Cognitive processes in Design Thinking: Optimization of perception, processing and reasoning

This dissertation documents a research endeavour into the cognitive processes in Design Thinking. The goal was to identify the optimal way to think in the various phases of a Design Thinking project. The research draws on the findings in design, positive psychology, cognitive psychology, and neuroscience to analyse the Design Thinking process and tomap and match thinking modes with the phases of the process. The fundamental literature review covers three topics: The research into Design Thinking provides a comprehensive insight into the method and its scientific fundament. Then, creativity as a social product and the cognitive processes relevant to creativity are documented. Thirdly, emotion and its relation to creativity and the Limbic® Map approach are presented. Finally, automatic emotion recognition with deep learning based artificial intelligence algorithms are introduced. The first stages of empirical research revealed that emotions and other affective states are unworkable for reliable research results. Similarly, it could be shown that “mindset” has no scientifically approved definition, making the concept unsuitable for robust research. Further research identified five pairs of cognitive functions needed in Design Thinking. Three pairs address information processing (Acquisition of Data, Alignment of Perception, and Assessment of Information and Ideas), and two address flow control of cognition (Attention to a specific task and Awareness of the Cognitive Process). The research further investigated methods to activate and guide the cognitive functions in a project. Moreover, the importance of including creative professionals in a Design Thinking process was revealed. Research in neuroscience indicates specific abilities of creative people identifiable in the very brain network connections. The research also discovered new insights into the “Groan Zone”. The findings indicate that a change in the attitude and approach to the “Groan Zone” could considerably change the outcome of a Design Thinking project.Esta dissertação documenta um esforço de pesquisa sobre os processos cognitivos em Design Thinking. Teve como objetivo identificar a forma ideal de pensar, nas várias fases de um projeto de Design Thinking. O design, a neurociência, as psicologias positiva e cognitiva, servem de base para analisar o processo de Design Thinking, mapeando e relacionando modos de pensamento com fases do processo. A revisão da literatura cobre: Uma visão mais abrangente do método do Design Thinking, suas origens e fundamentação científica. A criatividade como um produto social e os seus processos cognitivos mais relevantes. A relação entre emoção e criatividade e a abordagem Limbic® Map. Finalmente, são introduzidos métodos de reconhecimento automático da emoção com algoritmos de inteligência artificial, baseados em deep learning. Uma fase de investigação empírica, revelou que as emoções e os outros estados afetivos não são adequados para esta investigação. Pode demonstrar-se ainda que “mentalidade” não possui uma definição cientificamente consensual, tornando o conceito incredível para a investigação. Investigações semelhantes, identificam cinco pares de funções cognitivas necessárias. Três deles, abordam o processamento de informações (Aquisição de Dados, Alinhamento da Perceção e Avaliação de Informações e Ideias) e dois abordam o controle do fluxo cognitivo (Atenção a uma tarefa específica e Consciência do Processo Cognitivo). Aplicaram-se métodos para ativar e guiar as funções cognitivas, num projeto de Design Thinking. Revelou-se a importância de incluir profissionais criativos no processo, pois uma pesquisa em neurociência indica habilitações específicas de pessoas criativas, nas conexões neuronais do seu cérebro. Novos contributos na “Groan Zone”, indicaram que uma mudança de atitude no momento “Groan Zone”, poderá alterar consideravelmente o resultado de um projeto de Design Thinking

Zehn Jahre differenzierte Grundbodenbearbeitung im ökologischen Ackerbau (Projekt Ökologische Bodenbewirtschaftung) - Entwicklung der organischen Bodensubstanz, Nährstoffgehalte sowie bodenbiologischen Eigenschaften

This study investigated the lasting impact of reduced and conservation tillage, namely two-layer ploughing (LP) and layer-cultivating (LC) on soil ecological properties (physical, chemical, microbiological) in an organic farming system relative to ploughing (P). As a major trend, the amounts of soil organic C, microbial biomass –C and –N, Cmic to Corg ratio, and microbial activity increased in 0-15cm depth in the order P –LP – LC while they decreased in 15-25cm depth in the same order, both in green fallow and winter rye plots. For example, in 0-15 cm depth soil microbial biomass –C concentration was significantly 21 % (LP) and 30 % (LC) greater in green fallow plots or 15 % to 23 % greater in winter rye plots than in P. This was highly correlated with an increase in aggregate stability at these sites. Non-ploughing also resulted in a significant higher bulk density. In addition, there was much evidence that the microbial community changed towards fungi in 0-15 cm depth in reduced and conservation tillage plots. The abundance and fresh biomass of earthworms as well as species richness seemed to benefit from reduced soil tillage intensity. The highest amounts of abundance, fresh biomass and numbers of earthworm species in the current study were found in the plots with the layer cultivation treatment. No tillage effects were found for the amount of plant available P in soil. It can be concluded that reduced or conservation tillage in organic farming systems has beneficial effects on soil organic matter, microbial biomass and potential activity, as well as on earthworms

