Hochschule Magdeburg-Stendal

A new scenario free method for determining changes of flood peaks considering climate change is developed. Compared to existing methods, it accounts for heavy rainfall changes by a newly developed factor with two seasons and establishes a numerical relationship to a greater number of relevant climate predictors. For easier application, it is based on frequently available daily measurements. A functional test of the factor for heavy rainfall changes and its adjustment algorithm for the precipitation time series is performed. Using a regional AR5 ensemble, for the first time the error and the uncertainty of a new scenario free method are estimated and compared with an existing method. The new method is applied in the Harz Mountains, where the sensitivity of the region to different climate predictors is investigated.The adjusting algorithm for precipitation is able to adjust the time series while maintaining mass balance. The new method has a lower error than the reference method, with better matches of changes in the median of the climate ensemble as well as the most ensemble members. In general, the uncertainty of the seasonal results is below the climate uncertainty of the AR5 ensemble. Regarding future flood peaks, the regional catchments are most sensitive to mean precipitation changes, followed by heavy rainfall changes especially in the winter season. Mean temperature changes are of minor significance, but the catchments characteristics are important. The new method can be recommended for assessments of climate change impacts on floods in low to average mountain regions in Germany and Europe.

Introduction Visceral (VAT), subcutaneous (SFT), and total body fat (FM) contribute to hepatic steatosis, yet their relative and sex-specific effects across total, regional, and site-specific levels remain unclear. We investigated associations between fat depots, standardized skinfold sites, and liver fat (LF) while adjusting for key metabolic covariates.Methods In this secondary data analysis of a cross-sectional study, 48 adults (50% women; 49.6 ± 20.9 y; BMI 25.7 ± 3.7 kg/m²) underwent quantitative MRI to assess VAT and LF and ultrasound-based body mapping to quantify total and regional SFT as well as standardized skinfold sites. Bioelectrical impedance analysis determined FM. Regression analyses were conducted with LF as the dependent variable, identifying and controlling for significant covariates (diabetes mellitus [DM], arterial hypertension [aHT], hypercholesterolemia [HC], physical activity, age) (partial r). The Lindeman–Merenda–Gold (LMG) method decomposed total R² into fat-specific contributions. Total fat depots were adjusted for body surface area (BSA).Results All regression models examining associations with LF showed total r values ranging from 0.63 to 0.79. In men, DM was the only significant covariate (p = 0.002). Values are given as: partial r, LMG share (% of R2). LF correlated with VAT/BSA (0.40, 51%), total SFT/BSA (0.38, 42%), and FM/BSA (0.36, 51%). Regionally, upper-body SFT (0.40, 45%) and SFT_arms (0.37, 47%) contributed most, whereas lower-body SFT (0.35, 13%) showed minimal impact. The triceps skinfold was the most influential site among skinfolds (0.45, 50%). In women, HC was the only significant covariate (p = 0.02). LF correlated with VAT/BSA (0.40, 49%), total SFT/BSA (0.51, 27%), and FM/BSA (0.47, 36%). Regional models yielded upper-body SFT (0.43, 36%), SFT_arms (0.38, 23%), and lower-body SFT (0.41, 9%). Among single sites, the umbilical skinfold was most relevant (0.43, 36%), followed by the biceps (0.42, 33%).ConclusionVAT remains pivotal for LF in both sexes, yet SFT exhibits clear sex- and region-specific relevance. Only subcutaneous fat of the upper-body and arms contributed meaningfully to liver fat. Simple skinfold assessments—particularly triceps in men—may serve as practical indicator for early risk stratification. Larger, prospective cohorts are needed to confirm these findings.Trial registrationNot applicable this study did not involve any health care intervention.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12944-025-02809-x.

Abstract The ability to focus on relevant information while ignoring distractions is critical during childhood, as it supports learning, social interaction, and adaptation to changing environments. This attentional balance is thought to depend in part on arousal regulation, mediated by the activity of the locus coeruleus norepinephrine (LC-NE) system. Moderate levels of arousal are typically associated with optimal cognitive performance. However, the interaction between arousal and attention remains poorly understood in humans, especially during development. In this study, we investigated whether experimentally modulating tonic arousal, the baseline level of physiological alertness, affects attentional processing in children (N = 44, aged 6–8) and adults (N = 46, aged 18–35). Participants performed an active auditory three-stimulus (standard, novel, target) oddball task, designed to assess selective attention to target tones and distraction by novel sounds. Prior to each task block, tonic arousal was manipulated using music or videos varying in arousing content. Physiological responses were recorded continuously (skin conductance, pupil dilation, heart rate) to index both tonic arousal and transient, phasic changes in arousal triggered by task events. While tonic arousal modulation was successful, as confirmed by skin conductance levels, Bayesian analyses provided evidence for no effect of this modulation on subsequent attentional processing. Importantly, children generally exhibited stronger phasic arousal responses, particularly to task-irrelevant novel sounds, reflecting less mature regulation of attention and arousal. These findings show developmental differences in physiological responses to unexpected environmental stimuli and provide physiological evidence of increased distractibility during childhood.

Since late 2021, there has been increasing interest in the idea of the “metaverse.” This is a virtual, augmented or mixed reality system that potentially millions of people can simultaneously inhabit and where people can interact with one another in real-time, irrespective of the physical distance between them. It is heralded by some as the next-level world wide web that will use a 3D immersive interface, with the potential of mixing virtual and physical reality, with environments persisting over time and all interoperable between different platforms and devices. Nevertheless, there is still no true example of a metaverse, only a number of nascent examples. Here we discuss the technical foundations for such metaverses, the role of generative AI, and its possible impact on society—including education, healthcare and quality of life, business and consumers, the future of work, and its implications for democracy. We also discuss public perceptions of the metaverse, issues of governance and regulation, and its legal implications. Overall, while the metaverse may radically and positively alter the way that we live, we must take into account ethical and regulatory issues in order to avoid predictions of a dystopian future being realized. This study is, therefore, a multi-disciplinary introduction to the metaverse concept that may be useful to readers with many different interests.

