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Diese Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit dem Thema der Eingewöhnung von Kleinkindern in einer elementarpädagogischen Einrichtung unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des Trennungserlebens. Es handelt sich um eine fallinspirierte Arbeit, die Bezug auf ein Fallbeispiel aus dem Bereich der Elementarpädagogik nimmt. Kinder, welche zum ersten Mal in eine außerfamiliäre Einrichtung kommen, leiden unter der Trennung der engsten Bezugsperson(en). Diese Kinder erleben in diesem Kontext unterschiedlichste Gefühle, welche von ihnen gesehen, verstanden und verarbeitet werden müssen. Die Trennung selbst kann als traumatisches Erlebnis durchaus Hilfestellung der beteiligten Fürsorgepersonen notwendig machen. Daher ist auch das primäre Ziel dieser Arbeit die Auseinandersetzung mit der Frage, warum Kinder unter der Trennung der engsten Bezugspersonen leiden und, wie die Fachkraft und auch Bezugspersonen diese Trennung bestmöglich unterstützen können. Die vorliegende Arbeit bezieht sich insbesondere auf Margarete Mahlers (1955) Theorie der Loslösung und Individuation. Im Zuge der Arbeit werden unter anderem Kenntnisse aus diversen Studien, wie die Wiener Kinderkrippenstudie (WiKI-Studie), herangezogen. Zudem werden hilfreiche Beziehungserfahrungen für die Bewältigung des Trennungserlebens von Kindern, wie Holding von Winnicott (1965/1990) und Containment von Bion (1992) herangezogen. Anhand der vorliegenden Studien können mögliche Schlüsse gezogen werden, wie die Fachkraft das Kind, während der Eingewöhnungsphase, unterstützen kann. Hier wird vor allem auf die Trennungsobjekte und deren Einfluss Bezug genommen. Geschlossen wird die Arbeit mit einem Fazit, das die wesentlichen Ergebnisse zusammenfasst, um etwaige Lösungsansätze im Alltag des Elementarbereichs zur Verfügung zu haben und diese durchaus anspruchsvollen Ereignisse der Trennung der wichtigsten Bezugspersonen besser zu verstehen und schneller reagieren zu können um das Wohl des Kindes bestmöglich gerecht zu werden. This thesis deals with the topic of the acclimatization of small children in an elementary educational institution with special consideration of the separation experience. It is a case-inspired work, which refers to a case study from the field of elementary education. Children who come to an institution outside of their family for the first time suffer from the separation of their closest caregiver(s). In this context, these children experience a wide variety of feelings, which they have to see, understand and process. The primary goal of this work is to address the question of why children suffer from the separation of their closest caregivers and how the professional can best support this separation. In particular, this thesis draws on Margarete Mahler's (1955) theory of detachment and individuation. In the course of the work, knowledge from the Vienna Crèche Study (WiKI Study), among others, is used. In addition, helpful relationship experiences for coping with children's experience of separation, such as Holding by Winnicott (1965/1990) and Containment by Bion (1992) will be used. Based on the available studies, possible conclusions can be drawn on how the professional can support the child during the settling-in phase. The work ends with a conclusion that summarizes the main results.

The climate crisis is threatening the health of current and future generations and represents a particular challenge for healthcare systems. To address man-made climate change, comprehensive adaptation and mitigation strategies are crucial. Medicine and ophthalmology offer various opportunities to reduce the CODie Klimakrise bedroht die Gesundheit heutiger und künftiger Generationen und stellt das Gesundheitssystem vor besondere Herausforderungen. Zur Anpassung an den anthropogene Klimawandel sind umfängliche Adaptationsstrategien und eine Mitigation des Klimawandels notwendig. In der Medizin sowie in der Augenheilkunde gibt es vielfältige Möglichkeiten zur Reduktion des CO

