Was verstehen Sie unter Fachdidaktik? Expert(inn)en-Befragung zur Fachdidakktik und zur Fachdidaktiker(innen)-Ausbildung

Die Auffassungen über das (Wissenschafts-)Verständnis von Fachdidaktik, über ihre Abgrenzung von Nachbardisziplinen, über ihre Funktion in der Lehrer(innen)bildung und über die Aus- und Fortbildungsstrukturen und -inhalte von Fachdidaktiker(inne)n sind durchaus nicht einheitlich. Sie dürften u.a. wesentlich davon abhängen, aus welchem beruflichen Blickwinkel man sich mit dem Gebiet beschäftigt und welche Fachbereiche und Ausbildungsstufen man dabei im Auge hat. nWir legten sechs Expert(inn)en, Leiterinnen und Leitern von Instituten, an denen Lehrer(innen) verschiedener Stufen und Fachbereiche ausgebildet werden, je vier Fragen zu den obigen Problemkreisen vor, die sie in schriftlichen Statements beantworteten. nProf. Dr. Rudolf Künzli, Rektor des Aargauischen Instituts für Bezirkslehrer/innen- Bildung (Didaktikum) und selber Experte in erziehungswissenschaftlichen Fragen, hat die "Interview"-Beiträge gesichtet, Gemeinsamkeiten und Unterschiede in den Expert(inn)en-Antworten ausgemacht und einen wissenschaftskritischen Kommentar aus seiner Sicht beigefügt

Properties and Origin of the High-Velocity Gas Toward the Large Magellanic Cloud

In the spectra of 139 early-type Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) stars observed with FUSE and with deep radio Parkes HI 21-cm observations along those stars, we search for and analyze the absorption and emission from high-velocity gas at +90<v<+175 km/s. The HI column density of the high-velocity clouds (HVCs) along these sightlines ranges from <10^18.4 to 10^19.2 cm^-2. The incidence of the HVC metal absorption is 70%, significantly higher than the HI emission occurrence of 32%. We find that the mean metallicity of the HVC is [OI/HI] = -0.51 (+0.12,-0.16). There is no strong evidence for a large variation in the HVC metallicity, implying that thes e HVCs have a similar origin and are part of the same complex. The mean and scatter of the HVC metallicities are more consistent with the present-day LMC oxygen abundance than that of the Small Magellanic Cloud or the Milky Way. We find that on average [SiII/OI] = +0.48 (+0.15,- 0.25) and [FeII/OI] = +0.33 (+0.14,-0.21), implying that the HVC complex is dominantly ionized. The HVC complex has a multiphase structure with a neutral (OI, FeII), weakly ionized (FeII, NII), and highly ionized (OVI) components, and has evidence of dust but no molecules. All the observed properties of the HVC can be explained by an energetic outflow from the LMC. This is the first example of a large (>10^6 M_sun) HVC complex that is linked to stellar feedback occurring in a dwarf spiral galaxy.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Ap

Trichoderma G protein-coupled receptors: functional characterisation of a cAMP receptor-like protein from Trichoderma atroviride

Gα subunits act to regulate vegetative growth, conidiation, and the mycoparasitic response in Trichoderma atroviride. To extend our knowledge on G protein signalling, we analysed G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). As the genome sequence of T. atroviride is not publicly available yet, we carried out an in silico exploration of the genome database of the close relative T. reesei. Twenty genes encoding putative GPCRs distributed over eight classes and additional 35 proteins similar to the Magnaporthe grisea PTH11 receptor were identified. Subsequently, four T. atroviride GPCR-encoding genes were isolated and affliated to the cAMP receptor-like family by phylogenetic and topological analyses. All four genes showed lowest expression on glycerol and highest mRNA levels upon carbon starvation. Transcription of gpr3 and gpr4 responded to exogenously added cAMP and the shift from liquid to solid media. gpr3 mRNA levels also responded to the presence of fungal hyphae or cellulose membranes. Further characterisation of mutants bearing a gpr1-silencing construct revealed that Gpr1 is essential for vegetative growth, conidiation and conidial germination. Four genes encoding the first GPCRs described in Trichoderma were isolated and their expression characterized. At least one of these GPCRs is important for several cellular processes, supporting the fundamental role of G protein signalling in this fungus

Somatic gene therapy for cancer. The utility of transferrinfection in generating ‘tumor vaccines’

The last few years have seen the development of a branch of somatic gene therapy which aims at strengthening the immune surveillance of the body, leading to eradication of disseminated cancer tumor cells and occult micrometastases after surgical removal of the primary tumor. Such a tumor vaccination protocol calls for cultivation of the primary tumor tissue and the insertion of one of three types of genes into the isolated cultured tumor cells followed by irradiation of the transfected or transduced cells to render them incapable of further proliferation. The cells so treated constitute the ‘tumor vaccine’. A review of the literature suggests that for mouse models, in the initial period after inoculation, rejection of the tumor cells is usually effected by non-T-cell immunity, whereas the long-term systemic immune response is based on cytotoxic T-cells. High expression of the gene inserted into the tumor cells may be critical for the success of the vaccination procedure. Examples are given which indicate that transferrinfection, a procedure to introduce genes by adenovirus-augmented receptor-mediated endocytosis, meets some important prerequisites for successful application of this type of gene therapy

The Magellanic Bridge as a DLA System: Physical Properties of Cold Gas toward PKS0312-770

