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This paper asks the question, 'What does Islamic education mean for the 21st century university?' To begin with, the paper addresses the modern university as an institution facing numerous challenges, which can be conceived of by understanding the nature of the 'academic imagination'. In so doing, this argument draws on the fundamental elements of thought itself by foregrounding imagination as a primary route by which knowledge is conceived, created and disseminated. At root, it is an argument that suggests that to understand the university is to apprehend its imaginative functions. 'Problems of the imagination' are thereafter defined as 'depth perception', 'vertigo' and 'paralysis', respectively. In light of these challenges, the rise of Centers of Islamic Theology in Germany, and Islamic education as a discipline in particular, are considered as uncharted paths towards a discussion of the dilemmas of contemporary academia. Methodologically, the paper is a philosophical reflection on the role of the future of the university and the place of Islamic Theology and Islamic education therein. As such, use of the contemporary literature on higher education, as well as classical works on Islamic education, shall be employed for the purposes of the argument. In so doing, this paper turns the normative discussion of contemporary Islamic education on its head: from how we may make room for such education in the modern university, to consider how its presence may help the institution and its imaginative conundrums. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an innovative approach to decentralized data management in the German energy market, focusing on the use of decentralized data management with the help of Data Spaces to facilitate the automated change of energy suppliers within 24 h. The central focus of this research is the MakoMaker Space, a demonstrator project that employs the Connector from the Eclipse Data Space Components. The MakoMaker project demonstrates the successful automation of energy supplier changes, emphasizing the preservation of customer data sovereignty. It shows an alternative approach to the process, putting the customer into the center. Customers retain control of their data, which is accessible to providers as needed. While the paper discusses the potential for further enhancements, such as the integration of an identity provider and the development of a sustainable business model for service coordination, the primary focus is on the demonstrator's successful application in a pilot setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Acceptability analyses of place–based innovations provide crucial in-depth knowledge (e.g., perceptions and values on landscapes) for the social–ecological transformation of landscapes. However, previous acceptability analyses often neglected complex and ongoing processes. We argue that, for the design of a sustainability-oriented transformation and to address spatial and temporal dynamics in landscapes, an operational heuristic is needed; one that integrates acceptability analyses into an adaptive landscape co-design and management approach. Therefore, this conceptual–empirical paper introduces the concept of the 'acceptability and landscape design cycle' (ALDC), which is based on findings from various transdisciplinary innovation processes in the Spreewald region (Germany). It is composed of four iterative phases: (1) defining the preconditions for acceptability analysis, (2) conducting the acceptability analysis, (3) integrating the results into the landscape development strategy, and (4) re-designing and refining it. We illustrate the application of these phases using a case study of the cultural landscape in Spreewald. The paper provides practical implementation guidelines of the ALDC and contributes to a better understanding of the dynamics of acceptability decisions regarding the transformation processes of landscapes. Furthermore, it can advance the understanding of how co-evolution of socio-ecological systems occurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emerging energy transition is particularly described as a move towards a cleaner, lower-carbon system. In the context of the global shift towards sustainable energy sources, this paper reviews the potential and roadmap for hydrogen energy as a crucial component of the clean energy landscape. The primary objective is to present a comprehensive literature overview, illuminating key themes, trends, and research gaps in the scientific discourse concerning hydrogen production and energy policy. This review focuses particularly on specified geographic contexts, with an emphasis on understanding the unique energy policies related to renewable energy in Brazil, Austria, and Germany. Given their distinct social systems and developmental stages, this paper aims to delineate the nuanced approaches these countries adopt in their pursuit of renewable energy and the integration of hydrogen within their energy frameworks. Brazil exhibits vast renewable energy potential, particularly in wind and solar energy sectors, positioning itself for substantial growth in the coming years. Germany showcases a regulatory framework that promotes innovation and technological expansion, reflecting its highly developed social system and commitment to transitioning away from fossil fuels. Austria demonstrates dedication to decarbonization, particularly through the exploration of biomethane for residential heating and cooling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In areas affected by mining, which are undergoing reclamation, their geotechnical characteristics need to be monitored and the level of landslide risk should be assessed. This risk should preferably be reduced by nature-based solutions. This paper presents a KurZeS slope stability assessment technique based on areal data. This method is suitable for large areas. In