Die vorliegende Arbeit setzt sich theoretisch als auch empirisch mit dem Erleben kultureller Vielfalt von Elementarpädagog*innen auseinander und versucht zudem darzustellen inwiefern das Erleben Bedeutung für die Eingewöhnungsbegleitung hat. Der Übergang von der familiären Betreuung in die außerfamiliäre institutionelle Betreuung geht mit der Eingewöhnung in die jeweilige elementarpädagogische Einrichtung einher. Es konnte festgestellt wer-den, dass Eingewöhnungen im Kontext migrationsbedingter kultureller Vielfalt von Elementarpädagog*innen herausfordernd erlebt werden. Die elementarpädagogische Einrichtung kann demzufolge oftmals nicht zu einem Ort für Eltern und Kinder mit Migrationshintergrund gemacht werden, der Sicherheit bringt (vgl. Schaich 2011). Vor diesem Hintergrund wird mittels einer Einzelfallstudie der Frage nachgegangen, wie Elementarpädagog*innen kulturelle Vielfalt erleben und welche Bedeutung das Erleben auf die Begleitung der Eingewöhnung haben kann. Im Rahmen der qualitativen Untersuchung wurde daher ein episodisches Interview mit einer Elementarpädagogin durchgeführt. Das Interview wurde aufgenommen, anschließend transkribiert und einer tiefenhermeneutischen Textanalyse unterzogen. Mit Hilfe der tiefenhermeneutischen Textanalyse (vgl. Kratz/Ruth 2016) konnte herausgearbeitet werden, wie die Elementarpädagogin kulturelle Vielfalt erleben könnte und welche Bedeutung ihr Erleben für die Begleitung von Eingewöhnungen hat. Die Ergebnisse der Untersuchung deuten auf eine teils offene, aber stärker abgrenzende Haltung der Elementarpädagogin in Bezug auf das Thema „kulturelle Vielfalt“ hin. Infolgedessen gelingt es Elementarpädagog*innen nur teilweise den Aspekten von kultureller Vielfalt bei der Begleitung von Eingewöhnungen Raum zu geben. Die Untersuchungsergebnisse verdeutlichen vor allem die Relevanz der Selbstreflexion seitens der Elementarpädagog*innen in Bezug auf eigene implizite Werte- und Normvorstellungen. Sie unterstreichen zudem die Bedeutung der Auseinsetzung mit eigenen Gefühlen, die durch die Begegnung mit kultureller Vielfalt evoziert werden können (vgl. Fürstaller/Csar/Veigl 2019). The present study deals theoretically as well as empirically with the experience of cultural diversity of elementary educators and also tries to show how this experience has significance for the familiarization support. The transition from family care to non-family institutional care is accompanied by the acclimatization to the respective elementary educational institution. It has been established that acclimatization in the context of migrationrelated cultural diversity is experienced as challenging by elementary educators. As a result, the elementary educational institution can often not be made a place of security for parents and children with a migration background (vgl. Schaich 2011). Against this background, the question of how elementary educators experience cultural diversity and what significance this experi-ence can have on the accompaniment of acclimatization is investigated by means of an individual case study. Within the framework of the qualitative study, an episodic interview was conducted with an elementary teacher. The interview was recorded, then transcribed and subjected to a depth hermeneutic text analysis. With the help of the depthhermeneutic text analysis (vgl. Kratz/Ruth 2016), it was possible to work out how the elementary educator might experience cultural diversity and what meaning her experience has for the accompaniment of familiarization. The results of the study indicate a partly open, but more delimiting attitude of the elementary educator with regard to the topic of "cultural diversity". As a result, elementary educators are only partially successful in making room for the aspects of cultural diversity when accompanying acclimatization. The results of the study highlight the relevance of selfreflection on the part of elementary teachers with regard to their own implicit values and norms. They also underline the importance of dealing with one's own feel-ings, which can be evoked by the encounter with cultural diversity (vgl. Fürstaller/Csar/Veigl 2019).

