The Concept of German Bildung as a Realization of the Hero Archetype

This paper is trying to offer a perspective on why the German concept of Bildung was able to master transitions regarding time, geography, and disciplines. The argument of this paper is that Bildung is a transformative process which greatly resembles the archetypical pattern as identified by Carl Gustav and later refined by Joseph Campbell. In order to argue for this claim, this paper will provide an overview on the idea of the archetype and, in the following, identify aspects of Bildung which follow the archetypical pattern. The paper will focus on the history of the term as well as its origins but also on specific realization of learning processes as suggested by educational psychology as well as educational institutions.Michaela Vogt Michaela Vogt is full professor at Bielefeld University for comparative education. Her research interest are located in the fields of inclusion/ inclusivity, history of education, and educational media. [email protected] Neuhaus Till Neuhaus works and researches at Bielefeld University where he also pursues a Ph.D. degree. His research focuses on special needs assessment procedures which he approaches from a historical perspective. Also, he works on the German concept of Bildung as well as psychological concepts of decision making. [email protected]

Endbericht des Forschungsprojektes RuBuS

Der vorliegende Bericht behandelt die Ergebnisse des Forschungsprojektes RUBUS, welches im Zeitraum November 2013 bis November 2015 von der Freien Universität Berlin durchgeführt wurde. Gegenstand des Projektes ist die Untersuchung der aktuellen Belastungssituation und der Dynamik der Sedimente in der Rummelsburger Bucht als Teil der urbanen Spree in Berlin. Das Projekt hat die Klärung der räumlichen Verteilung, Quantifizierung und Bewertung der Schadstoffbelastung in den Sedimenten der Rummelsburger Bucht zum Ziel. Es soll vor diesem Hintergrund die Ausbildung einer unbelasteten Sedimentauflage geprüft werden, um damit auch der Frage nachzugehen, ob es möglicherweise zu einer Remobilisierung von schadstoffbelasteten Sedimenten kommt. Um diese Hypothese zu untersuchen wird ein indirekter Messansatz gewählt, der sowohl die Erfassung der Randbedingungen als auch den qualitativen und quantitativen Nachweis einer Sedimentremobilisierung berücksichtigt. Da die Prozesse als solche nur schwer messbar sind, zielt dieser Ansatz darauf ab, entsprechende Leitindikatoren zu wählen, anhand derer Mobilisierungsmechanismen und Ursachen aufgezeigt werden können. Die Erfassung der Schadstoffe (Schwermetalle, organische Verbindungen) erfolgt systematisch an 5 Schichten der obersten 15 cm des Gewässersedimentes und über die Erfassung von akkumuliertem Material in Sedimentfallen. Die Beprobungen und kontinuierlichen Messungen werden an 15 über den gesamten Wasserkörper rasterförmig ausgelegten Bohr- bzw. Messpunkten durchgeführt. Zur Bemessung des potenziellen Risikos wird für die Feststoffphase der Consensus 2 - Wert der Sedimentqualitätsrichtlinien nach de DECKERE et al. (2011) zugrunde gelegt und durch Elutionsversuche sowie ökotoxikologische Tests ergänzt. Die Laborergebnisse zeigen, dass an allen Standorten und in annähernd allen erfassten Sedimentschichten weitestgehend sämtliche untersuchten Elemente und Verbindungen in zum Teil erheblichen Konzentrationen nachgewiesen werden können. Die Konzentrationen variieren sowohl in der Fläche als auch mit der Tiefe der Sedimentschichten. Die Analysen und statistischen Tests weisen das nordwestliche Untersuchungsgebiet als am stärksten belastet aus. Ungeachtet dieser räumlichen Variationen zeigen die Ergebnisse, dass in der Rummelsburger Bucht eine durchgängige Belastung der oberen 15 cm Sedimentschicht vorliegt. Eine flächendeckende Belastung kann auch für die beprobten Sedimentfallen nachgewiesen werden. Im Vergleich zum Referenzstandort in der Spree zeigt sich, dass die Rummelsburger Bucht sowohl hinsichtlich der Sedimentkerne als auch hinsichtlich der Sedimentfallen eine durchgängig höhere Belastung aufweist. Effektbasierte SQG werden in den meisten Fällen überschritten. Eine Untersuchung aquatischer Makrozoen durch die Bundesanstalt für Gewässerkunde zeigt zudem, dass die Artenvielfalt gering ist und sich das Vorkommen auf tolerante, euryöke Arten mit geringen Ansprüchen an die Gewässer- und Sedimentqualität beschränkt. Für den hohen gemessenen Sedimentumsatz ist vor allem die Remobilisierung von Sedimenten innerhalb der Bucht verantwortlich. Die stark belasteten, sehr schluffhaltigen Sedimente werden über eine permanente Strömung diffus über die gesamte Seefläche verteilt. Als bisherige Ursache für den hohen Sedimentumsatz können u.a. meteorologische Bedingungen und der Bootsverkehr identifiziert werden. Die mechanische Mobilisierbarkeit von feststoffgebundenen Schwermetallen und zinnorganischen Verbindungen ist unter den vorherrschenden Bedingungen in der Rummelsburger Bucht gering. Die chemisch-physikalischen Randbedingungen