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Introduction Academic integrity policy that is inaccessible, ambiguous or confusing is likely to result in inconsistent policy enactment. Additionally, policy analysis and development are often undertaken as top down processes requiring passive acceptance by users of policy that has been developed outside the context in which it is enacted. Both these factors can result in poor policy uptake, particularly where policy users are overworked, intellectually critical and capable, not prone to passive acceptance and hold valuable grass roots intelligence about policy enactment. Case description The case study presented in this paper describes the actions of a community of practice (CoP) at a regional Australian university to deconstruct and translate ambiguous academic integrity policy into a suite of accessible academic integrity resources that were intelligible to staff and students, and which assisted academic staff to consistently enact policy. The paper narrates the formation of the CoP, the tangible and intangible value it created, the social learning practices enacted by its members, its grassroots policy work and the material resources produced from that work. Discussion and evaluation An evaluation of the CoP was conducted using a value creation framework to explore its immediate value, potential value, applied value, realised value, and reframing value. These values were considered at each stages of the CoP’s lifespan. The evaluation was a useful process that demonstrated the wide-ranging value created by the CoP. Six insights were drawn from the evaluation which promote understanding of the value created for a university by a CoP, particularly in contributing to academic integrity culture over a sustained period of time. Conclusions This paper contributes to a research gap on specific examples of discretion within rule-based systems. It illustrates how academics and members of the CoP used their discretion to interpret and enact academic integrity policy within a higher education setting. Drawing from the evaluation of the CoP we argue for greater understanding of the grass-roots contribution of academic and professional staff to academic integrity policy translation and enactment.

Kakadu Plum(Terminalia ferdinandiana) as a Sustainable Indigenous Agribusiness. In northern Australia, commercial use of plant products can provide Aboriginal people with important livelihood opportunities. Kakadu Plum (Terminalia ferdinandiana Exell.) is a species endemic to northern Australia with exceptional phytochemical properties and industry applications. Aboriginal people have a long history of customary use of many parts of this plant, and as scientific research provides evidence for commercial applications, it is under increasing demand. It has the highest level of ascorbic acid of any fruit in the world and also commercially important antioxidants. This paper reviews the unique characteristics of T. ferdinandiana fruit as a commercial plant product, the people and landscapes in which it grows, and the current state of knowledge for building a successful agribusiness based on these factors. It demonstrates the great potential T. ferdinandiana has as a sustainable Indigenous business and identifies the important research and development gaps that need to be addressed. These include improved understanding of taxonomy, floral biology, and drivers of variability in the properties in T. ferdinandiana leaves and fruit; better understanding of aspirations of Aboriginal suppliers for participation in the agribusiness supply chain; and specific supply chain models that suit Aboriginal suppliers of T. ferdinandiana to service a range of potential national and international markets.

Globally, the agricultural sector is facing many challenges in response to climate change, unsustainable farming practices and human population growth. Despite advances in technology and innovation in agriculture, governments around the world are recognizing a need for transformative agricultural systems that offer solutions to the interrelated issues of food security, climate change, and conservation of environmental and cultural values. Approaches to production are needed that are holistic and multisectoral. In planning for future agricultural models, it is worth exploring indigenous agricultural heritage systems that have demonstrated success in community food security without major environmental impacts. We demonstrate how indigenous practices of customary harvest, operating in multifunctional landscapes, can be scaled up to service new markets while still maintaining natural and cultural values. We do this through a case analysis of the wild harvest of Kakadu plum fruit by Aboriginal people across the tropical savannas of northern Australia. We conclude that this system would ideally operate at a landscape scale to ensure sustainability of harvest, maintenance of important patterns and processes for landscape health, and incorporate cultural and livelihood objectives. Applied to a variety of similar native products, such a production system has potential to make a substantial contribution to niche areas of global food and livelihood security.

