Life Expectancy in Germany Based on the 2011 Census: Was the Healthy Migrant Effect Merely an Artefact?

The Federal Statistical Office’s 2010/12 general life table is the first to provide results on life expectancy based on census data for reunified Germany. This article therefore examines the question of how the revisions of the population figures from the 2011 census affected the measured life expectancy. To do so, we analysed both the official life tables based on the old intercensal population updates before the census and those based on the population data from the 2011 census. The method used to calculate the census-adjusted 2010/12 general life table was also transferred to separate life tables drawn up for the German and the foreign population. In this way, findings on the so-called “healthy migrant effect” can be discussed, ruling out possible errors in the intercensal population updates. These errors had previously been cited as the main causes for a distinctly longer life expectancy among the foreign population compared with the German population. As expected, a census-based calculation for the total population and for the German population resulted in only minor revisions to the life expectancy figures. The use of the census results does, however, distinctly alter the life expectancy of foreign women and men. An advantage of over 5 years in life expectancy at birth, measured on the basis of the old population data, needs to be revised to about 2.9 years for men and 2.1 years for women based on the 2011 census. The healthy migrant effect therefore cannot be traced back solely to data artefacts from the old intercensal population updates – even with revised data, the foreign population shows marked survival advantages.The Federal Statistical Office’s 2010/12 general life table is the first to provide results on life expectancy based on census data for reunified Germany. This article therefore examines the question of how the revisions of the population figures from the 2011 census affected the measured life expectancy. To do so, we analysed both the official life tables based on the old intercensal population updates before the census and those based on the population data from the 2011 census. The method used to calculate the census-adjusted 2010/12 general life table was also transferred to separate life tables drawn up for the German and the foreign population. In this way, findings on the so-called “healthy migrant effect” can be discussed, ruling out possible errors in the intercensal population updates. These errors had previously been cited as the main causes for a distinctly longer life expectancy among the foreign population compared with the German population. As expected, a census-based calculation for the total population and for the German population resulted in only minor revisions to the life expectancy figures. The use of the census results does, however, distinctly alter the life expectancy of foreign women and men. An advantage of over 5 years in life expectancy at birth, measured on the basis of the old population data, needs to be revised to about 2.9 years for men and 2.1 years for women based on the 2011 census. The healthy migrant effect therefore cannot be traced back solely to data artefacts from the old intercensal population updates – even with revised data, the foreign population shows marked survival advantages

Molekulare Analyse der Selbst-/Nichtselbsterkennung in dem hermaphroditen Urochordaten Ciona intestinalis

