Bilinguales Lehren und Lernen im Religionsunterricht

Die vorliegende Arbeit beschäftigt sich thematisch mit den Chancen und Grenzen eines bilingualen Evangelischen Religionsunterrichts. Exemplarisch steht dabei der englischsprachige Unterricht in der Sekundarstufe I im Vordergrund. Ausgehend von einem allgemeinen Überblick bilingualen Lehrens und Lernens in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland reflektiert die Verfasserin die Vor- und Nachteile eines bilingualen Evangelischen Religionsunterrichts unter Einbeziehung von zielorientierten, organisatorischen sowie didaktischen Aspekten. <br

Modelling formation and evolution of transverse dune fields

We model formation and evolution of transverse dune fields. In the model, only the cross section of the dune is simulated. The only physical variable of relevance is the dune height, from which the dune width and velocity are determined, as well as phenomenological rules for interaction between two dunes of different heights. We find that dune fields with no sand on the ground between dunes are unstable, i.e. small dunes leave the higher ones behind. We then introduce a saturation length to simulate transverse dunes on a sand bed and show that this leads to stable dune fields with regular spacing and dune heights. Finally, we show that our model can be used to simulate coastal dune fields if a constant sand influx is considered, where the dune height increases with the distance from the beach, reaching a constant value.Comment: 18 pages including 9 figure

A PRINCIPLE INVESTIGATION INTO THE FEASIBILITY OF USING MICROWAVE IMAGING TO MONITOR BONE HEALTH

INTRODUCTION Assessing bone health is of particular interest in age-associated disease and traumas such as osteoporosis, and fractures from extreme sports. Having tools that can safely and accurately assess bone health allows for the screening, diagnosis, and monitoring of disease or injury. The current gold standard for assessing bone health is high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) allowing direct three-dimensional (3D) visualization of bone. Recent evidence suggests microwave imaging can be a complementary medical imaging tool to HR-pQCT for dynamic assessment of full bone health [1]. Specifically, it was shown that microwave properties of cancellous bone are sensitive to physical changes in bone. However, this study was purely exploratory and provided no direct evidence for changes in dielectric properties with varying bone health. In this study, we aim to understand the interaction of electromagnetic waves with bone as a composite material, specifically the material anisotropy. Such information would be crucial to understanding how microwave measurements relate to the physical characteristics of the bone. METHODS Image data for the right and left tibia and radius of one female and two male subjects was acquired from HR-pQCT (XtremeCTII, Scanco Medical). The 3D image data was smoothed with a Gaussian filter (σ = 1.6) and segmented using histogram based segmentation. Cubes of edge length 82 voxels (5.002 mm) were extracted from the segmented images based on the bone center of geometry. The extracted cubes were imported into electromagnetic simulation software (SEMCAD X, Schmid &amp; Partner Engineering AG). A parallel plate waveguide filled with air was excited with a Gaussian pulse polarized in the z-axis (f0 = 6.5 GHz, BW = 11 GHz). The bone and marrow were assigned material properties from literature [2]. Resulting data was exported and processed using custom MATLAB scripts (R2013a, MathWorks). Three simulations were performed per image such that the electromagnetic wave was polarized in each of the three anatomical directions: anterior-posterior, medial-lateral, and proximal-distal. RESULTS The effective permittivity, ε’r, was calculated for each of the anatomical directions and plotted across the frequency range of the input signal. A representative plot for all images is shown in Figure 1. The effective permittivity for each orientation tend to vary around a common permittivity.DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS The results presented here provide a rudimentary but novel insight into the anisotropic behaviour of bone at microwave frequencies. Furthermore, it presents a technique for 3D model acquisition and simulation of bone not yet present in literature. This technique will allow further exploration of the electromagnetic properties of bone such as a deeper insight into the anisotropic behaviour and development of a model for the effective medium of bone as a composite material. With such information, the microwave measurements of bone could be directly related to the bone’s physical properties. This would prove the potential of microwaves to assess bone health for disease or trauma and allow the development of in vivo imaging tools for assessing disease and trauma

Combinations of reproductive, individual, and weather effects best explain torpor patterns among female little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus)