Bei der Begutachtung des Rotatorenmanschettenschadens der Schulter lag bisher der Fokus auf der Analyse des Unfallgeschehens mit der Kernaussage, dass bestimmte Unfallablaufe „geeignet“ sind, eine Verletzung an der Rotatorenmanschette zu verursachen, andere wiederum nicht. Trotz vielfaltiger wissenschaftlicher Erkenntnisse uber die Entstehung der Erkrankung der Sehnenplatte der Rotatorenmanschette gibt es keine neuen Ergebnisse daruber, unter welchen Bedingungen es zur isolierten oder kombinierten Verletzung einer gesunden Sehne an der Schulter kommt. Im Blick auf grundsatzliche Urteile des Bundessozialgerichtes aus 2005, 2006 und 2012 ist im Bereich der gesetzlichen Unfallversicherung die arztliche Begutachtung des Rotatorenmanschettenschadens vorrangig an den tatsachlichen und individuellen medizinischen Befunden zu orientieren. Dies setzt voraus, dass der Gutachter den aktuellen wissenschaftlichen Kenntnisstand der Analyse der medizinischen Befundtatsachen zugrunde legt. Nur dann kann er dem Befund einen Wert beimessen, den dieser fur die Beantwortung der Fragestellung hat. Diese Arbeit ubermittelt die Rechtsgrundlagen fur die Begutachtung und das derzeitige medizinische Wissen um die Schadigung der Rotatorenmanschette der Schulter.

Across the world’s rangelands, livelihoods of millions of people are dependent on customary and commercial use of wildlife. Many Australian Aboriginal communities also aspire towards developing natural resource-based enterprises but there is a unique combination of historical, legislative and cultural factors that make this process complex. Typically, government support for Indigenous enterprise development has focussed largely on development of ‘social enterprise’, with subsidies coming from various government community development programs. This has resulted in some increase in participation and employment, but often inadequate attention to economic aspects of enterprise development leading to low levels of business success. This paper will examine historical, legislative and institutional dimensions in business development in Aboriginal communities. It does this through a case study of business enterprise development of the Kakadu Plum products by the Indigenous people of the Thamarrurr Region of the Northern Territory, Australia, using a participant observation research method. We found that attention on important economic criteria was subsumed by a focus on social enterprise priorities during the development of this natural resource-based enterprise. This resulted in a very slow transition of the ‘social enterprise’ to the ‘financial enterprise’, due largely to fragmented business decisions and inefficient value chains. We call for a refocus of natural resource-based enterprise development programs in remote Australian Aboriginal townships to incorporate greater emphasis on business acumen within the complex social, cultural and political fabric.

Introduction Drug-induced acute pancreatitis (AP) is rare, but as there are no systematic data on it, the true incidence is not known. Case report This case report is a first description of two episodes of AP occurring after administration and subsequent re-administration of mefenamic acid to a young woman without comorbidities. Other common causes of AP could be ruled out. With both episodes, the latency of AP was less than 24 h after drug intake. Conclusion Mefenamic acid should be considered as a possible cause of drug-induced AP.

Individuelle Altersbilder werden nicht nur durch das eigene Lebensalter, sondern auch durch den Bildungshintergrund geprägt. Zwischen 1996 und 2014 hat sich ein positiver Wandel der Altersbilder vollzogen. Der Anteil von Personen, die 2014 von Altersdiskriminierung berichten, ist seit 2008 auf einem moderaten Level geblieben. Die Bereiche, in denen Diskriminierungsverfahren wahrgenommen werden, unterscheiden sich nach Alter und Bildungshintergrund. Wahrgenommene Altersdiskriminierung geht häufig mit mehr verlust- und weniger gewinnorientierten Altersbildern einher.

Es wird untersucht, ob sich zwischen 1996 und 2008 das Ausmas von Einsamkeit bei den Menschen in der zweiten Lebenshalfte gewandelt hat. Da sich objektive Kriterien sozialer Integration in verschiedenen Geburtskohorten unterschiedlich verandert haben (z. B. familiare Integration bei jungeren Geburtskohorten fragiler, bei alteren Geburtskohorten stabiler), wurden unterschiedliche Trends im Wandel der Einsamkeit erwartet. Grundlage der Datenanalysen ist der Deutsche Alterssurvey (DEAS) mit drei Erhebungsjahren: 1996 (n = 3979), 2002 (n = 2766) und 2008 (n = 4305). Der DEAS ist ein fur die Bevolkerung zwischen 40 und 85 Jahren reprasentativer Survey. Einsamkeit wurde mit der De-Jong-Gierveld-Einsamkeitsskala gemessen. Insgesamt gaben nur wenige Personen in der zweiten Lebenshalfte an, sich sehr einsam zu fuhlen. Zwischen 1996 und 2008 war eine leichte Abnahme der Einsamkeit zu konstatieren, wobei unterschiedliche Altersgruppen differenzielle Veranderungen in der Einsamkeit aufwiesen. Die jungere Altersgruppe (40–54 Jahre) und die mittlere Altersgruppe (55–69 Jahre) wiesen zwischen 1996 und 2002 eine Reduktion in der Einsamkeit auf, gefolgt von einem Anstieg zwischen 2002 und 2008. Die Einsamkeit in der altesten Gruppe (70–85 Jahre) nahm im Beobachtungszeitraum kontinuierlich ab. Die Unterschiede zwischen den Geschlechtern (Manner sind etwas einsamer als Frauen) blieben zwischen 1996 und 2008 stabil. Wahrend die (aktuell) alten Menschen vermutlich aufgrund ihrer guten sozialen Integration nur wenig unter Einsamkeit leiden, haben Personen im mittleren Erwachsenenalter moglicherweise aufgrund ihrer fragiler werdenden sozialen Netze aktuell ein hoheres Einsamkeitsrisiko. Der Wandel der Einsamkeit in der zweiten Lebenshalfte sollte daher weiter beobachtet werden.