The ability to distinguish self from non-self is a fundamental feature of all metazoans allowing them to recognize potential pathogens, keep their genetic integrity and assure successful reproduction. The molecular mechanism of self/non-self recognition is completely known only for vertebrates. But how do other animals distinguish self from non-self? Urochordates are the closest living relatives of vertebrates which display naturally occurring histocompatibility reactions and in addition are self-sterile hermaphrodites. These animals, therefore, require two self/non-self recognition systems. In Ciona intestinalis several variable receptors have been isolated from two cryptic species inhabiting the Pacific Ocean and the Northern Atlantic (A and B): Themis has been shown to control self-sterility in species A while in species B the highly polymorphic vCRL gene has been identified by our research group. vCRL was proposed to be a self/non-self recognition receptor, but its exact function remained unknown. In my thesis I analyzed the function of the individual-specific vCRL gene in Ciona intestinalis species B. Anti-vCRL antibodies, segregational analysis and transgenic knockdown animals were used to elucidate an involvement of vCRL in self/non-self discrimination processes. In vitro antibody interference assays showed that vCRL is involved in gamete interaction. However, segregational analysis demonstrated that the vCRL locus is not controlling self-sterility. In contrast to that, fertilization outcomes could be solely explained by segregation of two Themis loci. Thus, gamete self-incompatibility in both species of Ciona intestinalis is controlled cooperatively by two Themis loci. Interestingly, knock-down of vCRL gene expression resulted in a drastic developmental arrest during metamorphosis which is caused by an impaired formation of the blood system. The data, therefore, demonstrate that vCRL might serve as self marker on the surface of developing blood cells. Thus, in the absence of MHC variable complement component might be utilized as an individuality marker in Ciona. My findings demonstrate a possible evolutionary link between invertebrate histocompatibility and innate immunity. Moreover, components of the complement system might have an evolutionary ancient function not only in the immune system, but also in histocompatibility.Die Fähigkeit der Selbst-/Nichtselbsterkennung ist eine fundamentale Eigenschaft aller vielzelligen Tiere, um potentielle Pathogene zu erkennen, die eigene genetische Integrität zu wahren und eine erfolgreiche Fortpflanzung hermaphroditer Organismen zu gewährleisten. Die molekularen Mechanismen dieser Erkennungsreaktionen sind bisher nur bei Vertebraten komplett verstanden. Wie aber unterscheiden andere Tiergruppen Selbst von Nichtselbst? Urochordaten sind die nächstlebenden Verwandten der Wirbeltiere, die über natürlich auftretende Histokompatibilitätsreaktionen verfügen und selbststerile Hermaphroditen sind. Folglich benötigen sie zwei unterschiedliche Systeme zur Selbst-/Nichtselbst-erkennung. Für Ciona intestinalis wurden variable Rezeptoren aus beiden kryptischen Spezies (A und B) isoliert, welche im Pazifischen Ozean und dem Nordatlantik vorkommen: Themis kontrolliert die Selbststerilität in Spezies A, wohingegen aus Spezies B das hochpolymorphe Gen vCRL durch unsere Arbeitsgruppe isoliert wurde. Es wurde vorgeschlagen, dass vCRL möglicherweise Erkennungsmechanismen vermittelt, Funktionelle Untersuchungen fehlten jedoch. Diese Arbeit beschäftigte sich darum mit der funktionellen Analyse von vCRL in Ciona intestinalis Spezies B. Anti-vCRL Seren, Segregationsanalyse und transgene Tiere wurden verwendet, um den Einfluss von vCRL auf Selbst-/Nichtselbst-erkennungsprozesse zu studieren. In vitro Interferenz-Versuche erwiesen, dass vCRL funktionell an der Interaktion der Gameten beteiligt ist. Jedoch zeigte eine Segregationsanalyse, dass nicht vCRL die Selbststerilität kontrolliert sondern zwei Themis loci, deren Allele mit dem Befruchtungsausgang korrelierten. Interessanterweise resultierte das Abschalten der vCRL Genexpression in einer drastischen Arretierung der Entwicklung während der Metamorphose, da kein funktionelles Blutsystem gebildet werden konnte. Folglich könnte vCRL als Selbstmarker auf sich entwickelnden Blutzellen dienen. Somit würden in Ciona variable Komponenten des Komplementsystems als Individualitätsmarker verwendet werden. Dies deutet darauf hin, dass die Histokompatibilität und das angeborene Immunsystem der Invertebraten evolutionär miteinander verbunden sind. Außerdem könnten Komponenten des Komplementsystems eine evolutionär ursprüngliche Funktion nicht nur im Immunsystem sondern auch in der Histokompatibilität haben

Nuclear Charge Radii across the N=Z=28 Shell Closure in Nickel Isotopes

Collinear laser spectroscopy enables the determination of nuclear ground-state charge radii and electromagnetic moments for short-lived isotopes. Within this work, spectroscopy was performed on neutron-deficient nickel isotopes in the region of the doubly magic 56Ni, and an improved charge-exchange cell for spectroscopy of palladium isotopes was developed. For numerous elements, laser spectroscopy is not possible from the ground state of the ion due to a lack of suitable transitions. For this reason, charge-exchange cells are often used and are typically operated with alkali metals. Spectroscopy on palladium would instead profit from an exchange on magnesium since the desired meta-stable state could then be resonantly populated. To make this possible, an advanced design of a charge-exchange cell for collinear laser spectroscopy has been realized. Compared to previous cells, it allows higher temperatures and operation at higher voltages. The new cell has been installed as part of the collinear spectroscopy setup at Argonne National Lab in Chicago. During commissioning measurements, the neutralization of a calcium-ion beam on magnesium vapor has been demonstrated and an atomic calcium resonance was recorded. Furthermore, neutron deficient and stable nickel isotopes have been investigated by collinear laser spectroscopy in the BECOLA experiment at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory in East Lansing. The spectra of 55,56,58,60Ni have been analyzed within this work. A King-plot method yielded the differential mean squared charge radii compared to the stable isotope 60Ni, and absolute nuclear charge radii were derived from these results. The measurements reveal a "kink" in the slope of the charge radii at the doubly-magic N=Z=28 shell closure. A comparison to nuclear theories shows good agreement for calculations using the Fayans density functional theory. Predictions from ab initio calculations for the nuclear charge radius of 56Ni could now, for the first time, be benchmarked to an experimental value. The comparison of different nuclear interactions via the coupled-cluster method reveals a significant scattering of the results and an incomplete uncertainty estimate complicates the interpretation. The latter is significantly improved by a recent method for Bayesian treatment of the uncertainties in the IMSRG framework, which yields results that are in good agreement with the experiment though less precise. In addition to the charge radii, the nuclear magnetic dipole moment of 55Ni was determined from the hyperfine structure. The result corrects the previous experimental value from a β-NMR measurement and is in good agreement with theory calculations that have proven reliable in other isotopes before

