Cortisol awakening response in infants during the first six postnatal months and its relation to birth outcome

Context: The rise of cortisol concentrations after awakening is well documented in adults and children and commonly used as easily accessible marker of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) reactivity. Objective: The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the existence of a salivary cortisol awakening response (CAR) in infants, and to estimate its association with birth outcome. Setting: The study was conducted in the general community. Participants: Healthy infants up to six months age (N=64). Main outcome measures: Mothers were instructed to collect their infant’s saliva immediately and 30 min after awakening on two days within 45 days, irrespective of awakening time. Information on birth outcome was collected from medical records and questionnaires. Results: Linear mixed models analysis revealed a significant rise of infant salivary cortisol concentrations within 30 minutes after awakening (b=0.128, SE=0.024, t61=5.31, p<0.001), which was quite stable across the two sampling days (r=0.40, p=0.002). The infant CAR was predicted by length of gestation (t61=2.43, p=0.018). Conclusions: The current data demonstrate the existence of a CAR in infants as early as during the first six postnatal months; its relationship with length of gestation supports its usefulness for questions related to developmental neuroscience. Therefore, the infant CAR emerges as non-invasive biomarker of HPA axis dynamics at this early stage of life, with relevance for future research and potential clinical applications

SIPS - Screening-Instrument für prämenstruelle Symptome*: Die deutsche Version des Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool zur Erfassung klinisch relevanter Beschwerden

Zusammenfassung: Hintergrund: Prämenstruelle dysphorische Störungen (PMDS) und schwere prämenstruelle Syndrome (PMS) treten häufig auf, bleiben jedoch oft unerkannt und unbehandelt. Begünstigt wird dies durch das Fehlen eines entsprechenden deutschsprachigen Screening-Instruments. Ziel dieser Studie war es, das englischsprachige Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool (PSST) ins Deutsche zu übertragen und seine Anwendung zu prüfen. Material und Methoden: Die deutschsprachige Version des PSST wurde als "Screening-Instrument für prämenstruelle Symptome" (SIPS) erstellt und ihre Güte an 47 Frauen mit und ohne PMDS/schwerem PMS internetbasiert mittels täglichen Symptomeinschätzungen bestimmt. Ergebnisse: Die Retest-Reliabilität des SIPS betrug r=0,69, das Cronbachsα 0,924. Als Validitätsmaß des SIPS zeigten sich signifikante Unterschiede zwischen Frauen mit und ohne PMDS/schwerem PMS, bestimmt durch das SIPS, bezüglich prospektiv erfasster prämenstrueller Symptomatik (F[2,44]=4,52, p<0,001) und Symptomveränderung (F[2,44]=25,23, p<0,001). Schlussfolgerung: Das SIPS ist reliabel und valide und kann helfen, Frauen mit behandlungsbedürftigen prämenstruellen Beschwerden zu identifiziere

Thermographie – ein neuartiges Verfahren zur exakten Abnahme, Identifizierung und digitalen Archivierung von Wasserzeichen in mittelalterlichen und frühneuzeitlichen Papierhandschriften, -zeichnungen und -drucken

Der Beitrag präsentiert die Thermographie als ein neues Forschungsinstrument der Wasserzeichenkunde. Einführend wird zunächst die Bedeutung von Wasserzeichen für die Erschließung historischer Dokumente erörtert. Darauf aufbauend stellen die Autoren ein neuartiges Verfahren zur Visualisierung von Wasserzeichen vor, durch welches es in einfacher Weise gelingt, auch überschriebene oder übertuschte Wasserzei- chen klar und deutlich sichtbar zu machen. Durch diese neue Technik ist es möglich, Wasserzeichen von historischen Dokumenten mittels einer Thermographiekamera in einer der Buchdigitalisierung ähnlichen, einfachen Weise und in situ abzunehmen. Anschließend werden einige Möglichkeiten vorgestellt, die mit Hilfe der modernen Bildverarbeitung und Mustererkennung die vergleichende Suche nach identischen und ähnlichen Wasserzeichen erleichtern

