Kredit, Ansparplan, Rentenrechnung in der AHS

Diese Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit dem Thema Kredit im Schulunterricht. Immer öfter schlägt auch die Schuldenfalle bei unter 25-jährigen zu (siehe Internetquelle 8). Oft liegt es daran, dass Jugendliche nicht richtig mit Geld umgehen können, keine Ahnung von Finanzplanung im Leben haben (siehe Internetquelle 1). Es gibt ein Sprichwort, das heißt: Warum in die Ferne schweifen, wenn das Gute liegt so nah. Dies kann man leicht auf das Thema Kredit ummünzen. Man muss kein Finanzgenie sein, um Herr über seine Finanzen zu sein. Einen Überblick über die monatlichen Einnahmen und Ausgaben zu haben, wäre ein wichtiger Schritt und kann vor Fehlkalkulationen bei Finanzierungen bewahren. Eine Haushaltsrechnung sollte eigentlich die Grundlage jeder Finanzierungsüberlegung sein. Nichts desto trotz wird diese in keinem Schulbuch (Kapitel 3) erwähnt. Der Schwerpunkt dieser Arbeit liegt auf der Aufarbeitung des Themas Kredit in den Sekundarstufen I und II und seiner Bearbeitung an Hand von handlungsorientierten Beispielen durch das Tabellenkalkulationsprogramm OpenOffice.org Calc in der AHS-Oberstufe. Jedes dieser Beispiele beschäftigt sich mit einem anderen wirtschaftlichen Aspekt des Themas Kredit: Vom Vergleich dreier Finanzierungsmöglichkeiten, über die Differenzierung von Leasingfinanzierung und Kreditfinanzierung, bis hin zur Pensionsvorsorge und der Erstellung eines Ansparplans für die Zusatzpension. All diese Beispiele basieren auf einer zuvor ausgefüllten Haushaltsrechnung. Diese soll den Schülern/Schülerinnen den Zusammenhang zwischen den einzelnen Ausgaben und Einnahmen eines Haushaltes vor Augen führen. Auch der wirtschaftliche Hintergrund des Themas Kredit wird nicht vernachlässigt. Fragen, wie: Welche Kreditvarianten gibt es? Zwischen welchen unterschiedlichen Rückzahlungsoptionen kann man wählen? werden unter anderem behandelt. Mein Ziel war es, die aktuellen – meiner Meinung nach ausbaufähigen – „Stand der Dinge“ des Themas Kredit in der Schulbuchliteratur festzuhalten und fertige Unterrichtsmaterialien für die spätere Anwendung in der Schule zu entwickeln

On the effect of peripheral immune stimulation on depressive-like behaviour and central inflammatory gene expression in rat

