Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
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Predictive responses in the Theory of Mind network: A comparison of autistic and non-autistic adults
No full textSocial cognitive processes, particularly Theory of Mind (ToM) reasoning, appear to differ between autistic and non-autistic individuals. This has been proposed to reflect the autistic core symptomatology of communication and social interaction difficulties. According to the predictive coding theory, autistic individuals' ToM reasoning difficulties arise from an attenuated use of prior information about others' mental states to explain and predict their behavior. This reduced use of prior assumptions makes the social world less predictable for autistic people, causing interactive mismatch and stress. Despite strong theoretical claims, robust and replicable neural differences in ToM brain regions remain elusive. Here, we investigated whether brain regions supporting ToM reasoning anticipate a narrative during repeated exposure (i.e., the narrative anticipation effect) in non-autistic adults (Experiment 1) and tested whether this effect was attenuated in autistic adults (Experiment 2). We presented a short movie with a plot including mental states with associated actions, twice, to 61 non-autistic adults who underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging [Experiment 1: M(SD)age = 25.9(4.4) years]. In Experiment 2, we used the same protocol with 30 autistic [M(SD)age = 32.4(10.7) years] and 30 non-autistic adults [M(SD)age = 33.2(10.1) years]. Analyses revealed no narrative anticipation effect in the ToM network in either group. Exploratory reverse correlation analyses identified a ToM scene that evoked a smaller difference in response between movie viewings (i.e., less repetition suppression) in autistic adults, compared to non-autistic adults. In sum, our study shows that predictive processing in the ToM network during a naturalistic movie-viewing experiment was absent in adults. Subtle differences in a key scene provide preliminary neural evidence for the predictive coding theory and open a promising avenue for future research to better understand the nature of differences in social interaction in autistic adults
Darstellung des Referendariats auf der sozialen Plattform Instagram
No full textEs soll nun die Zielsetzung erläutert werden. In dieser Arbeit werden ausschließlich öffentlich, deutschsprachige Profile betrachtetet, welche auf Instagram veröffentlichen. Da es gegenwärtig keine konkreten Studien zu diesem Thema gibt, stellt diese Arbeit einen Überblick dar, welche Aufschluss über die Lehrkräfte und deren Aussagen zum Referendariat in den Sozialen Medien gibt. Insbesondere sollen die Emotionen der beteiligten Personen in Bezug auf ihr Referendariat betrachtet werden. Außerdem wird analysiert, welche Statusgruppen über das Referendariat posten. Dazu werden Beitrage von der sozialen Plattform Instagram qualitativ analysiert, um zu erfahren, welche Aussagen die Profile tätigen. Des Weiteren soll erforscht werden, ob es einen Unterschied in ihrer Art und Weise zu veröffentlichen zwischen Grundschullehrkräften und Sonderpädagoginnen gibt
Patient- and clinician-based evaluation of large language models for patient education in prostate cancer radiotherapy
No full textBackground
This study aims to evaluate the capabilities and limitations of large language models (LLMs) for providing patient education for men undergoing radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer, incorporating assessments from both clinicians and patients.
Methods
Six questions about definitive radiotherapy for prostate cancer were designed based on common patient inquiries. These questions were presented to different LLMs [ChatGPT‑4, ChatGPT-4o (both OpenAI Inc., San Francisco, CA, USA), Gemini (Google LLC, Mountain View, CA, USA), Copilot (Microsoft Corp., Redmond, WA, USA), and Claude (Anthropic PBC, San Francisco, CA, USA)] via the respective web interfaces. Responses were evaluated for readability using the Flesch Reading Ease Index. Five radiation oncologists assessed the responses for relevance, correctness, and completeness using a five-point Likert scale. Additionally, 35 prostate cancer patients evaluated the responses from ChatGPT‑4 for comprehensibility, accuracy, relevance, trustworthiness, and overall informativeness.
Results
The Flesch Reading Ease Index indicated that the responses from all LLMs were relatively difficult to understand. All LLMs provided answers that clinicians found to be generally relevant and correct. The answers from ChatGPT‑4, ChatGPT-4o, and Claude AI were also found to be complete. However, we found significant differences between the performance of different LLMs regarding relevance and completeness. Some answers lacked detail or contained inaccuracies. Patients perceived the information as easy to understand and relevant, with most expressing confidence in the information and a willingness to use ChatGPT‑4 for future medical questions. ChatGPT-4’s responses helped patients feel better informed, despite the initially standardized information provided.
