Framework and baseline examination of the German National Cohort (NAKO)

The German National Cohort (NAKO) is a multidisciplinary, population-based prospective cohort study that aims to investigate the causes of widespread diseases, identify risk factors and improve early detection and prevention of disease. Specifically, NAKO is designed to identify novel and better characterize established risk and protection factors for the development of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases, musculoskeletal diseases, respiratory and infectious diseases in a random sample of the general population. Between 2014 and 2019, a total of 205,415 men and women aged 19–74 years were recruited and examined in 18 study centres in Germany. The baseline assessment included a face-to-face interview, self-administered questionnaires and a wide range of biomedical examinations. Biomaterials were collected from all participants including serum, EDTA plasma, buffy coats, RNA and erythrocytes, urine, saliva, nasal swabs and stool. In 56,971 participants, an intensified examination programme was implemented. Whole-body 3T magnetic resonance imaging was performed in 30,861 participants on dedicated scanners. NAKO collects follow-up information on incident diseases through a combination of active follow-up using self-report via written questionnaires at 2–3 year intervals and passive follow-up via record linkages. All study participants are invited for re-examinations at the study centres in 4–5 year intervals. Thereby, longitudinal information on changes in risk factor profiles and in vascular, cardiac, metabolic, neurocognitive, pulmonary and sensory function is collected. NAKO is a major resource for population-based epidemiology to identify new and tailored strategies for early detection, prediction, prevention and treatment of major diseases for the next 30 years. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10654-022-00890-5

Übereinstimmung verschiedener Methoden zur Messung von Schlafeigenschaften - ein Vergleich zweier Aktigraphiegeräte, zweier Trageorte und von Eigenangaben mit der Referenzmethode Polysomnographie

Ziel: Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit war die Beurteilung der Übereinstimmung zweier Aktigraphiegeräte; zweier Trageorte und von Eigenangaben mit der Polysomnographie (PSG) anhand ausgewählter Schlafparameter. Methoden: Die Übereinstimmung zwischen den Methoden und der PSG wurde für 100 Teilnehmer verschiedener Standorte nach der Methode von Bland und Altman beurteilt. Ergebnisse: Die mittlere Differenz zur PSG sowie die Breite der Übereinstimmungsintervalle hing vom jeweiligen Erhebungsverfahren ab. Die mittleren Differenzen zur PSG waren für die meisten Parameter für hüftbasierte Messungen größer als für handgelenksbasierte Messungen. Schlussfolgerungen: Die Übereinstimmung aktigraphiebasierter Schlafparameter mit der PSG ist abhängig vom Trageort des Gerätes. Die Übereinstimmung mit den Eigenangaben ist für einzelne Parameter vergleichbar mit der Übereinstimmung zwischen Aktigraphie und PSG.Objective. To assess the agreement of sleep parameters measured by two actigraphs, at two different placements and of self-reported sleep with polysomnography (PSG). Methods. We estimated agreement with PSG for 100 participants at participating centers using Bland-Altman plots. Results. Mean difference to PSG as well as the width of intervals of agreement differed with the placement of the devices. Mean differences to PSG were higher for hip-based measurements compared to wrist placement for most parameters. Conclusions. The agreement of sleep parameters assessed by actigraphy with PSG differs with the placement of the device. The agreement between PSG and self-reported sleep characteristics is comparable to that of actigraphy for some parameters.von Melanie Zinkha

Transitions in effective scaling behavior of accelerometric time series across sleep and wake

We study the effective scaling behavior of high-resolution accelerometric time series recorded at the wrists and hips of 100 subjects during sleep and wake. Using spectral analysis and detrended fluctuation analysis we find long-term correlated fluctuations with a spectral exponent $\beta \approx 1.0$ ($1/f$ noise). On short time scales, β is larger during wake ($\approx 1.4$ ) and smaller during sleep ($\approx 0.6$ ). In addition, characteristic peaks at 0.2–0.3 Hz (due to respiration) and 4–10 Hz (probably due to physiological tremor) are observed in periods of weak activity. Because of these peaks, spectral analysis is superior in characterizing effective scaling during sleep, while detrending analysis performs well during wake. Our findings can be exploited to detect sleep-wake transitions

