University of Hildesheim

In a world shaped by global crises—from pandemics to international armed conflicts to an escalating climate crisis—research into human reactions to and coping with uncertainty is becoming increasingly important. The fundamental role of identification with social groups in maintaining well‐being during times of threat has been emphasized. In this context, the aim of this study was to examine the relationship between interindividual differences— need to belong, perspective taking, need for cognitive closure—and changes in social identification. To test our hypotheses, we conducted a two‐wave online study with a sample of 1008 participants during the COVID‐19 pandemic. We examined changes in social identification in narrow social groups (i.e., family, friends, neighbors) and broader social categories (i.e., own country, Europe, humanity). We found an overall increase in social identification in times of crises across all groups. The results show that need to belong (at Time 1) was positively related to increases in social identification (at Time 2) for all groups, while the positive association between perspective taking (at Time 1) and increases in social identification (at Time 2) was observed for almost all groups except neighbors. Contrary to our expectations, however, the need for cognitive closure (at Time 1) showed no association with changes in identification with any social group (at Time 2). These findings emphasize the importance of interindividual differences for our understanding of changes in social identification over time.

Vine copulas are flexible dependence models using bivariate copulas as building blocks. If the parameters of the bivariate copulas in the vine copula depend on covariates, one obtains a conditional vine copula. We propose an extension for the estimation of continuous conditional vine copulas, where the parameters of continuous conditional bivariate copulas are estimated sequentially and separately via gradient‐boosting. For this purpose, we link covariates via generalized linear models (GLMs) to Kendall's correlation coefficient from which the corresponding copula parameter can be obtained. In a second step, an additional covariate deselection procedure is applied. The performance of the gradient‐boosted conditional vine copulas is illustrated in a simulation study. Linear covariate effects in low‐ and high‐dimensional settings are investigated separately for the conditional bivariate copulas and the conditional vine copulas. Moreover, the gradient‐boosted conditional vine copulas are applied to the multivariate postprocessing of ensemble weather forecasts in a low‐dimensional covariate setting. The results show that our suggested method is able to outperform the benchmark methods and identifies temporal correlations better. Additionally, we provide an R‐package called boostCopula for this method.

Zusammenfassung Nach der Reform des § 64 StGB muss für eine Unterbringungsanordnung – neben weiteren Anordnungskriterien – ein „Hang“ vorliegen, welcher eine Substanzkonsumstörung erfordert, „infolge derer eine dauernde und schwerwiegende Beeinträchtigung der Lebensgestaltung, der Gesundheit, der Arbeits- oder Leistungsfähigkeit eingetreten ist und fortdauert“. Der Hangbegriff stellt einen juristischen Terminus dar. Eine mögliche Brücke zur psychiatrischen Operationalisierung dieses Hangbegriffs kann die Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) Scale darstellen. Ziele dieser Studie waren es, Maßregelvollzugspatienten anhand ihrer Werte in der GAF-Skala zu kategorisieren und zu prüfen, ob ihre Substanzkonsumstörung und damit einhergehende Einschränkung im Funktionsniveau die Anforderungen des aktuellen Hangbegriffs weiterhin erfüllen. Ein möglicher Klientelwandel soll abgebildet werden. Die Studie untersuchte 222 männliche Maßregelvollzugspatienten. Basierend auf ihrem GAF-Wert wurden 3 Outcome-Gruppen gebildet und diese mittels Chi²- und t-Tests auf Unterschiede hin untersucht. Die Ergebnisse verdeutlichten, dass, basierend auf dem GAF-Wert, 78,4 % der untersuchten Patienten wahrscheinlich auch zukünftig das Hangkriterium gemäß § 64 StGB erfüllen werden. Bei 48 Patienten (21,6 %) konnten keine schwerwiegenden Einschränkungen in ihrer psychosozialen Funktionsfähigkeit festgestellt werden, sodass bei ihnen zukünftig kein Hang gemäß § 64 StGB zu bejahen wäre. Diese 48 Patienten waren u. a. signifikant häufiger voll schuldfähig, aufgrund eines BtMG-Indexdelikts untergebracht, hatten höhere Bildungsabschlüsse, wiesen häufiger eine Substanzkonsumstörung bezüglich Kokain oder Cannabis auf und verfügten über weniger strafrechtliche Voreintragungen. Aufgrund der Ergebnisse dieser Studie kann von einem Rückgang der Unterbringungsanordnungen von etwa einem Fünftel ausgegangen werden.