Entzündungsreaktionen werden in der Pathophysiologie von Depressionen eine immer größere Rolle zugeschrieben, doch trotz der zunehmenden Forschung in diesem Gebiet sind die zugrunde liegenden Mechanismen noch nicht geklärt. In Tierversuchen wurde gezeigt, dass eine periphere Entzündung nicht nur die zentrale Expression von pro-inflammatorischen Mediatoren erhöht, sondern auch zu Verhalten führt, dass dem depressiver Menschen ähnelt. In dieser Arbeit wurde der Effekt einer peripheren Injektion des Exotoxins Lipopolysaccharid (LPS), das auf der äußeren Membran gramnegativer Bakterien zu finden ist, auf die Genexpression in den Gehirnarealen Amygdala, Hippocampus, Hypothalamus, Prefrontaler Cortex und Striatum in Ratten untersucht. Außerdem wurden die Proteinlevels gewisser Cytokine im Serum der Ratten gemessen. Verhaltensänderungen nach der LPS Injektion wurde in dem erzwungenen Schwimmtest (engl. “forced swim test”, FST) erfasst. Dieser Test misst depressiv-ähnliches Verhalten (engl. “depressive-like behaviour”) in Tieren. LPS wurde den Tieren intraperitoneal injiziert und 6 Stunden später wurde ihr Verhalten im FST gemessen. Eine Stunde danach wurden die Ratten getötet und ihre Gehirne seziert. Um festzustellen, ob der FST an sich die Genexpression im Gehirn verändert, wurden Kontrolltiere, die nicht dem Schwimmtest ausgesetzt wurden, in die Studie inkludiert. mRNA wurde aus den verschiedenen Hirnarealen extrahiert und Veränderungen in der Genexpression durch quantitative Echt-Zeit Polymerasenkettenreaktion (qRT PCR) gemessen. Die periphere Injektion von LPS löste eine erhöhte Genexpression der Cytokine IL-1β und TNFα und der Gewebsprotease MMP-9 und deren Inhibitor TIMP-1 aus. Diese Ergebnisse stehen in signifikanter Korrelation mit dem Anstieg an immobilem Verhalten während des FST (p=0.001 im Hypothalamus für IL-1β and TNFα). Es wurde kein nennenswerter Effekt des erzwungenen Schwimmtests auf die zentrale Genexpression festgestellt, was darauf schließen lässt, dass dieser Test geeignet ist, um die zugrunde liegenden Mechanismen und die entscheidenden Mediatoren im Zusammenspiel von Entzündungsreaktionen und Depressionen zu untersuchen und vielleicht sogar neue therapeutische Ziele in der Behandlung von affektiven Störungen zu identifizieren.Accumulating evidence suggests a role of inflammation in the pathophysiology of depression. However, despite the extensive research in this field, little is known about the underlying mechanisms. Animal experiments prove to be of great help, showing that peripheral inflammation induces central up-regulation of pro-inflammatory mediators and, at the same time, depressive-like behaviour. In this study, the effect of peripheral administration of the exotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on gene expression in the brain areas amygdala, hippocampus, hypothalamus, prefrontal cortex and striatum, as well as protein levels in the serum of Sprague Dawley rats, was investigated. Furthermore, changes in behaviour were measured in the forced swim test (FST), an animal model to test for depressive-like behaviour. The animals were injected intraperitoneal (i.p.) with LPS and 6 hours later tested in the FST. One hour later, the animals were sacrificed and their brains removed and dissected. To evaluate whether the FST itself changes gene expression in the brain, control animals that were not exposed to the FST were included in the study. mRNA was extracted from the different brain areas and differences in expression levels assessed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). LPS treatment was followed by an up-regulation in gene expression of the cytokines IL-1β and TNFα, and the tissue remodelers MMP-9 and its inhibitor, TIMP-1, which correlated significantly (p=0.001 in hypothalamus for both IL-1β and TNFα) with the observed significant increase in depressive-like behaviour. Exposure to the FST itself didn´t seem to have noteworthy influences on gene-expression, making this test a valuable method to investigate inflammation-related players in depression and maybe identify new targets for the treatment of mood disorders

Integrated impact modelling of climate change and adaptation policies on land use and water resources in Austria"

Climate change is a major driver of land use and ecosystems. Changes in climatic conditions will affect the quality and quantity of water resources. Autonomous adaptation by farmers can influence the compliance with the good ecological and chemical status according to the EU Water Framework Directive. We present results from an integrated impact modelling framework (IIMF) to analyze policy options for planned adaptation in agricultural land use and sustainable management of land and water resources until 2040. The IIMF consists of the bio-physical process model EPIC, the regional land use optimization model PASMA[grid], the quantitative precipitation/runoff TUW model, and the surface water emission model MONERIS. Stakeholder driven scenarios facilitate multi-actor knowledge transfer. Climate change scenarios are combined with socio-economic and policy pathways. The latter include water protection measures on fertilization management, soil and crop rotation management. The results show that the selected climate change and policy scenarios impact average agricultural gross margins by ±2%. However, regional impacts are more severe particularly under assumptions of decreasing precipitation patterns. The water protection policies can alleviate pressures compared to the business as usual scenario but do not lead to sufficient conditions in all watersheds. To conclude, the IIMF is able to capture the interfaces between water quality and land use and to cover multiple policy and climate scenarios. However, despite efforts to increase the robustness of data and model interfaces, uncertainties need to be tackled in subsequent studies

A gene-based recessive diplotype exome scan discovers \u3cem\u3eFGF6\u3c/em\u3e, a novel hepcidin-regulating iron-metabolism gene

