Patrick Weber

Soziale Netzwerk-Plattformen, Videoportale, Suchmaschinen und personalisierte Nachrichten-Apps prägen die Nachrichtenmenüs vieler Bürger zunehmend. Sie präsentieren Nutzern maßgeschneiderte Nachrichten, die sie mittels Algorithmen an persönliche Vorlieben anpassen. Mögliche Folgen sind eine veränderte Meinungsbildung und die Entstehung extremer und polarisierter Einstellungen. Der Band beantwortet folgende Fragen: Wie funktionieren algorithmisch personalisierte Nachrichtenkanäle? Wie häufig und intensiv werden sie von den Deutschen im Vergleich mit nicht-personalisierten Kanälen genutzt? Welche soziodemografischen, psychologischen, politik- und medienbezogenen Merkmale zeichnen Intensivnutzer aus? Wie hängt die Nutzung algorithmischer Nachrichtenkanäle mit extremen Meinungen zusammen?

In this thesis simulation models have been developed and validated to investigate the protein-lipid interaction mechanisms at the trans-Golgi network (TGN) of mammalian cells. In two systems biological studies, ordinary differential equation models were used to examine the interactions between the lipids involved in the sphingomyelin synthase 1 reaction at the TGN and the proteins involved in the regulation of non-vesicular Endoplasmic reticulum to TGN ceramide transfer. These systems include the lipids ceramide, phosphatidyl choline, diacylglycerol and sphingomyelin and the proteins protein kinase D (PKD), phosphatidyl inositol-4-kinase III ss and ceramide transfer protein (CERT), respectively. The final results comprise a quantitative model of this network, and a comparison of competing hypotheses regarding the mechanism of ceramide transfer. Major biological findings are that PKD and CERT work together in a cooperative manner to perform ceramide transfer by forming a positive feedback regulation. Important methodological side results of this thesis are a novel absolute quantification scheme for proteins via Western Blot data and a Bayesian experiment design method.

Sir Martin Ewans, former Head of the British Chancery in Kabul, puts into an historical and contemporary context the series of tragic events that have impinged on Afghanistan in the past fifty years. The book examines the roots of these developments in Afghanistan's earlier history and external relationships, as well as their contemporary relevance, internally, regionally, and globally. The book also reviews in details the emergence of the Taliban, their ideology and their place within Islam, and examines Afghanistan's relevance in global issues, notably the nature of Islamic extremism, the international drugs trade and international terrorism. It ends with an analysis of the country post-Taliban.

Sir Martin Ewans, former Head of the British Chancery in Kabul, puts into an historical and contemporary context the series of tragic events that have impinged on Afghanistan in the past fifty years. The book examines the roots of these developments in Afghanistan's earlier history and external relationships, as well as their contemporary relevance, internally, regionally, and globally. The book also reviews in details the emergence of the Taliban, their ideology and their place within Islam, and examines Afghanistan's relevance in global issues, notably the nature of Islamic extremism, the international drugs trade and international terrorism. It ends with an analysis of the country post-Taliban.