In this paper, I analyze the discursive strategies of derogating Ukrainian authorities used by Vladimir Putin and their persuasive impact on shaping public opinion and social cognition. Using ideological discourse analysis, I investigate Putin’s tactics for reinforcing negative attitudes towards the “Kyiv regime” in his speeches since 2014. Focusing on derogatory labelling, semantic implications, and pragmatic implicatures, this paper outlines Putin’s discursive devaluing and dehumanizing of the Ukrainian authorities, justifying, first, the annexation of Crimea and, eight years later, the invasion and war in Ukraine. The analysis aims to reveal the persuasive potential of derogatory language with its semantic manipulation and capacity to format public opinion and social cognition, contributing to the categorization of “the out-group” as an “enemy-other.” It is crucial not only for legitimizing certain policies but also for constructing collective self-identity. Revealing a deliberate shift from subtle insinuations to pronounced adversarial portrayals over time, the conflictive othering of Ukrainian authorities continues to evolve.

Learning styles are a popular concept in the educational field, although there is no empirical evidence that matching learning materials to an individual’s learning style actually enhances learning outcomes (the so called meshing hypothesis). In this online study, the meshing hypothesis was tested in a sample of prospective teachers (N = 222) employing the revised Verbalizer-Visualizer Questionnaire (VVQ-R). In a between-subjects design, participants were presented with either visual or verbal learning materials (figures vs. texts) of the same content based on actual course material. There was no significant interaction between presentation mode and learning styles on learning outcome, revealing no advantage of matching learning style and presentation mode. Similarly, learning styles did not predict judgements of learning (JOL) or confidence ratings for the matching presentation mode. In sum, the study provides further evidence that considering learning style in teaching methods such as presentation mode is not beneficial. Importantly, the present study used ecologically valid learning materials and a sufficiently powered sample. Moreover, as in previous studies, attitudes towards learning styles and their implementation in the classroom were very positive in the present sample. Teaching about the theoretical and empirical background of learning styles somewhat decreased these positive attitudes.

Purpose By considering work-related aspects during early intervention and treatment of employees with (subclinical) symptoms of common mental disorders, psychotherapeutic consultation at work (PT-W) aims to increase work-specific self-efficacy (SE) to finally reduce sickness absence and contribute to successful return to work. This study, thus, aims to investigate interrelations between working conditions and work-specific SE among employees before receiving PT-W. Methods The study uses baseline data of a randomized controlled trial testing the efficacy of PT-W in Germany (n = 535). Working conditions were assessed by six scales of the validated Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ). SE was assessed by the validated general short occupational self-efficacy (OSE) scale and return-to-work self-efficacy (RTW-SE) scale, two specific forms of self-efficacy. Multiple linear regression models were calculated using working conditions as independent and self-efficacy as dependent variables. Interactions between working conditions and age, gender and current extent of work were added to those models. Results Results suggest that quantitative job demands are negatively and development opportunities are positively related to OSE and RTW-SE. Age did not moderate those relationships. The association between development opportunities and OSE was stronger among employees indicating working less number of hours than specified in their contract compared to employees indicating working their full contract hours. Furthermore, interactions with gender were found with social support being only (positively) associated with OSE among male and decision authority being only (positively) associated with OSE among female employees. Conclusions The associations between working conditions and work-specific SE support the usefulness of addressing potential reciprocal relationships between those two variables during PT-W to improve mental health of employees. Trial registration number: Registered at the German Clinical Trial Register (DRKS) at 01.03.2021—DRKS00023049.

Introduction In severe cases, an infection with the Borna Disease Virus 1 (BoDV-1), the causative agent of Borna disease in horses, sheep, and other domestic mammals, was reported to be accompanied by cognitive dysfunctions, seizures, deep coma, or severe to fatal encephalitis in humans. In addition, asymptomatic or mild courses of BoDV-1 infection are discussed to act as a co-factor in the etiology of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Previously, studies using electroencephalography (EEG) reported BoDV-1-dependent changes in event-related potentials (ERPs), thus indicating the use and added value of non-invasive studies in Borna research. Methods Here, we examined possible connections between BoDV-1 status, EEG restingstate alpha activity, and serum levels of pro-inflammatory Interleukin 6 (IL-6) and Interleukin 8 (IL-8) in MDD patients and in a comparison group of adults without MDD diagnosis. Results Interestingly, for both groups, we revealed a comparable high number of BoDV-1 positive and BoDV-1 negative participants. Compared to adults without MDD diagnosis, MDD patients showed a decrease in their relative EEG alpha power at posterio-central, but increased values at anterio-central electrode sites. Most important, no group-dependent effect of BoDV-1 status on EEG resting-state activity had been observed. Compared to BoDV-1 positive and negative adults without MDD diagnosis, as well as BoDV-1 positive MDD patients, BoDV-1 negative MDD patients revealed a comparatively weak significant negative correlation between relative fronto-central EEG alpha power and concentrations of pro-inflammatory IL-8. Discussion Taken together, our data confirm MDD-dependent alterations in EEG resting-state alpha activity, which, however, were not accompanied by major BoDV-1 dependent neurophysiological or immunological effects. Future – probably more invasive – studies further have to clarify the significance of the observed negative correlation between relative fronto-central EEG alpha power and concentrations of pro-inflammatory IL-8.