Wir berichten uber eine 72-jahrige Patientin mit multiplem Myelom und trophischen Storungen (Alopezie, Nagel- und Hautveranderungen). Aus einer Hautbiopsie konnte die Diagnose einer AL-Amyloidose gestellt werden. Bei Nachweis eines multiplen Myeloms im Stadium I und nach Diagnosestellung der AL-Amyloidose mit Hautbefall und trophischen Storungen, sensibler Polyneuropathie und beginnendem nephrotischem Syndrom, begannen wir eine zytoreduktive Therapie mit Bortezomib und Dexamethason. Nach 6 Zyklen konnte neben einer sehr guten partiellen Remission des multiplen Myeloms eine Besserung der trophischen Storungen erreicht werden.

According to Bandura's self-efficacy theory, there are four sources of self-efficacy: past experience, vicarious experience, verbal persuasion, and perception of physical states. The aims of the study were twofold: To review previous research on the sources of self-efficacy and to examine the sources in predicting self-efficacy for exercise in older adults. A sample of 309 older adults was assessed at two time points for exercise, exercise-specific self-efficacy, and four sources of self-efficacy. Past experiences, vicarious experiences, and subjective health had significant direct effects on self-efficacy and indirect effects on exercise via self-efficacy. Persuasive arguments did not predict self-efficacy. This suggests that future research should target past experience and vicarious experience as sources of self-efficacy.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is characterized by increased oxidative stress contributing to the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Monocytes are critically important in the pathogenesis of CVD and antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD2) protect these cells from excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS). Adiponectin is an adipocyte-derived protein with atheroprotective function and the effect of adiponectin on monocyte SOD2 was analyzed herein. Adiponectin upregulated SOD2 mRNA and dose- and time-dependently induced SOD2 protein in primary human monocytes. Elevated systemic free fatty acids (FFA) are commonly found in T2D patients and palmitic acid as well as oleic acid reduced monocyte SOD2 protein. Adiponectin mediated upregulation of SOD2, however, was not affected by FFA incubation. SOD2 protein was reduced in T2D monocytes compared to monocytes of age- and body mass index-matched healthy controls. Adiponectin still induced SOD2 in T2D monocytes but efficiency tended to be reduced. In summary this study indicates that elevated systemic free fatty acids and impaired adiponectin activity contribute to reduced SOD2 and most likely increased oxidative stress in T2D monocytes.

Galectin-3 plays a role in atherosclerotic diseases, and the effect of adiponectin that protects from atherosclerotic diseases on monocytic galectin-3 was analysed. Adiponectin reduced galectin-3 mRNA, its cellular and soluble form, and this effect was impaired in T2D cells. Cellular galectin-3 was higher in monocytes of overweight than normal-weight donors and was highest in T2D cells. Cellular galectin-3 positively correlated with the BMI of the donors and negatively with soluble monocyte galectin-3. Circulating levels of total adiponectin did not correlate with cellular or soluble galectin-3 indicating that additional factors contribute to higher cellular monocytic galectin-3 in obesity and T2D.

Adiponectin circulates as trimer (LMW), hexamer (MMW) and high molecular weight multimer (HMW) but the distribution and effects of these isoforms have not been studied in detail. Monocytes were isolated from normal weight and overweight controls and patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) and monocytic release of IL-6 positively correlated with the body mass index (BMI). HMW-adiponectin further enhanced and LMW-adiponectin reduced IL-6 release in monocytes. Systemic total adiponectin, and the HMW isoform were not different in these groups but MMW-adiponectin was lower in T2D, and LMW-adiponectin was reduced in the obese and T2D. Circulating LMW-adiponectin negatively correlated to monocytic IL-6 release. Systemic IL-6 was higher in the obese control group and T2D, respectively, but did not correlate with monocytic IL-6 secretion. Therefore, the current study indicates that HMW-adiponectin exerts pro- and LMW-adiponectin antiinflammatory effects and reduced LMW-adiponectin in obesity may partly contribute to elevated monocytic IL-6 release.

