Konzeption und Evaluation eines Stresspräventionstrainings für Jugendliche

Ziel dieser Studie ist die Entwicklung eines Stresspräventionsprogramms für das Jugendalter zur Durchführung im Schulsetting. Da Stress bereits im Kindes- und Jugendalter eine bedeutende Rolle spielt, soll erreicht werden, dass frühzeitig ein angemessenes Bewältigungspotential aufgebaut wird. Auf dem Hintergrund einer bereits durchgeführten Bedarfsanalyse wurde ein Programm realisiert, dessen Basismodul auf einem Problemlöseansatz beruht und das um weitere Programmmodule zu Kognitionen, zur sozialen Unterstützung sowie zu Entspannung und Zeitmanagement ergänzt werden kann. In einer Evaluationsstudie wurde das Stresspräventionstraining mit 461 Schülern der Klassen 8 und 9 (18 Trainingsklassen) durchgeführt, wobei jeweils das Basismodul zum Problemlösen mit einem der drei Zusatzmodule kombiniert wurde. Den drei Trainingsbedingungen wurde eine Kontrollgruppe ohne Trainingsteilnahme gegenübergestellt (339 Schüler aus 14 Kontrollklassen). Als Ergebnis zeigten sich deutliche Wissensverbesserungen sowie Veränderungen der Bewertung von stresserzeugenden Situationen und des Bewältigungsverhaltens, die über einen Zeitraum von mindestens zwei Monaten stabil blieben

Function of Estrogen on Bone and the Characterization of the Skeletal Phenotype of Steroid Receptor Coactivator (SRC)-1 KO Mice

Estrogen is known to have important effects on both reproductive and non-reproductive tissues. In this study it was demonstrated that an E2 dose of as little as 5µg/kg/d completely prevented loss of cancellous bone (at the lumbar spine and tibial metaphysis), and it had no stimulatory effects on the uterus in 6 month old C57BL/6 mice. By contrast, when 3 month old C56BL/6 mice were administered the same doses of E2 and studied after 1 month; the 5 g/kg/d dose resulted in uterine hypertrophy, but was not able to prevent loss of cancellous bone. These results, thus, a) provide data on the dose response for E2 effects on mouse bone; and b) indicate that the relative effects of E2 on bone versus the uterus are highly dependent on the particular experimental conditions used. This issue needs to be considered in evaluating agents with potential ?selective? effects on bone versus reproductive tissues. 2. Steroid receptor coactivator (SRC)-1 is an important nuclear receptor coactivator that enhances estrogen action in a number of tissues. The presented study has established that SRC-1 KO female and male mice have a comparable skeletal phenotype to their WT littermates at 3 and 5 months of age. The treatment of ovariectomized SRC-1 KO female mice with a physiological concentration of E2 led to a predominant defect in estrogen action in cancellous bone, with a relative preservation of estrogen effects on cortical bone. However, the deficit in estrogen action in the female SRC-1 KO mice was overcome by using a higher dose of E2, consistent with estrogen resistance in bone. The differential expression of the interacting nuclear receptors, ER- and -, in cancellous versus cortical bone and the specific interactions of these receptor isoforms with SRC-1 may, in part, explain why cancellous bone is more susceptible to loss of SRC-1 than cortical bone. 3. In contrast, the SRC-1 male mice lack the defect in estrogen action on bone. These findings are consistent with a gender-related difference that in male mice ER-α but not ER- is mediating the estrogen action on bone. The treatment of SRC-1 KO male mice with 5α-DHT resulted in a significant better response of the cortical bone from the KO male mice compared to the WT mice. The findings lead to the suggestion that in male WT mice SRC-1 might inhibit the action of 5α-DHT on bone. 4. Peripheral tissues including bone are dependent on circulating active sex steroids, but also synthesize estrogen from circulating C19 precursor locally. The conversion of the precursors to estrogen is mediated by aromatase. In this work it has been shown that human and rodent osteoblastic cells at different stages of differentiation express aromatase. Furthermore, the expression and activity has been demonstrated in bone tissues of mice and rats. Although a regulation of the aromatase by E2 was reported by other investigators in certain tissues, such as breast tissue and mammary glands, I did not find a change of aromatase expression and activity in the various bone cell lines and bone tissue under estrogen deficiency and estrogen exposure