We measure the physical properties of a local multi-component absorption-line system at V_sol ~ 200 km/s toward the quasar PKS0312-770 behind the Magellanic Bridge (MB) using Hubble Space Telescope STIS spectroscopy in conjunction with photoionization modeling. At an impact parameter of ~ 10 kpc from the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), this sightline provides a unique opportunity to probe the chemical properties and ionization structure in a nearby absorption line system with a column density of logN(HI) ~ 20.2, at the transition between Damped Lyman Alpha (DLA) and sub-DLA systems. We find that metallicity of -1.0 < logZ < -0.5 and ionization parameter of -6 < logU < -5 for three low-ionization components and logU ~ -2.6 for one high-ionization component. One component at V_sol = 207 km/s shows an alpha-element abundance log(Si/H) ~ -5.0, making it ~ 0.2 dex more metal rich than both SMC H II regions and stars within the MB and the SMC. The N/Si ratio in this component is log(N/Si) = -0.3+/-0.1, making it comparable to other N-poor dwarf galaxies and ~ 0.2 dex lower than H II regions in the SMC. Another component at V_sol = 236 km/s shows a similar Si/H ratio but has log(N/Si) = -1.0+/-0.2, indicating a nitrogen deficiency comparable to that seen in the most N-poor DLA systems. These differences imply different chemical enrichment histories between components along the same sightline. Our results suggest that, if these absorbers are representative some fraction of DLA systems, then 1) DLA systems along single sight-lines do not necessarily represent the global properties of the absorbing cloud, and b) the chemical composition within a given DLA cloud may be inhomogeneous.Comment: 28 pages, including 16 figures; accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journa

Chemical compositions of Four B-type Supergiants in the SMC Wing

High-resolution UCLES/AAT spectra of four B-type supergiants in the SMC South East Wing have been analysed using non-LTE model atmosphere techniques to determine their atmospheric parameters and chemical compositions. The principle aim of this analysis was to determine whether the very low metal abundances ($-$1.1 dex compared with Galactic value) previously found in the Magellanic Inter Cloud region (ICR) were also present in SMC Wing. The chemical compositions of the four targets are similar to those found in other SMC objects and appear to be incompatible with those deduced previously for the ICR. Given the close proximity of the Wing to the ICR, this is difficult to understand and some possible explanations are briefly discussed.Comment: 11 pages, 2 figues, A&A accepte

Forebrain Cholinergic Signaling Regulates Innate Immune Responses and Inflammation

The brain regulates physiological functions integral to survival. However, the insight into brain neuronal regulation of peripheral immune function and the neuromediator systems and pathways involved remains limited. Here, utilizing selective genetic and pharmacological approaches, we studied the role of forebrain cholinergic signaling in the regulation of peripheral immune function and inflammation. Forebrain-selective genetic ablation of acetylcholine release and vagotomy abolished the suppression of serum TNF by the centrally-acting cholinergic drug galantamine in murine endotoxemia. Selective stimulation of acetylcholine action on the M1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (M1 mAChR) by central administration of the positive allosteric modulator benzyl quinolone carboxylic acid (BQCA) suppressed serum TNF (TNF alpha) levels in murine endotoxemia. This effect was recapitulated by peripheral administration of the compound. BQCA also improved survival in murine endotoxemia and these effects were abolished in M1 mAChR knockout (KO) mice. Selective optogenetic stimulation of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons innervating brain regions with abundant M1 mAChR localization reduced serum TNF in endotoxemic mice. These findings reveal that forebrain cholinergic neurons regulate innate immune responses and inflammation, suggesting the possibility that in diseases associated with cholinergic dysfunction, including Alzheimer\u27s disease this anti-inflammatory regulation can be impaired. These results also suggest novel anti-inflammatory approaches based on targeting forebrain cholinergic signaling in sepsis and other disorders characterized by immune dysregulation

Forebrain Cholinergic Signaling Regulates Innate Immune Responses and Inflammation

The brain regulates physiological functions integral to survival. However, the insight into brain neuronal regulation of peripheral immune function and the neuromediator systems and pathways involved remains limited. Here, utilizing selective genetic and pharmacological approaches, we studied the role of forebrain cholinergic signaling in the regulation of peripheral immune function and inflammation. Forebrain-selective genetic ablation of acetylcholine release and vagotomy abolished the suppression of serum TNF by the centrally-acting cholinergic drug galantamine in murine endotoxemia. Selective stimulation of acetylcholine action on the M1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (M1 mAChR) by central administration of the positive allosteric modulator benzyl quinolone carboxylic acid (BQCA) suppressed serum TNF (TNFα) levels in murine endotoxemia. This effect was recapitulated by peripheral administration of the compound. BQCA also improved survival in murine endotoxemia and these effects were abolished in M1 mAChR knockout (KO) mice. Selective optogenetic stimulation of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons innervating brain regions with abundant M1 mAChR localization reduced serum TNF in endotoxemic mice. These findings reveal that forebrain cholinergic neurons regulate innate immune responses and inflammation, suggesting the possibility that in diseases associated with cholinergic dysfunction, including Alzheimer's disease this anti-inflammatory regulation can be impaired. These results also suggest novel anti-inflammatory approaches based on targeting forebrain cholinergic signaling in sepsis and other disorders characterized by immune dysregulation