Child Animism

Der sogenannte kindliche Animismus beschreibt die Neigung von kleinen Kindern, unbelebte Ereignisse ihrer Umgebung als belebt zu erleben. Das Phänomen ist in der Literatur vielfach missverstanden und entweder in seinem Stellenwert innerhalb der kognitiven Entwicklung überbewertet (etwa i. S. evolutionistischer Interpretationen) oder als Kuriosum außerhalb der normalen Entwicklung erwähnt worden. Die Zusammenhänge zwischen den kognitiven, affektiven und sozialen Bedingungen des Erlebens sind jedoch bisher nicht genug beachtet worden. Im Vergleich mehrerer Entwicklungstheorien wird ihre gegenseitige zeitliche Koordination dargestellt, durch welche die kindliche Perspektive determiniert wird. Mit diesem Ansatz soll der sogenannte kindliche Animismus zu jedem Zeitpunkt als Ausdruck der erreichten Dezentrierung, d.h. einem Prozess der zunehmenden Loslösung von den aktuellen Bedürfnissen und Handlungsbezügen des Subjekts verstanden werden. Dies wird einerseits aus den theoretischen Modellen abgeleitet, andererseits aber auch anhand von Daten aus der empirischen Untersuchung zum sogenannten kindlichen Animismus dargestellt und diskutiert. (DIPF/ Orig.)Animism describes the interpretation of physical phenomena by means of animation. Under the assumption that cognitive development of the individual follows the parameters of cultural evolution, young children\u27s explanations of natural events have long been misunderstood as being equivalent to animistic cosmologies with primitive cultures or nothing but rare errors within a continuous conceptual development. Alternativelv in this monograph it is argued that there is an isomorphic relation between the cognitive development (…) and the affective development (as suggested by psychoanalysis). Other models are also included to show the interdependence and mutual influence of all the changing conditions for the child\u27s representations of the world. (…) (DIPF/ Orig.

A Smart Single-Chip Micro-Hotplate-Based Gas Sensor System in CMOS-Technology

This paper presents a monolithic chemical gas sensor system fabricated in industrial CMOS-technology combined with post-CMOS micromachining. The system comprises metal-oxide-covered (SnO2) micro-hotplates and the necessary driving and signal-conditioning circuitry. The SnO2 sensitive layer is operated at temperatures between 200 and 350°C. The on-chip temperature controller regulates the temperature of the membrane up to 350°C with a resolution of 0.5°C. A special heater-design was developed in order to achieve membrane temperatures up to 350°C with 5 V supply voltage. The heater design also ensures a homogeneous temperature distribution over the heated area of the hotplate (1-2% maximum temperature fluctuation). Temperature sensors, on- and off-membrane (near the circuitry), show an excellent thermal isolation between the heated membrane area and the circuitry-area on the bulk chip (chip temperature rises by max 6°C at 350°C membrane temperature). A logarithmic converter was included to measuring the SnO2 resistance variation upon gas exposure over a range of four orders of magnitude. An Analog Hardware Description Language (AHDL) model of the membrane was developed to enable the simulations of the complete microsystem. Gas tests evidenced a detection limit below 1 ppm for carbon monoxide and below 100 ppm for methan

Modality and Diversity in Cretan Music

Cretan music is a vibrant and diverse living tradition, with identity-forming significance for the local population. It is a modal music whose modes, unlike in related modal traditions, cannot be described on the basis of characteristic phrases, as the same skopous (basic melodies) can be played in different modes.In this article, after a short introduction to the structure and certain peculiarities of Cretan music, four characteristic families of modes are described. The flexibility and permeability in the usage of modality are demonstrated using examples from the repertoire of kontylies. Such freedom is also found in the variation, embellishment and combination of melodies and the relationship between text and music. Such a high degree of flexibility is essential for Cretan music to fulfil its social function. It supports spontaneity, communication and expression in the context of participatory music-making in the parea (community) as well as the mutual interaction between musicians and dancers in Cretan dance music. The flexibility in dealing with musical material leads to great diversity