We present a study of discourse connectives and discourse relations in English parallel texts, i.e. in written and spoken originals, as well as translation and interpreting from German. For this, we apply automatic procedures to annotate discourse connectives and relations they trigger in a parallel corpus. We look at distributions of various connectives and discourse relations, comparing spoken and written mode, as well as original and translated or interpreted language production. Furthermore, we analyse the translation patterns in terms of translation entropy. We link our observations to the phenomena of explicitation and implicitation. We find that in both interpreting and translation, explicitation and implicitation patters are affected by the cognitive complexity of the discourse relation signalled by the connective. Moreover, we also show that the difference in the specificity of the same connectives in interpreting and translation also depends on the type of relation they trigger.

Background Reproductive mood disorders indicate that within-person variation in depressive symptoms across the menstrual cycle can be related to ovarian hormone changes. Until now, such cycle-related symptom changes have been measured once daily, even though depression research indicates systematic diurnal changes in symptoms. Further, previous research often focused on aggregated depression scores. This study examined whether three daily assessments of depressive symptoms follow similar trajectories across the menstrual cycle and investigated within-person cyclical fluctuation of all individual symptoms and the aggregated score. Methods 77 naturally-cycling participants (35 with and 42 without depressive disorder) provided three daily ratings of depressive symptoms across one menstrual cycle to evaluate individual and summarized symptoms. Results Reliability estimates (w) of the three diurnal measurements ranged from 0.56 to 0.78. Cyclicity showed statistically significant interindividual differences for all symptoms, and individual symptoms differed significantly from each other in their magnitude of cyclicity. Limitations Only one menstrual cycle was assessed to reduce participant burden. Further, ovulation testing dates were based on self-reported cycle lengths, and only LH (luteinizing hormone) peaks were tested without subsequent progesterone rises. Conclusions The results highlight the need for a symptom-specific approach to assess individual variance in cyclicity of depressive symptoms. Reliability for one daily assessment can be improved by using the afternoon value, a sum score for depressiveness, or multiple items per symptom. Furthermore, this study emphasizes, that depressive symptoms can systematically change across the menstrual cycle, and it is, therefore, important to include it in depression research. Exploring female-specific risk factors of depression will enable the development of person-tailored treatments. Trial registration The study was preregistered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04086316) with the first registration on 27/08/2019.

Desmin intermediate filaments play a crucial role in stress transmission and mechano-protection. The loss of its integrity triggers myofibril breakdown and muscle atrophy for which desmin phosphorylation (pDes) is a priming factor. We investigated whether eccentric accentuated resistance exercise (RE) influences the regulation of pDes, effecting its susceptibility to cleavage. Ten healthy persons performed 14 RE-sessions (2 per week). Muscle biopsies were collected in both untrained and trained conditions at rest (pre 1, pre 14) and one hour after RE (post 1, post 14). Western blotting and immunohistochemistry were utilized to assess desmin content, phosphorylation at several sites and susceptibility to cleavage. In untrained condition (pre 1, post 1), RE induced dephosphorylation of serin 31 and 60. Trained muscle exhibited more pronounced dephosphorylation at Serin 31 post-RE. Dephosphorylation was accompanied by reduced susceptibility of desmin to cleavage. Additionally, training increased total desmin content, upregulated baseline serine 31 phosphorylation and attenuated pDes at serine 60 and threonine 17. Our findings suggest that acute and repeated RE changes the phosphorylation pattern of desmin and its susceptibility to cleavage, highlighting pDes as an adaptive mechanism in skeletal muscle, contributing to the proteostatic regulation in response to recurring stress.

