Interviewgestützte Evaluation von Umweltbildungsveranstaltungen für Biolandwirte

This paper discusses the effects of environmental education for organic farmers on the implementation of conservation measurements in farm management. By means of a telephone survey, a sample of 62 farmers was interviewed to evaluate the success of an education program, which consisted of theoretical lectures in winter as well as excursions in summer. The results of the interviews prove a positive feedback of farmers on the environmental education. However, concerning implementation of more comprehensive nature conservation measures appropriate (agricultural) political and financial frame conditions are essential

Recognition Memory for High and Low Associative Stimuli in Autistic Individuals with Outstanding Memory Skill

Individuals with autism exhibit typical recognition memory performance, but they show a reduced use of context and relational processing in more complex memory tasks. It is unclear whether the same is true for autistic individuals with exceptional memory skill for whom superior rote memory skill has been assumed.In this study, we investigated recognition memory for high and low associative stimuli in autistic memory experts. In accord with the rote memory notion, we expected an equal recognition performance for high and low associative stimuli and superior memorizing of nonsense material compared to control participants.Seven autistic memory experts and seven typically developed control subjects, matched according to age, sex, handedness, and full-scale intelligence quotient (IQ), were examined on a continuous old-new recognition paradigm, including high or low associative pseudowords and shapes. Memory expertise was characterized as a currently present outstanding memory skill above the subject's general level of ability and above the general population and was validated through direct clinical observation or some form of credible evidence.Our hypotheses were partially corroborated with autistic memory experts recognizing high and low associative shapes equally well in contrast to control participants who showed superior recognition of high associative shapes. However, memory experts did not outperform control participants in the recognition of low associative shapes. There were no differences for the recognition of pseudowords.Findings do not indicate enhanced memory for nonsense material, but a failure to make use of semantic features of abstract stimuli as assumed for autism as a whole

Participatory comprehensive planning to handle competing land-use priorities in the sparsely populated rural context

Rural areas supply the planet's natural resources while simultaneously harbor refuges for most of the world's remaining biodiversity and intact, resilient ecosystems. Since traditional extractive activities must increasingly co-exist with non-exploitative activities such as tourism and conservation, sustainable land use planning is essential for managing trade-offs between incompatible interests in rural areas. With "communicative planning" being promoted since decades, participation is considered crucial for reconciling different planning interests. However, the implementation of participation remains patchy and uneven, not least in sparsely populated regions with low capacity where participation could be a game-changer. Here, we consider municipal comprehensive planning as an existing arena to explore participatory planning approaches potentially capable of simultaneously managing competing land uses and promoting sustainable development in sparsely populated rural contexts. Collaborative work between researchers and public managers resulted in the co-development of an approach based on qualitative village- and interest-based focus groups that facilitated the formulation, negotiation, and legitimization of concrete and detailed local guidelines that prioritize between different land uses. Consequently, the resulting comprehensive plan draft was more readily adopted than the output of a traditional planning process. We found that citizens in sparsely populated municipalities seem willing to actively contribute to rural development processes if they have significant influence

Cytokeratin 18 expression in immature Sertoli cells: co-localization with interstitial lymphocytic infiltrates.

Although multiple interactions of seminiferous tubules and the interstitial testicular tissue are known, correlation of cytokeratin 18 expressing Sertoli cells with interstitial changes has still not yet been reported. Considering this fact, we focused our investigation on changes of the adjacent interstitial tissue. A total sample of 51 testicular biopsies (from infertile patients) showing mixed atrophy was examined immunohistochemically with antibodies against cytokeratin 18, vimentin, L26/CD20, CD4 and CD8. Twenty-one of the 51 cases showed single seminiferous tubules with Sertoli cells expressing cytokeratin 18. These 21 tubules consistently exhibit either spermatogenic arrest at the level of spermatogonia or only immature Sertoli cells. In the adjacent interstitial tissue of 8 of the 21 cytokeratin 18 positive tubules (39%) striking inflammatory infiltrates--predominantly expressing L26/CD20 typical for B lymphocytes and CD8 typical for T suppressor lymphocytes--were detected. These findings underline that tubules with cytokeratin 18 expressing Sertoli cells exhibit early spermatogenic arrest or only few remaining Sertoli cells. Additionally, we observed a remarkable co-localization of these tubules with lymphocytic infiltrates of the adjacent interstitial tissue

Barrieren für die Inanspruchnahme Früher Hilfen: die Rolle der elterlichen Steuerungskompetenz

