety topics in future lessons. The present study shows that carefully planned and continuously evaluated training sessions on internet safety successfully support children’s understanding and teachers’ willingness to implement internet safety in their curriculum. [less ▲]

The impact of Kelvin probe force microscopy operation modes and environment on grain boundary band bending in perovskite and Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells

in Nano Energy (2021), 88

An in-depth understanding of the electronic properties of grain boundaries (GBs) in polycrystalline semiconductor absorbers is of high importance since their charge carrier recombination rates may be very ... [more ▼]

An in-depth understanding of the electronic properties of grain boundaries (GBs) in polycrystalline semiconductor absorbers is of high importance since their charge carrier recombination rates may be very high and hence limit the solar cell device performance. Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy (KPFM) is the method of choice to investigate GB band bending on the nanometer scale and thereby helps to develop passivation strategies. Here, it is shown that the workfunction, measured with amplitude modulation (AM)-KPFM, which is by far the most common KPFM measurement mode, is prone to exhibit measurement artifacts at grain boundaries on typical solar cell absorbers such as Cu(In,Ga)Se2 and CH3NH3PbI3. This is a direct consequence of a change in the cantilever–sample distance that varies on rough samples. Furthermore, we critically discuss the impact of different environments (air versus vacuum) and show that air exposure alters the GB and facet contrast, which leads to erroneous interpretations of the GB physics. Frequency modulation (FM)-KPFM measurements on non-air-exposed CIGSe and perovskite absorbers show that the amount of band bending measured at the GB is negligible and that the electronic landscape of the semiconductor surface is dominated by facet-related contrast due to the polycrystalline nature of the absorbers. [less ▲]