Die vorliegende Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit der Thematik „stiller Kinder“, im Kontext der Eingewöhnung, in elementarpädagogischen Einrichtungen. Als Ausgangslage dient die Falldarstellung des dreijährigen Jungen Tarik, der im Zuge einer Beobachtung sehr in sich zurückgezogen wirkt, nicht spricht und sich nicht am Gruppengeschehen beteiligt. Forschungen zufolge, wird zurückgezogenes Verhalten, von Kindern während der Eingewöhnungszeit, oft missverstanden. Nach Zwettler-Otte (2006) bedeutet die Trennung von jemanden oder etwas, gleichzeitig eine seelische Belastung und ist mit großem Trennungsschmerz und dem Gefühl einer existentiellen Bedrohung verbunden (vgl. Zwettler-Otte 2006: 22). Kinder, die ihre emotionalen Belastungen lautstark zum Ausdruck bringen, erfahren tendenziell mehr Aufmerksamkeit von pädagogischen Fachkräften, als jene Kinder, die scheinbar „still leiden“, da diese den Anschein erwecken, als würden sie nicht unter der Situation leiden (vgl. Fürstaller 2019: 16). Da Fürstaller (2019) darauf hinweist, dass die stillen Zeichen des Kummers kaum im Zentrum von Eingewöhnungsstudien stehen, (vgl. Fürstaller 2019: 150) liegt der Fokus dieser Arbeit auf folgender Forschungsfrage: „Inwiefern kann die Pädagogin-Kind-Beziehung für eine gelingende Eingewöhnung bei besonders stillen Kindern bedeutsam sein und welche Konsequenzen ergeben sich daraus für die pädagogische Arbeit?“. Unter Berücksichtigung der wissenschaftlichen Aspekte über die Kriterien einer gelungenen Eingewöhnung, wird die Bedeutung der Pädagog*in-Kind-Beziehung in der Zeit der Eingewöhnung in den Fokus gerückt. Kinder sind während der Eingewöhnung in eine elementare Bildungseinrichtung, primär auf die Fürsorge von Erwachsenen angewiesen, um diesem Prozess Stand halten zu können (vgl. Fürstaller 2019: 15). In diesem Zusammenhang ist eine containende Haltung der Pädagog*in für das Kind von großer Bedeutung um negative Affekte, die mit dem Eingewöhnungsprozess einher gehen, regulieren zu können (vgl. Fürstaller 2019: 125). Diese Arbeit soll einen wichtigen Beitrag für die Wissenschaft und die pädagogische Praxis leisten, um Kindern, die scheinbar „stillen Kummer“ haben, bewusster wahrzunehmen und sie durch professionelles Wissen besser unterstützen zu können. The available work deals with the topic of “silent children” in the context of acclimatization in elementary educational institutions. The starting point is the case of the three year old boy Tarik, who in the course of an observation seems very withdrawn, doesn´t speak and doesn´t take part in group events. According to research, introverted behavior is often misunderstood in educational practice by children during the acclimatization period. According to Zwettler-Otte (2006), the separation from someone or something means, at the same time, an emotional burden and is associated with great pain of separation and the feeling of an existential threat (see Zwettler-Otte 2006: 22). Children who loudly express their emotional burdens, tend to receive mor attention from educational professionals than those who appear to be “suffering in silence” because they give the impression that they don´t from the situation (see Fürstaller 2019: 16). Fürstaller (2019) points out that the silent signs of grief are rarely the focus of familiarization studies (see Fürstaller 2019: 150). Therefore, the focus is on the following research question: “To what extent can the pedagogue-child-relationship be important for a successful acclimatization with particularly silent children and what are the consequences for pedagogical work?” Considering the scientific aspects about criteria for a successful acclimatization, the importance of the pedagogue-child-relationship during the acclimatization period is brought into focus. During the acclimatization to an elementary educational institution, children are primarily dependent on the care of adults in order to be able to withstand this process (see Fürstaller 2019: 15). In this context, the pedagogue´s containment attitude is of great importance for the child in order to be able to regulate negative affects that go along with the acclimatization process (see Fürstaller 2019: 125). This work is intended to make an important contribution to science and pedagogical practice in order to be more aware of children who seem to have “silent grief” and to be able to be better support them through professional knowledge.

