With the new and rising popularity of Baldur’s Gate 3, an exploratory qualitative research comparing it to its tabletop predecessor: Dungeons and Dragons 5E, is necessary to gather new data about player experience within these different formats.  This research explores the difference in immersion into character between Dungeons and Dragons 5E and Baldur’s Gate 3. This is done through a mixed methods approach, combining interviews and digital ethnography. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 6 interviewees from varying backgrounds who had played both games for a significant amount of time. For the digital ethnography, relevant selected posts from Reddit users in r/DnD and r/BaldursGate3 were filtered and selected using the software Communalytic.  The themes correlated to immersion into character were transformative play, social play, and creative agenda. Through these themes, it was concluded that the main difference between these two games were related to transformative potential, as well as the social aspect 2 of both games, where in-person D&D and co-op BG3 seemed to help players get immersed into their characters more easily than in online D&D and solo mode BG3.

Background: Circadian rhythm disturbance is commonly observed in Alzheimer's disease (AD). In mammals, these rhythms are orchestrated by the superchiasmatic nucleus (SCN). Our previous study in the Tg2576 AD mouse model suggests that inflammatory responses, most likely manifested by low GABA production, may be one of the underlying perpetrators for the changes in circadian rhythmicity and sleep disturbance in AD. However, the mechanistic connections between SCN dysfunction, GABA modulation, and inflammation in AD is not fully understood. Objective: To reveal influences of amyloid pathology in Tg2576 mouse brain on metabolism in SCN and to identify key metabolic sensors that couple SCN dysfunction with GABA modulation and inflammation. Methods: High resolution magic angle spinning (HR-MAS) NMR in conjunction with multivariate analysis was applied for metabolic profiling in SCN of control and Tg2576 female mice. Immunohistochemical analysis was used to detect neurons, astrocytes, expression of GABA transporter 1 (GAT1) and Bmal1. Results: Metabolic profiling revealed significant metabolic deficits in SCN of Tg2576 mice. Reductions in glucose, glutamate, GABA, and glutamine provide hints toward an impaired GABAergic glucose oxidation and neurotransmitter cycling in SCN of AD mice. In addition, decreased redox co-factor NADPH and glutathione support a redox disbalance. Immunohistochemical examinations showed low expression of the core clock protein, Bmal1, especially in activated astrocytes. Moreover, decreased expression of GAT1 in astrocytes indicates low GABA recycling in this cell type. Conclusion: Our results suggest that redox disbalance and compromised GABA signaling are important denominators and connectors between neuroinflammation and clock dysfunction in AD.

This study examined the alleged prevalence of Satanism in Zambia, with a particular reference to the Kabwe District during the period 2010-2013. The overall objective was to ascertain the claims and speculations on the alleged prevalence of Satanism in the district of Kabwe. The claims about the alleged prevalence of Satanism and the satanic scare were found by this study to be a reality in Kabwe, with eighty-eight per cent (88%) of the respondents acknowledging the alleged prevalence of the phenomenon. People’s knowledge of Satanism was mainly through rumours, messages from Churches and the electronic media. Studies on rumours (by Stephen Ellis, Gerrie Ter Haar and Jeffrey Victor) have shown that rumours can be investigated in the search for facts, especially rumours that offer plausible explanations for people’s shared anxieties. The above mentioned scholars argue that with efforts at corroboration, such as by interviewing key informants, the researcher can seek credibility on prevailing rumours by verifying or dismissing mere rumours from true stories. The assertions from scholars above justified the use of rumours as a methodological tool in this study. From sources of information the study relied on, claims about the alleged prevalence of Satanism in the district were investigated. The study refuted the satanic claims in a number of cases that were analysed, because they were mostly based on ‘pious legends’ hence lacked objective evidence. From the few incidents that suggested the prevalence of Satanism, there were still two basic problems faced in assessing their credibility: the first being the difficulty in determining the reliability of the confessions from informants who in this case either claimed they were ex-Satanists or served on behalf of Satanists. The second problem consisted in what seemed to be the inconsistency in the explanations of motives behind human killings found in the ritual murders. Some explanations did not suggest satanic motives. One example of refuted claims concerned the two locations within Kabwe district which were highly rumoured to be sites for Satanists, which were found by this study to be Freemasonry Lodges, contrary to what was rumoured.From the findings of this study, it was believed that people joined Satanism either because of the greedy for riches or to avoid poverty. It was also believed that other peoples joined Satanism unconsciously through luring methods used by Satanists. The study also found the satanic scare to have effects on the lives of people in the district. For example, it caused some people to become more committed Christians in their defence against the alleged satanic forces. Because people had associated riches to Satanism, certain individuals avoided getting rich for fear of being labelled ‘Satanists’. / Religious Studies & Arabic / D. Litt. et Phil. (Religious Studies)