des Untersuchungsgebiets sind im Jahreszyklus nur geringen Schwankungen unterworfen, was der weiteren Fixierung der Schwermetalle entgegenkommt. MKW und PAK werden hingegen durch die Elution in höheren Konzentrationen freigesetzt, insbesondere aus den Schwebstoffen. Im Fall der PAK werden in den meisten Proben die ZHK-UQN bzw. die JD-UQN der Europäischen Wasserrahmenrichtlinie für die Wasserphase überschritten. Keiner der biologischen Tests zeigt eine gefährliche Belastung an. Es werden jedoch mit dem Sedimentkontakt- und dem Leuchtbakterientest bei mehreren Proben kritische Belastungen ermittelt. Von den PAK geht offensichtlich keine Gefährdung für die Testorganismen Vibrio fischeri (Leuchtbakterien) und Lemna minor (Wasserlinsen) aus. Die Wasserlinsen reagieren durchgehend wenig sensitiv auf die Inhaltsstoffe der Eluate. Es ist anzunehmen, dass die signifikant höhere MKW-Freisetzung aus den Schwebstoffen (im Gegensatz zu den Sedimenten) die toxische Wirkung im Leuchtbakterientest verursacht. Der Sedimentkontakttest weist bei einer den Schadstoffgehalten nach relativ unbelasteten Probe einen toxischen Effekt nach. Die hohen Schwermetallgehalte in den Sedimenten haben keine Wirkung auf die Bakterien des Sedimentkontakttests, was darauf hindeutet, dass sie nicht in bioverfügbarer Form vorliegen. Die Schwermetalle scheinen unter stabilen Bedingungen gebunden vorzuliegen. Die PAK und MKW zeigen eine deutlich höhere Dynamik in der Schadstoffmobilität. Die Rummelsburger Bucht stellt selbst im internationalen Kontext eine Besonderheit hinsichtlich der hohen Belastung mit organischen Schadstoffverbindungen und Schwermetallen dar und zeigt, dass die industriellen Fingerabdrücke der Gesellschaft über äußerst lange Zeiträume erhalten bleiben und dies eine Herausforderung für Politik und Planung darstellt. Die Untersuchungsergebnisse zeigen aber auch, dass die Rummelsburger Bucht einer ausreichend großen Dynamik unterliegt, welche zu einer (Re-) Mobilisierung dieser hochbelasteten Sedimente führen kann. Die Sedimente fungieren als langfristige potenzielle Schadstoffquelle für den Wasserkörper und damit auch für die Spree.The present report covers the results of the research project RuBuS, realised by the Freie Universität Berlin between November 2013 and 2015. The investigated water body “Rummelsburger Bucht” is a former anabranch of the Spree River located in the centre of Berlin. Covering an area of more than 45 ha, it is only at the upstream side connected to the main river course. For almost a century, untreated industrial and municipal wastewater was discharged into this river branch. Consequently, the quality of both the water and the sediments decreased dramatically over that period. In order to address this problem, the project “RuBuS” (co-financed by the Berlin State Government and the European Funds for Social and Regional Development) was established for the above mentioned period. To perform any risk assessment, the investigation should provide an improved knowledge and a better understanding about the type and spatio-temporal pattern of sediment contamination and dynamics. To detect the spatial distribution of pollutants in the sediment, over 200 sediment samplings were carried out via drill cores from 16 locations. The upper 15 cm of each drill core was systematically divided into 5 layers (each of 3 cm) for separate examination. The investigation of sedimentation and remobilisation rates was accomplished by installing 18 sediment traps, which collected deposits over more than a year. The presence of selected heavy metals and organic pollutants in the sediments was determined for every position and layer of the drill cores, as well as for all sediment traps. Detection of changes in boundary conditions, influencing the spatial and temporal distribution of sedimentation and resuspension, was accomplished by placing devices within the water body and taking different mobile measurements. At all sampling locations, flow conditions were recorded every week over the whole water column with a vessel-mounted ADCP (Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler). Water quality parameters like oxygen, turbidity, chlorophyll-(a) and temperature were also measured weekly with a mobile multiparameter sensor at all stations in 50 cm steps. In addition, these parameters were continuously recorded every 10 minutes with stationary sensors at different water depths (1, 2 and 3 m) from the beginning of the monitoring. For mobile measurements the probe YSI 6600 V2 was used, whereas permanent recording was done with Cyclops-7 and MiniDot devices from PME. A weather station was set up on the shore side to determine wind conditions, precipitation, temperature and solar radiation, concerning the external impacts on water currents, turbulences and algae-bloom. The scope of the investigation included the determination of the total content of inorganic (Hg, Cd, Cr, Pb, Ni, Cu, Zn) and organic compounds (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), selected