Anecdotal reports in angling media suggest that using fluorescent lures may increase catch rates in dim light or at high turbidity. We conducted a controlled angling experiment, comprising 501 30-min experimental fishing trials in three meso- to eutrophic waterbodies and assessed catch rates and sizes of European perch ( Perca fluviatilis) caught when offered two soft plastic lures (fluorescent vs. nonfluorescent) with similar reflective spectra. We also examined fluorescent properties of a range of market-available lures and modeled the experimental lure’s fluorescing effects under natural lake light. Considering the specific light environment of the study waters, the experimental fluorescent lure could get excited by downwelling visible daylight and fluoresce at depths of up to 3 m. Based on a sample catch of 331 perch, and after controlling for interactions with illuminance, cloud cover, water depth and daytime, the fluorescence of the experimental lure did, however, neither affect the catch rate nor the size of perch caught. Lure fluorescence maybe less important than many anglers believe, but further studies in different lake conditions are needed.

ZusammenfassungIn den unterschiedlichsten Bereichen der Gesundheitsversorgung finden Chatbots mit künstlicher Intelligenz mittlerweile immer mehr Anwendung, so dass sich auch in der Suchtberatung die Frage stellt, ob und wie diese sinnvoll genutzt werden könnten. Ziel dieses Beitrags ist es, die Chancen und Herausforderungen des Einsatzes von Chatbots, die auf künstlicher Intelligenz basieren, in diesem Versorgungssegment durch Stellungnahmen von Expert*innen für künstliche Intelligenz zu untersuchen.Es wurden Experten für künstliche Intelligenz mittels eines halbstrukturierten Interviews befragt. Die Transkripte wurden mit der inhaltlich-strukturierenden qualitativen Inhaltsanalyse ausgewertet.Der Einsatz von Chatbots auf Basis künstlicher Intelligenz könnte Suchtberater*innen entlasten und somit mehr Kapazität für die Betreuung von Menschen in Krisensituationen schaffen. Allerdings wird aktuell die Fähigkeit von Chatbots mit künstlicher Intelligenz in Frage gestellt, emotionale Signale bei abhängigen Menschen adäquat zu erfassen. Es wird prognostiziert, dass Chatbots auf Basis künstlicher Intelligenz die Suchtberatung unterstützen, jedoch nicht ersetzen können.Durch diese Unterstützung könnte die psychosoziale Versorgung abhängiger Menschen verbessert werden. Ein trialogischer Austausch zwischen Nutzer*innen, Endnutzer*innen und Anbieter*innen sollte dazu beitragen, die Qualität solcher Chatbots zu sichern und Verständnis und Transparenz zu fördern.

Successful and innovative founders are a key asset to an entrepreneurial ecosystem's capacity building and performance, especially through enabling entrepreneurial offspring entrepreneurial learning. How higher entrepreneurship education stakeholders (HEEs) engage with entrepreneurial role models (ERMO), especially within the nascent entrepreneurship stage, has barely been explored. To bridge this gap, this research assesses the role and influence of international HEEs from different domains and regions in managing ERMO in the context of ecosystems’ entrepreneurial capacity building. A mixed-methods research approach including semi-structured interviews and field trip observations of HEE institutional stakeholders (teachers and managers) is carried out, supported by a visual ego-centered qualitative network analysis (ENA), visualizing nascent ERMOs support structures focussing on the effectiveness of ERMO related activities. A reflexive thematic approach (RTA) is used for joint data analysis. Related to the management of ERMO the following themes were identified: (1) long-term engagement, (2) ecosystem embeddedness and literacy, and (3) cross-faculty cooperation. By investigating HEEs’ engagement with ERMO, we contribute to the literature by linking research on entrepreneurial role models with the discussion on entrepreneurship ecosystem capacity building. As the current state of research is not fully complete, further research on the effectiveness of ERMO-related programs needs to be carried out.

Social relationships are an important source of practical, emotional and nursing support, especially in the context of the need for care. As older lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI*) people frequently live alone and have children less often, non-kinship relationships take on aparticularly important role. The extent to which non-heterosexual individuals develop (potentially compensatory) strategies to cope with episodes of needing care has, to date, rarely been the focus of research on aging. To investigate the role of social support for older LGBTI* people with long-term care needs, including any implications for how this should be approached. The international scoping review was conducted using the scientific databases: APA PsycInfo, CINAHL, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, PSYNDEX literature with PSYNDEX tests, BASE, Livivo, Pubpsych, PubMed, and Google Scholar. A total of 19articles were identified for analysis. This article highlights three key themes related to social networks and care for older LGBTI* individuals: sociodemographic challenges, support resources, and structures for care of older persons and strategies for good quality of care. Family of choice connections are the backbone of social support for LGBTI* individuals but are also perceived as fragile when it comes to long-term care. Strategies for good quality of care include visibility of non-conforming sexual or gender identity, stigma management in long-term care facilities and proactive care planning. In order to support the compensatory effect of chosen family relationships among LGBTI* seniors, the development of diversity sensitive care and work with caregivers is needed. How this has been addressed to date and recommendations for future themes in gerontological diversity research are discussed.