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Seit Längerem vermutet, nun ausdrücklich vom Gerichtshof bestätigt: Zwar kann unverbindliches Unionshandeln nicht Gegenstand einer Rechtmäßigkeitsprüfung im Rahmen der Nichtigkeitsklage sein, sehr wohl jedoch im Gültigkeitsverfahren. Der Ausspruch ist aus einer Rechtsschutzperspektive nicht nur interessant, weil er unterstreicht, dass das Gültigkeitsverfahren hinsichtlich des Kontrollgegenstands grundsätzlich keinen Vorbehalt kennt. In den beiden Rechtssachen wird das Rechtsschutzbedürfnis, das dem Einzelnen gegenüber nicht verbindlichen Unionshandlungen erwachsen kann, deutlich.

Scalable programmable photonic integrated circuits (PICs) can potentially transform the current state of classical and quantum optical information processing. However, traditional means of programming, including thermo-optic, free carrier dispersion, and Pockels effect result in either large device footprints or high static energy consumptions, significantly limiting their scalability. While chalcogenide-based non-volatile phase-change materials (PCMs) could mitigate these problems thanks to their strong index modulation and zero static power consumption, they often suffer from large absorptive loss, low cyclability, and lack of multilevel operation. Here, we report a wide-bandgap PCM antimony sulfide (Sb2S3)-clad silicon photonic platform simultaneously achieving low loss, high cyclability, and 5-bit operation. We switch Sb2S3 via an on-chip silicon PIN diode heater and demonstrate components with low insertion loss (10 dB), and high endurance (>1,600 switching events). Remarkably, we find that Sb2S3 can be programmed into fine intermediate states by applying identical and thermally isolated pulses, providing a unique approach to controllable multilevel operation. Through dynamic pulse control, we achieve on-demand and accurate 5-bit (32 levels) operations, rendering 0.50 +- 0.16 dB contrast per step. Using this multilevel behavior, we further trim random phase error in a balanced Mach-Zehnder interferometer. Our work opens an attractive pathway toward non-volatile large-scale programmable PICs with low-loss and on-demand multi-bit operations., 22 pages, 6 figures in main text

Photonic integrated circuits (PICs) can drastically expand the capabilities of quantum and classical optical information science and engineering. PICs are commonly fabricated using selective material etching, a subtractive process. Thus, the chip’s functionality cannot be substantially altered once fabricated. Here, we propose to exploit wide-bandgap non-volatile phase-change materials (PCMs) to create rewritable PICs. A PCM-based PIC can be written using a nanosecond pulsed laser without removing any material, akin to rewritable compact disks. The whole circuit can then be erased by heating, and a new circuit can be rewritten. We designed a dielectric-assisted PCM waveguide consisting of a thick dielectric layer on top of a thin layer of wide-bandgap PCMs Sb2S3 and Sb2Se3. The low-loss PCMs and our designed waveguides lead to negligible optical loss. Furthermore, we analyzed the spatiotemporal laser pulse shape to write the PICs. Our proposed platform will enable low-cost manufacturing and have a far-reaching impact on the rapid prototyping of PICs, validation of new designs, and photonic education.

Participants in biomonitoring studies who receive personal exposure reports seek information to reduce exposures. Many chemical exposures are driven by systems-level policies rather than individual actions; therefore, change requires engagement in collective action. Participants' perceptions of collective action and use of report-back to support engagement remain unclear. We conducted virtual focus groups during summer 2020 in a diverse group of peripartum people from cohorts in the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program (N = 18). We assessed baseline exposure and collective action experience, and report-back preferences. Participants were motivated to protect the health of their families and communities despite significant time and cognitive burdens. They requested time-conscious tactics and accessible information to enable action to reduce individual and collective exposures. Participant input informed the design of digital report-back in the cohorts. This study highlights opportunities to shift responsibility from individuals to policymakers to reduce chemical exposures at the systems level.

Conventional electronic and photonic devices are inherently 2D and rigid because of the substrates on which they are fabricated. However, the world is not flat and stiff: There are many application...

A modified version of the Student Success Skills (SSS) curriculum, designed to help address the need for intervention in executive functioning skills, metacognition skills, and social skills, was offered to a small group of students in eighth grade who were identified with learning disabilities to positively impact their learning strategies and knowledge. The purpose of this pilot study was to measure the effects of this modified version of SSS on students’ (a) skills and behaviors associated with improved school performance; (b) generalization of those skills to scenarios; and (c) school-related outcomes, including a teacher report. The study design applied a single subject multiple probe across students. The primary dependent variable measured in this study was the number of school-success-related skills and strategies students identified. Findings suggest a functional relation between the modified version of SSS and participants’ ability to name skills and behaviors associated with school success. The findings of the current study, as a collaboration with school counselors and special educators, provide a first step towards illustrating the impact of a modified SSS intervention with students with IEPs. Students reported enjoying and learning from the lessons.

