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Neue Veröffentlichungen:

Einfluss von Antidepressiva auf den Therapieerfolg einer stationären psychosomatischen Komplextherapie bei Patienten und Patientinnen mit depressiver Episode und rezidivierenden Depressionen
(2025) Czaja, Jana
Die vorliegende Arbeit untersucht den Einfluss einer vorherigen Antidepressiva-Einnahme auf den Therapieerfolg einer stationären multimodalen psychosomatischen Komplextherapie bei Patienten/-innen mit depressiven und rezidivierenden depressiven Episoden. Um eine realitätsnahe Abbildung der Versorgungsrealität zu gewährleisten, wurde ein naturalistisches Studiendesign gewählt, das Patienten/-innen mit vorherige Antidepressiva-Einnahme (AD-G) einer mittels Matching-Verfahren angeglichenen Vergleichsgruppe von Patienten/-innen ohne vorherige Antidepressiva-Einnahme (VG) gegenüberstellt. Aus einer Basisstichprobe von 910 Patienten/-innen wurden 170 Teilnehmer/-innen (je n=85) hinsichtlich Geschlecht, Diagnose, Schweregrad und weiterer soziodemographischer Faktoren wie Alter und BMI gematcht. Die Evaluation des Behandlungserfolgs erfolgte über einen Zeitraum von sieben bis acht Wochen mittels psychometrischer Skalen (PHQ-9, HADS-D, SF-12, SCL90 DEP) sowie biologischer Parameter wie Serumcortisol und Leukozyten. Während beide Gruppen signifikant von der multimodalen Therapie profitierten, erzielte die VG einen statistisch signifikant stärkeren Symptomabfall und durchgehend höhere Effektstärken als die AD-G. Besonders in den Depressions-Scores PHQ-9 und HADS-D zeigten sich bei Entlassung deutlich bessere Resultate für die medikamentenfreie Gruppe. Biologisch sank zudem das initial erhöhte Cortisol-Level in der VG signifikant stärker ab. Die Ergebnisse legen nahe, dass die AD-G eine Patientinnengruppe mit möglicherweise höherer Chronizität oder Teilresistenz darstellt, die von einer intensiveren psychotherapeutischen Behandlung profitieren könnte.
Task-modulated neural responses in scene-selective regions of the human brain
(2025) Koc, Aysu Nur; Urgen, Burcu A.; Afacan, Yasemin
The study of scene perception is crucial to the understanding of how one interprets and interacts with their environment, and how the environment impacts various cognitive functions. The literature so far has mainly focused on the impact of low-level and categorical properties of scenes and how they are represented in the scene-selective regions in the brain, PPA, RSC, and OPA. However, higher-level scene perception and the impact of behavioral goals is a developing research area. Moreover, the selection of the stimuli has not been systematic and mainly focused on outdoor environments. In this fMRI experiment, we adopted multiple behavioral tasks, selected real-life indoor stimuli with a systematic categorization approach, and used various multivariate analysis techniques to explain the neural modulation of scene perception in the scene-selective regions of the human brain. Participants (N = 21) performed categorization and approach-avoidance tasks during fMRI scans while they were viewing scenes from built environment categories based on different affordances ((i)access and (ii)circulation elements, (iii)restrooms and (iv)eating/seating areas). ROI-based classification analysis revealed that the OPA was significantly successful in decoding scene category regardless of the task, and that the task condition affected category decoding performances of all the scene-selective regions. Model-based representational similarity analysis (RSA) revealed that the activity patterns in scene-selective regions are best explained by task. These results contribute to the literature by extending the task and stimulus content of scene perception research, and uncovering the impact of behavioral goals on the scene-selective regions of the brain.
Microbiome of honey bee corbicular pollen: Factors influencing its structure and potential for studying pathogen transmission
(2025) Shi, Haoran; Ratering, Stefan; Schneider, Bellinda; Schnell, Sylvia
Honey bees are exposed to a diverse variety of microbes in the environment. Many studies have been carried out on the microbiome of bee gut, beebread, and flower pollen. However, little is known regarding the microbiome of fresh corbicular pollen, which can directly reflect microbes acquired from the environment. Moreover, although evidences have suggested that floral resources in general can affect the bee-acquired microbes, whether specific forage plants affect the composition of these microbes is still unclear. Here, we characterized both the microbiome and plant composition of corbicular pollen in collection seasons over two years from six hives using 16S rRNA gene and ITS2 metabarcoding. The results reveal temporal changes in the microbiome and plant composition in corbicular pollen, which was influenced by environmental factors and the choice of forage plants. We identified several co-occurrences between plant and bacterial genera, indicating specific plant-microbe interactions. Many Spiroplasma species with various insect hosts, including a honey bee pathogen Spiroplasma melliferum, were shown to positively correlate with Rubus, suggesting this plant genus as an important node for microbial transmission. Overall, we demonstrated the potential of corbicular pollen for studying the transmission of microbes, especially pathogens. This framework can be applied in future research to explore the complicated pollinator-microbe-plant network in different ecosystems.
