Methodisch reflektierte Annäherungen an kulturelle Differenzen

Sammelrezension zum Themenschwerpunkt: 1) Gabriele Cappai (Hrsg.): Forschungen unter Bedingungen kultureller Fremdheit. Wiesbaden: VS Verl. 2008, 352 S. 978-3-531-15633-0. 2) Ralf Bohnsack/Nicolle Pfaff/Wivian Weller (eds.): Qualitative Analysis and Documentary Method in International Educational Research. Opladen/Farmington Hills: B. Budrich 2010, 369 S. 978-3866492929. 3) Gabriele Cappai/Shingo Shimada/Jürgen Straub (Hrsg.): Interpretative Sozialforschung und Kulturanalyse. Hermeneutik und die komparative Analyse kulturellen Handelns. Bielefeld: transcript 2010, 300 S. 978-3899427936. 4) Johannes Bilstein/Jutta Ecarius/Edwin Keiner (Hrsg.): Kulturelle Differenzen und Globalisierung. Herausforderungen für Erziehung und Bildung. Wiesbaden: VS Verl. 2011, pp. 256. 978-3531171869. 5) Pranee Liamputtong: Performing Qualitative Cross-Cultural Research. Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press/kindle 2010, 2814 KB, 303 S. ISBN 978-0-521-72731-0. 6) James Peoples/Garrick Bailey: Humantiy. An Introduction to Cultural Anthropology. 9. Aufl. Independence US: Cengage Learning Wadsworth 2011, pp. 496. 978-1-111-301522-1

„Alles unter einem Dach“: Empirische Einblicke in Chancen und Herausforderungen für die strukturelle interne Vernetzung von universitären Weiterbildungsakteur*innen

Mit der Implementation von zentralen Organisationsformen für wissenschaftliche Weiterbildung gehen vielfältige Herausforderungen hinsichtlich der strukturellen internen Vernetzung von Weiterbildungsakteur*innen einher. Im Beitrag wird die Frage verfolgt, wie wissenschaftsstützende Akteur*innen in zentral verankerten Strukturen der wissenschaftlichen Weiterbildung miteinander kooperieren und kommunizieren, um das neue und weiter zu entwickelnde Handlungsfeld in die Kultur der Organisation zu integrieren. Diese Frage wird durch erste Ergebnisse einer qualitativ-rekonstruktiv orientierten Begleitforschung bearbeitet und im Beitrag weiterführend organisationstheoretisch diskutiert

Herstellung von Eindeutigkeit - die Erfassung globaler Kompetenzen durch PISA 2018

Mit PISA 2018 wagt die OECD erstmals einen Versuch, globalisierungsspezifisches Wissen international vergleichend zu erfassen. Anders als in früheren Durchläufen widmet sie sich dadurch sehr viel stärker Kompetenzbereichen mit expliziten Wertebezug und positioniert sich prominent in einer Debatte mit potenziell weitreichenden Folgen für die Normierung von Wertvorstellungen im Kontext globaler Vielfalt. In diesem Beitrag werden die Erhebung von Global Competence und ihre Auswertung für Deutschland aus verschiedenen erziehungswissenschaftlichen Zugängen kritisch gewürdigt. Es wird gezeigt, dass das Konstrukt der Global Competence in seiner derzeitigen Fassung den in erziehungswissenschaftlichen Diskursen beschriebenen Herausforderungen im Umgang mit Komplexität, Unsicherheit und Vielfalt nur unzureichend Rechnung trägt und daher einer Weiterentwicklung bedarf. Es wird insbesondere die Engführung auf interkulturelle Kompetenz in der deutschsprachigen Rezeption problematisiert. (DIPF/Orig.)PISA 2018 represents the OECD’s first attempt to compare globalization­ specific knowledge internationally. In contrast to previous assessments, the OECD intensifies its efforts to measure value­-oriented competences and to ultimately shape international debates on norms and values in the context of global diversity. Engaging state ­of­ the ­art discourses in education sciences, this article critically examines Global Competence as it is constructed through the assessment, showing that it does not adequately respond to the learning challenges in dealing with complexity, uncertainty, and diversity. The ar­ticle further problematizes the rather narrow focus on intercultural competences emphasized by the reception of PISA results for the German context. (DIPF/Orig.