Conclusion
Overall, LLMs show promise as a tool for patient education in prostate cancer radiotherapy. While improvements are needed in terms of accuracy and readability, positive feedback from clinicians and patients suggests that LLMs can enhance patient understanding and engagement. Further research is essential to fully realize the potential of artificial intelligence in patient education
CD40-TRAF6 inhibition suppresses cardiovascular inflammation, oxidative stress and functional complications in a mouse model of arterial hypertension
Get PDFCardiovascular disease is the leading cause of disease burden and death worldwide and is fueled by vascular inflammation. CD40L–CD40–TRAF signaling is involved in the progression of atherosclerosis and drives the development of coronary heart disease (CHD). The present study investigates whether the CD40L-CD40-TRAF6 signaling pathway with focus on immune cells and adipocytes could be a therapeutic target in arterial hypertension.
Arterial hypertension was induced in WT (C57BL6/J) and cell-specific CD40(L) knockout mice (AdipoqCre x CD40 fl/fl, CD4Cre x CD40 fl/fl, CD19Cre x CD40 fl/fl, and GP1baCre x CD40L fl/fl) via angiotensin (AT-II) infusion (1 mg/kg/d) for seven days. Hypertensive WT mice were also treated with a CD40-TRAF6 inhibitor (2.5 mg/kg/d, for 7d). The TRAF6 inhibitor treatment normalized endothelial dysfunction and reduced blood pressure in hypertensive wild type animals. Reactive oxygen species production was decreased by TRAF6 inhibition in blood, aorta, heart, kidney, and perivascular fat tissue. Additionally, FACS analysis revealed that TRAF6 inhibition prevents immune cell migration into the aortic vessel wall observed by reduced CD45+ leukocyte, Ly6G+/Ly6C+ neutrophil, and Ly6Chigh inflammatory monocyte content. The hypertensive cell type-specific CD40(L) knockout animals showed only a minor effect on endothelial function, blood pressure, and oxidative stress. Therefore, we conclude that targeting CD40 directly on adipocytes, B-cells, T-cells, or CD40L on platelets is not a promising target to prevent hypertension complications.
In summary, TRAF6 inhibition but not adipocyte, B-cell, or T-cell-specific CD40 or platelet-specific CD40L deficiency reduces pathophysiological vascular inflammation in hypertensive mice, suggesting TRAF6 inhibition as a potential therapeutic target in hypertensive patients
Handout Forschungsdatenmanagement im SFB 1369: Grundlagen
Get PDFIn diesem Handout erfahren Forscherinnen und Forscher des Sonderforschungsbereichs 1369 Vigilanzkulturen der LMU die Grundlagen des Forschungsdatenmanagements: Was es bedeutet, warum es für sie wichtig ist und wie sie gutes FDM konkret in ihren Forschungsalltag integrieren können
Should workers be physically active after work? Associations of leisure-time physical activity with cardiovascular and all-cause mortality across occupational physical activity levels
Get PDFBackground: There is insufficient evidence to provide recommendations for leisure-time physical activity among workers across various occupational physical activity levels. This study aimed to assess the association of leisure-time physical activity with cardiovascular and all-cause mortality across occupational physical activity levels.
Methods: This study utilized individual participant data from 21 cohort studies, comprising both published and unpublished data. Eligibility criteria included individual-level data on leisure-time and occupational physical activity (categorized as sedentary, low, moderate, and high) along with data on all-cause and/or cardiovascular mortality. A 2-stage individual participant data meta-analysis was conducted, with separate analysis of each study using Cox proportional hazards models (Stage 1). These results were combined using random-effects models (Stage 2).
Results: Higher leisure-time physical activity levels were associated with lower all-cause and cardiovascular mortality risk across most occupational physical activity levels, for both males and females. Among males with sedentary work, high compared to sedentary leisure-time physical activity was associated with lower all-cause (hazard ratios (HR) = 0.77, 95% confidence interval (95%CI): 0.70-0.85) and cardiovascular mortality (HR = 0.76, 95%CI: 0.66-0.87) risk. Among males with high levels of occupational physical activity, high compared to sedentary leisure-time physical activity was associated with lower all-cause (HR = 0.84, 95%CI: 0.74-0.97) and cardiovascular mortality (HR = 0.79, 95%CI: 0.60-1.04) risk, while HRs for low and moderate levels of leisure-time physical activity ranged between 0.87 and 0.97 and were not statistically significant. Among females, most effects were similar but more imprecise, especially in the higher occupational physical activity levels.
Conclusion: Higher levels of leisure-time physical activity were generally associated with lower mortality risks. However, results for workers with moderate and high occupational physical activity levels, especially women, were more imprecise. Our findings suggests that workers may benefit from engaging in high levels of leisure-time physical activity, irrespective of their level of occupational physical activity
Copy Number Variation and Haplotype Analysis of 17q21.31 Reveals Increased Risk Associated with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy and Gene Expression Changes in Neuronal Cells
Get PDFBackground: The 17q21.31 region with various structural forms characterized by the H1/H2 haplotypes and three large copy number variations (CNVs) represents the strongest risk locus in progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP)
Objective:To investigate the association between CNVs and structural forms on 17q.21.31 with the risk of PSP.