Development and Characterization of a Cold Atmospheric Plasma Source for Clinical Application
(2025-06-13) Moritz, Sandra
The aim of this thesis was the development and characterization of a cold atmospheric plasma source (CAP) tailored for clinical applications. During experiments, various materials were tested in a long-term plasma afterglow environment for their suitability in CAP decontamination and as components for CAP sources, and afterwards a novel, adaptable CAP source was built and characterized. For the suitability-study, materials were chosen from different material groups, namely metals (stainless steel), glass (borosilicate glass) and polymers (polypropylene, rigid polyvinyl chloride and fluorinated ethylene propylene), representing typical materials used in the healthcare sector. Here, different degrees of surface modification were found. While fluorinated ethylene propylene showed almost no modifications, slight to significant changes in free surface energy, surface morphology, surface composition and oxidation was found for the other materials, especially stainless steel. Additionally, sporicidal efficacy of the CAP source was proven, with a log10 reduction of Bacillus atrophaeus endospores of 4.3-6.2 within 15 minutes. Here, hydrophobic properties of the tested materials and hence layering and shielding of the bacteria showed the greatest limiting effect in spore reduction. Based on these findings, the prototype of a CAP source was designed and constructed. Aim for this design was to create an adaptive, low-cost, efficient and durable plasma source. Hence, sputter-coating of the electrodes on a flexible dielectric material was tested. As dielectric, polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) foil was chosen because of its high dielectric strength and excellent chemical resistance. By sputter-coating, different electrode materials and electrode thicknesses were deposited onto the PEN foil and tested for their resistance against material modifications and for their endurance during plasma ignition. Based on its performance, palladium was chosen, with a thickness of 110 nm for both electrodes. For this prototype (palladium-sputtered electrodes with thickness 110 nm on both sides), different characterization tests were done. Firstly, ozone measurements revealed plasma parameters for ozone and nitrogen mode. Secondly, laser microscopy showed the development of a border area on the edge of the grounded electrode. Thirdly, plasma diagnostical approaches indicated electron temperature, electron density and vibrational temperature for nitrogen mode, and plasma power was evaluated. Lastly, bactericidal efficacy was measured for different ozone mode plasma parameters and for nitrogen mode, using different CAP source prototypes. Here, within 5 minutes, a log10 reduction of 6.7 (nitrogen mode) and 5.3 (ozone mode) was achieved, respectively. Endurance of the different plasma mode prototypes showed to differ, depending on the used plasma mode. While the nitrogen mode prototype burned through after almost 150 minutes, corresponding to 50 plasma ignitions, the two ozone mode prototypes still worked reliably after the end of the experiments. An evaluation of the performance of the newly developed CAP prototype shows, that reduction efficacy is in the same order of magnitude, but with shorter required treatment intervals than the plasma source used during the material tests. At the same time, the newly developed prototype works with an power density, which is one order of magnitude lower than that used for the previous plasma source, indicating improved effectiveness. To sum it all up, the experimental studies conclude, that the treatment with cold atmospheric plasma is a non-destructive and adaptable cleaning method for various materials. Combining CAP treatment with conventional sterilization methods could enhance the pathogen reduction, especially with regard to geometrically complex or heat-sensitive materials. PEN foil as dielectric has promise because of its characteristics and sputter-coating technique shows to be an adaptable and low-cost possibility to produce flexible and highly effective cold atmospheric plasma sources.
