Media and Processes of Identity Formation in the Context of Migration

In a highly industrialized and media-saturated country like Switzerland children of all origins are strong multimedia users. Switzerland has one of the highest proportions of migrants in Europe: About 20,5 percent of the population are of migrant origin. So far, media research in Switzerland focussing on children and young people has paid no special attention to the extent the cultural background may influence the media use, i.e. whether the media play a specific function in processes of identity-formation for these children. More detailed and qualified information on this topic is of interest when faced with the fact that the social background is still one of the key determinants of a successful career in our society. This paper will discuss first findings of a project focussing on the impact of the cultural background on the media use of children with a migrant background in Switzerland.In a highly industrialized and media-saturated country like Switzerland children of all origins are strong multimedia users. Switzerland has one of the highest proportions of migrants in Europe: About 20,5 percent of the population are of migrant origin. So far, media research in Switzerland focussing on children and young people has paid no special attention to the extent the cultural background may influence the media use, i.e. whether the media play a specific function in processes of identity-formation for these children. More detailed and qualified information on this topic is of interest when faced with the fact that the social background is still one of the key determinants of a successful career in our society. This paper will discuss first findings of a project focussing on the impact of the cultural background on the media use of children with a migrant background in Switzerland

Quantitative EEG-Auswertung mittels Kohärenz- und Power-Analyse bei fokalen Epilepsien

In der vorliegenden Studie wurde untersucht, in wie weit quantitative EEG-Analysen des interiktalen EEGs im Rahmen der epilepsiechirurgischen Diagnostik zur Lateralisierung der Epileptogenen Zone (=EZ) und klinischer Anfallssemiologie beitragen können. Hierfür wurde interiktales Oberflächen-EEG von 19 Patienten mit fokaler Epilepsie und von 6 Kontrollpersonen, welches im Rahmen von Langzeit-Video-EEG-Monitoring aufgezeichnet wurde, quantitativ, unter zu Hilfenahme von Matlab und Fieldtrip Software, analysiert. Die jeweils minutenlangen EEG-Datensätze der einzelnen Elektrodenkanäle wurden dazu in vordefinierte, sich an der Anatomie orientierenden Regionen zusammengeschlossen und in 5 Frequenzbänder (delta, theta, alpha, beta und gamma) unterteilt. Unter der Verwendung der Fast-Fourier-Transformation wurden die Zeit-kodierten EEG-Signale in Frequenz-kodierte Signale umgewandelt und anschließend mittels Power- und Kohärenzanalyse untersucht. Diejenigen Patienten, die eine erhöhte Kohärenz zwischen der EZ und der Mittellinie aufwiesen, zeigten klinische Zeichen einer schnellen Anfallspropagation wie einen bilateralen Anfallsmusterbeginn im EEG oder eine schnelle sekundäre Generalisation der Anfälle (p= 0,03). Der Grad der Asymmetrie der Kohärenz korrelierte dabei mit der Häufigkeit der sekundären Generalisation. Bei diesen Patienten stellte sich auch eine erhöhte interiktale Power über der Hemisphäre, in der die EZ lag (p< 0,01) dar. Im Gegensatz dazu wiesen 91% der Patienten mit erniedrigter oder nicht signifikant veränderter Kohärenz der EZ hin zur Mittellinie einen streng lateralisierten Anfallsmusterbeginn und fokale Anfälle ohne Tendenz zur sekundären Generalisation auf. Auch auf das postoperative Outcome hatte die Kohärenz zwischen Epileptogener Zone und Mittellinie Einfluss: 6 der 10 bislang operierten Patienten zeigten eine erniedrigte/symmetrische Kohärenz. 100% davon war nach der Operation anfallsfrei (Engel- Klassifikation IA). Von 4 Patienten mit erhöhter Kohärenz hin zur Mittellinie wurde nur ein Patient postoperativ anfallsfrei (p=0,03). Die EZ mittels Power- oder Kohärenzanalyse zu identifizieren, zu lateralisieren und von der Umgebung abzugrenzen gelang jedoch nicht. Signifikante Veränderungen der Power im Bereich der EZ konnten nur für die Patienten mit Temporallappenepilepsie nachgewiesen werden. Die Spezifität ist auf Grund der geringen Anzahl an Patienten jedoch noch unklar. Dennoch liefert die von uns entwickelte Methode allein auf der Basis des interiktalen EEGs, das heißt unabhängig von eventuell aufgezeichneten epileptischen Anfällen, wichtige Hinweise auf die klinische Evolution potentieller Anfälle und zur Prognose einer epilepsiechirurgischen Therapie. Diese Information ist hilfreich für die Selektion geeigneter Kandidaten für epilepsiechirurgische Eingriffe.The present study investigated the extent to which quantitative EEG analyses of interictal EEG can contribute to the lateralization of the Epileptogenic Zone (=EZ) and to clinical seizure semiology in epilepsy surgery. For this purpose, interictal surface EEG of 19 patients with focal epilepsy and of 6 control subjects recorded during long-term video EEG monitoring were analysed quantitatively using Matlab and Fieldtrip software. The minute-long EEG data sets of the individual electrode channels were combined into predefined anatomy-oriented regions and divided into 5 frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha, beta and gamma). Using the Fast Fourier Transform, the time-encoded EEG signals were converted into frequency-encoded signals and then analysed by power and coherence analysis. Those patients with increased coherence between EZ and midline showed clinical signs of fast seizure propagation, such as a non-lateralised seizure pattern in the EEG or rapid secondary generalization of seizures (p= 0.03). The degree of asymmetry of coherence correlated with the frequency of secondary generalization. In these patients there was also an increased interictal power above the hemisphere in which the EZ was located (p< 0.01). In contrast, 91% of patients with decreased or non-significant changes in EZ coherence towards the midline had a strictly lateralized onset of seizure pattern and focal seizures with no tendency to secondary generalization. The postoperative outcome was influenced by the coherence between the EZ and the midline as well: 6 of the 10 patients operated so far showed a decreased/symmetrical coherence. 100% of them were free of seizures after surgery (Engel classification IA). From the other 4 patients with an increased coherence towards the midline, only one patient was seizure-free postoperatively (p=0.03). However, it was not possible to identify, lateralize and differentiate the EZ by power or coherence analysis. Significant changes in power in the EZ could only be detected in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. However, the specificity remains unclear due to the small number of patients. Nevertheless, our method is solely based on interictal EEG and is therefore independent of any recorded epileptic seizures and still provides important information on the clinical evolution of potential seizures and on the prognosis of epilepsy surgical therapy. This information is helpful for the selection of suitable candidates for epilepsy surgery