Incipient Continent-Continent Collision between the Eratosthenes Seamount and Cyprus / Eastern Mediterranean

Earth processes related to incipient continent-continent collision have been studied via the example of Cyprus and the Eratosthenes Seamount in the eastern Mediterranean. Subduction of the African plate beneath the Cyprus-Anatolian plate continued until the seamount, and perhaps a predecessor, the Hecataeus Rise, approached the Cyprus arc trench. The following transition from subduction to collision triggered a series of synchronous deformations across the collision zone between Africa-Sinai-Arabia and Eurasia-Anatolia, including the entire eastern Mediterranean region. This fundamental Earth process has been studied during research cruise MSM14/3 with RV Maria S. Merian in spring 2010. 39 MCS-profiles of more than 2300 km entire length, more than 3000 km magnetic and sediment echosounder data, and about 4000 km of gravity data have been recorded. Four wide-angle reflection/refraction profiles across the seamount were measured with up to 34 OBS deployments along each profile. 10 ocean-bottommagnetotelluric stations were deployed along one of these profiles that connects the seamount with the Hecataeus Rise. One 650 km long amphibian refraction profile strikes across the seamount, Cyprus and southern Turkey. Of the 250 land stations, 200 were deployed in southern Turkey and 50 in Cyprus. A first analysis of the collected data led to the following hypothesis about the interrelation of observed processes: Continent-continent collision caused a compressional regime in the crustal lithosphere, which resulted in the flexure (of the Eratosthenes Seamount), uplift (of Cyprus and Turkey) and accordingly an increased tilt of the facing slopes. The collision reactivated Mesozoic fault lineaments in the Levantine Basin like the Baltim-Hecataeus-Line and created the Hecataeus Rise. Shortening in the non-consolidated Messinian to Holocene sediment succession between the seamount and Cyprus resulted in faulting, folding and compressional salt diapirism. The increase in pore pressure causes fluid migration and mud volcanism. Slope tilt and faulting triggered mass wasting. All of these processes are still shaping the seafloor morphology and interact with the bottom current circulation, which is reflected by sediment drift deposition, sediment remobilisation and erosion, which facilitates again mass wasting

Drogenabhängigkeit als Thema von Spielfilmen : eine Analyse anhand ausgewählter Beispiele ; mit einer kommentierten Filmografie

In der ganzen Filmgeschichte gibt es unzählig viele Spielfilme, die Drogen erwähnen. Es gibt solche, in denen Rauschgift als Haupthandlung vorkommt und solche Filme, in denen Drogen nebensächlich sind. Für die Analyse der Drogenabhängigkeit in Spielfilmen, ist es notwendig Filme heranzuziehen, die dieses Problem intensiv beleuchten. Für die Bearbeitung dieser Aufgabenstellung werden folgende Spielfilme ausgesucht: Opium (1916), Reefer Madness (1936), Der Mann mit dem goldenen Arm („The Man With The Golden Arm“ 1955), Christiane F. – Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo (1981), Naked Lunch (1991), Trainspotting (1995), Clubbed to Death („La petite Lola“ 1996), Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998), Grasgeflüster („ Saving Grace“ 2000), Requiem for a Dream (2000) und Traffic (2001). Es sind u.a. Filme, die sich der subjektiven Wahrnehmung unter Drogeneinfluss widmen, solche, die das Geschäft mit den Drogen zeigen oder Filme, die, die ganze Problematik aus dem komischen Aspekt schildern. Andere wiederum beschäftigen sich hauptsächlich mit den sozialen Faktoren, die zur Drogensucht führen

Hepatitis E Virus Detection in Liver Tissue from Patients with Suspected Drug-Induced Liver Injury

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is increasingly recognized as a cause of acute hepatitis in the industrialized world. We aimed to determine the frequency of acute Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in cases of suspected drug-induced liver injury (DILI), mainly a diagnosis of exclusion. To this aim, formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) liver tissues of all cases routinely processed in our institute during a 2 ½ years period in which DILI was amongst the differential diagnoses (157 liver biopsies, one liver explant) were subjected to semi-nested RT-PCR for the detection of hepatitis E virus (HEV) RNA. Histopathology was re-evaluated on all cases tested positive. HEV RNA was detectable in three of 158 cases (2%) tested, comprising autochthonic as well as travel-related infections with genotypes 1, 3, and 4 each found once, respectively. Histopathologic findings comprised one case with subtotal hepatic necrosis and two cases of acute (cholestatic) hepatitis not distinguishable from acute hepatitis of other etiology. Thus, the overall frequency of acute hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection as determined by detection of hepatitis E virus (HEV) RNA in liver tissue is substantially increased in patients with suspected drug-induced liver injury compared to the healthy population, emphasizing the need to actively look for hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in cases of suspected drug-induced liver injury (DILI). Molecular testing for hepatitis E virus (HEV) RNA in routinely processed formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) liver tissues can be applied to cases with undetermined hepatitis E virus (HEV) status