Decreased cortisol awakening response after early loss experience

Early loss experience (ELE) due to death or separation is a major risk factor for the development of several psychiatric and physical disorders in adulthood. Few studies have focused on the effects of ELE on neuroendocrine systems, which might mediate this risk in part. The goal of this study was to evaluate salivary cortisol responses to awakening in individuals with and without ELE. A total of 95 healthy college students (29 men, 66 women) completed a questionnaire on ELE and were instructed to collect saliva immediately after awakening and 30 min later. Fifty-five of the 95 subjects reported having experienced the separation or divorce of their parents and/or the death of a close relative before the age of 14 years. Subjects with such ELE exhibited decreased salivary cortisol responses to awakening compared to subjects without ELE (net increase: 4.78 nmol/l versus 9.83 nmol/l; t93 = 2.88, p = 0.005). The effect was most pronounced in individuals who experienced multiple types of ELE, while there were no sex differences. In conclusion, ELE appears to be associated with decreased salivary cortisol responses to awakening. Low cortisol awakening responses are believed to reflect altered dynamics of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, possibly conferring risk for certain stress-related disorders

SIPS - Screening-Instrument für prämenstruelle Symptome : Die deutsche Version des Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool zur Erfassung klinisch relevanter Beschwerden

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) and severe Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) are common, yet often remain unrecognized and not adequately treated. One reason for this is the lack of a valid German screening instrument. The aim of the present study was to create a German version of the English "premenstrual symptoms screening tool (PSST)" and to verify its applicability. The German version of the PSST was created as "Screening- Instrument für Prämenstruelle Symptome (SIPS)" and its reliability and validity estimated based on data from 47 women with and without PMDD/severe PMS, using internet-based daily symptom-ratings. The retest-reliability of the SIPS was r=0.69, Cronbach`s Alpha was 0.924. As indicator of the convergent validity of the SIPS, there were significant differences between women with and without PMDD/severe PMS as identified by the SIPS, with regard to prospectively assessed premenstrual symptomatology (F(2,44)=4.52, p>0.001) and symptom change (F(2,44)=25.23, p>0.001). The SIPS is reliable and valid and may help improving the identification of women who require treatment for their premenstrual symptoms

Auswirkungen einer EU-Osterweiterung im Bereich der Agrarpolitik auf den EU-Haushalt

In diesem Diskussionspapier werden Ergebnisse einer Untersuchung zu den Auswirkungen der EU-Osterweiterung auf den EU-Haushalt im Agrarbereich vorgestellt. Die Berechnungen wurden mit dem am IAMO entwickelten partialen Gleichgewichtsmodell 'Central and Eastern European Countries Agricultural Simulation Model (CEEC-ASIM)' durchgeführt. In dem Beitrittsszenario ist unterstellt worden, dass die zehn mittel- und osteuropäischen Länder die durch die Berliner Beschlüsse des Europäischen Rates von März 1999 reformierte Gemeinsame Agrarpolitik übernehmen. Neben den Preisstützungsmaßnahmen werden auch die Flächenzahlungen und Tierprämien, die Produktionsquoten bei Milch und Zucker sowie die Flächenstilllegungsverpflichtungen auf die Beitrittsländer übertragen. Den Modellergebnissen zufolge nehmen die jährlichen Agrarausgaben für die zehn mittelund osteuropäischen Beitrittskandidaten allein in den Bereichen Getreide, Ölsaaten, Zucker, Milch und Rindfleisch eine Größenordnung von etwa 7,5 Milliarden Euro zu Preisen von 1999 an, die aus dem EU-Haushalt finanziert werden müssen. Dies entspricht etwa 20 % der gesamten in der finanziellen Vorausschau der Europäischen Kommission vorgesehenen Agrarausgaben (ohne ländliche Entwicklung). Der größte Teil dieser Ausgaben entfällt dabei auf die Flächenzahlungen für Getreide undÖlsaaten sowie auf die Prämien im Rindfleisch- und Milchbereich. -- E N G L I S H V E R S I O N: This discussion paper presents the results of a study on the impacts of EU East enlargement on the EU agricultural budget. The calculations have been carried out with the partial equilibrium model 'Central and Eastern European Countries Agricultural Simulation Model (CEEC-ASIM)' that has been developed at IAMO. An accession scenario has been assumed in which the Common Agricultural Policy as reformed by the European Council of Berlin in March 1999 is applied in ten Central and Eastern European countries. Besides the price support measures also the area payments and the animal premiums as well as the production quotas for milk and sugar are implemented in the candidate countries. According to the model results the annual expenditures for the ten Central and Eastern European candidate countries in the areas of cereals, oilseeds, sugar, milk and beef amount to Euro 7.5 billion at prices of 1999 to be financed by the EU budget. This corresponds to 20 % of the total agricultural expenditure (without rural development) as foreseen in the financial perspectives of the European Commission. The greatest share of these expenditures arises from the area payments for cereals and oilseeds and from the premiums in the beef and milk sector.EU-Osterweiterung,EU-Haushalt,Sektormodellierung,Agrarsektor,partielles Gleichgewichtsmodell,Politikanalyse,EU East Enlargement,EU Budget,Sector Modelling,Agricultural Sector,Partial Equilibrium Model,Policy Analyses