Edge-Based Self-Supervision for Semi-Supervised Few-Shot Microscopy Image Cell Segmentation

Deep neural networks currently deliver promising results for microscopy image cell segmentation, but they require large-scale labelled databases, which is a costly and time-consuming process. In this work, we relax the labelling requirement by combining self-supervised with semi-supervised learning. We propose the prediction of edge-based maps for self-supervising the training of the unlabelled images, which is combined with the supervised training of a small number of labelled images for learning the segmentation task. In our experiments, we evaluate on a few-shot microscopy image cell segmentation benchmark and show that only a small number of annotated images, e.g. 10% of the original training set, is enough for our approach to reach similar performance as with the fully annotated databases on 1- to 10-shots. Our code and trained models is made publicly availableComment: Accepted by MOVI 202

Control of inherited structures and mechanical heterogeneities on the internal deformation of the Dolomites Indenter, eastern Southern Alps: a multi-scale analogue modelling study

During the Cenozoic evolution of the Alps, the Adriatic plate is traditionally considered as a rigid indenter. The structure of the northernmost part of the Adriatic plate in the eastern Southern Alps of Italy and Slovenia, referred to as Dolomites Indenter (DI), however, demonstrates significant internal deformation. Mostly Miocene shortening is accommodated within a WSW-ENE striking, S-vergent fold-and-thrust belt overprinting a pre-existing platform-basin geometry related to Jurassic extension. In this contribution we present two new sets of physical analogue experiments, addressing the effect of lateral crustal heterogeneities on the internal deformation of the DI on crustal- and lithospheric scale. The upper crust of the western Trento platform (western DI) is compositionally heterogeneous linked to Permian intrusives and extrusives (i.e., Athesian Volcanic Complex). Together with inherited basement structures this lateral heterogeneity, which strengthened the platform locally, is key for understanding upper crustal deformation and surface uplift patterns associated with Miocene basin inversion. We present brittle crustal-scale analogue experiments with inversion of pre-scribed platform-basin geometries, which indicate that variations in thickness, shape, and basement structure of especially the western platform (WP) have impact on timing and uplift of the DI’s upper crust. The mentioned variations in crustal composition, lead, compared to the reference model with simple platform-basin geometry, to (i) overall fewer thrust sheets, (ii) footwall cut-offs of the frontal thrust further in the hinterland, and to (iii) longer and flatter flats of the frontal thrust. Regarding the topographic evolution, a variation in, e.g., basement structure shows strain localization at the margin of the basal plate and stronger uplift within the southern part of the WP compared to limited uplift of the northern WP, which is consistent with documented little vertical movement north of the Valsugana fault system since the Jurassic. On the scale of the lithosphere, new analogue experiments with pre-scribed platform and basin geometries in the upper crust show similar lateral variations in thrust fault orientation across transfer zones as crustal-scale analogue models (Sieberer et al., 2023). Additionally, lateral variability of ductile lower crustal thickness predicts stronger uplift in areas of thicker lower crust. Documented thickening of the lower crust in some parts of the Southern Alps close to areas of higher uplift, tentatively interpreted being Miocene in age (Jozi Najafabadi et al., 2022), might support this finding. Ultimately our crustal and lithosphere-scale modelling predictions will be validated by high resolution low-temperature thermochronological data which cover the entire Dolomites Indenter

