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Insect applications to open wounds by chimpanzees in the wild: first insights from East African chimpanzees
No full textMedicative behaviours are widespread among animals, and chimpanzees in the wild may exhibit a newly identified form involving the application of insects to open wounds. To date, insect applications to wounds have only been reported in a single community of Central chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes troglodytes). Thus, we report observations of similar behaviours in Eastern chimpanzees (P. t. schweinfurthii) of the Ngogo chimpanzee population, in Kibale National Park, Uganda. Between November 2021 and July 2022, we observed six individuals (three males, three females) applying flying insects to their own wounds (N = 5) and, in one instance, to the wound of a conspecific. These observations demonstrate a generally consistent sequential pattern of insect applications in both Eastern and Central chimpanzees. Although the extent and potential medicinal function of this behaviour remain unclear, we propose three hypotheses to inform future research, focusing on insect selectivity, social transmission, and prosociality. In conclusion, the findings suggest that insect applications are more widespread than currently documented, and provide a basis for investigating their acquisition, social dynamics, and potential relevance to the evolution of human medicinal behaviours
Entwurf und Entwicklung des DreamMachine Mobile-EEG-Systems
No full textElectroencephalography (EEG) is an essential noninvasive method for recording brain
activity, playing a vital role in cognitive neuroscience. By capturing the brain’s electrical
signals, it facilitates the examination of neurophysiological functions. EEG is widely used
in studying perception, learning, memory, language, decision-making, and neural network
mapping. Recently, interest in utilizing EEG measurements in home environments has
been increasing. However, the high expense of conventional lab-based EEG systems has
limited access for many educators, researchers, and healthcare professionals.
The DreamMachine is not just a mobile EEG system. Designed to overcome the chal-
lenges of high costs and limited accessibility, it provides a cost-effective alternative to
traditional lab-based EEG systems and current mobile EEG devices. Designed with 24
channels, 24-bit resolution, and up to six hours of battery life, this device is both portable
and cost-effective. It is widely used in cognitive neuroscience, particularly in education,
learning, and research. It makes EEG more accessible and inspires a new wave of research.
Moreover, sleep and dreaming are critical research topics. However, conventional laboratory-
based study methods are expensive, time-intensive, and often constrained by small sam-
ple sizes due to the unfamiliar sleep environment. The DreamMachine enables complex
polysomnographic sleep, and dream experiments to be conducted at home by naive sub-
jects, opening a world of possibilities and overcoming these limitations. This disserta-
tion describes the DreamMachine system’s development and programming and allows
researchers to use, modify, or further develop it. Furthermore, it evaluates its useful-
ness in polysomnographic field studies and eyes open and eyes closed studies. Initially, a
study comparing the DreamMachine with a standard EEG system in eyes open and eyes
closed conditions demonstrates the promising performance of the DreamMachine. Fur-
thermore, validation against a commercial medical polysomnographic system (Somno HD
eco) shows its capability to record comprehensive polysomnographic data, including EEG,
EOG, EMG, and ECG, enabling the identification of typical sleep patterns and stages
Metareference in Videogames
No full textTaking an original, in-depth approach, this book investigates the forms and functions of metareference in videogames.