Function of Estrogen on Bone and the Characterization of the Skeletal Phenotype of Steroid Receptor Coactivator (SRC)-1 KO Mice

Estrogen is known to have important effects on both reproductive and non-reproductive tissues. In this study it was demonstrated that an E2 dose of as little as 5µg/kg/d completely prevented loss of cancellous bone (at the lumbar spine and tibial metaphysis), and it had no stimulatory effects on the uterus in 6 month old C57BL/6 mice. By contrast, when 3 month old C56BL/6 mice were administered the same doses of E2 and studied after 1 month; the 5 g/kg/d dose resulted in uterine hypertrophy, but was not able to prevent loss of cancellous bone. These results, thus, a) provide data on the dose response for E2 effects on mouse bone; and b) indicate that the relative effects of E2 on bone versus the uterus are highly dependent on the particular experimental conditions used. This issue needs to be considered in evaluating agents with potential ?selective? effects on bone versus reproductive tissues. 2. Steroid receptor coactivator (SRC)-1 is an important nuclear receptor coactivator that enhances estrogen action in a number of tissues. The presented study has established that SRC-1 KO female and male mice have a comparable skeletal phenotype to their WT littermates at 3 and 5 months of age. The treatment of ovariectomized SRC-1 KO female mice with a physiological concentration of E2 led to a predominant defect in estrogen action in cancellous bone, with a relative preservation of estrogen effects on cortical bone. However, the deficit in estrogen action in the female SRC-1 KO mice was overcome by using a higher dose of E2, consistent with estrogen resistance in bone. The differential expression of the interacting nuclear receptors, ER- and -, in cancellous versus cortical bone and the specific interactions of these receptor isoforms with SRC-1 may, in part, explain why cancellous bone is more susceptible to loss of SRC-1 than cortical bone. 3. In contrast, the SRC-1 male mice lack the defect in estrogen action on bone. These findings are consistent with a gender-related difference that in male mice ER-α but not ER- is mediating the estrogen action on bone. The treatment of SRC-1 KO male mice with 5α-DHT resulted in a significant better response of the cortical bone from the KO male mice compared to the WT mice. The findings lead to the suggestion that in male WT mice SRC-1 might inhibit the action of 5α-DHT on bone. 4. Peripheral tissues including bone are dependent on circulating active sex steroids, but also synthesize estrogen from circulating C19 precursor locally. The conversion of the precursors to estrogen is mediated by aromatase. In this work it has been shown that human and rodent osteoblastic cells at different stages of differentiation express aromatase. Furthermore, the expression and activity has been demonstrated in bone tissues of mice and rats. Although a regulation of the aromatase by E2 was reported by other investigators in certain tissues, such as breast tissue and mammary glands, I did not find a change of aromatase expression and activity in the various bone cell lines and bone tissue under estrogen deficiency and estrogen exposure

The Role of Evaluation in Determining the Public Value of Extension

Extension has developed a strong evaluation culture across the system for the last 15 years. Yet measures are still limited to the private value of programs, looking at problems in a linear way and at isolated efforts. Across the country, Extension evaluators and administrators need to step up to help answer the so what? question about complex issues and related programming through stronger evaluation that leads to articulating the public value of Extension work

Culturally Responsive Strategies for Effective Teaching

Our proposal presents information regarding beliefs about diversity, implicit bias, ESSA, equality, equity, cultural disconnect, and culturally responsive teaching strategies. Our objective is to provide participants with research-based strategies and tools, knowledge, and understanding of culturally responsive strategies designed to raise the bar and close the gap for underserved student groups as identified in the ESSA

Die Wirkung von Orexin B auf die Hormonsekretion ( Insulin, Glukagon und Somatostatin ) des isoliert perfundierten Rattenpankreas