Consumers' Perception of and Preferences for Meat Safety and Quality in an Islamic LMIC Context: Empirical Evidence from Afghanistan
(2025) Nasiri, Mustafa
Global trends in meat production and consumption are shifting significantly between High-Income Countries (HICs) and Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). In HICs, there is a growing trend of reducing or eliminating meat consumption due to health and environmental concerns, ethical considerations, and animal welfare. This has led to increased research and production of plant-based and lab-grown meat alternatives. Conversely, LMICs are experiencing rising meat demand due to population growth, urbanization, and a growing middle class. However, this rising demand is accompanied by increased food safety concerns and Foodborne Diseases (FBDs) which cause approximately 600 million illnesses, 420,000 deaths, and 33 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) annually. Animals and animal-sourced foods (ASFs) including meat are a key contributor to FBDs. Meat contamination can occur at various stages of the supply chain: pre-harvest, harvest, and post-harvest stages. Afghanistan, as an example of an Islamic LMIC, provides a compelling case study where rapid urbanization and a growing middle class have increased demand for high-value foods like meat, prompting modernization efforts in the meat industry in the past two decades. Traditional butcheries, however, continue to dominate the market, alongside emerging supermarkets that offer both fresh domestic sourced meat and refrigerated imported meat. Motivated by these dynamics, this research investigates Afghan consumers’ perceptions and preferences regarding meat quality and safety across the supply chain. It addresses three key questions: (i) How do consumers perceive meat quality and safety from farm to fork? (ii) How can purchases be influenced toward safer meat choices? (iii) What are the most important meat attributes driving consumer choices, and how does meat attachment influence these preferences? Using a mixed-methods approach, the study includes three analyses: perceptions of meat safety and quality, willingness to pay (WTP) for different meats, and preferences for meat attributes and attachment attitudes. The first study explores consumer perceptions of meat quality and safety at pre-harvest, harvest, and post-harvest stages using data from seven Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with 52 participants in Kabul and Bamyan. The Total Food Quality Model (TFQM) was employed as the study’s analytical framework, and qualitative data were analyzed using MAXQDA software. Results revealed that at the pre-harvest stage, meats originating from the sedentary and nomadic livestock were perceived as safer than that from urban-raised animals. At the harvest stage, supermarket meat was viewed as more hygienic but less fresh. Consumers also raised concerns about its halal compliance, leading to lower trust in supermarket meat. In contrast, traditional butchery meat was deemed fresh and natural but unhygienic. At the post-harvest stage, key attributes influencing purchase decisions included color, freshness, place of origin, safety, and halal certification, with taste and tenderness being critical after purchase. Limited trust in supermarkets emphasized the need for better transparency and communication. The second study examines urban consumers’ WTP for four types of lamb meat, distinguished by their production systems (sedentary versus nomadic) and slaughtering and retail channels (traditional butchery versus supermarket). Using a second-price experimental auction mechanism, it assessed the impact of written framing, visual framing and psychological priming on WTP. Results showed no significant difference in WTP for sedentary versus nomadic meat at the aggregate level. However, higher-income and educated consumers preferred sedentary over nomadic meats. Participants also submitted higher bids for supermarket meat compared to traditional butchery meats. Moreover, written and visual framing effectively induced safer meat choices, while psychological priming had no significant impact. Findings further showed a positive and significant relationship between risk-taking attitude and WTP for safest meat choice, which may suggest opportunities for targeted marketing to promote food safety. The third study analyses consumer preferences for lamb meat attributes using a Best-Worst Scaling (BWS) approach and validates the Meat Attachment Questionnaire (MAQ) in an Islamic LMIC context. Results highlighted food safety certification, freshness, and halal labeling as the most important attributes, reflecting cultural and religious priorities. Preferences for meat attributes were generally heterogenous. High-income and educated consumers, as well as occasional consumers emphasized preferences for several attributes including food safety certification, cleanliness, breed, brand, and halal label. Additionally, confirmatory factor analysis validated the MAQ in an Islamic LMIC context, revealing that subscales such as hedonism and dependence were negatively associated with preferences for most meat attributes. This finding may underscore the role of cultural and psychological factors in shaping attitudes towards meat. Together, these studies provide valuable insights into Afghan consumer preferences and perceptions of meat safety and quality, with broader implications for LMICs undergoing meat industry modernization. Findings emphasize opportunities to build consumer trust in supermarkets by improving communication about halal compliance and food safety standards. Investments in infrastructure and hygiene training for traditional butcheries can address trade-offs between freshness and safety. Marketing strategies using written and visual framing can steer consumers toward safer meat choices. Policy and practical implications are also significant. Aligning meat production with cultural norms and halal requirements is essential for meeting Muslim consumer expectations, specifically by non-Muslim countries exporting meat to Muslim countries. Moreover, emphasizing food safety certification and transparency can enhance public health and trust among consumers, allowing supermarket to thrive in the market. The study also highlights the importance of fostering trust in formal institutions like supermarkets and offers transferable insights for other Islamic LMICs with similar dual meat supply chains. Future research could explore these dynamics across different meat types and regions, contributing to the literature on consumer behavior and meat industry modernization in LMICs.