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Introduction: Nutritional habits and requirements are changing over the lifespan, but the dynamics of nutritional issues and the diet-health relationship in the major stages of the human life cycle are not sufficiently understood. A human phenotyping research platform for nutrition studies was established to recruit and phenotype selected population groups across different stages of life. The project is the backbone of the highly interdisciplinary enable competence cluster of nutrition research aiming to identify dietary determinants of a healthy life throughout the lifespan and to develop healthier and tasty convenience foods with high consumer acceptance. Methods: The phenotyping program included anthropometry, body composition analysis, assessment of energy metabolism, health and functional status, multisensory perception, metabolic phenotyping, lifestyle, sociodemography, chronobiology, and assessment of dietary intake including food preferences and aversions. Results: In total, 503 healthy volunteers at four defined phases of life including 3–5-year old children (n = 44), young adults aged 18–25 years (n = 94), adults aged 40–65 years (“middle agers,” n = 205), and older adults aged 75–85 years (n = 160) were recruited and comprehensively phenotyped. Plasma, serum, buffy coat, urine, feces and saliva samples were collected and stored at −80°C. Significant differences in anthropometric and metabolic parameters between the four groups were found. A major finding was the decrease in fat-free mass and the concomitant increase in % body fat in both sexes across the adult lifespan. Conclusions: The dataset will provide novel information on differences in diet-related parameters over the lifespan and is available for targeted analyses. We expect that this novel platform approach will have implications for the development of innovative food products tailored to promote healthy eating throughout life. Trial registration: DRKS, DRKS00009797. Registered on 20 January 2016, https://www.drks.de/drks_web/navigate.do?navigationId=trial.HTML&_ID=DRKS00009797.

Fahrerassistenzsysteme (FAS) haben das Potential, Sicherheit und Komfort von Autofahrern zu erhöhen. Ältere Autofahrer könnten aufgrund altersbedingter Leistungsveränderungen besonders von der Nutzung solcher Technologien profitieren. Aktuellen Marktforschungsstudien zufolge äußern viele Senioren den Wunsch nach Unterstützung beim Autofahren, aber nur wenige besitzen FAS. In dieser Arbeit wird anhand von drei experimentellen Studien untersucht, wie ältere Autofahrer die am Markt angebotenen FAS wahrnehmen, welche Schwierigkeiten sie bei der Erstnutzung der FAS erleben, welche Faktoren sie vom Kauf und von der Nutzung abhalten und inwiefern ein Training die Akzeptanz gegenüber FAS steigern kann. Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) have the potential to increase car drivers’ safety and comfort. Due to aging-related changes, older drivers may benefit in particular from such in-vehicle technologies. Current market research studies have shown that many older drivers like support while driving, but only a few of them have ADAS in their vehicles. Based on three experimental studies, this thesis examines older drivers’ perceptions of ADAS, initial handling problems, purchase and usage barriers, as well as the potential of a system training to increase the acceptance of ADAS.

Die vorliegende Arbeit untersucht das ehrenamtliche Engagement von Frauen in Natur-/Umweltschutzorganisationen. Durch qualitative Inhaltsanalyse von leitfadengestützten biografischen Interviews mit 30 Frauen, die sich aktiv in Bayern engagieren, wird eine Typologie „weiblicher“ Ehrenamtsbiografien entwickelt. Weitere Forschungsfragen behandeln den sozialen und thematischen Handlungskontext des Ehrenamts und wahrgenommene geschlechtsbezogene Barrieren. This study explores volunteering of women in environmental organisations. Guided biographical interviews with 30 women volunteering actively in Bavaria/Southern Germany are used to collect data. Qualitative content analysis is applied for data analysis. A typology of “female” voluntary biographies is developed. Further research questions address the individual social and thematic context of volunteering as well as the perception of gender barriers.

Bildungsinstitutionen in Deutschland haben die Zielprinzipien der individuellen Förderung und Chancengerechtigkeit. Dies bedeutet die Bereitstellung und Implementierung zielgruppengerechter Lehr-Lernprozesse in Schule und Hochschule. Für beide Institutionen werden in der Dissertation die Entwicklung, Umsetzung und Wirksamkeit von gender- und diversitysensiblen Lehr-Lernprozessen aufgezeigt und diskutiert. Es wird demonstriert und wissenschaftlich unterlegt, wie es möglich ist, das Selbstkonzept von Schüler/innen sowie die Zufriedenheit von Lehrenden und Studierenden mit der Lehre zu erhöhen. Educational institutions in Germany set the objective principles of individual development and equal opportunities. Therefore the provision and implementation of target group oriented teaching and learning processes at school and university. For both institutions, the development, implementation and effectiveness of gender- and diversity sensible teaching and learning processes are shown and discussed in the thesis. It is shown and scientifically monitored how it is possible, to increase the self-concept of pupils as well as the satisfaction with teaching of teachers and students.

Das Interesse an naturwissenschaftlich-technischen Fragen gehört ebenso zur Entwicklung Jugendlicher wie das Verständnis von technischen Vorgehensweisen und Tätigkeiten. Ein mobiles Berufsinformationsprojekt setzt hier an und versucht, Jugendliche der bayerischen Haupt- und Realschulen für eine technische Berufswahl zu interessieren und Technikinhalte medial ansprechend aufzuzeigen. Basierend auf den Daten von knapp 1000 Befragten der beteiligten Schulen, wird über den Weg empirisch-quantitativer Untersuchungsmethoden das Konzept des Projektes ergründet, sowie seine Implementierung und seine Wirksamkeit analysiert. Die Untersuchung deckt unterschiedliche Technikhaltungen und verschiedene Zugänge zu Technik von Mädchen und Jungen, Haupt- und Realschülern sowie von niedrigen und höheren Jahrgangsstufen auf. Ansichten der Lehrkräfte werden denen der Schüler gegenübergestellt und auf Deckungsgleichheit untersucht. Zentral richtet sich die Frage darauf, ob und wie mit einem Berufsinformationsprojekt auf die Berufsorientierung Jugendlicher Einfluss genommen werden kann. The development of young people comprises both: the growing interest in scientific and technical issues, and the comprehension of technical activities and tasks. This is where the vocational information project ‘MeetMeTruck’ comes in. A specially equipped truck presents technical content in an appealing way, in order to attract young people in secondary school to choose a technical career path. This concept is examined by an empirical survey using quantitative methods. Based on a detailed questionnaire, the answers of 906 young people and 36 teachers are analyzed with respect to the implementation and effectiveness of the project. The study reveals different attitudes towards and approaches to technical activities, depending on age, gender, type of school or grade. The findings are validated by way of comparison of the teachers’ views. The study focuses on the question as to what degree the project affects the career orientation of the young people.

Women have succeeded in entering professional careers in science, engineering and technology in increasing numbers, yet there are still few women in higher level positions especially within major global companies. This paper draws on qualitative interviews with 28 female scientists and engineers from across Europe, to highlight the career costs that they experience as a result of taking maternity leave and of subsequently working part time. Some of the assumptions within company culture that prevent women who return after career breaks from achieving their full potential are explored. These include the importance given to availability, visibility and flexibility, as well as the impact of different cultural norms relating to gender and parenting