Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized by persistent inflammation and tubulointerstitial fibrosis leading to end-stage renal disease. Transient receptor potential canonical 6 (TRPC6) channel inhibition mitigates tubular injury and renal fibrosis in murine models of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) and 2-month chronic post-ischemia-reperfusion injury (2m post-I/R). Through integrated analysis of single-cell-RNA-sequencing (scRNA-Seq) data from UUO mice treated with the selective TRPC6 inhibitor SH045, here the renoprotective cell composition and cell type-specific transcriptional programs are defined. We explored translational aspects by conducting an in-depth scRNA-Seq analysis of kidney samples from patients with CKD. These results reveal global transcriptional shifts with a dramatic diversification of inflammatory cells, endothelial cells and fibroblasts. Notably, a distinct subpopulation of novel endothelial cells is delineated, which is termed ECRIN, that regulate inflammatory networks implicating VEGF and GAS signaling pathways. The data also indicates that inhibition of TRPC6 channels triggers a Prnp transcription factor regulatory network, which contributes to the alleviation of renal fibrosis. The key findings are supported at the protein level by immunofluorescence and western blot analysis. We observed similar patterns in the chronic 2m postI/R injury model. These findings provide novel insights into the potential therapeutic benefits of TRPC6 inhibition in CKD.

Wärmepumpen (WP) stellen eine Schlüsseltechnologie für die Energiewende im Gebäudesektor dar. Die Erkenntnis, dass die Effizienz von WP vom Temperaturhub zwischen Wärmequelle und Wärmesenke und damit von der benötigten Vorlauftemperatur abhängt, ist mittlerweile weit verbreitet. Vor diesem Hintergrund werden Raumheizeinrichtungen auch so ausgewählt und ausgelegt, dass sie mit einem möglichst niedrigen Temperaturniveau auskommen. Wenig Aufmerksamkeit wird bisweilen aber der Tatsache geschenkt, dass in den hydraulischen Systemen ein Abfall der Vorlauf- bzw. Versorgungstemperatur (Drop of Supply Temperature (DoST)) von der WP bis zum Verbraucher auftritt, der im weiten Bereich zwischen 0 und 20 K variiert. Dies führt mitunter zu einer Effizienzverschlechterung des WP-Betriebs von bis zu 50 %. Der vorliegende Beitrag beschäftigt sich mit den oft vermeidbaren Ursachen und gibt Größenordnungen für den DoST an. Hieraus kann die Effizienzverschlechterung für das Wärmepumpen-System (WPS) nach „CARNOT“ abgeschätzt werden.

Der vorliegende Beitrag befasst sich mit neueren Erkenntnissen der Mobilitätsforschung zur Erklärung von Verkehrshandeln. Aus der Perspektive verschiedener Disziplinen wird die Wechselwirkung zwischen Mobilität und sozialen Strukturen analysiert und hinsichtlich ihrer Bedeutung für eine sozial-ökologische Transformation des Mobilitätssystems bewertet. Zunächst wird das Verhältnis von Raumstrukturen und Mobilität geklärt, bevor grundlegende Theorien der Umweltpsychologie vorgestellt werden. Anschließend wird die Bedeutung von Routinen sowie von Umbruchsituationen im Lebenslauf für die Veränderung des Verkehrshandelns diskutiert und das darauf basierende Konzept der Mobilitätsbiografien erläutert. Folgerungen für eine sozial-ökologische Transformation des Mobilitätssystems und die dafür notwendige Mobilitätspolitik schließen den Beitrag ab.

Learning is at the heart of every progress the human species makes. It is most effective when it considers who we are as individuals, what learning approach we prefer and what we already know to begin with. In the digital age, we strive to capture such information in the form of a digital representation -- the so-called learner model --, to tailor learning-related systems to this information and build upon it to create more personalised learning experiences. Over recent years, the proliferation of diverse models across various educational applications and disciplines has made it challenging to access targeted research.

In this survey, we aim to address this gap, reviewing the latest advances in learner modelling and conducting a comprehensive analysis of the existing approaches, focusing on developments from 2014 to 2023. With the help of a systematic literature review, we want to provide designers and developers of learner models with a structured overview and simplified entrance into the topic and the field of learner models. We investigate the question: What do learner models look like and how are they filled, kept up-to-date, and used?

To this end, we analyse and classify existing approaches. Our findings provide a comprehensive and structured overview of the field of learner modelling, allowing researchers to navigate and understand the diverse approaches more easily and providing developers of learner models or adaptive systems with a practical tool to access relevant information according to their needs.

There is a class of entropy-coding methods which do not substitute symbols by code words (such as Huffman coding), but operate on intervals or ranges and thus allow a better approximation of the data entropy. This class includes three prominent members: conventional arithmetic coding, range coding, and coding based on asymmetric numeral systems. To determine the correct symbol in the decoder, each of these methods requires the comparison of a state variable with subinterval boundaries.

In adaptive operation, considering varying symbol statistics, an array of interval boundaries must additionally be kept up to date. The larger the symbol alphabet, the more time-consuming both the search for the correct subinterval and the updating of interval borders become. These entropy coding methods play an important role in all data transmission and storage applications, and optimising speed can be crucial.

Based on detailed pseudo-code, different known and proposed approaches are discussed to speed up the symbol search in the decoder and the adaptation of the array of interval borders, both depending on the chosen alphabet size. It is shown that reducing the big O complexity in practical implementations does not necessarily lead to an acceleration, especially if the alphabet size is too small. For example, the symbol determination at the decoder shows an expected low cpu-clock ratio (O(logn) algorithm versus O(n) algorithm) of about 0.62 for an alphabet with 256 symbols. However, for an alphabet with only 4 symbols, this ratio is 1.05, that means the algorithm with lower theoretical complexity executes slightly faster here. In adaptive compression mode, the binary indexing (BI) method proves to be superior when considering the overall processing time. Although the symbol search (in the decoder) takes longer than using other algorithms (e.g. cpu-clock ratio BI/O(logn) is 1.57), the faster updating of the array of interval borders more than compensates for this disadvantage (total ratio BI/O(logn) is 0.72). A variant of the binary indexing method is proposed, which is more flexible and has a partially lower complexity than the original approach. Specifically, the rescaling of cumulative counts can be reduced in its complexity from O(4n+[log2(n)−2]·n/2) to O(3n).

Results from studies indicate that starting a sustainability-oriented business is associated with specific challenges. Our aim therefore was to investigate the mindset and needs of sustainable entrepreneurs, focusing on their motivations, challenges and support requirements during the establishment of sustainability-oriented start-ups. The focus was on respective start-ups in two rural and rather conservative regions in Germany. Together with an interdisciplinary group of students at a university course, we conducted guideline-based interviews with N=14 founders of sustainability-oriented enterprises from different business sectors. The interviews were analysed using a category system aligned with the study’s objectives. Findings highlight that sustainable thinking is deeply embedded in the respondents' values, often prioritizing ethical considerations over profit maximization. Many of them face a tension between sustainability and profitability, as sustainable products tend to be more expensive, and there is uncertainty about the availability of willing customers. Moreover, the research identifies specific support needs, including assistance with bureaucratic processes, networking opportunities, and strategies for customer acquisition. We derive implications for higher education institutions’ education as well as for external programmes to support (prospective) sustainable entrepreneurs.