Erlautert werden alle relevanten Funktionstests mit ausfuhrlicher Darstellung von Indikationen, Kontraindikationen, Nebenwirkungen, Testvorbereitung, Rahmenbedingungen, konkreten Handlungsanleitung der eigentlichen Testdurchfuhrung sowie der Interpretation der Testergebnisse. Es werden immer konkrete Normbereiche und Cut-off-Werte angegeben, auch fur besondere Situationen (Geschlecht, Alter, BMI, Pubertatsphasen, Zyklusphasen, akute Erkrankungen, Medikamente etc.). Ein besonderes Merkmal ist die Betonung der Testvorbereitung, -durchfuhrung und -interpretation sowie des interdisziplinaren Charakters. Indikationen, Aussagekraft und Einschrankungen eines klassischen Karyogramms werden am Beispiel des Klinefelter-Syndroms und des Ullrich-Turner-Syndroms dargestellt.

Erlautert werden alle relevanten Funktionsteste mit ausfuhrlicher Darstellung von Indikationen, Kontraindikationen, Nebenwirkungen, Testvorbereitung, Rahmenbedingungen, konkreten Handlungsanleitung der eigentlichen Testdurchfuhrung sowie der Interpretation der Testergebnisse. Es werden immer konkrete Normbereiche und Cut-off-Werte angegeben, auch fur besondere Situationen (Geschlecht, Alter, BMI, Pubertatsphasen, Zyklusphasen, akute Erkrankungen, Medikamente etc.). Ein besonderes Merkmal ist die Betonung der Testvorbereitung, -durchfuhrung und -interpretation sowie des interdisziplinaren Charakters. Dieses Kapitel gibt einen praktischen Uberblick uber die radiologischen und nuklearmedizinischen Bildgebungsverfahren fur wichtige Endokrinopathien. Klassische Kardinalbefunde der Bildgebung werden anhand von Abbildungen erklart und Sensitivitaten und Spezifitaten fur die einzelnen Verfahren angegeben. Die Bedeutung der Hounsfield-Einheiten im CT und der Fettsuppression im MRT fur die adrenale Bildgebung wird detailliert besprochen.

Erlautert werden alle relevanten Funktionstests mit ausfuhrlicher Darstellung von Indikationen, Kontraindikationen, Nebenwirkungen, Testvorbereitung, Rahmenbedingungen, konkreten Handlungsanleitung der eigentlichen Testdurchfuhrung sowie der Interpretation der Testergebnisse. Es werden immer konkrete Normbereiche und Cut-off-Werte angegeben, auch fur besondere Situationen (Geschlecht, Alter, BMI, Pubertatsphasen, Zyklusphasen, akute Erkrankungen, Medikamente etc.). Ein besonderes Merkmal ist die Betonung der Testvorbereitung, -durchfuhrung und -interpretation sowie des interdisziplinaren Charakters. Die fur die Endokrinologie bedeutsamen Tumormarker werden hinsichtlich Indikationsstellung und Organspezifitat kritisch gewertet.

Erlautert werden alle relevanten Funktionstests mit ausfuhrlicher Darstellung von Indikationen, Kontraindikationen, Nebenwirkungen, Testvorbereitung, Rahmenbedingungen, konkreten Handlungsanleitungen der eigentlichen Testdurchfuhrung sowie der Interpretation der Testergebnisse. Es werden immer konkrete Normbereiche und Cut-off-Werte angegeben, auch fur besondere Situationen (Geschlecht, Alter, BMI, Pubertatsphasen, Zyklusphasen, akute Erkrankungen, Medikamente etc.). Ein besonderes Merkmal ist die Betonung der Testvorbereitung, -durchfuhrung und -interpretation sowie des interdisziplinaren Charakters. In diesem Kapitel sind exemplarisch Prinzipien der Praanalytik mit einigen haufigen und typischen Fallstricken aufgefuhrt. Zudem gibt es einen kurzen Uberblick uber Aspekte der Aufklarung und Test-Statistik.