Nachdem 1998 die Orexine entdeckt wurden, sind primär zahlreiche Untersuchungen weltweit bezüglich ihrer Wirksamkeit auf das zentrale Nervensystem durchgeführt worden. Die Identifizierung der Orexinrezeptoren sowie vermehrte Hinweise auf eine mögliche auch peripher existierende Wirkung der Orexine führten zur Zielsetzung dieser Arbeit. Untersucht werden sollte der periphere Einfluss von Orexin B auf die Hormonsekretion des Pankreas. Hierzu wurde ein etabliertes Perfusionssystem an männlichen Wistar-Ratten verwendet. Nach 24 stündiger Nahrungskarenz wurde bei den Ratten das Pankreas operativ isoliert und zwischen Truncus coeliacus und Vena portae mit einem abgestimmten Perfusionsmedium perfundiert. Zu Beginn wurde das Pankreas nur „basal“ perfundiert, dann mit 10 mM Glukose die Sekretionsaktivität stimuliert. Nacheinander wurde nun der Einfluss der verschiedenen Substanzen auf das Rattenpankreas durch Hinzugeben zum Perfusionsmedium überprüft. So wurden sukzessive verschiedene Orexin B Konzentrationen sowie die Wirkung von Leptin, GLP-I und Arginin auf das Pankreas untersucht. Die Probengewinnung des Perfusats aus der Vena portae fand in verschiedenen Zeitabständen fraktioniert statt, so dass die Früh- und die Spätphase der Pankreasaktivität separat beurteilbar waren. Diese Proben wurden dann auf ihren Gehalt an Insulin, Glukagon und teilweise auch an Somatostatin mittels Radioimmunoassay untersucht. Die resultierenden Daten wurden in drei Phasen aufbereitet: eine basale, sowie die eigentlich entscheidenden erste und zweite Sekretionsphasen des Rattenpankreas. Die Ergebnisse zeigten, dass Orexin B in hohen Konzentrationen eine deutliche Stimulation der Insulinsekretion des Pankreas bewirkt, die in der Spätphase stärker ausgeprägt ist. Die Wirkungsweise von Leptin als Inhibitor der Insulinsekretion konnte auch in diesen Untersuchungen nachgewiesen werden. Es wirkt als funktioneller Antagonist des Orexin B, wenn auch dieses in der verwendeten Konzentration von 10-8 M den Leptineffekt nicht vollständig ausgleichen konnte. Die Untersuchungen bezüglich des Einflusses von Orexin B auf die GLP-1 stimulierte Insulinsekretion, zeigten eine geringe Steigerung derselben. Jedoch wurde klar, dass die verwendete Dosierung von Orexin B mit 10-8 M die starke Wirkung des 10-9 M GLP-1 nur gering verstärken konnte, der insulinsteigernde Effekt jedoch maßgeblich auf das GLP-1 zurückzuführen ist. Die singuläre Perfusion mit Arginin zeigte merkwürdigerweise keinen statistisch relevanten Einfluss auf die Insulinsekretion des Pankreas. Im Gegensatz hierzu zeigte sich bei der kombinierten Applikation von Orexin B und Arginin eine deutliche Steigerung des Insulinsekretion, so dass von einer gegenseitigen Verstärkung beider Substanzen hinsichtlich der Stimulation der Insulinsekretion ausgegangen werden muss. Hinsichtlich der Glukagonsekretion des Pankreas zeigt Orexin B einen deutlichen inhibierenden Effekt auf die α-Zellen. Dieser Effekt vermag jedoch nicht die sekretionsstimulierende Wirkung des Leptin auf das Rattenpankreas zu relativieren; es vermindert in der verwendeten 10-8 M Konzentrationen die Sekretionsmenge nur geringgradig. Ähnlich sieht es bei der Interaktion von Orexin B und Arginin aus. Arginin als bekannter potenter Stimulator der Glukagonsekretion wird in seiner Wirkung durch Orexin B eingeschränkt. Aber auch hier vermag das mit 10-8 M dosierte Orexin B die Argininwirkung (10 mM) nicht vollständig aufheben. Die orientierenden Untersuchungen hinsichtlich der Beeinflussung der Somatostatinsekretion zeigten hingegen keine erkennbare Wirksamkeit von Orexin B auf die Funktion der D-Zellen. Weitere Untersuchungen hinsichtlich der detaillierten Einflussnahme des Orexin B’s im Hormonhaushalt müssten folgen, v.a. mit noch höheren Dosierungen desselben. Zum anderen wären Nachforschungen bzgl. der Rezeptorwirkung und auch der Rezeptorendichte auf den Pankreaszellen aufschlussreich, die die genaue Funktion sowie die zahlenmäßige und regionale Verteilung der OX-2-Rezeptoren verdeutlichen. Wichtige Hinweise für die Wirkungsweise des Orexin B’s würden auch die (konkurrierende) Situation der verschiedenen Substanzen am Orexinrezeptor darstellende Untersuchungen geben

