Die Vormauer Italiens. Zur kulturellen Repräsentation eines konfessionellen Grenzraums (17. und 18. Jahrhundert)

Im Spätherbst 1583 visitierte der Mailänder Erzbischof Carlo Borromeo trotz ausdrücklichem Verbot der Drei Bünde die südlichen Täler Graubündens. 1620 fielen spanische Truppen ins Veltlin ein, um die katholischen Untertanen im Kampf gegen ihre mehrheitlich protestantischen Herren aus Graubünden zu unterstützen. Kirchliche wie weltliche Akteure rechtfertigten ihr Eingreifen mit der konfessionellen Grenzsituation. Der Graubündner Alpenraum bilde eine «Vormauer Italiens» resp. das «Tor zu Italien», die es gegen die Protestanten zu verteidigen gelte. Sei dieser gemischtkonfessionelle Grenzraum (2/3 Protestanten; 1/3 Katholiken) einmal in die Hände der «Häretiker» gefallen, könne sich der Protestantismus ungehindert in ganz Italien ausbreiten. Dass die Denkfigur der konfessionellen Grenze handlungsanleitend und handlungslegitimierend wirkte, haben Untersuchungen zur Ereignisgeschichte und zur politischen Sprache ausführlich belegt. Weniger bekannt ist, dass sie sich tief einschrieb in die kulturelle und religiöse Praxis der Katholiken. Der Beitrag zeigt auf, wie sich im Verlaufe des 17. Jahrhunderts ein Set an kulturellen Repräsentationen ausbildete, das auf subtile Weise die konfessionelle Grenze anzeigte und sie längerfristig festigte. Festgestellt werden kann zunächst, dass in Graubünden und im Veltlin unter den Auspizien der römischen Missionskongregation de Propaganda Fide eine reiche Sakrallandschaft entstanden ist und die vielen Kirchen, Kapellen, Kreuzwege, Bildstöcke etc. die katholischen Gebiete ostentativ gegen die protestantischen Nachbarn abgrenzten. Volkskundliche Erhebungen haben sodann auf eine aussergewöhnlich hohe Zahl von Kirchen und Kapellen aufmerksam gemacht, in denen um eine Gnade gebeten oder mit Votivgaben für ein erfahrenes Wunder gedankt wurde. Das dichte Netz dieser Gnadenorte und die damit verbundenen Frömmigkeitspraktiken – so die These des Beitrages – waren Teil einer katholischen Symbolpolitik, die darauf ausgerichtet war, die katholischen Gebiete im konfessionellen Grenzraum augenfällig in das Gnadenterritorium der katholischen Kirche zu integrieren. Denn dort, wo sich Wunder ereigneten, war dies ein klarer Beweis für die gottgewollte Zugehörigkeit zur katholischen Universalkirche. Ebenfalls der Konsolidierung der konfessionellen Grenze dienten drittens die zahlreichen Bruderschaften, die über ihre Erzbruderschaften in Rom oder Mailand sowohl auf der institutionellen wie auch auf der symbolischen Ebene für eine stärkere Anbindung an das katholische Italien sorgten.

Selbstkontrolle und Handlungsinitiierung

Gemäß den Annahmen des Kraftspeichermodells der Selbstkontrolle basiert die Fähigkeit, eigene Impulse zu kontrollieren, auf einer limitierten Ressource, die vorübergehend erschöpfen kann. Während dieses Erschöpfungszustandes können anschließende Selbstkontrollhandlungen weniger erfolgreich ausgeführt werden. Die Regulation des Impulses, einen Sprint möglichst zeitnah zu einem akustischen Startsignal zu initiieren, erfordert Selbstkontrolle. Daher testeten wir an einer Stichprobe aus N = 37 Sportstudierenden die Annahme, dass die Initiierung von Sprints in Leichtathletik von der momentan verfügbaren Selbstkontrollkraft abhängt. Zur Untersuchung dieser Fragestellung führten die Versuchspersonen zunächst zu T1 drei Sprints über ca. 20 Meter aus einem Startblock aus und mittels Kontaktplatten wurde die Reaktionszeit (in Millisekunden) gemessen, die die Versuchspersonen benötigten, um den Sprint nach einem akustischen Signal zu initiieren. Im Anschluss daran wurde die temporär verfügbare Selbstkontrollkraft mittels einer Abschreibaufgabe experimentell manipuliert: Die Versuchspersonen wurden zufällig einer Ego Depletion Bedingung zugeordnet, in der die Selbstkontrollkraft temporär erschöpft wurde oder einer Kontrollgruppe, in der die Selbstkontrollkraft intakt gehalten wurde. Im Anschluss daran zu T2 wurden die Versuchspersonen erneut gebeten, drei Sprints über ca. 20 Meter auszuführen und die Reaktionszeiten wurden wieder mittels Kontaktplatten erfasst. Die Ergebnisse einer mixed between (Ego Depletion, kein Ego Depletion) within (T1, T2) Varianzanalyse unterstützen unsere Hypothese, so dass in der Ego Depletion Bedingung die Reaktionszeiten von T1 (M = 0.35, SD = 0.03) zu T2 signifikant zunahmen (M = 0.38, SD = 0.04), F(1, 35) = 6.77, p = .01, η2partial = .16, wohingegen sich in der Kontrollgruppe keine statistisch bedeutsamen Veränderungen der Reaktionszeiten zeigten (T1: M = 0.36, SD = 0.03; T2: M = 0.35, SD = 0.04), F(1, 35) = 0.47, p = .50, η2partial = .01. Eine Stärkung der Selbstkontrollkraft könnte Athleten dabei helfen, ihr Leistungsoptimum abzurufen.