Erlautert werden alle relevanten Funktionstests mit ausfuhrlicher Darstellung von Indikationen, Kontraindikationen, Nebenwirkungen, Testvorbereitung, Rahmenbedingungen, konkreten Handlungsanleitung der eigentlichen Testdurchfuhrung sowie der Interpretation der Testergebnisse. Es werden immer konkrete Normbereiche und Cut-off-Werte angegeben, auch fur besondere Situationen (Geschlecht, Alter, BMI, Pubertatsphasen, Zyklusphasen, akute Erkrankungen, Medikamente etc.). Ein besonderes Merkmal ist die Betonung der Testvorbereitung, -durchfuhrung und -interpretation sowie des interdisziplinaren Charakters. Die Interpretation von Harnstoff- und Harnsaurewerten sowie die Abschatzung des basalen Energiebedarfs sind Inhalt dieses Kapitels.

Ziel des Beitrags ist es, einen allgemeinen Uberblick uber die Lebenssituationen alter werdender und alter Menschen in Deutschland zu geben. Als Einleitung zu einer Reihe von Beitragen, in denen es um das Themenfeld „Gesundheit im Alter“ geht, beschreibt dieser Beitrag die sehr heterogene Bevolkerungsgruppe der alten Menschen. Wer sind diese Alteren? Es wird diskutiert, wie man die Lebensphase „Alter“ definieren kann und ob es sinnvoll ist, die Altersabschnitte des dritten und vierten Lebensalters zu unterscheiden. Im Anschluss daran werden einige Fakten vorgestellt, die den demographischen Wandel auf der Ebene der Bevolkerung beschreiben: Lebenserwartung und Anteil alterer Menschen an der Gesamtbevolkerung. Im Hauptteil des Beitrags werden Wohnsituation und Haushalte, Familienbeziehungen und soziale Integration, Einkommen, Gesundheit und Wohlbefinden alterer Menschen dargestellt. Grundlage des Beitrags sind insbesondere die beiden Erhebungswellen des Alterssurveys, einer reprasentativen Befragung von Menschen in der zweiten Lebenshalfte, die in den Jahren 1996 und 2002 durchgefuhrt wurden.

A common desire among all people is to live long and healthy, yet many individuals experience health-related losses, not only in very old age but also from midlife on. Starting from epidemiological findings on population health, the presentation will go into different predictors of healthy aging. Based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF), three questions will guide the presentation: How do people contribute to how healthily they age? Do people age differently depending on which region they live in? And finally, what can we do to support older people in their endeavor to age healthily? Based on large-scale survey data as well as longitudinal and intervention studies, I will give an overview of my own findings on the role that personal resources can play in the health of an aging society – resources such as individual views on aging, strategies of self-regulation and adaptation (response shift) – and also the role regional resources such as district-level primary care supply can play. Finally, the presentation will point to some open questions that should be addressed in future research.

Extreme Ultraviolet Lithography (EUVL) has been in the making for more than a quarter century. The first EUVL production tools have been delivered over the past year and chip manufacturers and suppliers are maturing the technology in pilot line mode to prepare for high volume manufacturing (HVM). While excellent progress has been made in many technical and business areas to prepare EUVL for HVM introduction, there are still critical technical and business challenges to be addressed before the industry will be able to use EUVL in HVM.

For the treatment of proximal humeral fractures two major therapeutic principles can be employed: intramedullary nailing (PHN) or locking plate osteosynthesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare clinical and radiological long-term outcome of proximal humeral fracture stabilization using PHN or angular stable plating.In a retrospective study between March 2009 and March 2010, we analyzed 72 out of 118 patients with unified proximal humeral fracture who had been treated at least 3 years previously using PHN (44 patients) or angular stable plating (28 patients) in a level 1 trauma center. Functional and radiological outcomes were assessed at least 3 years after trauma using the Constant and Murley score and SF-36 score.According to the Neer classification, there were 31 3-part fractures (PHN: 23; plate: 8) and 41 4-part fractures (PHN: 21; plate: 20), respectively. No clinical symptoms after 3 years were observed in 42 patients, whereas in 30 patients clinical symptoms were evaluated related to pain and/or loss of function. Functional outcome using the Constant and Murley score demonstrated a total score of 73 points (ipsilateral side) vs. 88 points (contralateral side) in all evaluated patients, on average.Both PHN and angular stable plating are adequate treatment options for proximal humeral fractures. Both systems require precise preoperative planning and advanced surgical experience. No significant differences in long-term clinical and radiological outcome between implants regarding fracture classification, age of patient, and choice of implant were found.