Diversity beliefs are associated with orientations to teaching for diversity and social justice : A study among German and Finnish student teachers

This mixed methods study explored German (n = 477) and Finnish (n = 379) student teachers' color-blind, multiculturalist, and polyculturalist diversity beliefs. Statistical analyses identified polyculturalism and multiculturalism as the most prominent diversity beliefs among the student teachers and detected associations between diversity belief profiles and student teachers' orientations to teaching for diversity and social justice. Polyculturalism, in particular, emerged as significant predictor of student teachers’ orientations to teaching for diversity and social justice. Qualitative analysis of responses to open-ended questions revealed that polyculturalism was internalized by the student teachers superficially. The implications of the findings for further research and teacher education are discussed.publishedVersionPeer reviewe

Single-cell mRNA transfection studies: Delivery, kinetics and statistics by numbers

AbstractIn artificial gene delivery, messenger RNA (mRNA) is an attractive alternative to plasmid DNA (pDNA) since it does not require transfer into the cell nucleus. Here we show that, unlike for pDNA transfection, the delivery statistics and dynamics of mRNA-mediated expression are generic and predictable in terms of mathematical modeling. We measured the single-cell expression time-courses and levels of enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) using time-lapse microscopy and flow cytometry (FC). The single-cell analysis provides direct access to the distribution of onset times, life times and expression rates of mRNA and eGFP. We introduce a two-step stochastic delivery model that reproduces the number distribution of successfully delivered and translated mRNA molecules and thereby the dose–response relation. Our results establish a statistical framework for mRNA transfection and as such should advance the development of RNA carriers and small interfering/micro RNA-based drugs.From the Clinical EditorThis team of authors established a statistical framework for mRNA transfection by using a two-step stochastic delivery model that reproduces the number distribution of successfully delivered and translated mRNA molecules and thereby their dose-response relation. This study establishes a nice connection between theory and experimental planning and will aid the cellular delivery of mRNA molecules

Trauma-Associated Tinnitus: Audiological, Demographic and Clinical Characteristics

Background: Tinnitus can result from different etiologies. Frequently, patients report the development of tinnitus after traumatic injuries. However, to which extent this specific etiologic factor plays a role for the phenomenology of tinnitus is still incompletely understood. Additionally, it remains a matter of debate whether the etiology of tinnitus constitutes a relevant criterion for defining tinnitus subtypes. Objective: By investigating a worldwide sample of tinnitus patients derived from the Tinnitus Research Initiative (TRI) Database, we aimed to identify differences in demographic, clinical and audiological characteristics between tinnitus patients with and without preceding trauma. Materials: A total of 1,604 patients were investigated. Assessment included demographic data, tinnitus related clinical data, audiological data, the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory, the Tinnitus Questionnaire, the Beck Depression Inventory, various numeric tinnitus rating scales, and the World Health Organisation Quality of Life Scale (WHOQoL). Results: Our data clearly indicate differences between tinnitus patients with and without trauma at tinnitus onset. Patients suffering from trauma-associated tinnitus suffer from a higher mental burden than tinnitus patients presenting with phantom perceptions based on other or unknown etiologic factors. This is especially the case for patients with whiplash and head trauma. Patients with posttraumatic noise-related tinnitus experience more frequently hyperacousis, were younger, had longer tinnitus duration, and were more frequently of male gender. Conclusions: Trauma before tinnitus onset seems to represent a relevant criterion for subtypization of tinnitus. Patients with posttraumatic tinnitus may require specific diagnostic and therapeutic management. A more systematic and - at best - standardized assessment for hearing related sequelae of trauma is needed for a better understanding of the underlying pathophysiology and for developing more tailored treatment approaches as well.Fil: Kreuzer, Peter M.. Universitat Regensburg; AlemaniaFil: Landgrebe, Michael. Universitat Regensburg; AlemaniaFil: Schecklmann, Martin. Universitat Regensburg; AlemaniaFil: Staudinger, Susanne. Universitat Regensburg; AlemaniaFil: Langguth, Berthold. Universitat Regensburg; AlemaniaFil: Vielsmeier, Veronika. The TRI Database Study Group; AlemaniaFil: Kleinjung, Tobias. The TRI Database Study Group; AlemaniaFil: Lehner, Astrid. The TRI Database Study Group; AlemaniaFil: Poeppl, Timm B.. The TRI Database Study Group; AlemaniaFil: Figueiredo, Ricardo. The TRI Database Study Group; AlemaniaFil: Azevedo, Andréia. The TRI Database Study Group; AlemaniaFil: Binetti, Ana Carolina. The TRI Database Study Group; AlemaniaFil: Elgoyhen, Ana Belen. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; Argentina. The TRI Database Study Group; AlemaniaFil: Rates, Marcelo. The TRI Database Study Group; AlemaniaFil: Coelho, Claudia. The TRI Database Study Group; AlemaniaFil: Vanneste, Sven. The TRI Database Study Group; AlemaniaFil: de Ridder, Dirk. The TRI Database Study Group; AlemaniaFil: van de Heyning, Paul. The TRI Database Study Group; AlemaniaFil: Zeman, Florian. The TRI Database Study Group; AlemaniaFil: Mohr, Markus. The TRI Database Study Group; AlemaniaFil: Koller, Michael. The TRI Database Study Group; Alemani

Model compendium, data, and optimization benchmarks for sector-coupled energy systems