Standard analyses applied to genome-wide association data are well designed to detect additive effects of moderate strength. However, the power for standard genome-wide association study (GWAS) analyses to identify effects from recessive diplotypes is not typically high. We proposed and conducted a gene-based compound heterozygosity test to reveal additional genes underlying complex diseases. With this approach applied to iron overload, a strong association signal was identified between the fibroblast growth factor–encoding gene, FGF6, and hemochromatosis in the central Wisconsin population. Functional validation showed that fibroblast growth factor 6 protein (FGF-6) regulates iron homeostasis and induces transcriptional regulation of hepcidin. Moreover, specific identified FGF6variants differentially impact iron metabolism. In addition, FGF6 downregulation correlated with iron-metabolism dysfunction in systemic sclerosis and cancer cells. Using the recessive diplotype approach revealed a novel susceptibility hemochromatosis gene and has extended our understanding of the mechanisms involved in iron metabolism

Analysis of pharmaceuticals in wastewater and removal using a membrane bioreactor

Much attention has recently been devoted to the life and behaviour of pharmaceuticals in the water cycle. In this study the behaviour of several pharmaceutical products in different therapeutic categories (analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs, lipid regulators, antibiotics, etc.) was monitored during treatment of wastewater in a laboratory-scale membrane bioreactor (MBR). The results were compared with removal in a conventional activated-sludge (CAS) process in a wastewater-treatment facility. The performance of an MBR was monitored for approximately two months to investigate the long-term operational stability of the system and possible effects of solids retention time on the efficiency of removal of target compounds. Pharmaceuticals were, in general, removed to a greater extent by the MBR integrated system than during the CAS process. For most of the compounds investigated the performance of MBR treatment was better (removal rates >80%) and effluent concentrations of, e.g., diclofenac, ketoprofen, ranitidine, gemfibrozil, bezafibrate, pravastatin, and ofloxacin were steadier than for the conventional system. Occasionally removal efficiency was very similar, and high, for both treatments (e.g. for ibuprofen, naproxen, acetaminophen, paroxetine, and hydrochlorothiazide). The antiepileptic drug carbamazepine was the most persistent pharmaceutical and it passed through both the MBR and CAS systems untransformed. Because there was no washout of biomass from the reactor, high-quality effluent in terms of chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonium content (N-NH(4)), total suspended solids (TSS), and total organic carbon (TOC) was obtained

Pattern electroretinogram (PERG) and pattern visual evoked potential (PVEP) in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is one of the most common causes of dementia in the world. Patients with AD frequently complain of vision disturbances that do not manifest as changes in routine ophthalmological examination findings. The main causes of these disturbances are neuropathological changes in the visual cortex, although abnormalities in the retina and optic nerve cannot be excluded. Pattern electroretinogram (PERG) and pattern visual evoked potential (PVEP) tests are commonly used in ophthalmology to estimate bioelectrical function of the retina and optic nerve. The aim of this study was to determine whether retinal and optic nerve function, measured by PERG and PVEP tests, is changed in individuals in the early stages of AD with normal routine ophthalmological examination results. Standard PERG and PVEP tests were performed in 30 eyes of 30 patients with the early stages of AD. The results were compared to 30 eyes of 30 normal healthy controls. PERG and PVEP tests were recorded in accordance with the International Society for Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision (ISCEV) standards. Additionally, neural conduction was measured using retinocortical time (RCT)—the difference between P100-wave latency in PVEP and P50-wave implicit time in PERG. In PERG test, PVEP test, and RCT, statistically significant changes were detected. In PERG examination, increased implicit time of P50-wave (P < 0.03) and amplitudes reductions in P50- and N95-waves (P < 0.0001) were observed. In PVEP examination, increased latency of P100-wave (P < 0.0001) was found. A significant increase in RCT (P < 0.0001) was observed. The most prevalent features were amplitude reduction in N95-wave and increased latency of P100-wave which were seen in 56.7% (17/30) of the AD eyes. In patients with the early stages of AD and normal routine ophthalmological examination results, dysfunction of the retinal ganglion cells as well as of the optic nerve is present, as detected by PERG and PVEP tests. These dysfunctions, at least partially, explain the cause of visual disturbances observed in patients with the early stages of AD