Published VersionHeterothermic mammals can use torpor, a state of metabolic suppression, to conserve energy during times of limited food and poor environmental conditions. Females may use torpor throughout gestation and lactation; however, there are associated physiological and ecological costs with potential fitness consequences. Previous studies have controlled for, but not quantified the impact of interindividual variation on torpor patterns and understanding this may provide insight on why certain thermoregulatory responses are employed. The objective of this study was to identify and quantitatively characterize the intrinsic variables and weather conditions that best explain variation in torpor patterns among individual female little brown bats, Myotis lucifugus. We used temperature-sensitive radio-transmitters affixed to females to measure skin temperature patterns of 35 individuals roosting in bat boxes in the spring and summer. We used Bayesian multi-model inference to rank a priori-selected models and variables based on their explanatory power. Reproductive condition and interindividual effects best explained torpor duration and depth, and weather best explained torpor frequency. Of the reproductive conditions, lactating females used torpor for the shortest durations and at shallower depths (i.e., smallest drop in minimum Tsk), while females in early spring (i.e., not-obviously-pregnant) used torpor for the longest and deepest. Among individuals, the greatest difference in effects on duration occurred between pregnant individuals, suggesting interindividual variation within reproductive condition. Increases in precipitation and wind were associated with a higher probability of torpor use. Our results provide further support that multiple variables explain torpor patterns and highlight the importance of including individual effects when studying thermoregulatory patterns in heterothermic species

Minimal size of a barchan dune

Barchans are dunes of high mobility which have a crescent shape and propagate under conditions of unidirectional wind. However, sand dunes only appear above a critical size, which scales with the saturation distance of the sand flux [P. Hersen, S. Douady, and B. Andreotti, Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf{89,}} 264301 (2002); B. Andreotti, P. Claudin, and S. Douady, Eur. Phys. J. B {\bf{28,}} 321 (2002); G. Sauermann, K. Kroy, and H. J. Herrmann, Phys. Rev. E {\bf{64,}} 31305 (2001)]. It has been suggested by P. Hersen, S. Douady, and B. Andreotti, Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf{89,}} 264301 (2002) that this flux fetch distance is itself constant. Indeed, this could not explain the proto size of barchan dunes, which often occur in coastal areas of high litoral drift, and the scale of dunes on Mars. In the present work, we show from three dimensional calculations of sand transport that the size and the shape of the minimal barchan dune depend on the wind friction speed and the sand flux on the area between dunes in a field. Our results explain the common appearance of barchans a few tens of centimeter high which are observed along coasts. Furthermore, we find that the rate at which grains enter saltation on Mars is one order of magnitude higher than on Earth, and is relevant to correctly obtain the minimal dune size on Mars.Comment: 11 pages, 10 figure

Gravity Spy: Integrating Advanced LIGO Detector Characterization, Machine Learning, and Citizen Science

(abridged for arXiv) With the first direct detection of gravitational waves, the Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) has initiated a new field of astronomy by providing an alternate means of sensing the universe. The extreme sensitivity required to make such detections is achieved through exquisite isolation of all sensitive components of LIGO from non-gravitational-wave disturbances. Nonetheless, LIGO is still susceptible to a variety of instrumental and environmental sources of noise that contaminate the data. Of particular concern are noise features known as glitches, which are transient and non-Gaussian in their nature, and occur at a high enough rate so that accidental coincidence between the two LIGO detectors is non-negligible. In this paper we describe an innovative project that combines crowdsourcing with machine learning to aid in the challenging task of categorizing all of the glitches recorded by the LIGO detectors. Through the Zooniverse platform, we engage and recruit volunteers from the public to categorize images of glitches into pre-identified morphological classes and to discover new classes that appear as the detectors evolve. In addition, machine learning algorithms are used to categorize images after being trained on human-classified examples of the morphological classes. Leveraging the strengths of both classification methods, we create a combined method with the aim of improving the efficiency and accuracy of each individual classifier. The resulting classification and characterization should help LIGO scientists to identify causes of glitches and subsequently eliminate them from the data or the detector entirely, thereby improving the rate and accuracy of gravitational-wave observations. We demonstrate these methods using a small subset of data from LIGO's first observing run.Comment: 27 pages, 8 figures, 1 tabl

Cardiac magnetic resonance assessment of central and peripheral vascular function in patients undergoing renal sympathetic denervation as predictor for blood pressure response