In this dissertation I examine the role played by the ancient Near Eastern serpent in apotropaic and prophylactic magic. Within this realm the serpent appears in roles in healing and protection where magic is often employed. The possibility of positive and negative roles is investigated. The study is confined to the Bronze Age in ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia and Syria-Palestine. The serpents, serpent deities and deities with ophidian aspects and associations are described. By examining these serpents and deities and their roles it is possible to incorporate a comparative element into his study on an intra- and inter-regional basis. In order to accumulate information for this study I have utilised textual and pictorial evidence, as well as artefacts (such as jewellery, pottery and other amulets) bearing serpent motifs. / Old Testament & Ancient Near Eastern Studies / M.A. (Ancient Near Eastern Studies)

Föreliggande avhandling syftar till att utveckla läsningen och tolkningen av inskrifterna på de i dagsläget 46 kända vikingatida runblecken. Målet är att ge en så tydlig bild som möjligt av inskriftsgenren vikingatida runbleck. I detta syfte har upprepade fältundersökningar av runblecken genomförts med stereomikroskop. På grundval av på så vis etablerade nya läsningar föreslås nya tolkningar till de mest problematiska ställena i de tidigare tolkade runblecksinskrifterna. Nya tolkningsförslag ges även för runblecksinskrifter som tidigare har ansetts vara olexikaliska. Utöver nya läsningar och tolkningar resulterar denna studie i en kartläggning av relationen mellan runblecksinskrifternas innehåll och form å den enda sidan och runbleckens fyndmiljöer och utseende å den andra. / The aim of this dissertation is to represent as clearly as possible the genre of Viking-Age runic plates by developing readings and interpretations of the inscriptions on the 46 metal plates with runes from the Viking Age known today. Several investigations of the runic plates have been conducted with a stereomicroscope for this purpose. On the basis of the new readings thus established, new interpretations have been proposed for the most problematic sections of previously interpreted inscriptions. New interpretations are also offered for inscriptions on runic plates which have previously been considered non-lexical. As well as providing new readings and interpretations, this study has resulted in clarification of the relationship between the form and content of the inscriptions on the runic plates on the one hand and on their find circumstances and appearance on the other.

Strukturelle Untersuchungen mittels Lösungs-NMR Spektroskopie sind für supramolekulare Maschinen mit Molekulargewichten von mehr als 150 kDa nur beschränkt möglich. Die Festkörper-NMR mit Probenrotation im sogenannten magischen Winkel (MAS) stellt dagegen eine molekulargewichtsunabhängige Methode dar. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wurde eine neue Methode entwickelt, die die MAS NMR Spektroskopie an supramolekularen Komplexen in Lösung erlaubt. Proteinlösungen bilden demnach durch MAS und dessen Ultrazentrifugationseffekt homogene Proteinsedimente aus, in denen die rotatorische Diffusion großer Proteinkomplexe überwiegend aufgehoben ist. Auf diese Weise können klassische Festkörper-NMR Methoden angewandt werden, ohne dass Präzipitations- oder Kristallisationsverfahren erforderlich sind. In Kombination mit Proteindeuterierung, Protonendetektion sowie paramagnetischer Relaxationsverstärkung ermöglichte diese neuartige Methode die Zuordnung von Rückgrat-Amidresonanzen des 20S Proteasoms mit einem Molekulargewicht von 1,1 MDa. Weiterhin wurde diese Methode zur Untersuchung des kleinen Hitzeschockproteins alpha-B-Crystallin und dessen Cu(II)-Bindungseigenschaften genutzt. Das Chaperon (600 kDa) spielt eine wesentliche Rolle in der zellulären Proteinhomeostase. Verschiedenste NMR Techniken und andere biophysikalische Methoden zeigen, dass die konservierte alpha-Crystallin-Domäne ein Cu(II)-Ion nahe der Monomer-Monomer Interaktionsfläche mit pikomolarer Affinität bindet. Die Cu(II)-induzierte Freilegung von Substrat-Interaktionsflächen und Veränderungen in der dynamischen Quartärstruktur modulieren so die oligomere Architektur und die Chaperonaktivität von alpha-B-Crystallin. Die hier erstmals beschriebene MAS NMR Spektroskopie von sedimentierten Biomolekülen legt einen wichtigen Grundstein für zukünftige Struktur- und Dynamikuntersuchungen an großen molekularen Maschinen. / Structural investigations of large biomolecules by solution-state NMR are challenging in case the molecular weight of the complex exceeds 150 kDa. Magic-angle-spinning (MAS) solid-state NMR is a powerful tool for the characterization of biomolecular systems irrespective of their molecular weight. In this work, an approach was developed, which enables the investigation of supramolecular modules by MAS NMR. Protein solutions can yield fairly homogeneous sediments due to the ultracentrifugal forces during MAS. Since rotational diffusion is impaired, typical solid-state NMR techniques can thus be applied without the need of precipitation or crystallization. This new approach in combination with protein deuteration, proton-detection and paramagnetic relaxation enhancement enabled the observation and the assignment of backbone amide resonances of a 20S proteasome assembly with a molecular weight of 1.1 MDa. Similarly, the approach was used to characterize the small heat-shock protein alpha-B-crystallin with respect to its Cu(II)-dependent chaperone activity. The chaperone (600 kDa) plays an essential role in cellular protein homeostasis. We show that the conserved alpha-crystallin core domain is the elementary Cu(II)-binding unit specifically coordinating one Cu(II) ion near to the dimer interface with picomolar binding affinity. We suggest that Cu(II)-binding unblocks potential client binding sites and alters quaternary dynamics of both the dimeric building block as well as the higher-order assemblies of alpha-B-crystallin. In summary, MAS NMR employed to biomolecules in solution is a very promising tool to explore structural and dynamic properties of large biological machines with no upper size limit.