Dissertation, Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen, 2018; Aachen 1 Online-Ressource (118 Seiten) : Illustration, 1 Karte (2018). = Dissertation, Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen, 2018, BackgroundThe field study was performed to gather data about the current situation of pre-existing conditions in trekkers. Although trekking is becoming more popular, the data available on this sport is quite minimal, especially in regards to the travelmedical advice given, and age and medical history of travelers. There is also a lack of comprehensive recommendations for travelers with regard to pre-existing conditions, preparation and emergency management. The data for altitude medicine itself is excellent. The aim of this study is to examine the quality and possibilities of travelmedical advice on pre-existing conditions.MethodsA standardized questionnaire was handed to trekkers in the Solo Khumbu region of Nepal. Questions were about demographic data, the preparation for and performance during the trek, pre-existing conditions, problems caused by a pre-existing condition and travelmedical advice. This was followed by a physical examination. Height, weight, blood pressure, heart rate and SpO2were measured, and urin and cholesterol tests were performed.Results350 travelers have been interviewed. The pre-existing conditions of those trekkers were spread over all medical disciplines. Orthopedic and traumatic diseases were observed most often. Many participants had a lack of knowledge about altitude specific issues and an inadequate preparation for the trip. 61% showed symptoms of acute mountain sickness. Persons with pre-existing conditions were often not aware of the influence of extreme altitude on their conditions. An emergency plan was frequently not existent.ConclusionTrekking tourism is steadily gaining popularity, but travelers expose themselves to unexpected risks. Comprehensive travelmedical advice could counteract this. The summary of this study is a recommendation for travelers and consultants on how to prevent altitude-related problems., Published by Aachen

Brown adipose tissue (BAT)-dependent thermogenesis and its suggested augmenting hormone, FGF21, are potential therapeutic targets in current obesity and diabetes research. Here, we studied the role of UCP1 and FGF21 for metabolic homeostasis in the cold and dissected underlying molecular mechanisms using UCP1-FGF21 double-knockout mice. We report that neither UCP1 nor FGF21, nor even compensatory increases of FGF21 serum levels in UCP1 knockout mice, are required for defense of body temperature or for maintenance of energy metabolism and body weight. Remarkably, cold-induced browning of inguinal white adipose tissue (iWAT) is FGF21 independent. Global RNA sequencing reveals major changes in response to UCP1- but not FGF21-ablation in BAT, iWAT, and muscle. Markers of mitochondrial failure and inflammation are observed in BAT, but in particular the enhanced metabolic reprogramming in iWAT supports the thermogenic role of UCP1 and excludes an important thermogenic role of endogenous FGF21 in normal cold acclimation.

In the present study, we investigated the responses of date palm ( Phoenix dactylifera ) to drought and heat as single stressors and in combination. We tested the hypotheses (i) that heat and drought enhance the capacity of the antioxidative system, and (ii) that due to the high stress tolerance of date palm, the plants’ redox state will be widely unaffected, and (iii) that heat but not drought changes the plants’ fatty acid composition and biosynthesis of isoprene, both contributing to the stabilization of membrane integrity. Photosynthesis was only weakly affected by both stresses, whereas the levels of the antioxidants ascorbate and glutathione in leaves dropped. This drop was, however, over-compensated by increased activities of glutathione reductase, an important enzyme of the antioxidative system. The plants’ redox state was unaffected by stress as indicated by unchanged H 2 O 2 levels. Because we do not know the concentration of isoprene at its site of action, isoprene emission might provide indirect hints on its possible functions. Isoprene emission strongly increased due to heat indicating its possible role as an antioxidant and for stabilization of thylakoid membranes. Fatty acids only reacted in response to drought. We conclude that the high heat and drought tolerance of date palm is the consequence of a concerted action of the antioxidative system, mainly based on enzyme activities and the assumed antioxidative effects of isoprene as well as adjustments in the fatty acid composition.

