Far-right conspiracy groups on fringe platforms: a longitudinal analysis of radicalization dynamics on Telegram

Societal crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, produce societal instability and create a fertile ground for radicalization. Extremists exploit such crises by distributing disinformation to amplify uncertainty and distrust among the public. Based on these developments, this study presents a longitudinal analysis of far-right communication on fringe platforms, demonstrating radicalization dynamics. Public Telegram communication of three movements active in Germany (QAnon, Identitarian Movement, Querdenken) was analyzed through a quantitative content analysis of 4500 messages posted to nine channels between March 2020 and February 2021. We study the movements' discourse using several indicators of radicalization dynamics. The increasing prevalence of conspiracy narratives, anti-elitism, political activism, and support for violence indicate radicalization dynamics in these movements’ online communication. However, these dynamics varied within the movements. It can be concluded that, when studying radicalization dynamics online, it is crucial to not just focus on one single indicator, but consider longitudinal changes across several indicators, ideally comparing different movements

"Design your Education". Zur Bedeutung einer hochschuldidaktischen Fortbildung für Lehrerbildner:innen für das Lehren und Lernen in einer Hochschullernwerkstatt

Im Zuge der Implementation des Hochschullernwerkstattansatzes in das Lehramtsstudium der Universität Erfurt zeigte sich, dass sowohl fachkulturelle Spezifika als auch individuelle Überzeugungen und Werthaltungen der Lehrerbildner:innen das hochschuldidaktische Handeln beeinflussen und zu Unterschieden in der Ausgestaltung der Lehre führen. Für eine empirisch fundierte Weiterentwicklung einer Didaktik der Lehrer:innenbildung sind deshalb neben curricularen Aspekten und Modellentwicklungen auch die Kompetenzen der Lehrerbildner:innen selbst in den Blick zu nehmen und zu fördern. Dieser Zielsetzung ist eine dreisemestrige Fortbildung verpflichtet, die in diesem Beitrag konzeptionell vorgestellt und auf der Grundlage von Daten aus der evaluativen Begleitforschung in ihrer Praktikabilität beurteilt wird. Ergänzend werden Einblicke in das Lernwerkstattseminar „Ästhetische Zugänge zur Demokratiebildung im Sachunterricht“ gegeben, das eine Lehrende innerhalb der Fortbildung weiterentwickelte. (DIPF/Orig.

Enhanced removal and toxicity decline of diclofenac by combining UVA treatment and adsorption of photoproducts to polyvinylidene difluoride

The occurrence of micropollutants in the environment is an emerging issue. Diclofenac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, is one of the most frequently detected pharmaceuticals in the environment worldwide. Diclofenac is transformed by UVA light into different products with higher toxicity. The absorbance of the transformation products overlaps with the absorbance of diclofenac itself and inhibits the ongoing photoreaction. By adding polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF), the products adsorb to the surface of PVDF. Therefore, phototransformation of diclofenac and total organic carbon (TOC) removal is enhanced and the toxicity decreased. At 15 min and 18 h of UVA treatment, removal of diclofenac and TOC increases from 56% to 65% and 18% to 54%, respectively, when PVDF is present. The toxicity of a UVA treated (18 h) diclofenac solution doubles (from 5 to 10, expressed in toxicity units, TU), while no toxicity was detectable when PVDF is present during UVA treatment (TU = 0). PVDF does not need to be irradiated itself but must be present during photoreaction. The adsorbent can be reused by washing with water or ethanol. Diclofenac (25 mg L−1) UVA light irradiation was monitored with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), UV-Vis spectroscopy and by analysing the decrease of TOC. The toxicity towards Vibrio fischeri was examined according to DIN EN ISO 11348-1: 2009-05. Density functional theory (DFT) was used to simulate the phototransformation products known in literature as well as further products identified via gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The absorption spectra, reaction enthalpies (ΔH) and Gibbs free energy of reactions (ΔG) were calculated. The combination of UVA irradiation of diclofenac with adsorption of photoproducts to PVDF is unique and opens up new possibilities to enhance removal of pollutants from water

Synthesis of High Crystalline TiO2 Nanoparticles on a Polymer Membrane to Degrade Pollutants from Water