A new test to detect impairments of sequential visuospatial memory due to lesions of the temporal lobe

This study investigates visuospatial memory in patients with unilateral lesions of the temporal lobe and the hippocampus resulting from surgery to treat drug-resistant epilepsy. To detect impairments of visuospatial memory in these individuals, a memory test should be specific to episodic memory, the type of memory in which the hippocampus is crucially involved. However, most known visuospatial memory tests do not focus on episodic memory. We hypothesized that a new sequential visuospatial memory test, which has been previously developed and applied only in healthy subjects, might be suitable to fill this gap. The test requires the subject to reproduce a memorized sequence of target locations in ordered recall by typing on a blank graphics tablet. The length of the memorized sequence extended successively after repeated presentation of a sequence of 20 target positions. The test was done twice on day one and again after one week. Visual working memory was tested with the Corsi block-tapping task. The performance in the new test was also related to the performance of the patients in the standard test battery of the neuropsychological examination in the clinical context. Thirteen patients and 14 controls participated. Patients showed reduced learning speed in the new sequential visuospatial memory task. Right-sided lesions induced stronger impairments than left-sided lesions. After one week, retention was reduced in the patients with left-sided lesions. The performance of the patients in commonly used tests of the neuropsychological standard battery did not differ compared to healthy subjects, whereas the new test allowed discrimination between patients and controls at a high correct-decision rate of 0.89. The Corsi block-span of the patients was slightly shorter than that of the controls. The results suggest that the new test provides a specific investigation of episodic visuospatial memory. Hemispheric asymmetries were consistent with the general hypothesis of right hemispheric dominance in visuospatial processing

Unilateral Blinking: Insights from Stereo-EEG and Tractography

To study the neuroanatomical correlate of involuntary unilateral blinking in humans, using the example of patients with focal epilepsy. Patients with drug resistant focal epilepsy undergoing presurgical evaluation with stereotactically implanted EEG-electrodes (sEEG) were recruited from the local epilepsy monitoring unit. Only patients showing ictal unilateral blinking or unilateral blinking elicited by direct electrical stimulation were included (n = 16). MRI and CT data were used for visualization of the electrode positions. In two patients, probabilistic tractography with seeding from the respective electrodes was additionally performed. Three main findings were made: (1) involuntary unilateral blinking was associated with activation of the anterior temporal region, (2) tractography showed widespread projections to the ipsilateral frontal, pericentral, occipital, limbic and cerebellar regions and (3) blinking was observed predominantly in female patients with temporal lobe epilepsies. Unilateral blinking was found to be associated with an ipsilateral activation of the anterior temporal region. We suggest that the identified network is not part of the primary blinking control but might have modulating influence on ipsilateral blinking by integrating contextual information

Highly Efficient siRNA Delivery from Core-Shell Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles with Multifunctional Polymer Caps

A new general route for siRNA delivery is presented combining porous core-shell silica nanocarriers with a modularly designed multifunctional block copolymer. Specifically, the internal storage and release of siRNA from mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) with orthogonal core-shell surface chemistry was investigated as a function of pore-size, pore morphology, surface properties and pH. Very high siRNA loading capacities of up to 380 microg/mg MSN were obtained with charge-matched amino-functionalized mesoporous cores, and release profiles show up to 80% siRNA elution after 24 h. We demonstrate that adsorption and desorption of siRNA is mainly driven by electrostatic interactions, which allow for high loading capacities even in medium-sized mesopores with pore diameters down to 4 nm in a stellate pore morphology. The negatively charged MSN shell enabled the association with a block copolymer containing positively charged artificial amino acids and oleic acid blocks, which acts simultaneously as capping function and endosomal release agent. The potential of this multifunctional delivery platform is demonstrated by highly effective cell transfection and siRNA delivery into KB-cells. A luciferase reporter gene knock-down of up to 90% was possible using extremely low cell exposures with only 2.5 microg MSN containing 32 pM siRNA per 100 microL well.Comment: Artikel including supporting informatio

Fast Diagnostics of BRAF Mutations in Biopsies from Malignant Melanoma

According to the American skin cancer foundation, there are more new cases of skin cancer than the combined incidence of cancers of the breast, prostate, lung, and colon each year, and malignant melanoma represents its deadliest form. About 50% of all cases are characterized by a particular mutation BRAFV600E in the BRAF (Rapid Acceleration of Fibrosarcoma gene B) gene. Recently developed highly specific drugs are able to fight BRAFV600E mutated tumors but require diagnostic tools for fast and reliable mutation detection to warrant treatment efficiency. We completed a preliminary clinical trial applying cantilever array sensors to demonstrate identification of a BRAFV600E single-point mutation using total RNA obtained from biopsies of metastatic melanoma of diverse sources (surgical material either frozen or fixated with formalin and embedded in paraffin). The method is faster than the standard Sanger or pyrosequencing methods and comparably sensitive as next-generation sequencing. Processing time from biopsy to diagnosis is below 1 day and does not require PCR amplification, sequencing, and labels