Obsessive-compulsive disorder in the community: 12-month prevalence, comorbidity and impairment

Background: Although subthreshold conditions are associated with impairment in numerous disorders, research on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) below the diagnostic threshold of DSM-IV in the general population is limited. Purpose: To estimate the DSM-IV 12-month prevalence, comorbidity and impairment of OCD, subthreshold OCD (i.e., fulfilling some but not all core DSM-IV criteria), and obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) (i.e., endorsement of OCS without fulfilling any core DSM-IV criteria) in a general population sample. Methods: Data from the German National Health Interview and Examination Survey-Mental Health Supplement (N=4181, age 18-65years), based on the standardized diagnostic Munich Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Results: The 12-month prevalence of OCD was 0.7%, subthreshold OCD was 4.5%, and OCS was 8.3%. Subjects in all three groups showed higher comorbidity (odds ratios [ORs]≥3.3), compared to those without OCS. The OCD, subthreshold OCD and OCS were all associated with increased odds of substance abuse/dependence-, mood-, anxiety- and somatoform disorders, with especially strong associations with possible psychotic disorder (ORs≥4.1) and bipolar disorders (ORs≥4.7). Participants in all three groups showed higher impairment (ORs≥3.1) and health-care utilization (ORs≥2.4), compared to those without OCS, even after controlling for covariates. Conclusions: Individuals with subthreshold OCD and OCS, not currently captured by DSM-IV OCD criteria, nevertheless show substantial comorbidity, impairment and health-care utilization. This should be taken into account in future conceptualization and classification of OCD and clinical car

Optimal Control of the Thermistor Problem in Three Spatial Dimensions

This paper is concerned with the state-constrained optimal control of the three-dimensional thermistor problem, a fully quasilinear coupled system of a parabolic and elliptic PDE with mixed boundary conditions. This system models the heating of a conducting material by means of direct current. Local existence, uniqueness and continuity for the state system are derived by employing maximal parabolic regularity in the fundamental theorem of Pr\"uss. Global solutions are addressed, which includes analysis of the linearized state system via maximal parabolic regularity, and existence of optimal controls is shown if the temperature gradient is under control. The adjoint system involving measures is investigated using a duality argument. These results allow to derive first-order necessary conditions for the optimal control problem in form of a qualified optimality system. The theoretical findings are illustrated by numerical results

Tackling the sustainability iceberg: a transaction cost economics approach to lower tier sustainability management