addition, a procedure is presented for how to incorporate a prediction of the impact of nature-based solutions into this method, using the example of vegetation root reinforcement. The paper verifies the KurZeS method by comparing its results with the results of stability calculations by GEO5 software (version 5.2023.52.0) and validates the method by comparing its results with a map of closed areas in the area of the former open-cast mine Lohsa II in Lusatia, Germany. The original feature of the KurZeS method is the use of a pre-computed database. It allows the use of an original geometrical and geotechnical concept, where slope stability at each Test Point is evaluated not just along the fall line but also along different directions. This concept takes into account more slopes and assigns the Test Point the lowest safety factor in its vicinity. This could be important, especially in soil dumps with rugged terrain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electric vehicles (EVs) are expected to be vital in transitioning to a low-carbon energy system. However, integrating EVs into the power grid poses significant challenges for grid operators and energy suppliers, especially regarding the uncertainty and variability of EV charging demand. Accurate forecasting of EV charging demand is essential for optimal power system integration, yet previous studies have often only considered point predictions that are inadequate for risk assessment. Therefore, this paper compares different probabilistic forecasting models for the short-term prediction of EV charging demand at various aggregation levels, using a large and novel dataset of over 350,000 charging processes at more than 500 locations across Germany. The performance of both machine learning and deep learning methods is evaluated against a naïve benchmark model, and the impact of data availability on the forecasting models is investigated. Further, the paper examines the effects of forecast accuracy on energy procurement, which has so far received minor attention in the literature. The results show that machine learning methods such as Ada Boosting and Random Forest yield robust results with a normalized root mean square error of 0.42 and 0.41 and a mean absolute scaled error of 0.36 and 0.34 at the highest aggregation level. Furthermore, the results show the influence of different site compositions on the forecast quality and how many charging points are likely to yield a robust forecast. Energy and fleet managers can use the described method to reliably predict the required energy quantities for fleets of sufficient size and procure them at low risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In light of ongoing debates about racially motivated police violence, this paper examines two separate but interrelated phenomena: instances of police discrimination and mistrust in police and the judicial system among ethnic minorities in Germany. Analyses are carried out based on waves 1, 3, and 5 of the CILS4EU-DE data collected among 14 to 20 year-old respondents in Germany. The focus of the paper lies on young men from the Middle East, as well as Northern and Sub-Saharan Africa, who--as our study demonstrates--tend to disproportionally more often report discrimination experiences and particularly low levels of trust in police and courts compared to other ethnic minorities and the majority populations in Germany, and partially also in comparison to their female counterparts. We also show that more frequent experiences of police discrimination are associated with greater distrust of the police and partially also with courts among young men from the Middle East, North and Sub-Saharan Africa. Female adolescents from similar backgrounds are also more distrustful of the police, but this is not explained by their own experiences of police discrimination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with the current budget crisis in Germany, which was triggered by an attempt to increase public debt beyond the limits of the German constitution. The rejection of the Supplementary Budget 2021 of the federal government by the Constitutional Court in November 2023 requires a substantial revision of budget plans. The paper first asks why fiscal policy has moved outside the rules of the constitution. The paper then addresses the question of whether the necessary turnaround in financial policy has now been initiated. To this end, the paper explores the recent supplementary budget 2023 and the proposals for the budget 2024. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of obstetric departments in German hospitals has declined in the last decades. In particular, rural hospitals are challenged to sustain their delivery services. In this paper, we analyse the role of variation and overheads of obstetric departments from the perspective of current and future German hospital financing. For this purpose, we develop a Monte Carlo simulation model that analyses the workload of the labour room and the obstetric ward. The results show that a hospital with less than 640 deliveries per year cannot break even. In order to offer services 24 h per day, 365 days per year, five nurses, five midwives, and five gynaecologists are needed. This results in high fixed costs. At the same time, the variation coefficient of the labour room and the obstetric ward declines with an increasing number of deliveries. Consequently, small hospitals have a higher risk of over- and under-utilization in the course of the year. This paper acknowledges that economics is not the only decision dimension. The quality of the institution and the transport to the hospital have to be considered, as well as the population's wish for nearby services. However, the simulations clearly demonstrate that unless the hospital financing system is changed fundamentally, the decline in the number of hospitals offering delivery services will continue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]