Beneficial microbes are applied to the soil and plant tissues directly or through seed inoculation, whereas soil application is preferred when there is risk of inhibitors or antagonistic microbes on the plant tissues. Insufficient survival of the microorganisms, hindrance in application of fungicides to the seeds and exposure to heat and sunlight in subsequent seed storage in conventional inoculation methods force to explore appropriate and efficient bacterial application method. Seed priming, where seeds are hydrated to activate metabolism without actual germination followed by drying, increases the germination, stand establishment and stress tolerance in different crops. Seed priming with living bacterial inoculum is termed as biopriming that involves the application of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria. It increases speed and uniformity of germination; also ensures rapid, uniform and high establishment of crops; and hence improves harvest quality and yield. Seed biopriming allows the bacteria to enter/adhere the seeds and also acclimatization of bacteria in the prevalent conditions. This review focuses on methods used for biopriming, and also the role in improving crop productivity and stress tolerance along with prospects of this technology. The comparison of methods being followed is also reviewed proposing biopriming as a promising technique for application of beneficial microbes to the seeds.

Football is played worldwide and players often have to cope with hot and cold temperatures as well as high altitude conditions. The upcoming and past world championships in Brazil, Qatar and South Africa illustrate the necessity for behavioural strategies and adaptation to extreme environmental conditions. When playing football in the heat or cold, special clothing, hydration and nutritional and acclimatisation strategies are vital for high-level performance. When playing at high altitude, the reduced oxygen partial pressure impairs endurance performance and alters the technical and tactical requirements. Special high-altitude adaptation and preparation strategies are essential for football teams based at sea-level in order to perform well and compete successfully. Therefore, the aim of the underlying review is: 1) to highlight the difficulties and needs of football teams competing in extreme environmental conditions, 2) to summarise the thermoregulatory, physiological, neuronal and psychological mechanism, and 3) to provide recommendations for coping with extreme environmental conditions in order to perform at a high level when playing football in the heat, cold and at high altitude.

Exposures to natural and simulated altitudes are combined with a reduction of the available oxygen (hypoxia) and may provoke health problems or even emergencies. Although millions of people are living at high altitudes, are regularly or occasionally performing mountain sport activities, are transported by airplanes, and are increasingly frequently exposed to hypoxia at their workplace, e.g. with fire control systems, there is no consensus about the level of hypoxia which is well tolerated by most of human beings. Thus, the present mini review tries to define such a level. This review indicates that although humans show adaptive responses even to altitudes below 2000 m or corresponding normobaric hypoxia (FiO2:16%) most of these subjects without severe pre-existing diseases well tolerate altitudes up to 3000 m (FiO2: 14.5%). If at all, symptoms of acute mountain sickness may develop in some persons after a minimum exposure time of about 6 hours. This also applies to children, elderly persons and pregnant women. Physical activity and unusual environmental conditions may increase the risk to get sick. Also patients with not severe cardiovascular, respiratory or metabolic diseases well tolerate such levels of altitude. However, individual differences in responses to hypoxia have to be considered and can at least partly be tested by simple hypoxia challenge tests. For safety reasons altitudes up to 2700 m or normobaric hypoxia up to FiO2 values of 15% are proposed to be well tolerated by most humans who are not severely diseased.

Intermittent hypoxic training (IHT) plays an important role concerning methods of training. Considering the enormous logistic and pecuniary investments for altitude training, there is a high demand for more efficient concepts. The intermittent hypoxic training is a new, alternative form of altitude training. The idea of IHT is to economise the currently most reliable and evaluated method which is known as "live high - train low" (LHTL). Thus, IHT combines a normal training at sea level with short training sessions in a chamber that creates a hypoxic but normobaric environment. Its aim is to initiate a similar level of erythropoesis as that usually achieved through long stays in high altitude with a minimised effort. This study analyses the results of selected studies that deal with IHT, evaluating the performance improvements in general and possible haematological variances/changes specifically.

