Ph.D. Theses

his dissertation explores the role of dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) as an intermediate phenotype linking neurobiological characteristics and clinical outcomes in psychotic and affective disorders. The thesis aims to reveal alterations in dFC in psychotic and affective patients, study the impact of neurobiology on static and dynamic FC patterns, and identify neurobiological processes which might contribute to static and dynamic FC changes in psychotic and affective disorder. [...]

In an environment as complex and unpredictable as our human society, we cannot merely rely on hard-wired reflexes and short-term incentives for successful behavior. Instead, our brain uses cognitive control to derive expectations from current and prior information and adapts strategically to changing demands. [...]

The functional organization of the human brain is based on neuronal connections (edges) between cortical regions (nodes), known as structural connectivity. This may become disrupted by tumor growth or multimodal treatments, leading to cognitive impairment. [...]

In order to interpret incoming sensory input effectively, the visual system integrates multiple sources of information from the surrounding environment. Although many perceptual processes are often assumed to operate automatically, accumulating evidence suggests that they rely on complex and dynamic mechanisms. [...]

The ever-increasing demand for data and computing power ignited by data driven technology raises the desire for a new generation of faster and more efficient computing devices. Furthermore, the sheer amount of data generated requires storage devices to pack information as dense as possible. [...]

Solid Oxide Cells (SOCs) are promising energy conversion devices with applications in both electricity generation and chemical fuel production. Fuel Electrode-Supported Cells (FESCs) particularly offer a robust architecture, but their performance and reliability are heavily dependent on the manufacturing process of a porous substrate material. [...]

Spin-based phenomena are the central concept in the field of spintronics, where efficient spin current generation, spin-to-charge conversion, and spin transport are the key concepts for the development of next-generation electronic devices. With the extensive availability of femtosecond lasers a new research field of ultrafast spintronics has opened up, aiming to understand spin-transport on the ultrafast time scales. [...]

As conventional CMOS technology approaches its scaling limits, alternative memory and logic device concepts are being actively pursued. Among these, resistive and ferroelectric switching mechanisms have emerged as promising candidates for non-volatile memory technologies due to their potential for high density, low power consumption, and compatibility with existing semiconductor processes. [...]