Einflussfaktoren des Studienerfolges im betriebswirtschaftlichen Studium: Eine empirische Untersuchung

Was beeinflusst den Studienerfolg eines betriebswirtschaftlichen Studiums in Form der erreichten Abschlussnote? Aus der Perspektive der Studierenden, der staatlichen Hochschulpolitik und der Hochschulen sind dabei unterschiedliche Einflussfaktoren von Bedeutung: Die Note der Hochschulzugangsberechtigung, das Alter und Geschlecht des Studierenden, die Entscheidungen des Studierenden hinsichtlich der Studienschwerpunkte und der Studiendauer (Semesterzahl) oder die Frage, ob systematische Notenunterschiede zwischen dem klassischen Diplom- und dem Bachelorabschluss existieren. Diese Aspekte sind Ausgangspunkt der vorliegenden Regressionsanalyse. Sie basiert auf einem Datensatz von 263 auswertbaren Antworten ehemaliger Studierender (Alumni) des Fachbereichs Betriebswirtschaft (BW) der Ernst-Abbe-Fachhochschule (EAFH) Jena. Zentrale Ergebnisse sind: Erstens hängt die Note der Hochschulzugangsberechtigung eng mit der Studienabschlussnote zusammen: Bessere Noten bei der Zugangsberechtigung sind mit besseren Studienabschlussnoten verbunden. Zweitens existiert kein Zusammenhang von Alter oder Geschlecht des Studierenden und seiner Abschlussnote. Drittens zeigt sich, dass die Schwerpunktwahl zum Teil einflussreich ist, während die kurze Dauer des Studiums (gemessen an der Einhaltung der Regelstudienzeit) in jedem Fall mit einer besseren Abschlussnote einhergeht. Dies kann mittels der Endogenität von Schwerpunktwahl und Dauer des Studiums auf Grund des Entscheidungsverhaltens der Studierenden erklärt werden. Viertens hat die Art des Abschlusses (Bachelor oder Diplom) bzw. dessen Aktualität keinen Einfluss.Studying business economics: An empirical analysis of determinants and predictors of grades This paper is concerned with the factors that influence a students success, ie grade, in studying business economics. As to students, universities and higher education policy, different aspects play a role, e.g. student's record in the final year of high school, student's decisions as to majors, demographic factors (age and sex), the time length of studies, the influence of university reform (the introduction of Bachelor and Master degrees instead of the old diploma) or the question of grade inflation. The regression analysis relies on a data set of 263 questionnaires of alumni of the department of business economics at Ernst-Abbe-University of Applied Sciences Jena. These former students graduated between 1996 and 2011. The empirical findings suggest, that: First, high school records are good predictors of university grades. Second, age and gender do not influence students grade achievement. Third, the decisions as to majors reveals a mixed result on grades but the number of years spent at the university clearly influences grades: students that fail to finish their studies in accordance with suggested 3.5 and 4 year plans exhibit a lower grade outcome. The paper provides an explanation based on the endogenity of students decisions with respect to these both aspects of their studies. Finally, there is no evidence that university reform is related to grade achievement and that a kind of grade inflation has taken place during the last 15 years

Immunological substrates of depressive symptoms in patients with severe obesity: An exploratory study

In this pilot study, we explored the immune phenotype of patients with severe obesity and comorbid depressive symptoms compared to non-depressed patients with obesity and normal-weight controls. Immune cell subsets were analysed by flow cytometry and depressive symptoms assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Cell frequencies were correlated with depressive symptom scores and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). Patients with obesity and comorbid depression showed significantly lower numbers of circulating cytotoxic natural killer cells, dendritic cells and CD8(+) effector memory T cells, compared to normal-weight controls. Regulatory T cells and CD4(+) central memory T cells were increased compared to non-depressed patients with obesity and compared to normal-weight controls, respectively. Frequencies of cytotoxic natural killer cells and CD4(+) central memory T cells significantly correlated with PHQ-9 scores, but not with WHR. Reduced numbers of dendritic cells were observed in both patient groups with obesity and correlated with PHQ-9 scores and WHR. These findings provide evidence for an altered immune composition in comorbid obesity and depression, supporting a pathobiological overlap between the two disorders

Specialist role coaching and skill training periodisation: A football goalkeeping case study

© The Author(s) 2020. In sports like association football, professional teams are increasingly devoting resources to the role-based development of individual athletes and sub-groups. By employing ‘specialist coaches’ into athlete-support structures, clubs aim to facilitate individualised athlete training programs to enhance performance preparation as well as skill learning and talent development. Here, we discuss how contemporary pedagogical training approaches, like Nonlinear Pedagogy and the Constraints-Led approach, can enhance effectiveness of specialist role-based athlete development programs to facilitate performance functionality. We argue the need for a model of specialist role-based coaching practice in high performance sports organisations, based on a unified theoretical rationale, such as ecological dynamics. To exemplify the nature of specialist role-based coaching, a case study addresses how Nonlinear Pedagogy and Constraints-Led approach are being used for training professional football goalkeepers in an U23 years age group. Integrating key concepts from ecological dynamics, allied to principles of Nonlinear Pedagogy and the Constraints-Led approach, common skill training principles for specialist role coaches are highlighted. These illustrate the use of the recently introduced ‘Periodization of Skill Training’ framework for specialist role coaching, practically exemplifying a way to harness opportunities for performance enhancement and individualised talent development in the football goalkeeping context