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is described as an established material to remove pollutants from water. However, TiO2 is still not applied on a large scale due to issues concerning, for example, the form of use or low photocatalytic activity. We present an easily upscalable method to synthesize high active TiO2 nanoparticles on a polyethersulfone microfiltration membrane to remove pollutants in a continuous way. For this purpose, titanium(IV) isopropoxide was mixed with water and hydrochloric acid and treated up to 210 °C. After cooling, the membrane was simply dip-coated into the TiO2 nanoparticle dispersion. Standard characterization was undertaken (i.e., X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, water permeance, contact angle). Degradation of carbamazepine and methylene blue was executed. By increasing synthesis temperature crystallinity and photocatalytic activity elevates. Both ultrasound modification of nanoparticles and membrane pre-modification with carboxyl groups led to fine distribution of nanoparticles. The ultrasound-treated nanoparticles gave the highest photocatalytic activity in degrading carbamazepine and showed no decrease in degradation after nine times of repetition. The TiO2 nanoparticles were strongly bound to the membrane. Photocatalytic TiO2 nanoparticles with high activity were synthesized. The innovative method enables a fast and easy nanoparticle production, which could enable the use in large-scale water cleaning

Inhibition of fatty acid synthesis induces differentiation and reduces tumor burden in childhood neuroblastoma

Many metabolic pathways, including lipid metabolism, are rewired in tumors tosupport energy and biomass production and to allow adaptation to stressful en-vironments. Neuroblastoma is the second deadliest solid tumor in children. Ge-netic aberrations, as the amplification of theMYCN-oncogene, correlate stronglywith disease progression. Yet, there are only a few molecular targets successfullyexploited in the clinic. Here we show that inhibition of fatty acid synthesis led toincreased neural differentiation and reduced tumor burden in neuroblastomaxenograft experiments independently ofMYCN-status. This was accompaniedby reduced levels of the MYCN or c-MYC oncoproteins and activation of ERKsignaling. Importantly, the expression levels of genes involved inde novofattyacid synthesis showed prognostic value for neuroblastoma patients. Our findingsdemonstrate that inhibition ofde novofatty acid synthesis is a promising pharma-cological intervention strategy for the treatment of neuroblastoma indepen-dently ofMYCN-status

A Solve-RD ClinVar-based reanalysis of 1522 index cases from ERN-ITHACA reveals common pitfalls and misinterpretations in exome sequencing

Purpose Within the Solve-RD project (https://solve-rd.eu/), the European Reference Network for Intellectual disability, TeleHealth, Autism and Congenital Anomalies aimed to investigate whether a reanalysis of exomes from unsolved cases based on ClinVar annotations could establish additional diagnoses. We present the results of the “ClinVar low-hanging fruit” reanalysis, reasons for the failure of previous analyses, and lessons learned. Methods Data from the first 3576 exomes (1522 probands and 2054 relatives) collected from European Reference Network for Intellectual disability, TeleHealth, Autism and Congenital Anomalies was reanalyzed by the Solve-RD consortium by evaluating for the presence of single-nucleotide variant, and small insertions and deletions already reported as (likely) pathogenic in ClinVar. Variants were filtered according to frequency, genotype, and mode of inheritance and reinterpreted. Results We identified causal variants in 59 cases (3.9%), 50 of them also raised by other approaches and 9 leading to new diagnoses, highlighting interpretation challenges: variants in genes not known to be involved in human disease at the time of the first analysis, misleading genotypes, or variants undetected by local pipelines (variants in off-target regions, low quality filters, low allelic balance, or high frequency). Conclusion The “ClinVar low-hanging fruit” analysis represents an effective, fast, and easy approach to recover causal variants from exome sequencing data, herewith contributing to the reduction of the diagnostic deadlock

Success factors for corporate innovation: challenges with the implementation of test & learn processes in consumer packaged goods corporates

Understanding the success factors for corporate innovation is essential for businesses to grow. This research focused on how the external (user)and internal (employee, process) sides can foster innovation. The results showed that including the user in the innovation process increases their willingness to pay. On the internal side, 15 challenges were uncovered for Test & Learn process adoption in CPG corporates. Additionally, innovative work behaviors are promoted by employee motivation, both intrinsic and extrinsic. Incentives are important, but companies should rather ensure employees enjoy their tasks and have the freedom to make mistakes when innovating in the workplace

Observación de manguito de veragua Anthracothorax veraguensis (Reichenbach 1855) en las tierras bajas del Pacífi co sur de Costa Rica