A Passive WiFi Source Localization System based on Fine-grained Power-based Trilateration

Indoor localization systems become more interesting for researchers because of the attractiveness of business cases in various application fields. A WiFi-based passive localization system can provide user location information to third-party providers of positioning services. However, indoor localization techniques are prone to multipath and Non-Line Of Sight (NLOS) propagation, which lead to significant performance degradation. To overcome these problems, we provide a passive localization system for WiFi targets with several improved algorithms for localization. Through Software Defined Radio (SDR) techniques, we extract Channel Impulse Response (CIR) information at the physical layer. CIR is later adopted to mitigate the multipath fading problem. We propose to use a Nonlinear Regression (NLR) method to relate the filtered power information to propagation distances, which significantly improves the ranging accuracy compared to the commonly used log-distance path loss model. To mitigate the influence of ranging errors, a new trilateration algorithm is designed as well by combining Weighted Centroid and Constrained Weighted Least Square (WC-CWLS) algorithms. Experiment results show that our algorithm is robust against ranging errors and outperforms the linear least square algorithm and weighted centroid algorithm.

itw : im dialog - Forschungen zum Gegenwartstheater

Die Reihe itw : im dialog – Forschungen zum Gegenwartstheater widmet sich den Ästhetiken, Themen und Tendenzen gegenwärtigen Theaterschaffens und will Impulse zu seiner Erforschung geben. Ausgehend von der besonderen Position des Gegenwartstheaters als Ort der unmittelbaren Konfrontation mit gesellschaftlichen und politischen Fragen, wird dieses zum Gegenstand wissenschaftlicher Problematisierung und Reflexion. Die neugegründete Reihe gibt den teils von Inszenierungsanalysen ausgehenden theatertheoretischen sowie theaterhistorischen Reflexionen und den Gesprächen mit Künstlerinnen und Künstlern ein erweitertes wissenschaftliches Forum. Die Bände der Reihe werden zeitnah zu den »itw : im dialog«-Veranstaltungen produziert. So können die aus dem internationalen Austausch mit den Theaterforschenden und Theaterschaffenden gewonnenen Erkenntnisse und Anregungen umgehend in den akademischen Diskurs zum Gegenwartstheater einfließen.

Graphics Processor Unit Based Parallelization of Optimized Baseline Wander Filtering Algorithms for Long-term Electrocardiography

Long-term electrocardiogram (ECG) often suffers from relevant noise. Baseline wander in particular is pronounced in ECG recordings using dry or esophageal electrodes, which are dedicated for prolonged registration. While analog high-pass filters introduce phase distortions, reliable offline filtering of the baseline wander implies a computational burden that has to be put in relation to the increase in signal-to-baseline ratio (SBR). Here we present a graphics processor unit (GPU) based parallelization method to speed up offline baseline wander filter algorithms, namely the wavelet, finite, and infinite impulse response, moving mean, and moving median filter. Individual filter parameters were optimized with respect to the SBR increase based on ECGs from the Physionet database superimposed to auto-regressive modeled, real baseline wander. A Monte-Carlo simulation showed that for low input SBR the moving median filter outperforms any other method but negatively affects ECG wave detection. In contrast, the infinite impulse response filter is preferred in case of high input SBR. However, the parallelized wavelet filter is processed 500 and 4 times faster than these two algorithms on the GPU, respectively, and offers superior baseline wander suppression in low SBR situations. Using a signal segment of 64 mega samples that is filtered as entire unit, wavelet filtering of a 7-day high-resolution ECG is computed within less than 3 seconds. Taking the high filtering speed into account, the GPU wavelet filter is the most efficient method to remove baseline wander present in long-term ECGs, with which computational burden can be strongly reduced.