The modern interpretation of functional disorders classifies them as somatoform autonomic functional disorders that are associated with the vegetative nervous system. This places them within the responsibility of psychosomatic, psychotherapeutic medicine or psychiatry. In consequence, other forms of treatment with an impact on the vegetative system are being underestimated, such as hydrotherapy and thermotherapy, the efficacy of which depends on the fact that thermoregulation predominates over the regulation of numerous other organ systems. In the present article, the effectiveness of this therapeutic approach is discussed.

Hypoxia at high altitude is associated with an increase in myocardial work. Cardiovascular effects of high altitude may affect patients suffering from cardiac diseases and raise questions concerning the tolerability of exposure to altitude. In general, altitudes up to 2500 to 3000 meters do not pose a hazard for a patient with stable coronary artery disease and good exercise tolerance. Likewise, a patient suffering from heart failure does not necessarily refrain from these altitude exposures unless exercise capacity and left ventricular ejection fraction are severely impaired. However, cardiac patients have to be informed that symptoms may occur already at lesser efforts at high altitude compared to low altitude. Therefore, patients should be advised to adapt physical activities, particularly during the first 3-4 days of acclimatization. In commercial airplanes pressure conditions are comparable to altitudes of 1500 to 2400 meters. Most cardiac patients tolerante the associated physical stress without difficulty. Contraindications for air travel include unstable cardiac conditions, recent cardiac interventions (2-3 weeks), an uncomplicated myocardial infarction within the last 2 weeks, or a complicated myocardial infarction within the last 6 weeks, respectively. The risk of exposure to altitudes above 3500 meters is not well known for cardiac patients because of a lack of corresponding data. Thus, patients who would like to mountaineer at very high altitudes have to be advised individually based on their physical condition and on the severity of their cardiac illness.

At elevations above 1500 m, even a healthy person undergoes acclimatization. To avoid problems such as acute mountain sickness (AMS), high altitude cerebral edema (HACE) or high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), the speed of ascent and the daily sleeping elevation are of primary importance. Mild symptoms and peripheral swelling are usually harmless. However, when the severity of altitude sickness progresses, rapid therapy and immediate transport to lower elevations can be life-saving under certain conditions. A sojourn in the mountains requires effective preparation and prophylaxis against oxygen deficiency, increased UV radiation, as well as against the possibility of hypothermia and frostbite.

Fundamentally, accident mechanisms during the isopression phase of diving are primarily dependent upon the partial pressures of the respiratory gases. An increased nitrogen partial pressure leads to compressed-air intoxication; an increased oxygen partial pressure while diving with oxygen-enriched gas mixtures can trigger an oxygen-induced convulsion. Elevated pCO2 can be provoked by inadequate breathing and/or physical exertion at greater diving depths. Through an adjusted diving behavior and observation of the limits, these problems could be easily avoided.

In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird ein Konzept vorgestellt, das auf langjahrige Klimadaten der Temperatur, der Windverhaltnisse, der Niederschlagsverteilung und der Strahlung bzw. der Haufigkeit von Tiefdruckwetterlagen (ungunstige Biotropiestufen) aufbaut und somit eine bioklimatische Bewertung einer Hochgebirgsregion erlaubt. Mit Hilfe dieses relativ einfachen Verfahrens kann das Risiko zu Problemen bei den Erkrankungen in der Hohe (z. B. AMS) besser abgeschatzt werden. Aktuelle Vergleiche unter den Veranstaltern von Expeditionen zeigen namlich, dass oft der Zeitplan bis zum Gipfelanstieg zu knapp bemessen ist (zu geringe Akklimatisierung) und die Zahl der Reservetage infolge der bioklimatischen Verhaltnisse nicht ausreicht. Eine Gegenuberstellung von ausgewahlten Hochgebirgsregionen zeigt, dass etwa die Region Mont Kenia/Kilimandjaro und Teile der Westkordille in Chile (Hochatacama) am besten abschneiden, hingegen Himalaya und Karakorum mitunter problematisch sind (Monsuneinfluss).