Background: Most trials regarding catheter-based renal sympathetic denervation (RDN) describe a proportion of patients without blood pressure response. Recently, we were able to show arterial stiffness, measured by invasive pulse wave velocity (IPWV), seems to be an excellent predictor for blood pressure response. However, given the invasiveness, IPWV is less suitable as a selection criterion for patients undergoing RDN. Consequently, we aimed to investigate the value of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) based measures of arterial stiffness in predicting the outcome of RDN compared to IPWV as reference. Methods: Patients underwent CMR prior to RDN to assess ascending aortic distensibility (AAD), total arterial compliance (TAC), and systemic vascular resistance (SVR). In a second step, central aortic blood pressure was estimated from ascending aortic area change and flow sequences and used to re-calculate total arterial compliance (cTAC). Additionally, IPWV was acquired. Results: Thirty-two patients (24 responders and 8 non-responders) were available for analysis. AAD, TAC and cTAC were higher in responders, IPWV was higher in non-responders. SVR was not different between the groups. Patients with AAD, cTAC or TAC above median and IPWV below median had significantly better BP response. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves predicting blood pressure response for IPWV, AAD, cTAC and TAC revealed areas under the curve of 0.849, 0.828, 0.776 and 0.753 (p = 0.004, 0.006, 0.021 and 0.035). Conclusions: Beyond IPWV, AAD, cTAC and TAC appear as useful outcome predictors for RDN in patients with hypertension. CMR-derived markers of arterial stiffness might serve as non-invasive selection criteria for RDN

A protocol for a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled feasibility study to determine whether the daily consumption of flavonoid-rich pure cocoa has the potential to reduce fatigue in people with relapsing and remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS)

Background: Dietary interventions including consumption of flavonoids, plant compounds found in certain foods, may have the ability to improve fatigue. However, to date, no well-designed intervention studies assessing the role of flavonoid consumption for fatigue management in people with MS (pwMS) have been performed. The hypothesis is that the consumption of a flavonoid-rich pure cocoa beverage will reduce fatigue in pwMS. The aim of this study is to determine the feasibility and potential outcome of running a trial to evaluate this hypothesis. Methods: Using a randomised (1:1) double-blind placebo-controlled feasibility study, 40 men and women (20 in each trial arm) with a recent diagnosis (< 10 years) of relapsing and remitting MS (RRMS) and who are over 18 years of age will be recruited from neurology clinics and throughout the Thames Valley community. During a 6-week nutrition intervention period, participants will consume the cocoa beverage, high flavonoid or low flavonoid content, at breakfast daily. At baseline, demographic factors and disease-related factors will be assessed. Fatigue, activity and quality of life, in addition to other measures, will be taken at three visits (baseline, week 3 and week 6) in a university setting by a researcher blinded to group membership. Feasibility and fidelity will be assessed through recruitment and retention, adherence and a quantitative process evaluation at the end of the trial.We will describe demographic factors (age, gender, level of education) as well as disease-related factors (disease burden scores, length of time diagnosed with MS) and cognitive assessment, depression and quality of life and general physical activity in order to characterise participants and determine possible mediators to identify the processes by which the intervention may bring about change. Feasibility (recruitment, safety, feasibility of implementation of the intervention and evaluation, protocol adherence and data completion) and potential for benefit (estimates of effect size and variability) will be determined to inform future planned studies. Results will be presented using point estimates, 95% confidence intervals and p values. Primary statistical analysis will be on an intention-to-treat basis and will use the complete case data set. Discussion: We propose that a flavonoid-enriched cocoa beverage for the management of fatigue will be well received by participants. Further, if it is implemented early in the disease course of people diagnosed with RRMS, it will improve mobility and functioning by modifying fatigue. Trial registration: Registered with ISRCTN Registry. Trial registration No: ISRCTN69897291; Date April 2016

Characterization of the thermal and photoinduced reactions of photochromic spiropyrans in aqueous solution

Six water-soluble spiropyran derivatives have been characterized with respect to the thermal and photoinduced reactions over a broad pH-interval. A comprehensive kinetic model was formulated including the spiro- and the merocyanine isomers, the respective protonated forms, and the hydrolysis products. The experimental studies on the hydrolysis reaction mechanism were supplemented by calculations using quantum mechanical (QM) models employing density functional theory. The results show that (1) the substitution pattern dramatically influences the pKa-values of the protonated forms as well as the rates of the thermal isomerization reactions, (2) water is the nucleophile in the hydrolysis reaction around neutral pH, (3) the phenolate oxygen of the merocyanine form plays a key role in the hydrolysis reaction. Hence, the nonprotonated merocyanine isomer is susceptible to hydrolysis, whereas the corresponding protonated form is stable toward hydrolytic degradation