Reflexion durch Aktion – Ansätze zur handlungsorientierten Förderung einer um digitaltechnische Dimensionen erweiterten Medienbildung

Ziel des in der Medienpädagogik etablierten Ansatzes der Aktiven Medienarbeit ist es, einen erfahrungs- und handlungsorientierten Zugang anzubieten und damit mediale Kommunikations-, Kritik- und Gestaltungsfähigkeiten zu stärken. In einer digital geprägten Gesellschaft ist dieses Ziel aktueller denn je, denn aufgrund der digitalen Basis aktueller Medien ‚kommunizieren‘ technologische Prinzipien und Muster sowie in digitale Technik eingeschriebene Werte und Normen stets mit. Was bedeutet dieses ‚Mit-kommunizieren‘ sowie die Erkenntnis, dass auch menschliche Kommunikation nicht mehr nur zwischen Menschen stattfindet, für das gesellschaftliche Miteinander, für Persönlichkeitsentwicklung und Bildungsprozesse? Wie Medien auch, ist (digitale) Technik dank ihrer prinzipiellen Offenheit und Plastizität grundsätzlich gestaltbar und bietet daher erfahrungs- und handlungsorientierte Zugänge geradezu an. Die Ansätze des produktiven Technikhandelns wie der des medienpädagogischen Makings ermöglichen aber nicht nur den kreativen Umgang mit digitalen Tools und Werkstoffen, sondern auch die kritische Reflexion des dabei Erlebten. In unserem Beitrag führen wir konzeptionell in das produktive Medien- und Technikhandeln ein und begründen anhand exemplarischer Einblicke in eine laufende qualitative Studie, warum diese von der Aktiven Medienarbeit inspirierten pädagogischen Ansätze die praktische Förderung einer um digitaltechnische Dimensionen erweiterten Medienbildung ermöglichen können. (DIPF/Orig.

Aktive Medienarbeit als Vorbild. Handlungsorientierte Ansätze zur Förderung einer um digitaltechnische Dimensionen erweiterten Medienbildung

Wie Medien auch, ist (digitale) Technik dank ihrer prinzipiellen Offenheit und Plastizität grundsätzlich gestaltbar und bietet daher erfahrungs- und handlungsorientierte Zugänge geradezu an. Die Ansätze des produktiven Technikhandelns wie der des medienpädagogischen Makings ermöglichen aber nicht nur den kreativen Umgang mit digitalen Tools und Werkstoffen, sondern auch die kritische Reflexion des dabei Erlebten. Im Beitrag führen die Autor*innen konzeptionell in das produktive Medien- und Technikhandeln ein und begründen anhand exemplarischer Einblicke in eine laufende qualitative Studie, warum diese von der Aktiven Medienarbeit inspirierten pädagogischen Ansätze die praktische Förderung einer um digitaltechnische Dimensionen erweiterten Medienbildung ermöglichen können. (DIPF/Orig.

Uncovering the Role of Bicarbonate in Calcium Carbonate Formation at Near-Neutral pH

Mechanistic pathways relevant to mineralization are not well-understood fundamentally, let alone in the context of their biological and geological environments. Through quantitative analysis of ion association at near-neutral pH, we identify the involvement of HCO3− ions in CaCO3 nucleation. Incorporation of HCO3− ions into the structure of amorphous intermediates is corroborated by solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, complemented by quantum mechanical calculations and molecular dynamics simulations. We identify the roles of HCO3− ions as being through (i) competition for ion association during the formation of ion pairs and ion clusters prior to nucleation and (ii) incorporation as a significant structural component of amorphous mineral particles. The roles of HCO3− ions as active soluble species and structural constituents in CaCO3 formation are of fundamental importance and provide a basis for a better understanding of physiological and geological mineralization. © 2021 The Authors. Angewandte Chemie International Edition published by Wiley-VCH Gmb

Efficacy of a novel topical fipronil, (S)-methoprene, eprinomectin and praziquantel combination against naturally acquired intestinal nematode and cestode infections in cats.

