Barrierefreiheit, Partizipation und Empowerment –Wege zur digitalen Teilhabe

Barrierefreiheit ist eine grundlegende Voraussetzung für die gleichberechtigte Teilhabe von Menschen mit Beeinträchtigungen. Auf europäischer und nationaler Ebene werden seit 2016 wichtige gesetzliche Voraussetzungen für die digitale Barrierefreiheit implementiert. Neben den notwendigen strukturellen Verbesserungen spielen weitere Aspekte im Kontext digitaler Teilhabe eine wichtige Rolle. Zunehmend werden zentrale sozialpolitische und behindertenpädagogische Leitideen wie Partizipation und Empowerment im Kontext der Digitalisierung diskutiert. Trotz dieser Bestrebungen gibt es immer noch Defizite bei der Barrierefreiheit digitaler Angebote. Gleichzeitig muss die Frage beantwortet werden, wie man Menschen mit Beeinträchtigungen noch besser in die Prozesse zur Herstellung digitaler Barrierefreiheit einbinden kann, da diese sie selbst betreffen. Im folgenden Beitrag werden die wichtigsten Richtlinien, Gesetze und Verordnungen zur digitalen Barrierefreiheit vorgestellt und die Relevanz der Partizipation und des Empowerments für die digitale Teilhabe von Menschen mit Beeinträchtigungen näher beleuchtet. Abschließend werden einige der relevantesten Projekte mit Beteiligung des Fachgebiets Rehabilitationstechnologie der TU Dortmund beschrieben und die gewonnenen Erkenntnisse diskutiert.Accessibility is a fundamental prerequisite for the equal participation of people with disabilities. Important legal conditions for digital accessibility have been already implemented at European and national level in Germany. However, in addition to the necessary structural improvements, other aspects also play an important role in the context of digital participation. Increasingly, concepts such as participation and empowerment, are being discussed in the context of digitalisation. Despite all these efforts, most digital resources are still not accessible. Furthermore, it is necessary to develop methods to improve the inclusion of people with disabilities in the processes of achieving digital accessibility. The article presents the most important guidelines, laws and regulations on digital accessibility and highlights the relevance of participation and empowerment for the digital participation of people with disabilities. Finally, important projects in this context under participation of the Department of Rehabilitation Technology at TU Dortmund University are described and discussed

Dynamics of Bacterial Root Endophytes of Malus domestica Plants Grown in Field Soils Affected by Apple Replant Disease

Apple replant disease (ARD) is a worldwide problem for tree nurseries and orchards leading to reduced plant growth and fruit quality. The etiology of this complex phenomenon is poorly understood, but shifts of the bulk soil and rhizosphere microbiome seem to play an important role. Since roots are colonized by microbes from the rhizosphere, studies of the endophytic microbiome in relation to ARD are meaningful. In this study, culture-independent and culture-dependent approaches were used in order to unravel the endophytic root microbiome of apple plants 3, 7, and 12 months after planting in ARD-affected soil and ARD-unaffected control soil at two different field sites. Next to a high diversity of Pseudomonas in roots from all soils, molecular barcoding approaches revealed an increase in relative abundance of endophytic Actinobacteria over time in plants grown in ARD and control plots. Furthermore, several amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) linked to Streptomyces, which had been shown in a previous greenhouse ARD biotest to be negatively correlated to shoot length and fresh mass, were also detected in roots from both field sites. Especially in roots of apple plants from control soil, these Streptomyces ASVs increased in their relative abundance over time. The isolation of 150 bacterial strains in the culture-dependent approach revealed a high diversity of members of the genus Pseudomonas, confirming the data of the molecular barcoding approach. However, only partial overlaps were found between the two approaches, underlining the importance of combining these methods in order to better understand this complex disease and develop possible countermeasures. Overall, this study suggests a key role of Streptomyces in the etiology of ARD in the field. Copyright © 2022 Mahnkopp-Dirks, Radl, Kublik, Gschwendtner, Schloter and Winkelmann

Assessment of Sampling Effects on Various Satellite-Derived Integrated Water Vapor Datasets Using GPS Measurements in Germany as Reference

Passive imagers on polar-orbiting satellites provide long-term, accurate integrated water vapor (IWV) data sets. However, these climatologies are affected by sampling biases. In Germany, a dense Global Navigation Satellite System network provides accurate IWV measurements not limited by weather conditions and with high temporal resolution. Therefore, they serve as a reference to assess the quality and sampling issues of IWV products from multiple satellite instruments that show different orbital and instrument characteristics. A direct pairwise comparison between one year of IWV data from GPS and satellite instruments reveals overall biases (in kg/m 2 ) of 1.77, 1.36, 1.11, and −0.31 for IASI, MIRS, MODIS, and MODIS-FUB, respectively. Computed monthly means show similar behaviors. No significant impact of averaging time and the low temporal sampling on aggregated satellite IWV data is found, mostly related to the noisy weather conditions in the German domain. In combination with SEVIRI cloud coverage, a change of shape of IWV frequency distributions towards a bi-modal distribution and loss of high IWV values are observed when limiting cases to daytime and clear sky. Overall, sampling affects mean IWV values only marginally, which are rather dominated by the overall retrieval bias, but can lead to significant changes in IWV frequency distributions