Building a cell and anatomy ontology of Caenorhabditis elegans

We are endowed with a rich knowledge about Caenorhabditis elegans. Its stereotyped anatomy and development has stimulated research and resulted in the accumulation of cell-based information concerning gene expression, and the role of specific cells in developmental signalling and behavioural circuits. To make the information more accessible to sophisticated queries and automated retrieval systems, WormBase has begun to construct a C. elegans cell and anatomy ontology. Here we present our strategies and progress

Assembly of eight spherical magnets into a dotriacontapole configuration

The magnetic field of a cuboidal cluster of eight magnetic spheres is measured. It decays with the inverse seventh power of the distance. This corresponds formally to a multipole named a dotriacontapole. This strong decay is explained on the basis of dipole-dipole interaction and the symmetry of the ensuing ground state of the cuboidal cluster. A method to build such dotriacontapoles is provided

Lebenserwartung in Deutschland auf Basis des Zensus 2011: war der Healthy-Migrant-Effekt nur ein Artefakt?

"Die allgemeine Sterbetafel für 2010/12 des Statistischen Bundesamtes liefert für das vereinte Deutschland erstmals Ergebnisse zur Lebenserwartung auf Basis von Zensusdaten. Der vorliegende Artikel widmet sich deshalb der Frage, wie sich die Korrekturen der Bevölkerungsbestände im Rahmen des Zensus 2011 auf die Messung der Lebenserwartung ausgewirkt haben. Hierfür werden sowohl die amtlichen Sterbetafeln auf Basis der alten Bevölkerungsfortschreibung vor dem Zensus als auch auf Basis der Bevölkerungsdaten des Zensus 2011 analysiert. Die Vorgehensweise zur Berechnung der zensusbereinigten allgemeinen Sterbetafel 2010/12 wird zudem auf eine separate Erstellung von Sterbetafeln für die deutsche und die ausländische Bevölkerung übertragen. Befunde zum sogenannten Healthy-Migrant-Effekt können somit unter Ausschluss möglicher Fehler in der Bevölkerungsfortschreibung diskutiert werden. Diese waren zuvor als Hauptursache für eine deutlich höhere Lebenserwartung der ausländischen Bevölkerung im Vergleich zur deutschen Bevölkerung angeführt worden. Für die Bevölkerung insgesamt und für die deutsche Bevölkerung zeigen sich erwartungsgemäß nur sehr geringfügige Korrekturen der Werte für die Lebenserwartung durch eine Berechnung auf Basis des Zensus. Die Lebenserwartung von ausländischen Frauen und Männern wird durch die Nutzung von Zensusergebnissen jedoch deutlich korrigiert. Ein auf Basis der alten Bevölkerungsdaten gemessener Vorteil in der Lebenserwartung bei Geburt von über 5 Jahren, muss zensusbasiert auf etwa 2,9 Jahre bei den Männern und 2,1 Jahre bei den Frauen korrigiert werden. Der Healthy-Migrant-Effekt kann somit nicht ausschließlich auf Datenartefakte der alten Bevölkerungsfortschreibung zurückgeführt werden, da sich auch zensusbereinigt deutliche Überlebensvorteile der ausländischen Bevölkerung zeigen." (Autorenreferat). Online Anhang: http://dx.doi.org/10.12765/CPoS-2016-06d

Visual short‐term memory‐related EEG components in a virtual reality setup

Virtual reality (VR) offers a powerful tool for investigating cognitive processes, as it allows researchers to gauge behaviors and mental states in complex, yet highly controlled, scenarios. The use of VR head-mounted displays in combination with physiological measures such as EEG presents new challenges and raises the question whether established findings also generalize to a VR setup. Here, we used a VR headset to assess the spatial constraints underlying two well-established EEG correlates of visual short-term memory: the amplitude of the contralateral delay activity (CDA) and the lateralization of induced alpha power during memory retention. We tested observers' visual memory in a change detection task with bilateral stimulus arrays of either two or four items while varying the horizontal eccentricity of the memory arrays (4, 9, or 14 degrees of visual angle). The CDA amplitude differed between high and low memory load at the two smaller eccentricities, but not at the largest eccentricity. Neither memory load nor eccentricity significantly influenced the observed alpha lateralization. We further fitted time-resolved spatial filters to decode memory load from the event-related potential as well as from its time-frequency decomposition. Classification performance during the retention interval was above-chance level for both approaches and did not vary significantly across eccentricities. We conclude that commercial VR hardware can be utilized to study the CDA and lateralized alpha power, and we provide caveats for future studies targeting these EEG markers of visual memory in a VR setup.Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100002347Cooperation between the Max Planck Society and the Fraunhofer GesellschaftDeutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001659Peer Reviewe