At altitudes higher than the threshold altitude of 2,500 m, high-altitude diseases may occur, usually after a delay of 6 to 12 hours. Apart from the headache associated with acute mountain sickness, life-threatening cerebral edema may develop. High-altitude pulmonary edema is a non-cardiac edema that often precedes acute mountain sickness. The most important preventive measure is a slow ascent. In the case of mountain sickness a prophylactic effect can be achieved with acetazolamide or dexamethasone possible, while for high-altitude pulmonary edema, nifedipine is the first-choice drug. Immediate descent and the administration of oxygen are always indicated. Patients with a high-altitude risk are those with cardiac or pulmonary disease. Nevertheless, it is still possible for patients with coronary heart disease, hypertension or bronchial asthma to attain to high altitudes. In contrast, patients with COPD, interstitial pulmonary disease or pulmonary hypertension are at appreciably greater risk.

Even though hearing and vestibular disorders at high altitude have been reported since 1938, their reasons are still unknown. During the Audimont Research Expedition the risk for cochlear and vestibular sensory cells has been quantified by otoacoustic emissions and videonystagmography. Vestibular disorders could not be observed up to 7050 meters. However, the outer hair cells in the inner ear showed a reduction of emissions at increasing height. The pattern of the inner ear reply, depending on the altitude, complies with an increase of the perilymphatic pressure. As the perilymphatic space corresponds directly to the subarachnoid space, the limitation of hearing thus appears to be a direct consequence of raised intracranial pressure.

Mass tourism in the mountains is on the increase. The climbers often do not know much about the possible risks which include death, invalidity and sickness. In this article, risks such as AMS (acute mountaine sickness), HACE (high altitude cerebral edema) and HAPE (high altitude pulmonale edema) are shown. These facts should be taken into account for risk assessment in the private insurance industry.

In the last 20 years, maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) of athletes in different sport disciplines has increased, and the world records in endurance sports have improved markedly. One of the factors that has influenced the increase in endurance performance has been perceived to be altitude training. In this paper we describe the advantages and disadvantages of a "regular" altitude training (live high/train high) aiming to improve sea level performance and compare it with a new method, the so called "live high/train low" method. This method uses the advantages and avoids the side effects of altitude exposure. Several papers have shown that altitude training is able to improve VO2max but the individual response may be substantially different. In most cases it is not possible to prove statistical significance and therefore we have no data about differences between both altitude training methods. However, it is suspected that the risk of overtraining is reduced in the high/low method. Although not statistically significant it is suggested that the "high/low" method can more efficiently improve endurance performance at sea level. A monitoring of submaximal variables of exercise performance is recommended to avoid overtraining and to control the development of performance. From the current knowledge the "live high/train low" method is suggested to be the more effective altitude training method for athletes.

Adaptation to altitude is a complex ability of the organism which involves primarily the cardiovascular and respiratory system in order to increase the oxygen supply for body tissues. Cardiovascular adaptations to rapid altitude challenge are regulated sympathetically and manifest themselves first of all as variations of cardiac output, systolic blood pressure and heart rate at rest. However, respiration plays an important role in compensating hypobaric hypoxia at altitude. The hypoxic ventilatory response (HVR) to alveolar hypoxia expressed as alveolar hyperventilation happens within a very short period of exposure to hypoxic conditions. This immediate adaptation response is followed by the acclimatization period, which encompasses longer lasting compensation processes such as the increase of blood hemoglobin concentration improving the arterial oxygen content. This final stage of adaptation is reached within days or weeks of persisting exposure and will vary somewhat depending on the degree of altitude. For healthy, acclimatized individuals the oxygen supply to the organism does not limit the exercise performance at moderate altitudes and higher. However, above 5000 meters (15,000 ft) long term adaptation cannot occur because oxygen-diffusion becomes a limiting factor to physical exercise capacity. Altitude-related disorders are contributing significantly to the morbidity and mortality of non-acclimatized individuals. Subjects already suffering from symptomatic underlying respiratory disease and hypoxemia at rest have a higher risk and incidence of altitude adaptation disorders even at lower altitudes. Therefore, several diseases with impaired respiratory function are contraindicated for any stay at altitude.