On 15th December 2008 male and female individuals of veraguan mango (Anthracothorax veraguensis) were observed in the southern Pacifi c lowlands of Costa Rica at the Tropical Research Station La Gamba (vicinity of Golfi to). At the same location, subsequently at least two females could be observed visiting fl owers of an Erythrina gibbosa tree until the 26th February 2009. Again, a male and female were seen near La Gamba from December 2009 until February 2010 . This hummingbird species was included in the Offi cial List of the Birds of Costa Rica in November 2009. Here, fi rst observations and records of this hummingbird species are summarized and documented by photographs and detailed descriptions of the observed birds.El 15 de diciembre de 2008 se observaron un macho y una hembra de manguito de veragua (Anthracothorax veraguensis) en la Estación Experimental Tropical La Gamba (en las cercanías de Golfi to), en las tierras bajas del Pacífi co sur de Costa Rica. En esa misma ubicación, se pudieron observar posteriormente y hasta el 26 de febrero de 2009, por lo menos dos hembras que visitaban las fl ores de un árbol de Erythrina gibbosa. Nuevamente, fueron vistos un macho y una hembra desde diciembre de 2009 hasta febrero de 2010. Esta especie de colibrí fue incluida en la Lista Ofi cial de Aves de Costa Rica en noviembre de 2009. En este artículo se resumen y documentan las primeras observaciones y registros de esta especie de colibrí mediante fotografías y descripciones detalladas de los individuos observados.

Un caso extremo de ectoparasitismo de moscardón del género Philornis en tangara hormiguera carinegra Habia atrimaxillaris, endémica del Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica

In 2009 the second nest of black-cheeked ant-tanager (Habia atrimaxillaris), endemic to the Golfo Dulce region of Costa Rica, was discovered and nest observations were made over a period of 10 days. The nest had two nestlings when encountered, but the next day one nestling had disappeared for unknown reasons. The surviving nestling was infested by about 14 larvae of parasitic botfl ies (Philornis sp.). Some of the larvae emerged from the host�s skin during the observation period. The nestling fell out of the nest on the seventh day of observation, but was still fed by the adults on the ground for another three days, before it disappeared. The infesting larvae might have weakened the nestling and have been at least partially responsible for the observed spasms, which in turn might have caused the chick to fall out of the nest. Future studies should further quantify the overall importance of ectoparasitic botfl ies as a major causative factor of mortality in the blackcheeked ant-tanager, a species potentially threatened owing to its restricted distributional range..En 2009 se descubrió e hicieron observaciones durante 10 días del segundo nido de tangara hormiguera carinegra (Habia atrimaxillaris), endémica de la zona del Golfo Dulce de Costa Rica. Al encontrarlo, el nido tenía dos polluelos pero al día siguiente uno ya había desaparecido por razones desconocidas. El polluelo sobreviviente presentaba una importante infestación de cerca de 14 larvas de moscardón parasítico (Philornis sp.). Pudo observarse cómo algunas larvas ya emergían de la piel del huésped. El polluelo cayó del nido al sétimo día de observación y los adultos continuaron alimentándolo en el piso durante tres días más antes de que desapareciera. La infestación con larvas pudo haber debilitado al polluelo y ocasionado, al menos parcialmente, los espasmos observados, que pudieron haber sido la causa por la que el polluelo cayó del nido. Se espera que estudios en el futuro puedan cuantifi car la importancia general que tiene el moscardón ectoparasítico como causa principal de mortalidad en la tangara hormiguera carinegra, una especie potencialmente amenazada dado su restringido rango de distribución

Electron Beam Immobilization of Novel Antimicrobial, Short Peptide Motifs Leads to Membrane Surfaces with Promising Antibacterial Properties

In this study, the efficacy of electron beam irradiation versus chemical coupling for yielding polyethersulfone (PES) membranes with antibacterial properties was investigated. For the surface coating, a recently discovered lead compound, IL-KKA, comprising a short peptide sequence functionalized with imidazolium groups, was used. For better integration within the membrane, several novel variants of IL-KKA were generated. Membrane immobilization was achieved using different doses of electron beam irradiation and NHS/EDC chemical coupling. Physicochemical characterization of the coated membranes was performed by water contact angle measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Our results show that electron beam irradiation is as effective and gentle as chemical coupling using the NHS/EDC method. Moreover, it was demonstrated that the obtained membranes exhibit promising antibacterial activity against B. subtilis. In summary, the technique presented herein might be promising as a template for developing future anti-biofilm devices