Drawing on a rich body of research in game studies, transmedial narratology, and neighbouring disciplines, the author combines detailed close-reading-style analyses of the indie games What Remains of Edith Finch, The Magic Circle and OneShot with a breadth of examples and systematic analyses that span multiple genres as well as several decades of videogaming. In doing so, the book maps different metareferential elements that can be found in videogames and proposes an original model for their analysis, while showcasing the complex interrelations among different metareferential elements in contemporary videogames. The original ebook was published as: Krampe, Theresa. 2025. Metareference in Videogames. London/New York: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003595991
The Pervasive Role of Embodied Interaction for Socio-Cognitive Based Designs
No full textHumans are active agents who perceive and process complex sensory information in the environment to guide useful behavior. For example, medical professionals examine X-ray scans for signs of abnormalities, or drivers perceive animals moving in the trees and decide whether they pose a potential hazard on the road. Appropriately interpreting sensory signals in the environment is a central aspect of our cognition. Behavioral experiments such as the standard psychophysics paradigms are conducted to investigate the underlying perceptual decision-making processes. These experimental paradigms often examine single human observers to understand quantitatively the relations between sensory stimulus properties and the observer's subjective perception. However, such single-participants designs are limited because in reality, humans are not isolated decision-makers; rather, people interact with others and actively integrate existing information available to them. Thus, insights drawn from empirical research using single-participants designs remain limited to individuals. This thesis deals with understanding cognition from the embodied interaction perspective. Our cognition is shaped by interaction, which extends beyond the human-human social interaction to include vehicles and computers. The thesis presents three empirical research that illustrate the role of interaction spanning different contexts. The first study investigates social interaction in dyadic perceptual decision-making using a shared perceptual task. The second study investigates human driver’s interaction with vehicle interfaces. Specifically, the impact of warning signal modalities on driver behavior and situational awareness in semi-autonomous vehicles. The third study examines interaction with human-like avatars in a social virtual reality (VR) environment by measuring interpersonal distances outlined by the proxemic theory. Together, these studies aim towards a more ecological approach that reflects real-life cognition and behaviors. Overall, this thesis contributes to the broader literature on investigating cognition from the embodied cognitive science framework. By demonstrating the pervasive role of interaction, the thesis also discusses implications of the presented research for practitioners in the context of socio-cognitive based designs
Pex3 promotes formation of peroxisome-peroxisome and peroxisome-lipid droplet contact sites
No full textPeroxisomes are ubiquitous organelles that mediate central metabolic functions, such as fatty acid β-oxidation, as well as diverse tissue- and organism-specific processes. Membrane contact sites, regions of close apposition with other organelles for direct communication, are central to several aspects of their life cycle. Pex3 is a conserved multifunctional peroxisomal transmembrane protein that is involved in the insertion of peroxisomal membrane proteins, in pexophagy, and in the formation of membrane contact sites. Here, we show that high Pex3 levels in Saccharomyces cerevisiae induce the formation of peroxisome clusters surrounded by lipid droplets, mediated by peroxisome-peroxisome and peroxisome-lipid droplet contact sites. This clustering occurs independently of Pex3 partners in other processes Pex19, Inp1, and Atg36. The cytosolic domain of Pex3 binds peroxisomes, suggesting a direct role in homotypic contact site formation. Lipid droplet-peroxisome contact sites require the lipid droplet-localized triacylglycerol lipase Tgl4, which is enriched at this interface along with other lipases. Pex3 overexpression in Drosophila melanogaster similarly alters peroxisome and lipid droplet morphology and promotes contact site formation. Together, our results offer novel molecular insights into homotypic peroxisome contact sites and peroxisome-lipid droplet contact sites across species
Longitudinal Models of Common Factors in Psychotherapy
No full textAn abundance of empirical studies (original and meta-analytic) has proven that psychological therapy is – on average – effective. Less is known, however, about how psychotherapy actually works. What are the factors and processes that lead to changes within patients over the course of a successful treatment? And what may be missing in unsuccessful treatments? One category of factors that has long been theorized to contribute significantly to treatment outcome encompasses so-called common factors. They include different aspects of the therapeutic process that are supposed to play key roles in any bona fide therapy, i.e., any treatment that is recognized as legitimate and credible within the field of psychotherapy research. Investigating the possible effects of common factors on therapy outcome proves to be rather difficult, as many common factors (hypothetically) pervade the whole therapeutic process and are not readily amenable to isolation and manipulation. Study designs employing intensive measurements and advanced statistical methods are warranted to deepen our understanding of the therapeutic process and improve our abilities to tailor treatments to individual patient characteristics.
Therefore, the studies of this dissertation were dedicated to investigating the effects of three common factors on treatment targets of psychotherapy, using longitudinal structural equation models. Study one investigated the role of resource activation, i.e., the recognition, validation, and enhancement of the patient’s psychosocial resources, in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for caregivers of people with dementia. Analyses using multiple linear regression revealed that resource activation averaged over all twelve sessions of the intervention significantly predicted resource utilization after therapy from the patient’s perspective (but not from the therapist’s perspective). Moreover, the trajectory of resource activation was investigated applying latent curve modeling (LCM). Average resource activation exhibited a distinct pattern across therapy from the patient’s and the therapist’s perspective: Resource activation increased (on average) in the first phase of therapy (sessions 1-4), this increase levelled off over the middle phase (sessions 4-10), and resource activation increased again at the last phase of therapy (sessions 10-12). Patient’s baseline use of social support resources was negatively associated with the trajectory of resource activation reported by patients in the final therapy phase, and baseline use of well-being resources was positively related to the trajectory of resource activation rated by therapists at the beginning of therapy (i.e., session one). Resource activation from the patient’s perspective at the first session had a positive effect on post-treatment utilization of social and well-being resources.