nitro-compounds, selected organotin compounds and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB, AOX and EOX) in the sediment and suspended matter. The relevant particle size for the investigation of samples for heavy metals was < 63 μm and for the organic components < 2 mm. The compounds were detected by ICP-OES, ICP-MS and AAS analyses. Grain size distributions weredetermined using laser diffractometry and sieving. An elemental analyser was used to determine the presence of carbon and nitrogen in the samples. The release of soluble components upon contact with water is considered one of the main mechanisms leading to a potential hazard to the environment. The research into soluble and easily mobile sediment-bounded pollutants is based upon a 24 hour batch test. In addition, certain toxic effects of the sediments were determined by ecotoxicological test methods. Three species were chosen as relevant test organisms: Vibrio fischeri for the luminescent bacteria test, Lemna minor for the Duckweed growth inhibition test and Arthrobacter globiformis for the sediment contact test. In addition, the thresholds of the sediment quality guidelines, published by de Deckere et al. (2011), were used to assess the solid contents. The study demonstrated that so far the concentration of organic and inorganic pollutants in the sediments has remained very high. The total contents of the PAHs and all heavy metals exceeded the effect-based threshold values according to de Deckere et al. (2011). The results were compared to the “consensus 2” thresholds to identify the measured concentrations, which have surpassed the limits and now giving rise to concern regarding toxicity. The only exception among the heavy metals was mercury. With respect to organic pollution the reference point in the Spree River, which is not very far away from the sheet pile wall, showed concentrations below the threshold value. In contrast, the reference point disclosed pollution by heavy metals except for cadmium and mercury concentrations, which were below the threshold. However, the load of heavy metals at the reference point was lower than the one found in the bay. A different spatial distribution of the organic contamination was observed for the sediments of the “Rummelsburger Bucht”. In terms of contamination with PAHs, Cd and Pb, areas with different loads could be defined, this was statistically proven with a significant difference greater than 99%. The less contaminated area was situated between the sheet pile wall and the centre of the bay. Higher loads (sampling sites 10-15) were found from the centre of the water body to the north-western shore. However, the sediments in the traps showed a homogeneous distribution of the measured pollutants. It was also found, that the level of contamination commonly increased with sediment depth, except at the sampling sites right in the centre of the bay, which revealed no clear tendency to increase or decrease depending on the depth. With regard to the level of the European Environmental Quality Standards (EQS), the results of the 24 hour batch test indicated a low mobility of the heavy metals, organotin compounds and Benzo(a)pyrene. By contrast, other PAH compounds exceeded in several eluates the annual average maximum concentration permitted by the EQS. The results of the Luminescent bacteria test demonstrated for the eluates of sediment cores, that all samples are not or harmless polluted (non- or low toxic effect). However, with the exception of two samples, all of the eluates of suspended particles were critically polluted, they showed a moderate or increased toxic effect. The recorded high turnover rates of sediments were most likely caused by a remobilisation of local sources within the “Rummelsburger Bucht”. These highly contaminated and silty sediments can be evenly distributed over the whole area of the water body due to very slow but constant currents with changing directions. Up to now, specific meteorological boundary conditions and motorboat-traffic have been identified as some of the main reasons for the remobilisation and local transport of the sediments, as well as external sediment sources could be neglected. The research project “RuBuS” provides a detailed insight into this water body. It gives a better understanding how changes in boundary conditions affect the spatial and temporal distribution of sedimentation and the resuspension of sediments. The study demonstrates, that so far the concentration of organic and inorganic pollutants in the sediments has remained on an exceptionally high level. The “Rummelsburger Bucht” can be considered as a case study about spatio-temporal pattern of sediment contamination and dynamics of the Spree River and about areas of conflict presented by highly stressed urban water bodies. A high pressure on demands of local residents for recreational and commercial use of the “Rummelsburger Bucht” needs to improve the environmental situation by a targeted and affordable management plan