The influence of ego depletion on sprint start performance in athletes without track and field experience

We tested the assumption that ego depletion would affect the sprint start in a sample of N = 38 athletes without track and field experience in an experiment by applying a mixed between- (depletion vs. non-depletion) within- (T1: before manipulation of ego depletion vs. T2: after manipulation of ego depletion) subjects design. We assumed that ego depletion would increase the possibility for a false start, as regulating the impulse to initiate the sprinting movement too soon before the starting signal requires self-control. In line with our assumption, we found a significant interaction as there was only a significant increase in the number of false starts from T1 to T2 for the depletion group while this was not the case for the non-depletion group. We conclude that ego depletion has a detrimental influence on the sprint start in athletes without track and field experience.

Space debris attitude simulation - ιOTA (In-Orbit Tumbling Analysis)

Today, there is little knowledge on the attitude state of decommissioned intact objects in Earth orbit. Observational means have advanced in the past years, but are still limited with respect to an accurate estimate of motion vector orientations and magnitude. Especially for the preparation of Active Debris Removal (ADR) missions as planned by ESA’s Clean Space initiative or contingency scenarios for ESA spacecraft like ENVISAT, such knowledge is needed. ESA's “Debris Attitude Motion Measurements and Modelling” project (ESA Contract No. 40000112447), led by the Astronomical Institute of the University of Bern (AIUB), addresses this problem. The goal of the project is to achieve a good understanding of the attitude evolution and the considerable internal and external effects which occur. To characterize the attitude state of selected targets in LEO and GTO, multiple observation methods are combined. Optical observations are carried out by AIUB, Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) is performed by the Space Research Institute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IWF) and radar measurements and signal level determination are provided by the Fraunhofer Institute for High Frequency Physics and Radar Techniques (FHR). The In-Orbit Tumbling Analysis tool (ιOTA) is a prototype software, currently in development by Hyperschall Technologie Göttingen GmbH (HTG) within the framework of the project. ιOTA will be a highly modular software tool to perform short-(days), medium-(months) and long-term (years) propagation of the orbit and attitude motion (six degrees-of-freedom) of spacecraft in Earth orbit. The simulation takes into account all relevant acting forces and torques, including aerodynamic drag, solar radiation pressure, gravitational influences of Earth, Sun and Moon, eddy current damping, impulse and momentum transfer from space debris or micro meteoroid impact, as well as the optional definition of particular spacecraft specific influences like tank sloshing, reaction wheel behaviour, magnetic torquer activity and thruster firing. The purpose of ιOTA is to provide high accuracy short-term simulations to support observers and potential ADR missions, as well as medium-and long-term simulations to study the significance of the particular internal and external influences on the attitude, especially damping factors and momentum transfer. The simulation will also enable the investigation of the altitude dependency of the particular external influences. ιOTA's post-processing modules will generate synthetic measurements for observers and for software validation. The validation of the software will be done by cross-calibration with observations and measurements acquired by the project partners.

An unusual stroke-like clinical presentation of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease: acute vestibular syndrome

INTRODUCTION Vertigo and dizziness are common neurological symptoms in general practice. Most patients have benign peripheral vestibular disorders, but some have dangerous central causes. Recent research has shown that bedside oculomotor examinations accurately discriminate central from peripheral lesions in those with new, acute, continuous vertigo/dizziness with nausea/vomiting, gait unsteadiness, and nystagmus, known as the acute vestibular syndrome. CASE REPORT A 56-year-old man presented to the emergency department with acute vestibular syndrome for 1 week. The patient had no focal neurological symptoms or signs. The presence of direction-fixed, horizontal nystagmus suppressed by visual fixation without vertical ocular misalignment (skew deviation) was consistent with an acute peripheral vestibulopathy, but bilaterally normal vestibuloocular reflexes, confirmed by quantitative horizontal head impulse testing, strongly indicated a central localization. Because of a long delay in care, the patient left the emergency department without treatment. He returned 1 week later with progressive gait disturbance, limb ataxia, myoclonus, and new cognitive deficits. His subsequent course included a rapid neurological decline culminating in home hospice placement and death within 1 month. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed restricted diffusion involving the basal ganglia and cerebral cortex. Spinal fluid 14-3-3 protein was elevated. The rapidly progressive clinical course with dementia, ataxia, and myoclonus plus corroborative neuroimaging and spinal fluid findings confirmed a clinicoradiographic diagnosis of Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease. CONCLUSIONS To our knowledge, this is the first report of an initial presentation of Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease closely mimicking vestibular neuritis, expanding the known clinical spectrum of prion disease presentations. Despite the initial absence of neurological signs, the central lesion location was differentiated from a benign peripheral vestibulopathy at the first visit using simple bedside vestibular tests. Familiarity with these tests could help providers prevent initial misdiagnosis of important central disorders in patients presenting vertigo or dizziness.