C Influences of fishery activities on herring gulls and great black-backed gulls (Larus argentatus, L. marinus) wintering on the island of Helgoland, south-eastern North Sea, were studied. When cod fishery discards were available close to the island, 83 to 87 % of the gulls' pellets contained fishery discard remains and 70 to 73 % of all pellets consisted exclusively of these. At times when no nearby trawling took place (Christmas/New Year), numbers of herring gulls dropped by up to 86 % and numbers of great black-backed gulls by up to 80%. Similar declines were observed during a trawling moratorium in February 1998. Adults of both gull species had a significantly lower body mass during periods of no fishing around the island (13 and 24% less, respectively). Retraps of single gulls support these findings. The results show for the first time a strong influence of discard availability on numbers and body condition of large gulls wintering in the south-eastern North Sea. Effects on gull winter mortality and thus on population dynamics can be assumed.

Oryza meridionalis is an annual emergent wetland grass which produces between 26 and 260 kg seeds ha-1 annually. Seed shed occurs at the end of the wet season, when the plains are usually still partially flooded. The juvenile recruitment of key native vertebrate species, such as the Magpie Goose (Anseranus semipalmata) and the Dusky Plains Rat (Rattus colletti), coincides with seed shed. This study investigated predation of O. meridionalis seeds at two sites on the South Alligator River floodplain in monsoonal Australia. The effects of inundation and the presence of a background density of seeds on seed removal were investigated by stratified sampling with respect to position down the topographic slope, to include the 'dry' floodplain margin, 'damp' Oryza zone, and 'flooded' Oryza zone. The effect of seed lot size on the proportion of seed removed was also investigated, and exclosures were used to identify the principal predator group. The proportion of seeds removed was not affected by the presence/absence of a background of seeds nor the number of seeds placed in experimental 'lots'. The majority of seeds (75%) was consumed by vertebrate predators (most likely the abundant Dusky Plains Rat). Inundation afforded some protection from predation. Despite high losses of seeds exposed to predators, O. meridionalis is an abundant and widespread species on these floodplains, possibly because of the protection from predation afforded by inundation to those seeds which are shed into the water column. It is likely that there is a complex interaction between topography, rainfall and predator and prey relationships, which ultimately determines the importance of seed removal for the maintenance of populations of O. meridionalis. These high losses of seeds to predation have implications for wetland rehabilitation where seed broadcasting is proposed.

The translational and internal energies of CO desorbed by electron impact from well-ordered 3×3 layers on Ru(001) are investigated with time-of-flight techniques and resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) spectroscopy. We discriminate four desorption channels with different translational and internal energy distributions. Translational and vibrational energies are positively, crrelated; rotational and vibrational–translational energies are negatively correlated. The microscopic origins of these correlations are discussed.

Due to the increasing proportion of older people in the general population epidemiologists are interested in identifying which factors determine healthy ageing. For this reason within the German Society for Epidemiology we founded the working group 'Epidemiology of Ageing' in 2011. The working group organised a workshop to present useful datasets on ageing in Germany for epidemiological research. Those presented included: Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP) The German Ageing Survey (DEAS) Surveys from the Robert Koch Institute: German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults (DEGS) and the German Health Update (GEDA) The German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP) Cooperative Health Research in the Region of Augsburg (KORA-Age) Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) Germany Claims data from statutory health insurance agencies Presentations contained a brief description of the datasets, methodologies, age-related themes, their strengths and limitations as well as their availability for secondary analysis. All presented datasets can be used for longitudinal analyses and are available to the scientific community.

Electron stimulated desorption from CO monolayers chemisorbed on transition metal surfaces and from condensed CO layers were utilized as new sources for the production of nonthermal rovibrational distributions of CO probed by resonance‐enhanced multiphoton ionization spectroscopy (REMPI). Highly vibrationally excited ground state CO molecules were studied by (1+1)‐REMPI via the A 1Π and D′ 1Σ+ intermediate states, and metastable CO via the b 3Σ+ and c 3Π intermediate states. Rotationally resolved (1+1) spectroscopy via A 1Π (v′≥20) allowed the verification of the intermediate term energies, including the existence of a potential barrier for the A 1Π state. (1+1) spectroscopy via D′ 1Σ+ is shown to provide the possibility to directly probe the D′ 1Σ+ potential curve. Additional spectral features accompanying the b 3Σ+←a 3Π (1+1) spectra which cannot be explained by known perturbations were found. In gas phase (2+1) spectroscopy via the B 1Σ+ and C 1Σ+ intermediate states, O‐ and S‐branches could be detecte...