Functional role of the Mso1p-Sec1p complex in membrane fusion regulation

Sec1/Munc18 (SM) protein family members are evolutionary conserved proteins. They perform an essential, albeit poorly understood function in SNARE complex formation in membrane fusion. In addition to the SNARE complex components, only a few SM protein binding proteins are known. Typically, their binding modes to SM proteins and their contribution to the membrane fusion regulation is poorly characterised. We identified Mso1p as a novel Sec1p interacting partner. It was shown that Mso1p and Sec1p interact at sites of polarised secretion and that this localisation is dependent on the Rab GTPase Sec4p and its GEF Sec2p. Using targeted mutagenesis and N- and C-terminal deletants, it was discovered that the interaction between an N-terminal peptide of Mso1p and the putative Syntaxin N-peptide binding area in Sec1p domain 1 is important for membrane fusion regulation. The yeast Syntaxin homologues Sso1p and Sso2p lack the N-terminal peptide. Our results show that in addition to binding to the putative N-peptide binding area in Sec1p, Mso1p can interact with Sso1p and Sso2p. This result suggests that Mso1p can mimic the N-peptide binding to facilitate membrane fusion. In addition to Mso1p, a novel role in membrane fusion regulation was revealed for the Sec1p C-terminal tail, which is missing in its mammalian homologues. Deletion of the Sec1p-tail results in temperature sensitive growth and reduced sporulation. Using in vivo and in vitro experiments, it was shown that the Sec1p-tail mediates SNARE complex binding and assembly. These results propose a regulatory role for the Sec1p-tail in SNARE complex formation. Furthermore, two novel interaction partners for Mso1p, the Rab GTPase Sec4p and plasma membrane phospholipids, were identified. The Sec4p link was identified using Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation assays with Mso1p and the non-SNARE binding Sec1p(1-657). The assay revealed that Mso1p can target Sec1p(1-657) to sites of secretion. This effect is mediated via the Mso1p C-terminus, which previously has been genetically linked to Sec4p. These results and in vitro binding experiments suggest that Mso1p acts in cooperation with the GTP-bound form of Sec4p on vesicle-like structures prior to membrane fusion. Mso1p shares homology with the PIP2 binding domain of the mammalian Munc18 binding Mint proteins. It was shown both in vivo and in vitro that Mso1p is a phospholipid inserting protein and that this insertion is mediated by the conserved Mso1p amino terminus. In vivo, the Mso1p phospholipid binding is needed for sporulation and Mso1p-Sec1p localisation at the sites of secretion at the plasma membrane. The results reveal a novel layer of membrane fusion regulation in exocytosis and propose a coordinating role for Mso1p in connection with membrane lipids, Sec1p, Sec4p and SNARE complexes in this process.Sec1/Munc18 (SM) perheen jäsenet ovat hyvin evoluutiossa säilyneitä, mutta toiminnallisesti huonosti tunnettuja solunsisäisille kalvofuusiotapahtumille välttämättömiä proteiineja. SM proteiinit säätelevät kalvofuusiossa SNARE proteiinikompleksien muodostumista toistaiseksi tuntemattomalla tavalla. SM proteiinien vuorovaikutuksia muiden kuin SNARE komponenttien kanssa on tutkittu vain vähän eikä jo tunnettujen komponenttien sitoutumistapoja ja merkitystä membraanifuusiossa ole yksityiskohtaisesti selvitetty. Työssä selvitettiin Saccharomyces cerevisiae malliorganismissa Sec1 proteiinin ja sitä sitovan Mso1 proteiinin toiminta kalvofuusiossa. Käyttäen uutta Bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) tekniikkaa, työssä osoitettiin, että Mso1 ja Sec1 muodostavat proteiiniparin solumembraanilla kohdassa missä polaarinen solujen kasvu ja proteiinieritys tapahtuu. Tämä vuorovaikutus oli riippuvainen Rab GTPaasi Sec4:stä ja sen säätelijästä Sec2 proteiinista. Mso1 ja Sec4 proteiinien osoitettiin interaktoivan suoraan toistensa kanssa. Tämä interaktio oli riippuvainen GTP:tä sitovan Sec4 proteiinin aktivaatioasteesta. Työssä selvitettiin mutageneesia käyttäen ne Mso1 ja Sec1 proteiinien alueet, jotka ovat välttämättömät membraanifuusiolle. Mso1:ssä tämä alue on N-terminaalinen peptidi ja Sec1:ssä domaini 1:n alue, jonka tiedetään nisäkässoluissa sitovan SNARE kompleksien Syntaksiinien N-terminaalista peptidiä. S. cerevisiaeen syntaksiineilta puuttuu N-terminaalinen peptidi. Tulokset osoittavat, että Mso1 korvaa toiminnallisesti syntaksiinien N-terminaalisen peptidin ja näin ollen edesauttaa membraanifuusiota. Tämän uudenlaisen kalvofuusiota säätelevän mekanismin lisäksi työssä karakterisoitiin Sec1 proteiinin hiivaspesifisen C-terminaalisen hännän merkitys membraanifuusiossa. Sec1 C-terminaalisen hännän poistaminen heikensi solujen kasvua ja niiden kykyä erittää proteiineja. In vivo ja in vitro lähetymistapoja käyttäen osoitettiin, että Sec1:n C-terminaalinen häntä myötävaikuttaa SNARE kompleksien muodostumiseen ja kykenee siten toimimaan SNARE kompleksin muodostumista säätelevänä tekijänä. Lisäksi osoitettiin että Mso1p kykenee suoraan, fyysiseen vuorovaikutukseen solukalvojen kanssa ja että tämä ominaisuus on välttämätön Mso1 proteiinin toiminnalle kalvofuusiossa. Mso1 proteiinin nisäkäsvastine Mint proteiini sitoo Alzheimerin taudin syntyyn vaikuttavaa amyloid precursor proteiinia (APP). Nyt saadut tuloksen paljastavat uudenlaisia ominaisuuksia tämän proteiiniperheen toiminnasta ja voivat tulavaisudessa edesauttaa APP:n muodostumista säätelevien molekulaaristen mekanismien selvitystyöta