Technologieakzeptanz als Analyserahmen zum Einsatz von Rehabilitationstechnologien

Rehabilitationstechnologien können die Teilhabe von Menschen mit Behinderung in verschiedenen Lebensbereichen stärken. Trotzdem werden diese häufig nicht genutzt, obwohl sie eigentlich verfügbar wären. Anhand von verschiedenen Technologieakzeptanzmodellen (z. B. TAM, TAM2, UTAUT, TAM3, UTAUT2 oder CAN-Modell) können Faktoren untersucht werden, die die tatsächliche Nutzung einer spezifischen Technologie beeinflussen. Dieser Beitrag gibt einen Überblick darüber, welche Faktoren eine Rolle bei der Nutzung von Rehabilitationstechnologien spielen, die sich an verschiedene Zielgruppen der Rehabilitationswissenschaften richten. Zudem wird eine Übersicht über einschlägige Studienergebnisse von der TU Dortmund gegeben. Es zeigt sich, dass neben den Faktoren der etablierten Technologieakzeptanzmodelle (v. a. Wahrgenommene Einfachheit der Nutzung und Wahrgenommene Nützlichkeit) je nach untersuchter Technologie und Nutzendengruppe eine Vielzahl weiterer Faktoren berücksichtigt werden muss, wenn etwa neue Technologien entwickelt, angeschafft oder in Anwendungskontexte eingeführt werden sollen.Rehabilitation technologies can strengthen the participation of people with disability in various areas of life. Nevertheless, they are often abandoned, although they would actually be available. Different technology acceptance models (e.g., TAM, TAM2, UTAUT, TAM3, UTAUT2, or CAN model) can be used to investigate factors that influence the actual use of a specific technology. This paper provides an overview of different factors that play a role in the use of rehabilitation technologies by different target groups of rehabilitation sciences. Relevant study results from TU Dortmund University are outlined. It is shown that, in addition to the factors of the established technology acceptance models (especially perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness), a variety of other factors must be taken into account depending on the technology and user group studied, for example, when new technologies are to be developed, purchased, or introduced into application contexts

DaF-/DaZ-/DaM-Bildungsräume. Sprech- & Textformen im Fokus

Der Sammelband besteht aus zwei Teilen: Der erste Teil befasst sich mit der Universität als Bildungsraum für zukünftige Lehrpersonen. Hier interessiert, wie diese Adressatengruppe mithilfe wissenschaftlich fundierter Ansätze auf einen professionellen Umgang mit sprachlich heterogenen Unterrichtsanforderungen vorbereitet werden kann. Im zweiten Teil werden verschiedene Dimensionen sprachbildenden Unterrichts in den Fächern Deutsch, Geschichte, Biologie und Mathematik näher ausdifferenziert. Unter der Prämisse, dass die Verfügbarkeit hinreichend entwickelter sprachlicher Kompetenzen in allen Fächern als conditio sine qua non für den Bildungserfolg zählt, setzen sich alle Beiträge mit einzelnen Sprech- und Textformen zu bestimmten Themen sowie mit diesbezüglichen Fördermaßnahmen auseinander