Aufgrund der Vielzahl an Autoantikorpern wird in diesem Kapitel eine Auswahl an fur die Endokrinologie besonders wichtigen Autoantikorpern getroffen.

Internal and translational energy distributions of CO molecules desorbed by 150 eV electrons from CO monolayers chemisorbed on Ru(001) and Pt(111) were measured by resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization via the $A{}^{1}\ensuremath{\Pi}$, $B{}^{1}{\ensuremath{\Sigma}}^{+}$, and ${D}^{\ensuremath{'}}{}^{1}{\ensuremath{\Sigma}}^{+}$ intermediate states. Clearly, most of the molecules desorb in the electronic ground state, but with surprisingly high vibrational excitations. Occupation of vibrational levels up to $v\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}31$ could be directly monitored. Closer analysis indicates an inverted vibrational distribution ranging up to the dissociation limit. We explain this by desorption via multiple excitations, in agreement with other data.

BACKGROUND AND RESEARCH QUESTIONS: In the current paper, it is analyzed whether the extent of loneliness of adults in the second half of their lives has changed between 1996 and 2008 in Germany. Because patterns of objective social integration have evolved differently in different birth cohorts (familial integration in earlier birth cohorts more fragile, more solid in later birth cohorts), we expected different trends in the extent of loneliness in different birth cohorts.The three waves of the German Ageing Survey (DEAS) constitute the database for the analysis: 1996 (n = 3,979), 2002 (n = 2,766) and 2008 (n = 4,392). Loneliness was measured with the de Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale. The German Ageing Survey (DEAS) is a nationwide representative survey of the German population aged 40-85 years.Only a minority of people report being very lonely in the second part of life. Between 1996 and 2008, there is a positive trend in the extent of loneliness in the second half of life, i.e., the prevalence of loneliness decreased during this period of time. From 1996 to 2008, the youngest respondents (40-54 years of age) and the middle aged respondents (55-69 years) demonstrated a decline from 1996 to 2002 followed by an increase in loneliness between 2002 and 2008. The oldest respondents (70-85 years of age) experienced a steady decline in loneliness. Gender differences (men are somewhat lonelier than women) remain stable between 1996 and 2008.While people who are currently old are socially well integrated and, hence, experience loneliness only to a small degree, there is a higher risk for persons who are currently in middle adulthood because their social networks have become increasingly more fragile. Further changes have to be observed.

In Germany 427,500 persons per year are injured in traffic accidents. So we analysed in a retrospective study the post-traumatic quality of life of patients suffering from a severe trauma (ISS ≥ 50). Highlights of interest were: (i) pattern of injury, (ii) injured part of the body, (iii) days in ICU, (iv) outcome, (v) actual state of health, (vi) mental health. Between 1/2000 and 12/2005, 1,435 patients with multiple trauma were hospitalised in the Trauma Center Murnau. 88 suffered from a severe trauma with ISS ≥ 50. 23 % of these patients had a good outcome and 36 % died. Actually, more than half of the patients were physically handicapped or suffered from pain. 41 % showed characteristics typical for a post-traumatic stress disorder. In conclusion the patients with severe trauma had a good survival rate, but they showed a poor post-traumatic quality of life. Thus, in the time after trauma it is important to treat the "whole patient" and not only the physical lesions.

We report on a 72-year-old female patient with multiple myeloma who presented with alopecia and eye-catching alterations of the skin and the nails. A biopsy of the skin could confirm the diagnosis of immunoglobulin light chain (AL) amyloidosis, which was also suspected of having affected other organs. After six cycles of a cytoreductive therapy with bortezomib and dexamethasone a very good partial response of the multiple myeloma was seen and an improvement in the skin and nail alterations could be achieved.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Obesity and insulin resistance are characterized by a chronic and low grade state of inflammation and the pro-inflammatory response of monocytes is affected in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). We aimed to investigate whether LPS-induced monocytic cytokine and chemokine release depends on serum lipoprotein parameters in T2D patients. METHODS: Primary human monocytes were isolated from 29 patients with known T2D and from 20 healthy volunteers. Anthropometric and disease-related parameters such as age, gender, BMI, WHR, diabetes duration, diabetes complications, and diabetes control (HbA1c) were documented. Monocytes were stimulated for 18 h with LPS (1 μg/ml). Unstimulated monocytes served as control. The supernatant concentrations of CCL2, CCL3, CCL4, CCL5, MIF and resistin were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: LPS-stimulation significantly (p