The second study examined effects of treatment credibility on symptoms of anxiety and depression in a heterogenous outpatient sample receiving CBT. Treatment credibility refers to how plausible and convincing a patient finds the treatment. Methodological, study two went beyond study one by not only analyzing the trajectory of treatment credibility, but by separately investigating within- and between-person effects. To this end, the LCM with structured residuals was applied (LCM-SR). Treatment credibility exhibited a slight increase across the first 25 sessions of CBT, and this increase was associated with a decrease in symptoms of depression and anxiety. The study did not find significant within-person effects of treatment credibility on symptoms of depression or anxiety measured over a time interval of five sessions. However, exploratory analyses applying a modified LCM-SR to session-wise data revealed significant negative within-person effects of treatment credibility on symptom severity. Sessions after which treatment credibility was higher than expected based on the individual trajectory were followed by sessions in which symptom severity had declined more than expected.
The aims of study three were twofold: First, study three was designed to compare different modelling strategies of the working alliance-symptom severity association regarding the role of time. More precisely, study three compared the performance of several discrete and continuous time models that separate within- and between-person effects of the alliance on symptom severity (and vice versa) in a heterogenous outpatient sample receiving CBT. Results suggested that a continuous time model using session number as time variable fitted the data best. Second, the third study addressed several substantive issues regarding the alliance based on the best fitting continuous time model. The working alliance exhibited a negative effect on symptom severity, and this effect reached its maximum at a time interval of one to two sessions. Furthermore, the effect of the working alliance on symptom severity was positively correlated with the reciprocal effect of symptom severity on the working alliance. Thus, individuals with a stronger effect of the alliance on symptom severity also showed a stronger effect of symptom severity on the alliance.
The discussion draws important links between these results in light of recent research findings and underlines how the methodological differences of these studies allow for an investigation of different aspects of the therapeutic process. On the background of the limitations common to all three studies, questions for future research are presented
Von Malaysia in die Bundesrepublik Das Wechselverhältnis von Bildungsmigration und Deutschlandbild
Full text linkSeit Anfang des 21. Jahrhunderts hat unter jungen Malaysierinnen und Malaysiern das Interesse an einem Studium in Deutschland deutlich zugenommen. Da dieses Phänomen sowie deren Beweggründe und das zugrundeliegende Deutschlandbild bislang als wenig erforscht gelten, nahm ich dieses zum Anlass der vorliegenden Dissertation.
Die zentrale Fragestellung dieser Arbeit gilt dem Wechselverhältnis zwischen den Erfahrungen malaysischer Studierender in Deutschland und dem Bild, das sie sich von ihrem Zielland machen. Im Mittelpunkt steht dabei die Veränderung des Deutschlandbildes in der chronologischen Abfolge: von den malaysischen Deutschlernenden über die studierenden Malaysier bis zu den ehemaligen Studierenden. Zentrale Fragen, die in einer Online-Umfrage und vertiefend in Interviews eruiert worden sind, lauten unter anderem: Welche Rolle spielt das Deutschlandbild bei der Wahl eines Studienplatzes? Welche Erwartungen und Hoffnungen, aber auch Ängste und Befürchtungen hegen die Studierenden in Bezug auf ihren Deutschlandaufenthalt? Wie verändert sich das Deutschlandbild während und nach dem Bildungsaufenthalt und welche Einflussfaktoren prägen dieses Bild?
Der Wandel des Deutschlandbildes soll auch vor dem Hintergrund der ethnischen Vielfalt der malaysischen Studierenden betrachtet und differenziert werden. Schließlich ist Malaysia mit annähernd 60% Malaien, 23% ethnischen Chinesen und fast 7% indischer Herkunft ein Mehrvölkerstaat. Da sich ein Fremdbild immer auch aus der Wechselwirkung von Selbst- und Fremdbild entwickelt, erscheint die Arbeitshypothese angemessen, dass das Deutschlandbild, das Angehörige der drei ethnischen Gruppen entwerfen, teilweise unterschiedlich ausfällt.