Szenisches Lernen im Fremdsprachenunterricht: die Evaluation eines Schulversuchs

"Das von Lehrern eines Gymnasiums entwickelte und eingesetzte Verfahren des Szenischen Lernens (SL) in der Fremdsprachendidaktik verknüpft Sprache mit Bewegung und fordert von Schülern einen hohen Sprechanteil. Dieser Artikel evaluiert die Wirkung dieses Verfahrens auf die Behaltensleistung von Vokabeln im Lateinunterricht (Studie 1) und auf die Aussprache beim Lesen eines französischen Textes (Studie 2). An Studie 1 nahmen 137 Schüler aus sechs Klassen teil. Die 65 Schüler der Experimentalgruppe (Jahrgangsstufen 7, 8 und 9) hatten die Vokabeln szenisch gelernt und konnten sich nach 13 Wochen noch an durchschnittlich 15 von 20 Vokabeln erinnern. Die Schüler der Kontrollgruppe wussten im Durchschnitt von diesen Vokabeln nur noch 5,5. An der Studie 2 nahmen 85 Schüler aus vier Klassen teil. 45 Schüler aus den Jahrgangsstufen 6 und 7 bildeten die Versuchsgruppe und wurden mit SL unterrichtet. Sie erhielten im Vergleich zur Kontrollgruppe bessere Expertenbewertungen für das Lesen eines französischen Textes hinsichtlich z.B. phonetische Korrektheit, Sprachfluss und Sinnverständnis. Beide Studien zeigen die Überlegenheit des Szenischen Lernens im Vergleich zu traditionellen Methoden, die die Wortschatzarbeit nicht mit körperlicher Aktion und intensivem chorischen Sprechen verbinden." (Autorenreferat)"Scenic Learning (SL) is a technique involving choral recitals of vocabulary accompanied by meaningful gestures and movements. This technique was developed and implemented by teachers in a secondary school who used it, for instance, in teaching a second language. This paper evaluates the impact of this technique on memorizing Latin vocabulary (study 1) and on pronunciation in reading a French text (study 2). 137 students in six classes took part in study 1. The experimental group (65 students, grades 7, 8 and 9) acquired vocabulary with the SL technique. After 13 weeks, the scenic learners retained an average of 15 (of a total of 20 words), compared to the control group with only 5.5 of these words. 85 students in four classes took part in study 2. The experimental group (45 students, grades 6 and 7) read a French text with the SL technique. Experts who rated their audio tapes awarded the scenic readers better marks than the students from the control group in regard to pronunciation and other aspects. Both studies demonstrate an advantage of the SL technique over teaching methods without choral recitals accompanied by gestures and movements." (author's abstract

Steroid hormone bioavailability is controlled by the lymphatic system.