Quantifying the vestibulo-ocular reflex with video-oculography: nature and frequency of artifacts

Video-oculography devices are now used to quantify the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) at the bedside using the head impulse test (HIT). Little is known about the impact of disruptive phenomena (e.g. corrective saccades, nystagmus, fixation losses, eye-blink artifacts) on quantitative VOR assessment in acute vertigo. This study systematically characterized the frequency, nature, and impact of artifacts on HIT VOR measures. From a prospective study of 26 patients with acute vestibular syndrome (16 vestibular neuritis, 10 stroke), we classified findings using a structured coding manual. Of 1,358 individual HIT traces, 72% had abnormal disruptive saccades, 44% had at least one artifact, and 42% were uninterpretable. Physicians using quantitative recording devices to measure head impulse VOR responses for clinical diagnosis should be aware of the potential impact of disruptive eye movements and measurement artifacts.

Ion channel macromolecular complexes in cardiomyocytes: roles in sudden cardiac death.

The movement of ions across specific channels embedded on the membrane of individual cardiomyocytes is crucial for the generation and propagation of the cardiac electric impulse. Emerging evidence over the past 20 years strongly suggests that the normal electric function of the heart is the result of dynamic interactions of membrane ion channels working in an orchestrated fashion as part of complex molecular networks. Such networks work together with exquisite temporal precision to generate each action potential and contraction. Macromolecular complexes play crucial roles in transcription, translation, oligomerization, trafficking, membrane retention, glycosylation, post-translational modification, turnover, function, and degradation of all cardiac ion channels known to date. In addition, the accurate timing of each cardiac beat and contraction demands, a comparable precision on the assembly and organizations of sodium, calcium, and potassium channel complexes within specific subcellular microdomains, where physical proximity allows for prompt and efficient interaction. This review article, part of the Compendium on Sudden Cardiac Death, discusses the major issues related to the role of ion channel macromolecular assemblies in normal cardiac electric function and the mechanisms of arrhythmias leading to sudden cardiac death. It provides an idea of how these issues are being addressed in the laboratory and in the clinic, which important questions remain unanswered, and what future research will be needed to improve knowledge and advance therapy.

Regulation of the cardiac Na+ channel NaV1.5 by post-translational modifications.

The cardiac voltage-gated Na(+) channel, Na(V)1.5, is responsible for the upstroke of the action potential in cardiomyocytes and for efficient propagation of the electrical impulse in the myocardium. Even subtle alterations of Na(V)1.5 function, as caused by mutations in its gene SCN5A, may lead to many different arrhythmic phenotypes in carrier patients. In addition, acquired malfunctions of Na(V)1.5 that are secondary to cardiac disorders such as heart failure and cardiomyopathies, may also play significant roles in arrhythmogenesis. While it is clear that the regulation of Na(V)1.5 protein expression and function tightly depends on genetic mechanisms, recent studies have demonstrated that Na(V)1.5 is the target of various post-translational modifications that are pivotal not only in physiological conditions, but also in disease. In this review, we examine the recent literature demonstrating glycosylation, phosphorylation by Protein Kinases A and C, Ca(2+)/Calmodulin-dependent protein Kinase II, Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase, Serum- and Glucocorticoid-inducible Kinases, Fyn and Adenosine Monophosphate-activated Protein Kinase, methylation, acetylation, redox modifications, and ubiquitylation of Na(V)1.5. Modern and sensitive mass spectrometry approaches, applied directly to channel proteins that were purified from native cardiac tissues, have enabled the determination of the precise location of post-translational modification sites, thus providing essential information for understanding the mechanistic details of these regulations. The current challenge is first, to understand the roles of these modifications on the expression and the function of Na(V)1.5, and second, to further identify other chemical modifications. It is postulated that the diversity of phenotypes observed with Na(V)1.5-dependent disorders may partially arise from the complex post-translational modifications of channel protein components.