Oculo-visual changes and clinical considerations affecting older patients with dementia

Purpose: Dementia is associated with various alterations of the eye and visual function. Over 60% of cases are attributable to Alzheimer's disease, a significant proportion of the remainder to vascular dementia or dementia with Lewy bodies, while frontotemporal dementia, and Parkinson's disease dementia are less common. This review describes the oculo-visual problems of these five dementias and the pathological changes which may explain these symptoms. It further discusses clinical considerations to help the clinician care for older patients affected by dementia. Recent findings: Visual problems in dementia include loss of visual acuity, defects in colour vision and visual masking tests, changes in pupillary response to mydriatics, defects in fixation and smooth and saccadic eye movements, changes in contrast sensitivity function and visual evoked potentials, and disturbance of complex visual functions such as in reading ability, visuospatial function, and the naming and identification of objects. Pathological changes have also been reported affecting the crystalline lens, retina, optic nerve, and visual cortex. Clinically, issues such as cataract surgery, correcting the refractive error, quality of life, falls, visual impairment and eye care for dementia have been addressed. Summary: Many visual changes occur across dementias, are controversial, often based on limited patient numbers, and no single feature can be regarded as diagnostic of any specific dementia. Nevertheless, visual hallucinations may be more characteristic of dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson's disease dementia than Alzheimer's disease or frontotemporal dementia. Differences in saccadic eye movement dysfunction may also help to distinguish Alzheimer's disease from frontotemporal dementia and Parkinson's disease dementia from dementia with Lewy bodies. Eye care professionals need to keep informed of the growing literature in vision/dementia, be attentive to signs and symptoms suggestive of cognitive impairment, and be able to adapt their practice and clinical interventions to best serve patients with dementia

On Neuroimmunology and Brain Function: Experimental and Clinical Studies

The immune system has been implicated in the mechanisms underlying many psychiatric disorders. Immune mediators are expressed in the central nervous system (CNS) not only in response to harmful stimuli, but also in a constitutive manner, and serve as important plasticity factors during development. There is complex bidirectional communication between the immune system and the CNS throughout life which is based on interactions between neurotransmitters, neuroendocrine hormones, cytokines, and their respective receptors. Exploring the interplay between brain, behaviour and immunity is central to our understanding of the pathology of psychiatric morbidity. The aim of this thesis is to investigate the role of some aspects of the immune system in several psychiatric conditions, both in experimental and clinical contexts. We used the Flinders sensitive line (FSL), a genetic animal model of depression, to study central gene expression of markers related to immune response and neurotransmission following immune stimulation and antidepressant treatment. Several genes were found to be expressed differently in rats displaying depressive-like behaviour compared to their controls (Paper I), a finding that we replicated in Paper II. Additionally, we showed that antidepressant treatment with escitalopram altered expression of several genes, notably the astrocyte-derived protein S100B, and the serotonin receptor 5-HT2A, in the amygdala and hypothalamus (Paper II), two brain regions that have been shown to be of relevance for the effect of antidepressant treatment. Our results support the use of the FSL model for studying the role of these immune-related markers in depression and antidepressant treatment. In the clinical studies included in this thesis, we found that genetic variants in immune-related genes were associated with neuropsychiatric traits and the volume of certain brain regions. The gene encoding the NF-kB inhibitor-like protein 1 (NFKBIL1) was found to be associated with autistic-like traits, as well as with language impairment in a cohort from the general population (Paper III). We further investigated the effect of genetic variation in the gene coding for interleukin-1beta (IL1B) on the volume of several brain regions in a case-control population of patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder (Paper IV). Genotype distribution did not differ between patients and controls, suggesting that variants in IL1B may not be associated with bipolar disorder. However, we found associations between IL1B polymorphisms and the volume of the putamen in the left hemisphere in patients and controls, suggesting that genetic variation in IL1B may influence neurodevelopment. In conclusion, this thesis demonstrates associations between immune mediators and mental functions, as well as altered brain development in humans. Also, insight is gained into the use of the FSL animal model for investigating the impact of the immune system for depression. Taken together, our findings confirm the importance of the immune system for the development of psychiatric disorders