Pro-inflammatory monocyte phenotype and cell-specific steroid signaling alterations in unmedicated patients with major depressive disorder

Several lines of evidence have strongly implicated inflammatory processes in the pathobiology of major depressive disorder (MDD). However, the cellular origin of inflammatory signals and their specificity remain unclear. We examined the phenotype and glucocorticoid signaling in key cell populations of the innate immune system (monocytes) vs. adaptive immunity (T cells) in a sample of 35 well-characterized, antidepressant-free patients with MDD and 35 healthy controls individually matched for age, sex, smoking status and body mass index. Monocyte and T cell phenotype was assessed by flow cytometry. Cell-specific steroid signaling was determined by mRNA expression of pre-receptor regulation (11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1; 11 beta-HSD1), steroid receptor expression [glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and mineralocorticoid receptor (MR)], and the downstream target glucocorticoid-induced leucine-zipper (GILZ). We also collected salivary cortisol samples (8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.) on two consecutive days. Patients showed a shift toward a pro-inflammatory phenotype characterized by higher frequency and higher absolute numbers of non-classical monocytes. No group differences were observed in major T cell subset frequencies and phenotype. Correspondingly, gene expression indicative of steroid resistance (i.e., lower expression of GR and GILZ) in patients with MDD was specific to monocytes and not observed in T cells. Monocyte phenotype and steroid receptor expression was not related to cortisol levels or serum levels of IL-6, IL-1 beta, or TNF-alpha. Our results thus suggest that in MDD, cells of the innate and adaptive immune system are differentially affected with shifts in monocyte subsets and lower expression of steroid signaling related genes

Pro-inflammatory monocyte phenotype and cell-specific steroid signaling alterations in unmedicated patients with major depressive disorder

Several lines of evidence have strongly implicated inflammatory processes in the pathobiology of major depressive disorder (MDD). However, the cellular origin of inflammatory signals and their specificity remain unclear. We examined the phenotype and glucocorticoid signaling in key cell populations of the innate immune system (monocytes) vs. adaptive immunity (T cells) in a sample of 35 well-characterized, antidepressant-free patients with MDD and 35 healthy controls individually matched for age, sex, smoking status and body mass index. Monocyte and T cell phenotype was assessed by flow cytometry. Cell-specific steroid signaling was determined by mRNA expression of pre-receptor regulation (11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1; 11 beta-HSD1), steroid receptor expression [glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and mineralocorticoid receptor (MR)], and the downstream target glucocorticoid-induced leucine-zipper (GILZ). We also collected salivary cortisol samples (8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.) on two consecutive days. Patients showed a shift toward a pro-inflammatory phenotype characterized by higher frequency and higher absolute numbers of non-classical monocytes. No group differences were observed in major T cell subset frequencies and phenotype. Correspondingly, gene expression indicative of steroid resistance (i.e., lower expression of GR and GILZ) in patients with MDD was specific to monocytes and not observed in T cells. Monocyte phenotype and steroid receptor expression was not related to cortisol levels or serum levels of IL-6, IL-1 beta, or TNF-alpha. Our results thus suggest that in MDD, cells of the innate and adaptive immune system are differentially affected with shifts in monocyte subsets and lower expression of steroid signaling related genes

Simvastatin add-on to escitalopram in patients with comorbid obesity and major depression (SIMCODE): study protocol of a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Introduction: Major depressive disorder (MDD) and obesity are both common disorders associated with significant burden of disease worldwide. Importantly, MDD and obesity often co-occur, with each disorder increasing the risk for developing the other by about 50%-60%. Statins are among the most prescribed medications with well-established safety and efficacy. Statins are recommended in primary prevention of cardiovascular disease, which has been linked to both MDD and obesity. Moreover, statins are promising candidates to treat MDD because a meta-analysis of pilot randomised controlled trials has found antidepressive effects of statins as adjunct therapy to antidepressants. However, no study so far has tested the antidepressive potential of statins in patients with MDD and comorbid obesity. Importantly, this is a difficult-to-treat population that often exhibits a chronic course of MDD and is more likely to be treatment resistant. Thus, in this confirmatory randomised controlled trial, we will determine whether add-on simvastatin to standard antidepressant medication with escitalopram is more efficacious than add-on placebo over 12 weeks in 160 patients with MDD and comorbid obesity. Methods and analysis: This is a protocol for a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind multicentre trial with parallel-group design (phase II). One hundred and sixty patients with MDD and comorbid obesity will be randomised 1:1 to simvastatin or placebo as add-on to standard antidepressant medication with escitalopram. The primary outcome is change in the Montgomery-angstrom sberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score from baseline to week 12. Secondary outcomes include MADRS response (defined as 50% MADRS score reduction from baseline), MADRS remission (defined as MADRS score <10), mean change in patients' self-reported Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and mean change in high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein and total cholesterol from baseline to week 12. Ethics and dissemination: This protocol has been approved by the ethics committee of the federal state of Berlin (Ethik-Kommission des Landes Berlin, reference: 19/0226-EK 11) and by the relevant federal authority (Bundesinstitut fur Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte (BfArM), reference: 4043387). Study findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals and will be presented at (inter)national conferences