With advancing age, there is a significant increase in the number of health problems; at the same time, the complexity of the existing impairments increases. In addition to the diagnosed somatic and psychological illnesses, functional disorders and disabilities as well as the self-assessed health of the individual play an important role. Health in old age is an important individual and societal topic today and in the future. In order to plan health politics, mapping of morbidity and prognosis are important. They require representative, valid, current, and comparable data over time. Databases of the health reporting in the area of senior citizens have improved in recent years. However, data are still missing, for example, in the area of not being able to fully take part in daily life. Research is needed, because of the specificity of health problems in the elderly, including the survey methodology and the selection of suitable indicators.

The present paper starts by introducing different perspectives of the aging process and includes biological, psychological, and sociological theories in its scope. The article addresses the issue of when "old age" begins and why a distinction is made between the third and fourth age. With increasing age, it becomes more and more difficult to differentiate between health-related losses due to illnesses or to aging. However, this can be important with respect to health behavior and health care. Having the best possible health in old age is an important factor for a good life in old age. Over their whole lives, from childhood to old age, people can actively contribute to their health in old age. But health is not the sole criterion for a good life in old age. Having interests and aims are just as important as being integrated in a social network. In old age, people often differ greatly and this is why there is such variety in what people consider to constitute a good life for themselves in old age.

Adiponectin is an adipocyte-derived protein with atheroprotective and immunoregulatory function. Adiponectin and activin A reduce foam cell formation and adiponectin activates the p38 MAPK pathway that is well described to induce activin A. Therefore, it was analyzed whether adiponectin alters activin A in primary human monocytes. Adiponectin dose- and time-dependently induced activin A in the supernatant, and the maximal amount was observed after 12 h of incubation. Adiponectin-stimulated release of activin A was blocked by a p38 MAPK inhibitor. Metformin and pioglitazone are drugs frequently used to treat diabetic patients and metformin slightly reduced monocytic activin A release whereas pioglitazone had no effect. Type 2 diabetes is associated with elevated inflammatory systemic cytokines but activin A serum levels were similar in slim probands, overweight controls and type 2 diabetic patients. Furthermore, activin A did not correlate to systemic adiponectin, body mass index, waist to hip ratio or C-reactive protein. These findings indicate that adiponectin upregulates monocytic activin A release via the p38 MAPK pathway, and this may in part explain the immunoregulatory and antiatherosclerotic effects of this adipokine.

Oral glucose uptake alters the function of immune cells and an elevation of systemic CXCL8 was described. Monocytes secrete high amounts of CXCL8 and therefore it was analyzed whether glucose or insulin upregulate monocytic CXCL8 release. Incubation of monocytes with insulin for 2 h induced CXCL8 mRNA and secretion whereas glucose had no effect. Inhibition of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase by wortmannin or the mammalian target of rapamycin by rapamycin did not influence insulin-mediated CXCL8 induction. In contrast, blockage of the ERK-specific MAP kinase MEK with PD98059, that prevents phosphorylation of ERK1/ERK2, abrogated insulin-induced CXCL8 release in primary monocytes. To investigate the in vivo effect of oral glucose uptake, monocytes of healthy probands were isolated in the fasted state and 2 h after glucose ingestion and CXCL8 mRNA and protein were increased in the latter. CXCL8 was also higher when determined in the cell lysate of leukocytes 2 h after glucose uptake whereas plasma CXCL8 levels were significantly reduced. In summary, these data indicate that oral glucose uptake in insulin-sensitive adults is associated with elevated monocytic and reduced systemic CXCL8.

This contribution aims to convey a general overview of the living conditions of aging and old people in Germany. It introduces a series of contributions devoted to the topic "health in old age" and focuses on older people as a very heterogeneous group in society. Who exactly are these older people? We start by discussing the definition of "old age" as a stage of life and the distinction between a "third" and "fourth" age. This is followed by a presentation of some facts describing demographic change at the population level. The main body of the contribution looks at households and housing, family relations and social integration, income, life satisfaction and the health of older people. The two waves of the German Aging Survey, a representative study of persons in the second half of life undertaken in 1996 and 2000, provide the empirical base for the paper.