Therapeutic targeting of ependymoma as informed by oncogenic enhancer profiling

Genomic sequencing has driven precision-based oncology therapy; however, the genetic drivers of many malignancies remain unknown or non-targetable, so alternative approaches to the identification of therapeutic leads are necessary. Ependymomas are chemotherapy-resistant brain tumours, which, despite genomic sequencing, lack effective molecular targets. Intracranial ependymomas are segregated on the basis of anatomical location (supratentorial region or posterior fossa) and further divided into distinct molecular subgroups that reflect differences in the age of onset, gender predominance and response to therapy1,2,3. The most common and aggressive subgroup, posterior fossa ependymoma group A (PF-EPN-A), occurs in young children and appears to lack recurrent somatic mutations2. Conversely, posterior fossa ependymoma group B (PF-EPN-B) tumours display frequent large-scale copy number gains and losses but have favourable clinical outcomes1,3. More than 70% of supratentorial ependymomas are defined by highly recurrent gene fusions in the NF-κB subunit gene RELA (ST-EPN-RELA), and a smaller number involve fusion of the gene encoding the transcriptional activator YAP1 (ST-EPN-YAP1)1,3,4. Subependymomas, a distinct histologic variant, can also be found within the supratetorial and posterior fossa compartments, and account for the majority of tumours in the molecular subgroups ST-EPN-SE and PF-EPN-SE. Here we describe mapping of active chromatin landscapes in 42 primary ependymomas in two non-overlapping primary ependymoma cohorts, with the goal of identifying essential super-enhancer-associated genes on which tumour cells depend. Enhancer regions revealed putative oncogenes, molecular targets and pathways; inhibition of these targets with small molecule inhibitors or short hairpin RNA diminished the proliferation of patient-derived neurospheres and increased survival in mouse models of ependymomas. Through profiling of transcriptional enhancers, our study provides a framework for target and drug discovery in other cancers that lack known genetic drivers and are therefore difficult to treat.This work was supported by an Alex's Lemonade Stand Young Investigator Award (S.C.M.), The CIHR Banting Fellowship (S.C.M.), The Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas (S.C.M., RR170023), Sibylle Assmus Award for Neurooncology (K.W.P.), the DKFZ-MOST (Ministry of Science, Technology & Space, Israel) program in cancer research (H.W.), James S. McDonnell Foundation (J.N.R.) and NIH grants: CA154130 (J.N.R.), R01 CA169117 (J.N.R.), R01 CA171652 (J.N.R.), R01 NS087913 (J.N.R.) and R01 NS089272 (J.N.R.). R.C.G. is supported by NIH grants T32GM00725 and F30CA217065. M.D.T. is supported by The Garron Family Chair in Childhood Cancer Research, and grants from the Pediatric Brain Tumour Foundation, Grand Challenge Award from CureSearch for Children’s Cancer, the National Institutes of Health (R01CA148699, R01CA159859), The Terry Fox Research Institute and Brainchild. M.D.T. is also supported by a Stand Up To Cancer St. Baldrick’s Pediatric Dream Team Translational Research Grant (SU2C-AACR-DT1113)

Wege zum sprachbildenden Mathematikunterricht der Oberstufe – Beispiele und Hintergründe

Sprache ist für den Lernerfolg in Mathematik zentral, dies zeigen viele Untersuchungen. Auch bei den bildungs¬erfolg¬reichen Jugendlichen, die bis in die Oberstufe kommen, ist es daher wichtig, die für fachliches Lernen notwendigen Sprachhandlungen und Sprachmittel zu fördern. Für den Aufbau von konzeptuellem Verständnis für mathematische Konzepte erweist sich dabei die Sprachhandlung des Erklärens von Bedeutungen als zentral, die durch den Aufbau eines bedeutungsbezogenen Denkwortschatzes unterstützt werden muss. Der Artikel skizziert dazu einige Hintergründe und einen typischen Weg, wie sich Lehrkräfte dem sprachsensiblen Mathematikunterricht nähern

Lessons from global E-readiness trends of national economies

Presented at the GLOBELICS 6th International Conference 2008 22-24 September, Mexico City, Mexico.E-readiness is progressing around the world, but achieving it is growing more complex. Basic connectivity, for example, is no longer adequate to use the Internet efficiently; the connections must be fast, secure and affordable. Likewise, governments must demonstrate their commitment to digital development not only through broad policy, but also in practical ways, such as delivering public services to citizens and business via electronic channels. The goalposts of e-readiness, in other words, are shifting. This paper examines the trends evident in three groups of countries in terms of their E-readiness rankings between 2001 and 2008 and profiles the key characteristics and trends common to these groups. This is detailed in section 2 of the paper. Section 3 outlines some of the areas that each of these groups should focus on in order to improve their ‘E-Readiness’. Section 4 of the paper concludes by setting out some guiding principles for policymakers

Molecular Barcoding Reveals the Genus Streptomyces as Associated Root Endophytes of Apple (Malus domestica) Plants Grown in Soils Affected by Apple Replant Disease

Apple replant disease (ARD) occurs when apple is repeatedly planted at the same site, leading to growth reductions and losses in fruit yield and quality. Up to now, the etiology has been poorly understood; however, soil (micro)biota are known to be involved. Because endophytes often colonize plants via the rhizosphere, this study aimed at comparing the bacterial endophytic root microbiome in plants growing in ARD-affected and unaffected soils from three different sites based on greenhouse biotests using a molecular barcoding approach. The initial endophytic microbiome of the starting material (in vitro propagated plants of the apple rootstock M26) did not significantly affect the overall richness and diversity of the endophytic community in plants after 8 weeks of growth in the respective soils but some genera of the initial microbiome managed to establish in apple roots. Proteobacteria was the dominant phylum in all samples. No differences in diversity or number of amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) between plants grown in ARD soil and unaffected soil was observed. However, several ASVs of high abundance uniquely found in plants grown in ARD-affected soils were Streptomyces spp. In soil from all three sites, these Streptomyces spp. were negatively correlated with plant growth parameters. Future inoculation experiments using selected Streptomyces isolates have to prove whether bacteria from this genus are opportunists or part of the ARD complex. For the first time, the bacterial endophytic community of apple roots grown in ARD-affected soils was characterized, which will help us to understand the etiology of ARD and develop countermeasures