Pro-inflammatory Monocyte Phenotype and Cell-Specific Steroid Signaling Alterations in Unmedicated Patients With Major Depressive Disorder

Several lines of evidence have strongly implicated inflammatory processes in the pathobiology of major depressive disorder (MDD). However, the cellular origin of inflammatory signals and their specificity remain unclear. We examined the phenotype and glucocorticoid signaling in key cell populations of the innate immune system (monocytes) vs. adaptive immunity (T cells) in a sample of 35 well-characterized, antidepressant-free patients with MDD and 35 healthy controls individually matched for age, sex, smoking status and body mass index. Monocyte and T cell phenotype was assessed by flow cytometry. Cell-specific steroid signaling was determined by mRNA expression of pre-receptor regulation (11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1; 11β -HSD1), steroid receptor expression [glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and mineralocorticoid receptor (MR)], and the downstream target glucocorticoid-induced leucine-zipper (GILZ). We also collected salivary cortisol samples (8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.) on two consecutive days. Patients showed a shift toward a pro-inflammatory phenotype characterized by higher frequency and higher absolute numbers of non-classical monocytes. No group differences were observed in major T cell subset frequencies and phenotype. Correspondingly, gene expression indicative of steroid resistance (i.e., lower expression of GR and GILZ) in patients with MDD was specific to monocytes and not observed in T cells. Monocyte phenotype and steroid receptor expression was not related to cortisol levels or serum levels of IL-6, IL-1β, or TNF-α. Our results thus suggest that in MDD, cells of the innate and adaptive immune system are differentially affected with shifts in monocyte subsets and lower expression of steroid signaling related genes

The Crowdsourced Replication Initiative: Investigating Immigration and Social Policy Preferences. Executive Report.

In an era of mass migration, social scientists, populist parties and social movements raise concerns over the future of immigration-destination societies. What impacts does this have on policy and social solidarity? Comparative cross-national research, relying mostly on secondary data, has findings in different directions. There is a threat of selective model reporting and lack of replicability. The heterogeneity of countries obscures attempts to clearly define data-generating models. P-hacking and HARKing lurk among standard research practices in this area.This project employs crowdsourcing to address these issues. It draws on replication, deliberation, meta-analysis and harnessing the power of many minds at once. The Crowdsourced Replication Initiative carries two main goals, (a) to better investigate the linkage between immigration and social policy preferences across countries, and (b) to develop crowdsourcing as a social science method. The Executive Report provides short reviews of the area of social policy preferences and immigration, and the methods and impetus behind crowdsourcing plus a description of the entire project. Three main areas of findings will appear in three papers, that are registered as PAPs or in process

Institutional Adaptation to Cross-Border Health Care in the German-Polish Borderland

Wstąpienie Polski do Unii Europejskiej 1 maja 2004 roku stworzyło prawne podstawy do korzystania przez Niemców z oferty polskiej opieki zdrowotnej oraz do zwrotu części poniesionych kosztów. Ponadto zniesienie kontroli granicznej na granicy niemiecko- polskiej 21 grudnia 2007 roku znacząco uprościło przekraczanie granicy. W rezultacie niemieccy pacjenci coraz częściej korzystają z terapii uzdrowiskowych w polskich kurortach ulokowanych blisko granicy. Z drugiej strony sytuacja ta wymusiła na polskich uzdrowiskach konieczność dostosowania się do wymagań niemieckich klientów. Dostosowanie to spowodowało modyfikację i powstanie standardowych jednostek oraz w miarę stałych sposobów postępowania, określanych mianem instytucji. Zarówno kadra kierownicza, jak i personel zatrudniony w uzdrowiskach muszą identyfikować te instytucje oraz modyfikować je i dostosowywać do nowej sytuacji, tzn. leczenia także niemieckich pacjentów. W artykule skupiono się na kwestiach instytucjonalnego dostosowania w Polskich uzdrowiskach i próbowano wskazać możliwości jego oceny