The steroid hormone progesterone accounts for immune tolerance in pregnancy. Enhanced progesterone metabolism to 6α-OH-pregnanolone occurs in complicated pregnancies such as in preeclampsia with preterm delivery or intrauterine growth restriction, and in cancer. As lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) promote tumor immunity, we hypothesized that human LECs modify progesterone bioavailability. Primary human LECs and mice lymph nodes were incubated with progesterone and progesterone metabolism was analyzed by thin layer chromatography and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Expression of steroidogenic enzymes, down-stream signal and steroid hormone receptors was assessed by Real-time PCR. The placental cell line HTR-8/SV neo was used as reference. The impact of the progesterone metabolites of interest was investigated on the immune system by fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis. LECs metabolize progesterone to 6α-OH-pregnanolone and reactivate progesterone from a precursor. LECs highly express 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 and are therefore antiandrogenic and antiestrogenic. LECs express several steroid hormone receptors and PIBF1. Progesterone and its metabolites reduced TNF-α and IFN-γ production in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. LECs modify progesterone bioavailability and are a target of steroid hormones. Given the global area represented by LECs, they might have a critical immunomodulatory control in pregnancy and cancer

Article Developmental Control of Nuclear Size and Shape by kugelkern and kurzkern

Summary Background: The shape of a nucleus depends on the nuclear lamina, which is tightly associated with the inner nuclear membrane and on the interaction with the cytoskeleton. However, the mechanism connecting the differentiation state of a cell to the shape changes of its nucleus are not well understood. We investigated this question in early Drosophila embryos, where the nuclear shape changes from spherical to ellipsoidal together with a 2.5-fold increase in nuclear length during cellularization. Results: We identified two genes, kugelkern and kurzkern, required for nuclear elongation. In kugelkern-and kurzkern-depleted embryos, the nuclei reach only hal

Relevance of Minor Neuropsychological Deficits in Patients With Subjective Cognitive Decline

peer reviewed[en] BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To determine the relevance of minor neuropsychological deficits (MNPD) in patients with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) with regard to CSF levels of Alzheimer disease (AD) biomarkers, cognitive decline, and clinical progression to mild cognitive impairment (MCI). METHODS: This study included patients with clinical SCD and SCD-free, healthy control (HC) participants with available baseline CSF and/or longitudinal cognitive data from the observational DZNE Longitudinal Cognitive Impairment and Dementia study. We defined MNPD as a performance of at least 0.5SD below the mean on a demographically adjusted total score derived from the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease neuropsychological assessment battery. We compared SCD patients with MNPD and those without MNPD with regard to CSF amyloid-β (Aβ)42/Aβ40, phosphorylated tau (p-tau181), total tau and Aβ42/p-tau181 levels, longitudinal cognitive composite trajectories, and risk of clinical progression to incident MCI (follow-up M ± SD: 40.6 ± 23.7 months). In addition, we explored group differences between SCD and HC in those without MNPD. RESULTS: In our sample (N = 672, mean age: 70.7 ± 5.9 years, 50% female), SCD patients with MNPD (n = 55, 12.5% of SCD group) showed significantly more abnormal CSF biomarker levels, increased cognitive decline, and a higher risk of progression to incident MCI (HR: 4.07, 95% CI 2.46-6.74) compared with SCD patients without MNPD (n = 384). MNPD had a positive predictive value of 57.0% (95% CI 38.5-75.4) and a negative predictive value of 86.0% (95% CI 81.9-90.1) for the progression of SCD to MCI within 3 years. SCD patients without MNPD showed increased cognitive decline and a higher risk of incident MCI compared with HC participants without MNPD (n = 215; HR: 4.09, 95% CI 2.07-8.09), while AD biomarker levels did not differ significantly between these groups. DISCUSSION: Our results suggest that MNPD are a risk factor for AD-related clinical progression in cognitively normal patients seeking medical counseling because of SCD. As such, the assessment of MNPD could be useful for individual clinical prediction and for AD risk stratification in clinical trials. However, SCD remains a risk factor for future cognitive decline even in the absence of MNPD