Noise in an intensive care unit

Patients and staff in hospitals are exposed to a complex sound environment with rather high noise levels. In intensive care units, the main noise sources are hospital staff on duty and medical equipment, which generates both operating noise and acoustic alarms. Although noise in most cases is produced during activities for the purpose of saving life, noise can induce significant changes in the depth and quality of sleep and negatively affect health in general. Results of a survey of hospital staff are presented as well as measurements in two German hospital wards: a standard two-bed room and a special Intermediate Care Unit (IMC-Unit), each in a different Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Sound pressure data were collected over a 48 hour period and converted into different levels (LAFeq, LAFmax, LAFmin, LAF 5%), as well as a rating level LAr, which is used to take tonality and impulsiveness into account. An analysis of the survey and the measured data, together with a comparison of thresholds of national and international regulations and standards describe the acoustic situation and its likely noise effects on staff and patients

Becoming Inclusive Teacher Educators: Self-Study as a Professional Learning Tool

This article describes a self-study inquiry project designed and conducted by a self-study group at a Faculty of Education in an Atlantic Canadian University. The seven-member group engaged in a collaborative self-study inquiry while adopting Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles in their teacher education practices and documented their professional learning. This yearlong self-study inquiry project encompassed several data collection methods to examine inclusive practices of self-study group members, including personal reflections, minutes of weekly meetings, artifacts, and field notes. This article focuses on how UDL provided a means for three group members to critically examine their inclusive practices at the beginning, during, and following the collaborative self-study inquiry. Using a case study methodology, self-study cases of these three faculty members—Angela, Ryan, and Sarah (Pseudonyms)—were developed. The cases reported on the journey of these faculty members in improving their inclusive practice through their engagement in self-study

Acoustic Travel-Time Tomography: Optimal Positioning of Transceiver and Maximal Sound-Ray Coverage of the Room

Acoustic travel-time tomography (ATOM) determines the distribution of the temperature in a propagation medium by measuring the travel-time of acoustic signals between transmitters and receivers. To employ ATOM for indoor climate measurements, the impulse responses have been measured in the climate chamber lab of the Bauhaus-University Weimar and compared with the theoretical results of its image source model (ISM). A challenging task is distinguishing the reflections of interest in the reflectogram when the sound rays have similar travel-times. This paper presents a numerical method to address this problem by finding optimal positions of transmitter and receiver, since they have a direct impact on the distribution of travel times. These optimal positions have the minimum number of simultaneous arrival time within a threshold level. Moreover, for the tomographic reconstruction, when some of the voxels remain empty of sound-rays, it leads to inaccurate determination of the air temperature within those voxels. Based on the presented numerical method, the number of empty tomographic voxels are minimized to ensure the best sound-ray coverage of the room. Subsequently, a spatial temperature distribution is estimated by simultaneous iterative reconstruction technique (SIRT). The experimental set-up in the climate chamber verifies the simulation results

A retrospective study of renal dysfunction in acute stroke: incidence, impact and outcomes

Stroke is a leading cause of death and neurological disability worldwide. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with an increased risk of stroke. Conversely, CKD confers worse outcomes following a stroke, with the highest mortality seen in end-stage renal disease. In comparison, the relationship between AKI and stroke is not well described, with a lack of UK data. In this single-centre, retrospective observational study of hospitalisations with acute stroke, I sought to determine the incidence of renal dysfunction and its impact on outcomes. AKI incidence was determined using preadmission serum creatinine (SCr) as ‘baseline’ renal function, compared with 4 surrogate methods. AKI was common, with an overall incidence of 20%, and was associated with increased 30-day and 1-year mortality using all AKI methods. Admission SCr most closely agreed with preadmission SCr but all surrogate methods exhibited bi-directional misclassification of AKI. CKD prevalence was high (over 30%) and was associated with increased mortality in univariable analyses. CKD patients underwent fewer imaging modalities and thrombectomy, possibly suggesting the presence of ‘renalism’. Contrast exposure was not found to be a risk factor for AKI. Vascular calcification and carotid artery disease were univariably associated with CKD. Multi-centre studies are needed to confirm the findings