Factors associated with habitual time spent in different physical activity intensities using multiday accelerometry

To investigate factors associated with time in physical activity intensities, we assessed physical activity of 249 men and women (mean age 51.3 years) by 7-day 24h-accelerometry (ActiGraph GT3X+). Triaxial vector magnitude counts/minute were extracted to determine time in inactivity, in low-intensity, moderate, and vigorous-to-very-vigorous activity. Cross-sectional associations with sex, age, body mass index, waist circumference, smoking, alcohol consumption, education, employment, income, marital status, diabetes, and dyslipidaemia were investigated in multivariable regression analyses. Higher age was associated with more time in low-intensity (mean difference, 7.3min/d per 5 years; 95% confidence interval 2.0,12.7) and less time in vigorous-to-very-vigorous activity (-0.8min/d; -1.4, -0.2), while higher BMI was related to less time in low-intensity activity (-3.7min/d; -6.3, -1.2). Current versus never smoking was associated with more time in low-intensity (29.2min/d; 7.5, 50.9) and less time in vigorous-to-very-vigorous activity (-3.9min/d; -6.3, -1.5). Finally, having versus not having a university entrance qualification and being not versus full time employed were associated with more inactivity time (35.9min/d; 13.0, 58.8, and 66.2min/d; 34.7, 97.7, respectively) and less time in low-intensity activity (-31.7min/d; -49.9, -13.4, and -50.7; -76.6, -24.8, respectively). The assessed factors show distinct associations with activity intensities, providing targets for public health measures aiming to increase activity

The Process of Consumer Reactions to Possession Threats and Losses in a Natural Disaster

This paper examines involuntary possession disposition associated with a natural disaster. Results of a naturalistic investigation involving group and depth interviews with wildfire survivors are consistent with previous research proposing that disposition is a symbolic and meaningful process. Overall, these consumers’ reactions to possession threats and losses appear to follow a sequence of stages. We also find this process to have some unique characteristics that distinguish it from other types of disposition. Copyright Kluwer Academic Publishers 2004consumer behavior, possession disposition, environment, qualitative methodology,

Risky Curves: From Unobservable Utility to Observable Opportunity Sets

Most theories of risky choice postulate that a decision maker maximizes the expectationof a Bernoulli (or utility or similar) function. We tour 60 years of empirical search and concludethat no such functions have yet been found that are useful for out-of-sample prediction. Nor dowe find practical applications of Bernoulli functions in major risk-based industries such asfinance, insurance and gambling. We sketch an alternative approach to modeling risky choicethat focuses on potentially observable opportunities rather than on unobservable Bernoullifunctions

Framework and baseline examination of the German National Cohort (NAKO)

The German National Cohort (NAKO) is a multidisciplinary, population-based prospective cohort study that aims to investigate the causes of widespread diseases, identify risk factors and improve early detection and prevention of disease. Specifically, NAKO is designed to identify novel and better characterize established risk and protection factors for the development of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases, musculoskeletal diseases, respiratory and infectious diseases in a random sample of the general population. Between 2014 and 2019, a total of 205,415 men and women aged 19–74 years were recruited and examined in 18 study centres in Germany. The baseline assessment included a face-to-face interview, self-administered questionnaires and a wide range of biomedical examinations. Biomaterials were collected from all participants including serum, EDTA plasma, buffy coats, RNA and erythrocytes, urine, saliva, nasal swabs and stool. In 56,971 participants, an intensified examination programme was implemented. Whole-body 3T magnetic resonance imaging was performed in 30,861 participants on dedicated scanners. NAKO collects follow-up information on incident diseases through a combination of active follow-up using self-report via written questionnaires at 2–3 year intervals and passive follow-up via record linkages. All study participants are invited for re-examinations at the study centres in 4–5 year intervals. Thereby, longitudinal information on changes in risk factor profiles and in vascular, cardiac, metabolic, neurocognitive, pulmonary and sensory function is collected. NAKO is a major resource for population-based epidemiology to identify new and tailored strategies for early detection, prediction, prevention and treatment of major diseases for the next 30 years