Relevance of Minor Neuropsychological Deficits in Patients With Subjective Cognitive Decline

Background and ObjectivesTo determine the relevance of minor neuropsychological deficits (MNPD) in patients with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) with regard to CSF levels of Alzheimer disease (AD) biomarkers, cognitive decline, and clinical progression to mild cognitive impairment (MCI).MethodsThis study included patients with clinical SCD and SCD-free, healthy control (HC) participants with available baseline CSF and/or longitudinal cognitive data from the observational DZNE Longitudinal Cognitive Impairment and Dementia study. We defined MNPD as a performance of at least 0.5SD below the mean on a demographically adjusted total score derived from the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease neuropsychological assessment battery. We compared SCD patients with MNPD and those without MNPD with regard to CSF amyloid-beta (A beta)42/A beta 40, phosphorylated tau (p-tau181), total tau and A beta 42/p-tau181 levels, longitudinal cognitive composite trajectories, and risk of clinical progression to incident MCI (follow-up M +/- SD: 40.6 +/- 23.7 months). In addition, we explored group differences between SCD and HC in those without MNPD.ResultsIn our sample (N = 672, mean age: 70.7 +/- 5.9 years, 50% female), SCD patients with MNPD (n = 55, 12.5% of SCD group) showed significantly more abnormal CSF biomarker levels, increased cognitive decline, and a higher risk of progression to incident MCI (HR: 4.07, 95% CI 2.46-6.74) compared with SCD patients without MNPD (n = 384). MNPD had a positive predictive value of 57.0% (95% CI 38.5-75.4) and a negative predictive value of 86.0% (95% CI 81.9-90.1) for the progression of SCD to MCI within 3 years. SCD patients without MNPD showed increased cognitive decline and a higher risk of incident MCI compared with HC participants without MNPD (n = 215;HR: 4.09, 95% CI 2.07-8.09), while AD biomarker levels did not differ significantly between these groups.DiscussionOur results suggest that MNPD are a risk factor for AD-related clinical progression in cognitively normal patients seeking medical counseling because of SCD. As such, the assessment of MNPD could be useful for individual clinical prediction and for AD risk stratification in clinical trials. However, SCD remains a risk factor for future cognitive decline even in the absence of MNPD

Plasma amyloid beta X-42/X-40 ratio and cognitive decline in suspected early and preclinical Alzheimer's disease

INTRODUCTION: Blood-based biomarkers are a cost-effective and minimally invasive method for diagnosing the early and preclinical stages of amyloid positivity (AP). Our study aims to investigate our novel immunoprecipitation-immunoassay (IP-IA) as a test for predicting cognitive decline.METHODS: We measured levels of amyloid beta (Aβ)X-40 and AβX-42 in immunoprecipitated eluates from the DELCODE cohort. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves, regression analyses, and Cox proportional hazard regression models were constructed to predict AP by Aβ42/40 classification in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and conversion to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia.RESULTS: We detected a significant correlation between AßX-42/X-40 in plasma and CSF (r = 0.473). Mixed-modeling analysis revealed a substantial prediction of AßX-42/X-40 with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.81 for AP (sensitivity: 0.79, specificity: 0.74, positive predictive value [PPV]: 0.71, negative predictive value [NPV]: 0.81). In addition, lower AβX-42/X-40 ratios were associated with negative PACC5 slopes, suggesting cognitive decline.DISCUSSION: Our results suggest that assessing the plasma AβX-42/X-40 ratio via our semiautomated IP-IA is a promising biomarker when examining patients with early or preclinical AD.HIGHLIGHTS: New plasma Aβ42/Aβ40 measurement using immunoprecipitation-immunoassay Plasma Aβ42/Aβ40 associated with longitudinal cognitive decline Promising biomarker to detect subjective cognitive decline at-risk for brain amyloid positivity.</p