Aufbau und Entwicklung eines Bewertungssystems zur Beurteilung von Pferdehaltungen hinsichtlich Tiergerechtheit und Umweltwirkungen

A current research project at the Technical University Munich-Weihenstephan evaluates an integral on-farm welfare assessment system for horse husbandries. It is based on national animal welfare standard and does take sustainability into - system includes animal-based indicators as well as resource-based indicators. It is stipulated that indicators are valid, reliable and feasible. Potential indicators were selected by study of literature and two field tests (30 horse husbandries, 1572 horses) in order to examine reliability and feasibility. The welfare assessment system aims at objective and scientific-founded indicators that are both applicable for conventional and ecological horse husbandries

Lithological maps of selected Apollo 14 Breccia samples

A booklet of mapped surfaces of some Apollo 14 samples was prepared as an intermediate step towards the preparation of a new Apollo 14 sample catalog. It contains recently obtained observations and pictures of some of the largest and less well documented Apollo breccia samples. Some of the samples (14303, 14305, 14306, and 14311) were chosen because they have large sawn surfaces. These were dusted and mapped using a binocular microscope through the window of the nitrogen cabinet

Entwicklung eines Inkubationssystems für ein inverses Mikroskop zur Langzeitbeobachtung von Zellkulturen in gekammerten Objektträgern

Trifunctional bispecific antibodies open up new immunological possibilities in tumour treatment. Prior to clinical application, comprehensive investigations using animal models and in vitro examinations need to be done. To investigate long-term interactions between Various immunologically active blood cells and individual tumour cells in the presence of antibodies, we developed an incubation system for experimental cell cultures on an inverted microscope. The system consists of a perspex box with a central moisture chamber with integrated water reservoir, external air circulation heating, and a CO2 supply. The sterile cell cultures are located in the wells of a slide positioned within a depression in the water reservoir. The newly developed incubation system enables continuous observation over the long term of experiments under optimal cell cultures conditions in combination with modern video techniques

Impact of Baz/PAR-3 phosphorylation by aPKC on cell polarity

The apical-basal polarization and the formation of cell-cell junctions are important key steps in the development of epithelia to ensure barrier formation, directed transport and mechanical integrity of the tissue. In this context the PAR complex, which consists of the multi modular scaffold proteins Bazooka (Baz, PAR-3 in mammals), PAR-6 and the atypical protein kinase C (aPKC), is of essential significance. The proteins in this complex operate in a specific hierarchy, in which Baz plays a key role in the proper subcellular localization of other apical markers. Later in epithelial development, the scaffolding protein Baz and the transmembrane protein Crumbs (Crb) function to some extent redundantly to determine the apical domain of epithelial cells and further direct the formation of apical junctions by recruiting aPKC. On the other hand, the formation of the active PAR complex is counterbalanced by the basolateral kinase PAR-1. However, it is still not entirely understood, how aPKC functions in positioning Baz at the apical junctions. In this study the interaction between aPKC and Baz/PAR-3 was characterized in more detail. aPKC can interact with the PDZ2-3 domain and the aPKC-binding motif of Baz. Furthermore, five serines/threonines within the BazPDZ2-3 region and seven serines/threonines of the mammalian homolog PAR-3PDZ2-3, respectively, could be identified to be phosphorylated by aPKC. Impaired Baz PDZ-phosphorylation disrupts apical junctional accumulation of Baz/aPKC and AJ formation during late cellularization/early gastrulation in the Drosophila epidermis. These defects can be rescued by ectopic expression of Crb or activated aPKC as well as by inhibition of PAR-1. Thus PDZ-phosphorylation of Baz by aPKC is essential to recruit and activate aPKC in the absence of Crb in order to restrict basolateral PAR-1 activity to ensure correct apical-basal polarization and AJ formation of epithelial cells. As PAR-6 has a supposed PDZ-binding motif (PBM), we questioned if this PBM is important for PAR-6 localization and function. Experiments made in this study give a first hint to a certain role of the PDZ-binding motif in the correct function of PAR-6

Evaluation of a Seven-Week Web-Based Happiness Training to Improve Psychological Well-Being, Reduce Stress, and Enhance Mindfulness and Flourishing: A Randomized Controlled Occupational Health Study

Background:. As distress in society increases, including work environments, individual capacities to compete with stress have to be strengthened. Objective:. We examined the impact of a web-based happiness training on psychological and physiological parameters, by self-report and objective means, in an occupational health setting. Methods:. Randomized controlled trial with 147 employees. Participants were divided into intervention (happiness training) and control groups (waiting list). The intervention consisted of a seven-week online training. Questionnaires were administered before, after, and four weeks after training. The following scales were included: VAS (happiness and satisfaction), WHO-5 Well-being Index, Stress Warning Signals, Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory, Recovery Experience Questionnaire, and Flourishing Scale. Subgroup samples for saliva cortisol and alpha-amylase determinations were taken, indicating stress, and Attention Network Testing for effects on attention regulation. Results:. Happiness (P = 0.000; d = 0.93), satisfaction (P = 0.000; d = 1.17), and quality of life (P = 0.000; d = 1.06) improved; perceived stress was reduced (P = 0.003; d = 0.64); mindfulness (P = 0.006; d = 0.62), flourishing (P = 0.002; d = 0.63), and recovery experience (P = 0.030; d = 0.42) also increased significantly. No significant differences in the Attention Network Tests and saliva results occurred (intergroup), except for one saliva value. Conclusions:. The web-based training can be a useful tool for stabilizing health/psychological well-being and work/life balance

Connect With Me. Exploring Influencing Factors in a Human-Technology Relationship Based on Regular Chatbot Use

Companion technologies, such as social robots and conversational chatbots, take increasing responsibility for daily tasks and support our physical and mental health. Especially in the domain of healthcare, where technologies are often applied for long-term use, our experience with and relationship to such technologies become ever more relevant. Based on a 2-week interaction period with a conversational chatbot, our study (N = 58) explores the relationship between humans and technology. In particular, our study focuses on felt social connectedness of participants to the technology, possibly related characteristics of technology and users (e.g., individual tendency to anthropomorphize, individual need to belong), as well as possibly affected outcome variables (e.g., desire to socialize with other humans). The participants filled in short daily and 3 weekly questionnaires. Results showed that interaction duration and intensity positively predicted social connectedness to the chatbot. Thereby, perceiving the chatbot as anthropomorphic mediated the interrelation of interaction intensity and social connectedness to the chatbot. Also, the perceived social presence of the chatbot mediated the relationship between interaction duration as well as interaction intensity and social connectedness to the chatbot. Characteristics of the user did not affect the interrelations of chatbot interaction duration or intensity and perceived anthropomorphism or social presence. Furthermore, we did not find a negative correlation between felt social connectedness of users to the technology and their desire to socialize with other humans. In sum, our findings provide both theoretical and practical contributions. Our study suggests that regular interaction with a technology can foster feelings of social connectedness, implying transferability of dynamics known from interpersonal interaction. Moreover, social connectedness could be supported by technology design that facilitates perceptions of anthropomorphism and social presence. While such means could help to establish an intense relationship between users and technology and long-term engagement, the contexts in which anthropomorphic design is, actually, the means of choice should be carefully reflected. Future research should examine individual and societal consequences to foster responsible technology development in healthcare and beyond