Decarbonization and defossilization of energy supply as well as increasing decentralization of energy gen- eration necessitate the development of efficient strategies for design and operation of sector-coupled energy systems. Today, design and operation of process and energy systems rely on powerful numeri- cal methods, in particular, optimization methods. The development of such methods benefits from re- producible benchmarks including transparent model equations and complete input data sets. However, to the authors’ best knowledge and with respect to design and optimal control of sector-coupled en- ergy systems, there is a lack of available benchmarks. Hence, this article provides a model compendium, exemplary realistic data sets, as well as two case studies (i.e., optimization benchmarks) for an in- dustrial/research campus in an open-source description. The compendium includes stationary, quasi- stationary, and dynamic models for typical components as well as linearization schemes relevant for optimization of design, operation, and control of sector-coupled energy systems

Rangelands at equilibrium and non-equilibrium recent developments in the debate around rangeland ecology and management

The debate on equilibrium vs non-equilibrium dynamics in pastoral systems emerged in the early 1980s, when economists, ecologists and social scientists began to challenge the widespread claims of overgrazing and degradation in African rangelands and subsequent interventions based on rangeland succession theory and correct stocking rates (for example, Sandford 1982; 1983; Homewood & Rodgers 1987; Ellis & Swift 1988; Abel & Blaikie 1989; Westoby et al. 1989). The debate gained momentum in the early 1990s after two international workshops around emergent new paradigms in rangeland ecology and socio-economics (Woburn I and II), which resulted in the publication of two books, Range Ecology at Disequilibrium edited by Behnke et al. (1993) and Living with Uncertainty edited by Scoones (1994). The ‘new rangeland ecology’ argued that the traditional, equilibrium-based rangeland models did not take into account the considerable spatial heterogeneity and climatic variability of semi-arid rangelands, and that mobility, variable stocking rates and adaptive management were essential for the effective and sustainable utilisation of semi-arid and arid rangelands

Tetramodal therapy with transurethral resection followed by chemoradiation in combination with hyperthermia for muscle-invasive bladder cancer: early results of a multicenter phase IIB study.

BACKGROUND Transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TUR-BT) followed by chemoradiation (CRT) is a valid treatment option for patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of a tetramodal approach with additional regional hyperthermia (RHT). METHODS Patients with stages T2-4 MIBC were recruited at two institutions. Treatment consisted of TUR-BT followed by radiotherapy at doses of 57-58.2 Gy with concurrent weekly platinum-based chemotherapy and weekly deep RHT (41-43 °C, 60 min) within two hours of radiotherapy. The primary endpoint was a complete response six weeks after the end of treatment. Further endpoints were cystectomy-free rate, progression-free survival (PFS), local recurrence-free survival (LRFS), overall survival (OS) and toxicity. Quality of life (QoL) was assessed at follow-up using the EORTC-QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BM30 questionnaires. Due to slow accrual, an interim analysis was performed after the first stage of the two-stage design. RESULTS Altogether 27 patients were included in the first stage, of these 21 patients with a median age of 73 years were assessable. The complete response rate of evaluable patients six weeks after therapy was 93%. The 2-year cystectomy-free rate, PFS, LRFS and OS rates were 95%, 76%, 81% and 86%, respectively. Tetramodal treatment was well tolerated with acute and late G3-4 toxicities of 10% and 13%, respectively, and a tendency to improve symptom-related quality of life (QoL) one year after therapy. CONCLUSION Tetramodal therapy of T2-T4 MIBC is promising with excellent local response, moderate toxicity and good QoL. This study deserves continuation into the second stage

Enzymes for consumer products to achieve climate neutrality

29 pags., 4 figs., 3 tabs., 1 graf.Accumulated greenhouse gas emissions are expected to increase from 36.2 Giga-tons (Gt) to 60 Gt over the next three decades. The global surface temperature has increased by¿+¿1.09¿°C since 2001, and might increase by¿+¿2.2¿°C in 2100, +3.6¿°C in 2200 and +4.6¿°C in 2500. These emissions and temperature rises cannot be reduced in their entirety, but they can be lowered by using enzymes. Enzymes are proteins that catalyze biochemical reactions that make life possible since 3.8 billion years ago. Scientists have been able to "domesticate" them in such a way that enzymes, and their engineered variants, are now key players of the circular economy. With a world production of 117 Kilo-tons and a trade of 14.5 Billion-dollars, they have the potential to annually decrease CO2 emissions by 1 to 2.5 Billion-tons (Bt), the carbon demand to synthesise chemicals by 200 Million tons (Mt), the amount of chemicals by 90¿Mt, and the economic losses derived from global warming by 0.5%, while promoting biodiversity and our planet¿s health. Our success to increase these benefits will depend on better integration of enzymatic solutions in different sectors.This study was conducted under the auspices of the FuturEnzyme Project funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement No. 101000327. MF also acknowledges Grants PID2020-112758RB-I00, PDC2021-121534-I00, and TED2021-130544B-I00 from the MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and the European Union (“NextGenerationEU/PRTR”)