The present trial deals with the effects of birth stress on the thyreoidea respectively on the thyroxine- and triiodthyronine-concentration as well as on their unbound fraction (FT4 and FT3) of suckler calves and the evolution of those parameters in the first three months of life. T4- and T3 concentrations in blood serum of calves were beyond maternal levels increasing significantly in the first 24 hours with strong individual specificity and reaching levels of adult animals at the end of the three-month-period. The different increasing rates of the four parameters show a stimulation of the thyreoideal activity and of the monodejodinase-system as well and they show also a greater decomposition rate of the binding proteins. An influence of the course of parturition on the T3 level p.n. and the T4/T3 ratio in the first 24 hours could be disclosed. The hormone concentrations p.n. showed correlations to the pH and pCO2 of the neonatal calves. For T4 and T3 a strong influence of maternal levels on the hormone levels of the calves p.n. could be ascertained. Effects of breed, surrounding temperatures and type of husbandry on the investigated parameters could be established.

The policemen sometimes feel the bonnet of a car for warmth to check wether it had been used just before. But in court it is difficult to quantify the temperature of the car. Therefore, 541 volunteers were given warmed steel plates to feel at different ambient temperatures between -8 degrees C and 30 degrees C and were asked to estimate their temperature. Highest and lowest temperatures for estimating metal plates as hot, warm, slightly warm or cold were measured. Combined with the known decrease of temperature after using an engine, the time at which the engine stopped can be estimated after this study. The sense of warmth and coldness turned out to be significantly influenced by the ambient temperature, by the time of day and by the volunteers' energy balance. In the morning volunteers estimated temperatures 2.5 degrees C higher and more precisely than in the afternoon and evening. For hungry volunteers the seemed 2.5 degrees C colder than for volunteers with a postprandially elevated energy balance. The lowest necessary temperature to cause a slightly warm sensation was 16 degrees C lower at -8 degrees C ambient temperature than at 30 degrees C ambient temperature. The risk of estimating a plate as warm by mistake was found in only 0.57%. Confirmed by this study, estimated temperatures can be considered reliable enough to cite in court.

Elevation of nasal resistance has been described as an effect of increased air temperature by different authors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of high environmental temperature on congestion of the nasal mucosa. In all, 102 volunteers were studied and included normal controls, heart rehabilitation patients and high performance sportsmen. Rhinomanometric examinations were carried out before and after 10 min in a dry Finnish sauna at a 90 degrees C temperature. Computerized active anterior rhinomanometry was used. A uniform response pattern to the increased temperature could not be observed: i.e., some individuals had an elevated resistance immediately after the sauna while resistance was decreased in others. The relationship between the reaction of the nasal mucosa to body work and temperature is discussed.

Reptiles show a high degree of physiological adaptation to their habitates. The digestive tract is characteristic in herbi- or folivorous, omni-, ovi- and carnivorous species, mainly differing in the length and volume of small and large intestine. The specialization requires adequate feeding methods for captured reptiles, not only with regards to the composition of the diet, but also to the feeding techniques. The quantitative knowledge of energy and nutrient requirements is still incomplete and feeding experiments are urgently required. Energy demand for maintenance is considerably lower than in warm blooded species (around 50-60 kJ ME/kg BW0.75/d). Nutritional disorders are found mainly in herbivorous species, especially if unbalanced rations with only one or two feedstuffs are offered. Among nutrient deficiencies, concerning vitamins and minerals, overdosage of some nutrients is encountered occasionally, which may be detrimental especially in case of vitamin A and D.