Auch scheint das Deutschlandbild der Deutschlernenden in Malaysia ein überwiegend bis vollständig positives zu sein. Bei den Studierenden in Deutschland fällt dieses Bild hingegen aufgrund ihrer konkreten Studien- und Alltagserfahrungen teilweise negativer aus. Es stellt sich insgesamt differenzierter und realistischer dar.
Ein Aspekt, der weiterer Forschung bedarf, besteht in den Auswirkungen wirtschaftlicher Faktoren auf die Herausbildung eines Nationenbildes. Diese reichen von Wirtschaftspotenzial und Technologie bis zu Produkten und Dienstleistungen. In der Tat messen die malaysischen Probandinnen und Probanden diesen eine hohe Bedeutung bei. Auch wird in der Arbeit die Wechselwirkung zwischen Bildungsmigration und Deutschlandbild unter den Bedingungen der Corona-Pandemie untersucht
Duldung
Full text linkDie Realität der Nichtabschiebbarkeit bildet einen Widerspruch zur grundlegenden Logik des Gehen-Müssens-oder-bleiben-Dürfens von Asyl- und Migrationsregimen. Dieser Beitrag beschäftigt sich mit der Duldung als Kategorie des deutschen Rechts und als migrationspolitischem Begriff. Die Duldung verwaltet den Widerspruch der Nichtabschiebbarkeit, indem sie eine Sonderkategorie und einen rechtlichen Schwebezustand erschafft. 1965 in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland eingeführt, wurde die Duldung seitdem auf eine im internationalen Vergleich beispiellos breite Bevölkerungsgruppe angewendet und hat zur Herausbildung eines eigenständigen Politik- und Diskursfeldes geführt. Dieses Diskursfeld spaltet sich in jüngeren Jahren immer stärker in eine Kriminalisierungslogik einerseits und eine Verwertungslogik andererseits. Der Beitrag beleuchtet diese Diskursentwicklung und deren rechtliche Konsequenzen ebenso wie die historischen Anfänge der Duldung in (West-)Deutschland, geht auf implizite Bedeutungen des Begriffes ein und erläutert, wie der Duldungsstatus als vermeintliches Übergangsinstrument die systematische und de facto langanhaltende Entrechtung Geduldeter bedingt. Dies verdeutlicht, dass die Duldung weit mehr ist als ein technisches Verwaltungsinstrument: Sie spiegelt die grundlegenden Spannungen eines Migrationsregimes wider, das auf der binären Logik von Aufnahme und Abschiebung basiert, aber die Realität der Nichtabschiebbarkeit nicht auflösen kann
Die Flotten der Seemächte USA und China
Full text linkDas Arbeitspapier analysiert die Strategien der Seemächte China und der Vereinigten Staaten, in deren Zentrum der Ausbau und die Modernisierung ihrer Flotten stehen. Die weitgehende Kontrolle des Pazifiks durch die Vereinigten Staaten und die sogenannte erste Inselkette aus den US-Verbündeten Japan, Südkorea, Taiwan und den Philippinen beschränken Chinas Einfluss. Im 20. Jahrhundert blieb diese Situation stabil, danach begann Chinas Wiederaufstieg sich auch militärisch bemerkbar zu machen. China versucht nun die US Navy zur sogenannten zweiten Inselkette rund um Guam zurückzudrängen. Auch wenn die Zahl der Schiffe allein noch nichts über die Kampfkraft aussagt, hat China auch aus amerikanischer Sicht die weltgrößte Marine. Bis 2030 schätzen die Amerikaner die Zahl der chinesischen Militärschiffe auf 435 gegenüber 294 eigenen Schiffen. Während die meisten US-Schiffe aus den 90er und Nuller Jahren stammen, hat China erst ab 2010 so richtig mit dem Bau begonnen. Auch bei der Feuerkraft wird China die Vereinigten Staaten 2027 überholen. Chinas später, aber rasch expandierender Flottenbau hängt auch mit dem Wandel der Militärdoktrin zusammen. Eine Besonderheit sind die landgestützten DongFeng-Antischiffsraketen mit großer Reichweite und die Hyperschallwaffen. Neben der Marine gibt es auch eine starke Marinemiliz und Küstenwache. Die Amerikaner treten dieser Entwicklung mit neuen Taktiken und moderner Waffensystemen entgegen. Bei den klassischen bemannten Kampfschiffen wird die US Navy die chinesische Marine in den nächsten 30 Jahren zwar nicht einholen, aber es soll noch eine zweite Flotte mit 134 unbemannten Schiffen und U-Booten entstehen, die Aufklärungs- und Kampfmissionen übernehmen könnten. Die Chinesen arbeiten an Hyperschallraketen und einer Antischiffs-Cruise