In our paper, we discuss the role of deception (apáte) in the conflict between rhetoric and philosophy. While Parmenides and Plato seek to escape the possibility of being deceived in general, their counterparts, the sophists and early theorists of rhetoric, emphasize that this is neither possible nor desirable. In contrast to their philosophical contemporaries, they do not assume a dualism of truth and deception, but rather a gradualist spectrum that contains many shades of gray. Furthermore, they emphasize a certain productivity of particular deceptions that can help us increase our imagination and prefigure possibilities of life and praxis that would not be possible without being deceived. Moreover, we ask whether and how the potential of classical rhetoric for theorizing deception can be used for a critique of deception that is aware of its own proneness to illusions. The guiding hypothesis is that rhetoric, as a technique of verbal deception, can also provide an important key for criticizing deceptive strategies. This applies in particular to the concept of dissimulatio artis, which goes back to Aristotle’s Rhetoric and had been developed further by Quintilian, Ovid, and the anonymous author of the treatise Perí hýpsous. This concept makes it possible to describe simulations of unsimulatedness in philosophy as well as in politics.

Zusammenfassung In dieser Studie wurde ein möglicher Zusammenhang zwischen suizidalem/selbstverletzendem Verhalten und der Veränderung der selbstberichteten Essstörungssymptomatik sowie Emotionaler Dysregulation und Beziehungsschwierigkeiten bei einer essstörungsspezifischen Behandlung explorativ untersucht. Hierzu wurden folgende Selbstberichtsmaße bei 167 Patientinnen einer psychosomatischen Klinik erhoben: der Symptomindex des Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI-SI) und die Skala zur Erfassung der Impulsivität und emotionalen Dysregulation der Borderline-Persönlichkeitsstörung (IES-27) mit den Subskalen Suizidales und selbstverletzendes Verhalten (SVV/SEV), emotionale Dysregulation (EmotDys) und Beziehungsschwierigkeiten (BezSchw). Die Teilnehmenden wurden in Abhängigkeit des Auftretens von SVV/SEV vor Beginn und/oder vor Ende der Behandlung in vier Gruppen eingeteilt. Eine einfaktorielle multivariate Analyse der Varianz (MANOVA) mit Messwiederholung zeigte eine Interaktion von Zeit und Gruppe hinsichtlich EDI-SI, EmotDys und BezSchw. Die Effektstärken des Prä-Post-Vergleichs des EDI-SI waren in den nach Auftreten von SVV/SEV aufgeteilten Gruppen sehr unterschiedlich (0,27<g*< 1,32). Für Personen mit im Behandlungsverlauf neu aufgetretenem SVV/SEV konnte im Mittel keine Verbesserung des EDI-SI festgestellt werden. Personen, die SVV/SEV im Behandlungsverlauf abstellen konnten, profitierten auch hinsichtlich des EDI-SI. Entscheidend für die Berücksichtigung von SVV/SEV bei Patientinnen mit Essstörung scheint weniger das vor Behandlungsbeginn berichtete SVV/SEV, sondern mehr im Behandlungsverlauf neu aufgetretenes oder anhaltendes SVV/SEV.

Competition in mesic sites and drought stress combined with short growing seasons in drier sites are key environmental factors along macroclimatic aridity gradients. They impose a triangular trade‐off for local adaptation. However, as experiments have rarely disentangled their effects on plant fitness, uncertainty remained whether mesic populations are indeed better competitors and drier populations better adapted to drought stress and short season length. Aridity differs also at microclimatic scale between north (more mesic) and south (more arid) exposed hill‐slopes. Little is known whether local adaptation occurs among exposures and whether south exposures harbor conspecifics better adapted to drier climates that could provide adaptive reservoirs under climate change. We sampled two Mediterranean annuals (Brachypodium hybridum, Hedypnois rhagadioloides) in 15 sites along a macroclimatic aridity gradient (89–926 mm rainfall) on corresponding north and south exposures. In a large greenhouse experiment, we measured their fitness under drought stress, competition, and short vs. long growing seasons. Along the macroclimatic gradient, mesic populations were better competitors under benign conditions. Drier populations performed no better under drought stress per se but coped better with the short growing seasons typical for drier macroclimates. At microclimatic scale, north exposure plants were slightly better competitors in H. rhagadioloides; in B. hybridum, south exposure plants coped better with drought under short season length. We demonstrate that local adaptation to drier macroclimates is trading‐off with competitive ability under benign conditions and vice‐versa. Drought escape via short life‐cycles was the primary adaptation to drier macroclimates, suggesting that intensified drought stress within the growing season under climate change challenges arid and mesic populations alike. Moreover, the drier microclimates at south exposures exhibited some potential as nearby reservoirs of drier‐adapted genotypes. This potential needs further investigation, yet may assist populations to persist under climate change and lessen the need for long‐distance migration.