The efficacy of a novel topical combination formulation of fipronil, (S)-methoprene, eprinomectin and praziquantel against naturally acquired intestinal nematode and cestode infections in cats was evaluated in seven negative control, blinded studies. Cats were selected based on a pre-treatment faecal examination indicating a patent infection with at least hookworms (two studies), Toxocara ascarids (one study), taeniid cestodes (two studies) or Dipylidium cestodes (two studies). In each study, cats were assigned randomly to blocks of two animals each, based on decreasing pre-treatment body weight and were randomly allocated to one of two groups of six to 12 cats: untreated (control) or treated with topical fipronil (8.3%, w/v), (S)-methoprene (10%, w/v), eprinomectin (0.4%, w/v) and praziquantel (8.3%, w/v) (BROADLINE(®), Merial) at 0.12 mL/kg body weight (providing a minimum of 10mg fipronil+12 mg S-methoprene+0.5mg eprinomectin+10mg praziquantel per kg body weight). The topical treatment was administered directly on the skin in the midline of the neck in a single spot once on Day 0. For parasite recovery and count, cats were euthanized humanely and necropsied seven or ten days after treatment. A single treatment with the novel topical combination product provided 91% efficacy against Ancylostoma braziliense, ≥ 99% efficacy against Ancylostoma tubaeforme, and >97% efficacy against Toxocara cati. Similarly, excellent efficacy was established against Taenia taeniaeformis, Dipylidium caninum and Diplopylidium spp. as demonstrated by >97% and up to 100% reductions of cestode counts in the treated cats when compared to the untreated controls (P<0.01). All cats accepted the treatment well based on health observations post-treatment and daily health observations. No adverse experiences or other health problems were observed throughout the studies. The results of this series of controlled studies demonstrated high efficacy and excellent acceptability of the novel topical combination formulation of fipronil, (S)-methoprene, eprinomectin and praziquantel against a broad range of feline intestinal nematode and cestode infections

Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter Infection Mortality Rate and Length of Hospitalization

Acinetobacter infections have increased and gained attention because of the organism’s prolonged environmental survival and propensity to develop antimicrobial drug resistance. The effect of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter infection on clinical outcomes has not been reported. A retrospective, matched cohort investigation was performed at 2 Baltimore hospitals to examine outcomes of patients with MDR Acinetobacter infection compared with patients with susceptible Acinetobacter infections and patients without Acinetobacter infections. Multivariable analysis controlling for severity of illness and underlying disease identified an independent association between patients with MDR Acinetobacter infection (n = 96) and increased hospital and intensive care unit length of stay compared with 91 patients with susceptible Acinetobacter infection (odds ratio [OR] 2.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2–5.2 and OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.0–4.3] respectively) and 89 uninfected patients (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.2–5.4 and OR 4.2, 95% CI 1.5–11.6] respectively). Increased hospitalization associated with MDR Acinetobacter infection emphasizes the need for infection control strategies to prevent cross-transmission in healthcare settings

Plant-symbiotic fungi as chemical engineers: multi-genome analysis of the Clavicipitaceae reveals dynamics of alkaloid Loci

The fungal family Clavicipitaceae includes plant symbionts and parasites that produce several psychoactive and bioprotective alkaloids. The family includes grass symbionts in the epichloae clade (Epichloë and Neotyphodium species), which are extraordinarily diverse both in their host interactions and in their alkaloid profiles. Epichloae produce alkaloids of four distinct classes, all of which deter insects, and some—including the infamous ergot alkaloids—have potent effects on mammals. The exceptional chemotypic diversity of the epichloae may relate to their broad range of host interactions, whereby some are pathogenic and contagious, others are mutualistic and vertically transmitted (seed-borne), and still others vary in pathogenic or mutualistic behavior. We profiled the alkaloids and sequenced the genomes of 10 epichloae, three ergot fungi (Claviceps species), a morning-glory symbiont (Periglandula ipomoeae), and a bamboo pathogen (Aciculosporium take), and compared the gene clusters for four classes of alkaloids. Results indicated a strong tendency for alkaloid loci to have conserved cores that specify the skeleton structures and peripheral genes that determine chemical variations that are known to affect their pharmacological specificities. Generally, gene locations in cluster peripheries positioned them near to transposon-derived, AT-rich repeat blocks, which were probably involved in gene losses, duplications, and neofunctionalizations. The alkaloid loci in the epichloae had unusual structures riddled with large, complex, and dynamic repeat blocks. This feature was not reflective of overall differences in repeat contents in the genomes, nor was it characteristic of most other specialized metabolism loci. The organization and dynamics of alkaloid loci and abundant repeat blocks in the epichloae suggested that these fungi are under selection for alkaloid diversification. We suggest that such selection is related to the variable life histories of the epichloae, their protective roles as symbionts, and their associations with the highly speciose and ecologically diverse cool-season grasses

Apatite-Protein Nanocomposites : From Biological to Biomimetic Materials

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