Neutrophils Turn Plasma Proteins into Weapons against HIV-1

As a consequence of innate immune activation granulocytes and macrophages produce hypochlorite/hypochlorous acid (HOCl) via secretion of myeloperoxidase (MPO) to the outside of the cells, where HOCl immediately reacts with proteins. Most proteins that become altered by this system do not belong to the invading microorganism but to the host. While there is no doubt that the myeloperoxidase system is capable of directly inactivating HIV-1, we hypothesized that it may have an additional indirect mode of action. We show in this article that HOCl is able to chemically alter proteins and thus turn them into Idea-Ps (Idea-P = immune defence-altered protein), potent amyloid-like and SH-groups capturing antiviral weapons against HIV-1. HOCl-altered plasma proteins (Idea-PP) have the capacity to bind efficiently and with high affinity to the HIV-1 envelope protein gp120, and to its receptor CD4 as well as to the protein disulfide isomerase (PDI). Idea-PP was able to inhibit viral infection and replication in a cell culture system as shown by reduced number of infected cells and of syncytia, resulting in reduction of viral capsid protein p24 in the culture supernatant. The unmodified plasma protein fraction had no effect. HOCl-altered isolated proteins antithrombin III and human serum albumin, taken as representative examples of the whole pool of plasma proteins, were both able to exert the same activity of binding to gp120 and inhibition of viral proliferation. These data offer an opportunity to improve the understanding of the intricacies of host-pathogen interactions and allow the generation of the following hypothetical scheme: natural immune defense mechanisms generate by posttranslational modification of plasma proteins a potent virucidal weapon that immobilizes the virus as well as inhibits viral fusion and thus entry into the host cells. Furthermore simulation of this mechanism in vitro might provide an interesting new therapeutic approach against microorganisms

The Visual Self

Der Artikel analysiert die Selbstdarstellung Heranwachsender auf Instagram, die Rolle, die Influencer bei der Selbstdarstellung Heranwachsender spielen, und ihre Werbekompetenz, definiert als die Fähigkeit, die von Influencern präsentierte Werbung zu erkennen und zu bewerten. Auf der Grundlage von 32 Leitfadeninterviews und Think-Aloud-Protokollen identifiziert die Studie fünf Arten der Selbstdarstellung (inszenierte, natürliche, verdeckte, veränderte und zweiseitige Selbstdarstellung). Für fast alle befragten Heranwachsenden waren Influencer ein wichtiger Massstab und Orientierung: Sie folgten einem oder sogar mehreren Influencern auf Instagram und liessen sich von den beworbenen Produkten inspirieren. Darüber hinaus erkannten die Heranwachsenden das kommerzielle Interesse und die Präsentationsstrategien von Influencern. Die positive oder negative Bewertung dieser Strategien war mit ihrer Selbstdarstellung verbunden und reichte von Ablehnung bis Zustimmung, wobei eine negative Bewertung der Werbung nicht automatisch zu einer Ablehnung der implizierten Werbebotschaft führte. Eine Diskrepanz zwischen dem Wissen der Heranwachsenden und ihrem Handeln wird deutlich, denn selbst wenn sie der Werbung kritisch gegenüberstanden oder wussten, welche Werbemechanismen verfolgt wurden, gaben sie zu, die von Influencern beworbene Produkte zu kaufen.This article analyzes adolescents’ self-presentation on Instagram, the role influencers might play in such content, and adolescents’ advertising literacy, defined as recognizing and evaluating advertising presented by influencers as well as using advertising knowledge. Based on 32 in-depth interviews and think-aloud protocols, this study identifies five types of self-presentation (staged, natural, covert, changed, and two-sided). Influencers were important benchmarks for almost all the adolescents interviewed; the participants each followed one or more influencers on Instagram and were inspired by the advertised products. Furthermore, they recognized influencers’ commercial interests and presentation strategies. Their positive or negative evaluations of these strategies were linked to their self-presentation and ranged from approval to rejection. A negative evaluation of advertising did not automatically lead to a rejection of the implied advertising message. A discrepancy between the adolescents’ knowledge and actions became clear when they admitted buying advertised products despite being critical of advertising or knowing which advertising mechanisms were being applie