Schwerpunkt dieser Arbeit ist die Emission von hochenergetischer Gammastrahlung aus Aktiven Galaxienkernen, anhand von Beobachtungen mit den MAGIC Teleskopen. Aktive Galaxien entstehen durch die Freisetzung von Gravitationsenergie der Stellarmaterie, die in das zentrale Schwarze Loch fällt. Zwei diametral entgegengesetzte Jets strömen aus dem Kern. Falls einer von diesen Jets zum Beobachter zeigt, wird der aktive Galaxienkern als Blazar bezeichnet. In dieser Doktorarbeit wird die Analyse der MAGIC Beobachtungen von drei Blazaren präsentiert: der bisher unbekannte hochenergetische Blazar 1ES 1727+502 und die bekannten Objekte 3C 279 und PKS 1510-089. Die Quelle 1ES 1727+502 gehört zu der Unterklasse der BL Lac Objekte, die die zahlenmässig größte Klasse an extragalaktischen hochenergetische Objekten ist. Diese Entdeckung beweist, wie wichtig es ist, mehrere und verschiedene Kriterien für die Auswahl von Objekten zu benutzen. Der Blazar 1ES 1727+502 wurde aus einem X-ray Katalog ausgesucht, die Datennahme war unabhängig von dem Aktivitätsstatus der anderen Energiebänder. Die Blazare 3C 279 und PKS 1510-089 gehören zu der Unterklasse des Flat Spectrum Radio Quasars. Es gibt nur drei bekannte Flat Spectrum Radio Quasare. Die Entdeckung von Flat Spectrum Radio Quasaren ist schwierig, weil im leisen Zustand der hochenergetische Fluss niedrig ist. Während eines Flares steigt der Fluss in sehr kurzer Zeit um mehrere Größenordnungen an, deswegen ist die Beobachtung eines Flares schwer zu realisieren aber physikalisch äußerst interessant. Die MAGIC Beobachtungen sind mit Messungen aus anderen Energiebändern kombiniert. Mögliche Interpretationen des beobachteten Verhaltens werden diskutiert. Die Ergebnisse werden erläutert und mit historischen Beobachtungen verglichen. Die offenen Fragen und Probleme, die Ziel zukünftiger Studien sein sollen, werden am Schluss hervorgehoben. / This PhD thesis addresses the problem of understanding the very high energy emission from active galactic nuclei as detected with the MAGIC telescopes. Active galactic nuclei are galaxies powered by the release of gravitational energy of stellar material falling into a black hole, located in their core. Two opposed jets extend from the central region outwards, if one of the them points towards the observer, the source is called a blazar. In this thesis the analysis of MAGIC observations of three different blazars is presented: the newly discovered very high energy blazar 1ES 1727+502, and the two known objects 3C 279 and PKS 1510-089. The source 1ES 1727+502 belongs to the subclass of BL Lac objects, the most numerous class of extragalactic very high energy emitters. This source was selected for observations from an X-ray catalogue and was observed even if no high activity states were reported at lower energies. For this reason, this discovery proves the importance of using several criteria for the selection of very high energy observation targets. The other two objects, 3C 279 and PKS 1510-089, belong to the subclass of flat spectrum radio quasars. We count only three representatives of this class in the very high energy domain. Their detection is critical because during quiescent states they have low flux levels at very high energies. During flaring states, flat spectrum radio quasars exhibit flux enhancements of orders of magnitudes and short time scales. Observations during such states, difficult to catch, are interesting because extreme processes are taking place. Very high energy observations of these three objects are complemented with measurements at lower energies and interpretations of the observed behaviours are discussed. The results are compared with historical observations, highlighting open questions and problems which should be addressed by future studies.

