University of Kiel

About: University of Kiel is a education organization based out in Kiel, Germany. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Crystal structure. The organization has 27816 authors who have published 57114 publications receiving 2061802 citations. The organization is also known as: Christian Albrechts University & Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel.

Quality of life of patients with keloid and hypertrophic scarring.

Abstract: Keloid and hypertrophic scarring represent chronic disfiguring dermatoses with a high resistance to therapy. The aim of our study was to assess for the first time the quality of life of patients with hypertrophic scars and keloids, because they suffer from quality of life impairment as much as patients with other chronic skin diseases. An item-pool was created modifying and supplementing the items of the Questionnaire on Experience with Skin Complaints. This questionnaire was distributed to 100 outpatients with keloids and hypertrophic scars. A factor analysis was used to identify the underlying dimensions. Two scales (psychological and physical impairment) of the questionnaire with nine and five items, respectively, were established. Test–retest reliability of the questionnaire was excellent (corr>0.9). Good validity was suggested by the correlation of physical impairment with pain (P≤0.001), pruritus (P<0.001), and the amount of restriction of mobility (P<0.001). The psychological scale was associated with pain and restriction of mobility, although the correlations were lower. This study demonstrates for the first time an impairment of quality of life in a large group of patients with keloid and hypertrophic scarring.

The creative brain: investigation of brain activity during creative problem solving by means of EEG and FMRI.

Abstract: Cortical activity in the EEG alpha band has proven to be particularly sensitive to creativity-related demands, but its functional meaning in the context of creative cognition has not been clarified yet Specifically, increases in alpha activity (ie, alpha synchronisation) in response to creative thinking can be interpreted in different ways: As a functional correlate of cortical idling, as a sign of internal top-down activity or, more specifically, as selective inhibition of brain regions We measured brain activity during creative thinking in two studies employing different neurophysiological measurement methods (EEG and fMRI) In both studies, participants worked on four verbal tasks differentially drawing on creative idea generation The EEG study revealed that the generation of original ideas was associated with alpha synchronisation in frontal brain regions and with a diffuse and widespread pattern of alpha synchronisation over parietal cortical regions The fMRI study revealed that task performance was associated with strong activation in frontal regions of the left hemisphere In addition, we found task-specific effects in parietotemporal brain areas The findings suggest that EEG alpha band synchronisation during creative thinking can be interpreted as a sign of active cognitive processes rather than cortical idling

Soil compaction processes and their effects on the structure of arable soils and the environment

Abstract: Soils are three-phase systems which undergo changes as soon as the external stresses exceed the internal soil strength, defined by the precompression stress value The three-dimensional stress propagation induces corresponding volumetric soil strain Soil compaction can result either in a higher bulk density or, when soil loading is attended with retarded water fluxes and high dynamic forces, in a completely homogenised soil characterised by a lower bulk density and a predominance of fine pores While in natural soils the structure can be described as macroscopically homogeneous, less careful mechanical treatment or reduced addition of organic substances results in less favourable types of soil aggregates As a result of applied external stresses, physical and chemical processes, such as mass flow and diffusion of water, ions and gases, are at least retarded or even completely altered Both increased bulk density and homogenisation cause decreased aeration and increased penetration resistance, which results in impeded root development Reduced water permeability may result in soil erosion, with serious negative effects on the environment Compacted soil may also contribute to global atmospheric warming due to increased emission of CO2, CH4 and N2O from such soils Anthropogenic changes in soil structure and soil functions remain constant for extended periods of time and efforts to restore deteriorated soil structure very often fail because of excessive loosening and homogenisation, cultivation of too wet soil or, afterwards, ill-adapted soil management practices, resulting in even worse soil properties The present paper gives a summary of relevant work performed by the authors

Collaborative Inquiry Learning: Models, tools, and challenges

Abstract: Collaborative inquiry learning is one of the most challenging and exciting ventures for today’s schools. It aims at bringing a new and promising culture of teaching and learning into the classroom where students in groups engage in self‐regulated learning activities supported by the teacher. It is expected that this way of learning fosters students’ motivation and interest in science, that they learn to perform steps of inquiry similar to scientists and that they gain knowledge on scientific processes. Starting from general pedagogical reflections and science standards, the article reviews some prominent models of inquiry learning. This comparison results in a set of inquiry processes being the basis for cooperation in the scientific network NetCoIL. Inquiry learning is conceived in several ways with emphasis on different processes. For an illustration of the spectrum, some main conceptions of inquiry and their focuses are described. In the next step, the article describes exemplary computer tools and env...

Functional MRI of the immediate impact of transcranial magnetic stimulation on cortical and subcortical motor circuits

Abstract: Recent studies indicate that the cortical effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) may not be localized to the site of stimulation, but spread to other distant areas. Using echo-planar imaging with blood-oxygenation-level-dependent (BOLD) contrast at 3 Tesla, we measured MRI signal changes in cortical and subcortical motor regions during high-frequency (3.125 Hz) repetitive TMS (rTMS) of the left sensorimotor cortex (M1/S1) at intensities above and below the active motor threshold in healthy humans. The supra- and subthreshold nature of the TMS pulses was confirmed by simultaneous electromyographic monitoring of a hand muscle. Suprathreshold rTMS activated a network of primary and secondary cortical motor regions including M1/S1, supplementary motor area, dorsal premotor cortex, cingulate motor area, the putamen and thalamus. Subthreshold rTMS elicited no MRI-detectable activity in the stimulated M1/S1, but otherwise led to a similar activation pattern as obtained for suprathreshold stimulation though at reduced intensity. In addition, we observed activations within the auditory system, including the transverse and superior temporal gyrus, inferior colliculus and medial geniculate nucleus. The present findings support the notion that re-afferent feedback from evoked movements represents the dominant input to the motor system via M1 during suprathreshold stimulation. The BOLD MRI changes in motor areas distant from the site of subthreshold stimulation are likely to originate from altered synaptic transmissions due to induced excitability changes in M1/S1. They reflect the capability of rTMS to target both local and remote brain regions as tightly connected constituents of a cortical and subcortical network.