Hintergrund: Es ist bekannt, dass Angebote für Familien mit kleinen Kindern nicht alle Eltern gleichermaßen erreichen. Oft sind es gerade diejenigen Familien, die aufgrund erhöhter Belastungen am meisten von den Angeboten profitieren könnten, die nicht erreicht werden (Präventionsdilemma). Ziel: Es wird der Frage nachgegangen, ob Eltern sich anhand ihrer Einstellung zu Gesundheit, Prävention und Angeboten für Familien unterscheiden lassen und inwiefern die Zugehörigkeit zu einer anhand der Einstellung identifizierten Gruppe Einfluss auf die Nutzung von Angeboten (der primären und sekundären Prävention) rund um Schwangerschaft und Geburt hat. Methoden: Eltern von Kindern im Alter von zwei bis vier Jahren (N=273) füllten im Rahmen von Hausbesuchen einen standardisierten Fragebogen aus; 203 Eltern nahmen zusätzlich an qualitativen Interviews teil. Ergebnisse: Eltern unterschiedlicher sozialer Milieus konnten anhand der Interviews in Gruppen mit niedriger und hoher "Steuerungskompetenz" eingeteilt werden. Eltern mit hoher und niedriger Steuerungskompetenz unterscheiden sich bei der Kenntnis und Inanspruchnahme von und Zufriedenheit mit Angeboten für Familien; insbesondere Angeboten der primären Prävention. Steuerungskompetenz leistet - über soziodemografische Kontrollvariablen und Belastungsfaktoren hinaus - einen erklärenden Beitrag zur Inanspruchnahme von Angeboten der primären Prävention. Die Inanspruchnahme von Angeboten der sekundären Prävention wird eher von verschiedenen Belastungsfaktoren vorhergesagt. Diskussion: Ergebnisse werden im Hinblick auf ungenutzte Angebote und Möglichkeiten einer zielgruppenorientierten Ansprache diskutiert.Background: It is well established that preventive measures for pregnant women and families with small children do not reach all families alike. Often enough, it is those families, who due to heightened stresses and strains might gain the most from these measures, who cannot be reached (dilemma of prevention). Goal: This investigation explores whether parents can be grouped according to their views on health, prevention and measures available to young families, and whether belonging to one of the identified groups explains differences in the use of (primary and secondary) preventive measures for pregnant women and young families. Method: In the context of home visits, parents of children aged two to four years (N=273) completed questionnaires. Additionally, 203 parents took part in qualitative interviews. Results and discussion: Based on interview data, parents from different sociocultural backgrounds could be grouped along their expected ability to control sources for parental support (Steuerungskompetenz). Parents high and low in Steuerungskompetenz differ regarding their knowledge of, use of, and satisfaction with (primary) preventive measures. Steuerungskompetenz explains the use of primary preventive measures above and beyond socioeconomic control variables as well as family stresses and strains. The use of secondary preventive measures is better explained by family stresses and strains. Results are discussed in terms of untapped services, needs and possibilities of target group-oriented approach

Galectin-3: a potential biomarker for diagnostics of heart failure

Heart failure is a dysfunction with varied ethology; one of possible causes is anticancer treatment with anthracyclines. Rapid diagnosis is important because the disease is associated with high mortality and morbidity. The only biomarkers fully approved for diagnostics of heart failure are natriuretic peptides. They are secreted by ventricular muscle cells in response to volume and pressure overload. However, their concentration can be influenced by other factors, such as age or gender. A potential marker, not affected by these issues might be galectin-3. Current studies showed that galectin can play particularly significant role in myocardial fibrosis and inflammation. Elevated galectin-3 concentration has been observed in such cardiovascular diseases as heart failure,  atherosclerosis, stroke and myocardial infarction. The review summarizes results of studies which indicate the role of galectin-3 in inducing fibrosis and cardiac remodelling (processes which influence disease progression and prognosis) and showed its potential diagnostic value.Heart failure is a dysfunction with varied ethology; one of possible causes is anticancer treatment with anthracyclines. Rapid diagnosis is important because the disease is associated with high mortality and morbidity. The only biomarkers fully approved for diagnostics of heart failure are natriuretic peptides. They are secreted by ventricular muscle cells in response to volume and pressure overload. However, their concentration can be influenced by other factors, such as age or gender. A potential marker, not affected by these issues might be galectin-3. Current studies showed that galectin can play particularly significant role in myocardial fibrosis and inflammation. Elevated galectin-3 concentration has been observed in such cardiovascular diseases as heart failure,  atherosclerosis, stroke and myocardial infarction. The review summarizes results of studies which indicate the role of galectin-3 in inducing fibrosis and cardiac remodelling (processes which influence disease progression and prognosis) and showed its potential diagnostic value

The influence of occupational stress factors on the nicotine dependence: a cross sectional study

Objective This study analyses the association between occupational stress factors and nicotine dependence. Our hypothesis is that occupational stress factors increase nicotine dependence. Methods Data were taken from the Cologne Smoking Study, a case-control study that examines which genetic/psychosocial factors lead to a higher risk for smokers to suffer from cardiac infarction, lung cancer and/or to become addicted to nicotine. Our sample consisted of N = 197 currently smoking and employed participants. Nicotine dependence was measured using the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND). The extent of the stress factors experienced at work was assessed using the Effort-Reward Imbalance scale (ERI). Logistic regression was used for the statistical analysis. Results Contrary to our hypothesis, the results show that occupational stress factors are actually associated with lower levels of nicotine dependence (N = 197; adjusted OR = 0.439; p = .059). Conclusions One possible explanation for the study's findings is that the participants have a heavy workload and can only smoke in their spare time. Another reason may be workplace smoking bans. Furthermore, the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence is unable to examine nicotine dependence during working hours