No description available.

This research provides an analytical reading of four contemporary novels, in a transcultural study of magical realism and dreams. Two of the novels, Ben Okri's The Famished Road and its sequel Songs of Enchantment, examine dreams through magical realism in postcolonial African literature. The third novel, Toni Morrison's Beloved, is used to depict the use of memory within an African-American magical realist novel. And the fourth narrative is Irvine Welsh's Marabou Stork Nightmares, which focuses on the use of hallucination within what can be seen as a magical realist mode. The analysis of these novels examines certain aspects of magical realism, including the use of the subconscious, focusing primarily on dream, memory and hallucination. In examining this topic, I aim to suggest that the use of the subconscious, within this literature, allows the writer to comment on a particular society. As can be seen in previous studies of magical realism, the writer is able to express his or her dissatisfaction with society by destabilising conventionally accepted truths. A writer can therefore convey a sense that the surface of a particular culture or society is a facade, disguising certain hidden truths, which require a more in depth examination, in order to more fully understand the workings behind that society. The subconscious works to reveal these hidden realities, and is therefore a mode of resistance in that it allows the writers an avenue through which to express their dissatisfaction with their particular society. This is achieved through the exploring and deconstruction of certain boundaries within the novels which, along with several other factors, essentially concords the magical realism inherent in these texts. It is additionally enhanced through the use of the device of the subconscious, which allows the writers to transgress borders, and further explore their particular cultures. Through the use of novels from various contemporary societies, I hope to establish the fact that the subconscious, and therefore magical realism, is a transcultural technique, in that it traverses a multitude of cultures, without being specific to any one in particular. While the use of dreams requires a culture specific interpretation, the use of the subconscious in this literature can be seen as a global technique of expressing dissatisfaction within these societies. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2005.

This study examined the alleged prevalence of Satanism in Zambia, with a particular reference to the Kabwe District during the period 2010-2013. The overall objective was to ascertain the claims and speculations on the alleged prevalence of Satanism in the district of Kabwe. The claims about the alleged prevalence of Satanism and the satanic scare were found by this study to be a reality in Kabwe, with eighty-eight per cent (88%) of the respondents acknowledging the alleged prevalence of the phenomenon. People’s knowledge of Satanism was mainly through rumours, messages from Churches and the electronic media. Studies on rumours (by Stephen Ellis, Gerrie Ter Haar and Jeffrey Victor) have shown that rumours can be investigated in the search for facts, especially rumours that offer plausible explanations for people’s shared anxieties. The above mentioned scholars argue that with efforts at corroboration, such as by interviewing key informants, the researcher can seek credibility on prevailing rumours by verifying or dismissing mere rumours from true stories. The assertions from scholars above justified the use of rumours as a methodological tool in this study. From sources of information the study relied on, claims about the alleged prevalence of Satanism in the district were investigated. The study refuted the satanic claims in a number of cases that were analysed, because they were mostly based on ‘pious legends’ hence lacked objective evidence. From the few incidents that suggested the prevalence of Satanism, there were still two basic problems faced in assessing their credibility: the first being the difficulty in determining the reliability of the confessions from informants who in this case either claimed they were ex-Satanists or served on behalf of Satanists. The second problem consisted in what seemed to be the inconsistency in the explanations of motives behind human killings found in the ritual murders. Some explanations did not suggest satanic motives. One example of refuted claims concerned the two locations within Kabwe district which were highly rumoured to be sites for Satanists, which were found by this study to be Freemasonry Lodges, contrary to what was rumoured.From the findings of this study, it was believed that people joined Satanism either because of the greedy for riches or to avoid poverty. It was also believed that other peoples joined Satanism unconsciously through luring methods used by Satanists. The study also found the satanic scare to have effects on the lives of people in the district. For example, it caused some people to become more committed Christians in their defence against the alleged satanic forces. Because people had associated riches to Satanism, certain individuals avoided getting rich for fear of being labelled ‘Satanists’. / Religious Studies and Arabic / D. Litt. et Phil. (Religious Studies)