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Vegetation plays an important role in the hydrological cycle, as it governsthe partitioning of water fluxes and therewith affects the functioning ofthe system. Deforestation can cause a highly non-linear response of the naturalsystem and may change the interaction between the land surface andthe atmosphere, flow conditions, groundwater recharge and soil moisturestorage, which in turn affects the quality and amount of available water resources.To be able to predict changes of deforestation and other land usemanagement activities, there is a need for comprehensive understanding ofthe hydrological effects of such activities. [...]

A future European energy system that primarily relies on variable renewable energysources (VRES) such as wind turbines and photo-voltaic (PV) modules is becomingincreasingly conceivable. Nevertheless, the role that VRES could play in futureenergy systems is still uncertain. [...]

The principle of detailed balance forms the basis of the present thesis.It states that all microscopic processes in thermodynamic equilibriumare equal to their respective counter processes. For solar cells in thermodynamicequilibrium, for example, as many photons get absorbedby the cell as are emitted. [...]

AD is a neurodegenerative disorder leading to brain atrophy and severe dementia. Thirtyfive million people are affected worldwide and the number is rapidly increasing. [...]

The Nef protein of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) is a decisive factor for viral infectivity and persistence, which contributes essentially to the pathology of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Numerous effects have been described for Nef in the past, especially the downregulation of cell surface levels of CD4 and of major histocompatibility class I molecules leading to the immune evasion of the virus. [...]

The root system architecture (RSA) of a plant determinesthe plant’s ability to capture resources efficiently from the soil and directly linked to plantperformance. The development and distribution of plant’s root systems are determinedby the soil and surrounding environmental conditions. [...]