Missile, wobei die US Navy zurzeit ähnliche Systeme entwickelt. Die US Navy arbeitet auch an Lasersystemen, die schnell und stark genug sein sollen, um die chinesischen Antischiffsraketen noch vor dem Einschlag zu zerstören. China versucht, den amerikanischen Vorsprung bei Laserwaffen aufzuholen. Wie die US Navy arbeitet auch China an unbemannten Systemen. Bereits jetzt verlegt die US Navy ihre modernsten Schiffe in den Pazifikraum und investiert in Infrastruktur und Training. Dazu kommt ein neues taktisches Konzept, bei dem die Schiffe stärker verteilt werden, mit verbesserter Sensorik ausgestattet werden sowie mehr Langstreckenwaffen und unbemannte Systeme zum Einsatz kommen sollen. Auf beiden Seiten sind aber die meisten unbemannten Systeme noch in der Entwicklungsphase, so dass sich der tatsächliche Aufwuchs und Effekt nur schwer abschätzen lassen. Die US Navy ist beim Bau atomgetriebener und nuklear bestückter U-Boote dominierend, aber China verfügt derzeit über sechs U-Boote der Jin-Klasse, die inzwischen über Atomraketen verfügen, mit denen man die Vereinigten Staaten vom Südchinesischen Meer aus angreifen könnte. Das Replicator-Programm des US-Verteidigungsministeriums zielt darauf ab, kostengünstige und autonome Systeme in einer Größenordnung von mehreren Tausend in verschiedenen Bereichen im Indopazifik einzusetzen, bei dem alle Arten von unbemannten und autonomen Systemen vom Meeresboden bis zum Satelliten vernetzt werden sollen. Ein zentrales Problem bei der langfristigen Planung neben der Finanzierung und Verzögerungen bei Entwicklung und Bau ist der rasche technische Fortschritt, der den Trend zu unbemannten Systemen und Antischiffsraketen verstärken wird, so dass die Zukunft der klassischen Marine zunehmend fraglich ist
Modelling forest and grassland dynamics: the role of species traits, climate and spatial scale
Full text linkVegetation is a key component of the global carbon cycle. By absorbing carbon from the atmosphere, it provides critical ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, plant biomass production, and the maintenance and preservation of biodiversity. In order to accurately assess the current state of vegetation and predict future changes, it is essential to have a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics involved. In this work, we address three factors: (I) species traits, (II) climate (and climate change), and (III) spatial scale, and investigate their effects on vegetation dynamics using the examples of tropical forests and temperate managed grasslands.
Plant species abundance characterizes vegetation, i.e. forests and grasslands are defined as ecosystems dominated by woody or herbaceous plant species. The dynamics of these ecosystems are driven by plant interactions, both within species and with other species. Consequently, species diversity and composition (here described by species-specific plant traits) are strongly related to dynamic values such as aboveground biomass productivity, height, and leaf growth. In addition, climatic conditions such as air temperature, irradiance, precipitation, and the associated availability of soil water and nutrients influence the resources for which plants compete. Variations in climate, either as seasonal fluctuations or as part of long-term projected climate change, will subsequently lead to variations in vegetation dynamics. Finally, the processes involved and their importance to the vegetation ecosystem vary depending on the spatial scale on which one focuses, whether local, regional, or global. At the local scale, climate and local species pools may be the prevailing factors, but larger scales encompass, for example, spatial differences in land use, vegetation type (e.g., forest or grassland) and species composition, topography, as well as variable climate and soil conditions and anthropogenic impacts.
All these interacting and constantly changing factors influence the dynamics of vegetation and remain a challenge to disentangle. The work presented here combines ecological modelling approaches and statistical methods with observations to investigate each of these aspects in more detail