Purpose – This article investigates how buying firms manage their lower tier sustainability management (LTSM) in their supply networks and what contextual factors influence the choice of approaches. As most of the environmental and social burden is caused in lower tiers we use the iceberg analogy. Design/methodology/approach – Findings from 12 case studies and 53 interviews, publicly available and internal firm data are presented. In an abductive research approach, Transaction Cost Economics (TCE) conceptually guides the analytical iteration processes between theory and data. Findings – This study provides eight LTSM approaches grouped into three categories: direct (holistic, product-, region-, and event-specific) indirect (multiplier-, alliance-, and compliance-based) and neglect (tier-1-based). Focal firms choose between these approaches depending on the strength of observed contextual factors (stakeholder salience, structural supply network complexity, product and industry salience, past supply network incidents, socio-economic and cultural distance and lower tier supplier dependency), leading to perceived sustainability risk (PSR). Research limitations/implications – By depicting TCE’s theoretical boundaries in predicting LTSM governance modes, the theory is elevated to the supply network level of analysis. Future research should investigate LTSM at the purchasing category level of analysis to compare and contrast PSR profiles for different purchase tasks and to validate and extend the framework. Practical implications – This study serves as a blueprint for the development of firms’ LTSM capabilities that suit their unique PSR profiles. It offers knowledge regarding what factors influence these profiles and presents a model that links the effectiveness of different LTSM approaches to resource intensity. Originality/value – This study extends the application of TCE and adds empirically to the literature on multi-tier and sustainable supply chain management. Keywords Case studies, lower tier sustainability management, multi-tier supply chains, sustainability risk, sub-suppliers, Transaction Cost Economic

Auswirkungen einer EU-Osterweiterung im Bereich der Agrarpolitik auf den EU-Haushalt

In diesem Diskussionspapier werden Ergebnisse einer Untersuchung zu den Auswirkungen der EU-Osterweiterung auf den EU-Haushalt im Agrarbereich vorgestellt. Die Berechnungen wurden mit dem am IAMO entwickelten partialen Gleichgewichtsmodell 'Central and Eastern European Countries Agricultural Simulation Model (CEEC-ASIM)' durchgeführt. In dem Beitrittsszenario ist unterstellt worden, dass die zehn mittel- und osteuropäischen Länder die durch die Berliner Beschlüsse des Europäischen Rates von März 1999 reformierte Gemeinsame Agrarpolitik übernehmen. Neben den Preisstützungsmaßnahmen werden auch die Flächenzahlungen und Tierprämien, die Produktionsquoten bei Milch und Zucker sowie die Flächenstilllegungsverpflichtungen auf die Beitrittsländer übertragen. Den Modellergebnissen zufolge nehmen die jährlichen Agrarausgaben für die zehn mittelund osteuropäischen Beitrittskandidaten allein in den Bereichen Getreide, Ölsaaten, Zucker, Milch und Rindfleisch eine Größenordnung von etwa 7,5 Milliarden Euro zu Preisen von 1999 an, die aus dem EU-Haushalt finanziert werden müssen. Dies entspricht etwa 20 % der gesamten in der finanziellen Vorausschau der Europäischen Kommission vorgesehenen Agrarausgaben (ohne ländliche Entwicklung). Der größte Teil dieser Ausgaben entfällt dabei auf die Flächenzahlungen für Getreide undÖlsaaten sowie auf die Prämien im Rindfleisch- und Milchbereich.This discussion paper presents the results of a study on the impacts of EU East enlargement on the EU agricultural budget. The calculations have been carried out with the partial equilibrium model 'Central and Eastern European Countries Agricultural Simulation Model (CEEC-ASIM)' that has been developed at IAMO. An accession scenario has been assumed in which the Common Agricultural Policy as reformed by the European Council of Berlin in March 1999 is applied in ten Central and Eastern European countries. Besides the price support measures also the area payments and the animal premiums as well as the production quotas for milk and sugar are implemented in the candidate countries. According to the model results the annual expenditures for the ten Central and Eastern European candidate countries in the areas of cereals, oilseeds, sugar, milk and beef amount to Euro 7.5 billion at prices of 1999 to be financed by the EU budget. This corresponds to 20 % of the total agricultural expenditure (without rural development) as foreseen in the financial perspectives of the European Commission. The greatest share of these expenditures arises from the area payments for cereals and oilseeds and from the premiums in the beef and milk sector