Odorant-Bindeproteine (OBPs) als molekulare Detektoreinheiten für die Erkennung und Diskriminierung von Duftstoffen

Das olfakorische System ist in der Lage, Tausende von Duftstoffen zu diskriminieren und sie z.T. in geringste Konzentrationen zu detektieren. Diese enorme Erkennungskapazität wird generell auf die Vielfalt an Odorantrezeptoren der olfaktorischen Sinneszellen zurückgeführt. Man geht jedoch davon aus, daß die Duftstoffmoleküle zunächst mit den sogenannten Odorant-Bindeproteinen (OBPs) interagieren, die als Transporter die überwiegend hydrophoben organischen Moleküle durch die wässrige Mucusbarriere zu den Sinneszellen transferieren. OBPs gehören zu den Lipocalinen, die sich durch eine simple aber sehr rigide beta-Faß Struktur mit einer hydrophoben Bindungstasche und einer überwiegend hydrophilen Proteinoberfläche auszeichnen; sie stellen damit ideale „Lösungsvermittler“ für hydrophobe Substanzen dar. Die Entdeckung von mehreren OBP-Subtypen in einer Spezies und die geringe Sequenzhomologie der Subtypen untereinander legte die Vermutung nahe, dass die unterschiedlichen OBPs für die Interaktion mit distinkten chemischen Strukturklassen spezialisiert sind, d.h. über eine gewissen Ligandenspezifität verfügen. Im Hinblick auf detaillierte Analysen der Bindungseigenschaften von OBPs wurden drei identifizierte OBP-Subtypen der Ratte in E. coli als Histidin-Fusionsproteine überexprimiert und unter nativen Bedingungen gereinigt. Für die Charakterisierung der Wechselwirkungen dieser Proteine mit verschiedenen Liganden wurde ein markierungsfreier fluoreszenzspektroskopischer “Schnelltest“ entwickelt, der auf einer reversiblen Interaktion von OBP mit Fluoreszenzchromophor beruht. Durch die Änderung der Fluoreszenzeigenschaften des Chromophors bei einer spezifischen Wechselwirkung mit dem OBP sind die gebundenen Chromophoren im Emissionsspektrum selektiv erkennbar; eine Trennung von freiem und gebundenen Chromophore wird dadurch überflüssig. Diese Methode scheint für ein Hochdurchsatzscreening prädestiniert zu sein

Nurses\u27 Alumnae Association Bulletin - Volume 2 Number 1

March of Activities Treasurer\u27s Report It\u27s a Date Loyalty Coming Events Jefferson News In Florida for Winter The A.N.A. Convention Greetings! Keeping Up the Fight Eight Hour Committee Nurses Wanted Class of 1926 Convention Notes Attention Members Pine Street News Class of 1915 Class of 1916 Fifth Anniversary Prize Winners - 1932 Class of 1940 Owners of Scrap Books Sick List - 1939 and 1940 A Program of Nursing Information Please Private Duty Section Excerpts from Alumnae Minutes Staff News Please Remember Personals Engagements Marriages Deaths Hospital News Ballot for Officers Recent Births Lest You Forget! Please Change My Addres