We present and erratum to our review article [Opt. Mater. Express 12, 2145 (2022)10.1364/OME.456428]. This erratum corrects the references in Table 3, a typo, and a misleading sentence. These corrections do not affect conclusions of the original review article.

In order to analyse and understand ecosystem responses with respect to different environmental challenges a wide range of data is needed. Based on the results of a scientific gap analysis, LTER CWN focuses on a prioritisation of observation parameters completing the existing observation programmes at five LTER sites in Austria. The resulting data needs to be made available in an open and standardised manner following the information management principles of existing European scale initiatives like eLTER, LTER Europe or ILTER. One of the challenges for the LTER CWN Data Management is to integrate a number of heterogeneous systems at the level of the participating partners, who run the monitoring activities and facilitate the data flow from the observation sites to the central data provision. The resulting data files are automatically ingested into a central database that ultimately provides time series data of each parameter and for each site through an OGC-SOS service to the public under an open access data policy. This article provides an overview of the information architecture and tools used in order to ensure for the data to be Findable Accessible Interoperable and Reusable (FAIR).

Excess nitrogen (N) deposition and gaseous N emissions from industrial, domestic, and agricultural sources have led to increased nitrate leaching, the loss of biological diversity, and has affected carbon (C) sequestration in forest ecosystems. Nitrate leaching affects the purity of karst water resources, which contribute around 50% to Austria&rsquo, s drinking water supply. Here we present an evaluation of the drivers of dissolved inorganic N (DIN) concentrations and fluxes from a karst catchment in the Austrian Alps (LTER Z&ouml, belboden) from 27 years of records. In addition, a hydrological model was used together with climatic scenario data to predict expected future runoff dynamics. The study area was exposed to increasing N deposition during the 20th century (up to 30 to 35 kg N ha&minus, 1 y&minus, 1), which are still at levels of 25.5 &plusmn, 3.6 and 19.9 &plusmn, 4.2 kg N ha&minus, 1 in the spruce and the mixed deciduous forests, respectively. Albeit N deposition was close to or exceeded critical loads for several decades, 70&ndash, 83% of the inorganic N retained in the catchment from 2000 to 2018, and NO3- concentrations in the runoff stayed &lt, 10 mg L&minus, 1 unless high-flow events occurred or forest stand-replacing disturbances. We identified tree growth as the main sink for inorganic N, which might together with lower runoff, increase retention of only weakly decreasing N deposition in the future. However, since recurring forest stand-replacement is predicted in the future as a result of a combination of climatically driven disturbance agents, pulses of elevated nitrate concentrations in the catchment runoff will likely add to groundwater pollution.

We report a fully-packaged 3-D integrated photonics platform with devices placed at arbitrary pre-defined locations in 3-D. We further demonstrated the application of the platform to mechanical strain sensing.

Many young people with complex needs choose further education (FE) to support their hopes for independence, employment and friendships. However, provision often falls short of what is needed to make a successful transition to adult life. This FE Project was initiated by educational psychologists to support a systemic approach to develop the quality of the educational offer for young people with complex needs at age 16+. An action research model was used to support a cyclical process of planning, action and reflection. This brought key stakeholders together to develop joint understanding of good practice, increase communication and cross provision working, and to improve provision. Issues with the current system were identified with the key stakeholders and were addressed using the action planning approach.The project delivered a number of key outcomes:Data were analysed to predict the needs of the future 16+ population in the geographical area.A literature review was conducted to highlight national good practice in the further education of pupils with complex needs and this was used to develop practical guidance for local implementation.School and college curriculum and assessments used to track student progress were compared and mapped across provisions to demonstrate how skill levels in schools translate to the adult curriculum.Transition processes and timings were evaluated to identify changes that would facilitate successful transition from schools to local further education.Written guidance was developed to support local colleges in assessing and planning provision for individual pupils using evidence based strategies and interventions.The outcomes of the project were evaluated and discussed.

Conventional integrated photonic devices are fabricated on rigid semiconductor or dielectric substrates and are therefore inherently incompatible with soft biological tissues. Over the past few years, we have developed a suite of active and passive photonic devices and systems integrated on plastic substrates which can be bent, twisted, and stretched without compromising their optical performance. In this talk, we will review the latest progress in multi-material photonic integration on unconventional flexible substrates, and discuss emerging applications of flexible photonics in biological sensing and high-bandwidth data communications.