Methods: Utilizing whole genome sequencing data from 1684 PSP cases and 2392 controls, the three large CNVs (α, β, and γ) and structural forms within 17q21.31 were identified and analyzed for their association with PSP.
Results: We found that the copy number of γ was associated with increased PSP risk (odds ratio [OR] = 1.10, P = 0.0018). From H1β1γ1 (OR = 1.21) and H1β2γ1 (OR = 1.24) to H1β1γ4 (OR = 1.57), structural forms of H1 with additional copies of γ displayed a higher risk for PSP. The frequency of the risk sub-haplotype H1c rises from 1% in individuals with two γ copies to 88% in those with eight copies. Additionally, γ duplication up-regulates expression of ARL17B, LRRC37A/LRRC37A2, and NSFP1, while down-regulating KANSL1. Single-nucleus RNA-seq of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex analysis reveals γ duplication primarily up-regulates LRRC37A/LRRC37A2 in neuronal cells.
Conclusions: The copy number of γ is associated with the risk of PSP after adjusting for H1/H2, indicating that the complex structure at 17q21.31 is an important consideration when evaluating the genetic risk of PSP. © 2025 The Author(s). Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Mitteilungen 01/2025
Get PDFDie Mitteilungen des SFBs 1369 "Vigilanzkulturen" erscheinen zweimal im Jahr. Sie werden jeweils Originalbeiträge aus der Arbeit der Teilprojekte enthalten und eine Übersicht der abgehaltenen Kolloquien, Workshops, Gastvorträge usw. bieten sowie auf geplante Aktivitäten hinweisen. Nachrichten aus den Teilprojekten und Hinweise auf Publikationen schließen sich an
Ein maßgeschneidertes digitales Gesamtpaket für die Leseförderung in inklusiven 3. Klassen – das adaptive Screening LES-IN-CAT und das Förderpaket LesePfad – Ergebnisse aus dem Verbundprojekt DaF-L
Get PDFDie weiter steigende Anzahl an Lernenden mit gravierenden Leseschwierigkeiten stellt die Grundschulen vor immense Herausforderungen. Um Lehrkräfte in der Grundschule dabei zu unterstützen, eine evidenzbasierte und nachvollziehbare Förderung für alle Schüler:innen bereitzustellen, ist die Nutzung von Daten zur individuellen Entscheidungsplanung in der Förderdiagnostik notwendig. Die digitale Lernplattform Levumi bietet dabei Lehrkräften und Lernenden kompetenzorientierte formative Tests als Open Educational Resources (OER) in unterschiedlichen Lernbereichen an. Das Verbundprojekt DaF-L1 erweitert das Levumi-Angebot um ein computerbasiertes adaptives Lesescreening (LES-IN-CAT) mit darauf abgestimmten Lesefördereinheiten (LesePfad) für die dritte Jahrgangsstufe. Mittels projektbegleitender Expert:inneninterviews (N = 13) wurden anhand zweier Studien zur ökologischen Validität der Gebrauchstauglichkeit von digitalen Diagnoseinstrumenten Ansprüche an ein praxistaugliches digitales Lesescreening mit zugeschnittenen Lesefördereinheiten in inklusiven Settings analysiert. Aufbauend auf diesen Ergebnissen wurde das Lesescreening entwickelt, in einer Studie mit 700 Schüler:innen psychometrisch geprüft und in Simulationsstudien adaptiv transformiert. Die darauf aufbauenden Fördermaterialien wurden mit einer Prä-Post-Follow-Up Studie im Kontrollgruppendesign (N = 123) auf ihre Wirksamkeit geprüft. Abschließend erfolgte die technische Implementation des adaptiven Screenings und der Fördereinheiten als Whole-in-One-Paket in Levumi.The increasing number of learners with severe reading difficulties presents immense challenges for elementary schools. It is essential for teachers to aid students individually with evidence based and comprehensive support by using data. The digital learning platform Levumi offers teachers and learners competence-oriented formative tests as Open Educational Resources (OER) in various learning areas. The collaborative project DaF-L expands the Levumi offering to include a computer-based adaptive reading screening (LES-IN-CAT) with aligned reading support units (Reading Path) for the third grade. The requirements of a digital screening for reading competency aligned with reading support was analyzed in an inclusive setting through expert interviews (N = 13). The interviews were incorporated into two studies focused on ecological validity of the digital diagnostic instruments’ usability. Based on these results, the screening for reading competency was developed, psychometrically tested in a study with 700 students, and adaptively transformed into simulation studies. The
support units based on this were tested in a study with 700 students, and adaptively transformed into simulation studies. The support units based on this were tested for their effectiveness in a pre-post-follow-up study with a control group design (N = 123). Finally, the technical implementation of the adaptive screening and the support units was carried out as an all-in-one package in Levumi