Wirksamkeitsevaluation eines Unterrichtsprogramms zur Förderung des subjektiven Wohlbefindens, des Selbstwertgefühls und der Selbstwirksamkeit von Schülerinnen und Schülern

Mittels eines quasiexperimentellen Prä-Posttest-Designs wurde die Wirksamkeit des Unterrichtsprogramms Schulfach Glück untersucht. Die Erhebung fand an zwei Berufsschulen statt, die das Unterrichtsprogramm für Teile der Schülerschaft im Schuljahr 2010/11 einführten. Berichtet werden die Effekte eines Schuljahres im Schulfach Glück auf das subjektive Wohlbefinden, das Selbstwertgefühl und die Selbstwirksamkeitserwartung der Schülerinnen und Schüler. Ergänzend wurde überprüft, ob die Persönlichkeitsdimensionen emotionale Stabilität und Extraversion die Effekte moderieren. 106 Berufsschülerinnen und -schüler waren entweder der Treatment- oder einer Vergleichsgruppe (Unterricht in einem anderen Wahlfach) zugeordnet. Die Schülerinnen und Schüler wurden zu Beginn und am Ende des Schuljahres 2010/11 befragt. In der Treatmentgruppe zeigten sich positive Effekte bei der affektiven Komponente des Wohlbefindens sowie beim Selbstwertgefühl. Darüber hinaus moderierte die emotionale Stabilität der Schülerinnen und Schüler die Effekte auf das Selbstwertgefühl und die kognitiven Komponenten des Wohlbefindens. Emotional stabilere Schülerinnen und Schüler profitierten eher vom Unterrichtsprogramm. Hinsichtlich der Selbstwirksamkeitserwartung fand sich kein Effekt. Die Ergebnisse werden als Teilwirksamkeit des Programms interpretiert.

Flow-Erleben bei der Aufgabenbearbeitung unterstützt die Erholung der momentan verfügbaren Selbstkontrollkraft

Selbstkontrolle spielt bei der Bearbeitung von Testaufgaben eine entscheidende Rolle. Sie sorgt dafür, dass die Aufmerksamkeit auf die Aufgabe gelenkt wird und fokussiert bleibt, störende Gedanken oder die Hinwendung zu ablenkenden Reizen werden unterdrückt. Die Ausübung von Selbstkontrolle ist abhängig von der momentan verfügbaren Selbstkontrollkraft. Diese wird als limitierte Ressource angesehen, die sich mit ihrem Einsatz stetig verringert. Erste Studien zeigen jedoch, dass eine reduzierte Selbstkontrollkraft durch hohe Motivation kompensiert werden kann. Dieser Effekt konnte für das Erhöhen der Bedeutsamkeit einer Aufgabe (Muraven & Slessareva, 2003; Vohs, Baumeister & Schmeichel, 2012), die Bezahlung von Teilnehmern, und das Erhöhen der Situations-Ergebnis-Erwartung (Muraven & Slessareva, 2003) gezeigt werden. Auch wenn Personen die zu bearbeitende Aufgabe mögen, wirkt sich dies – zumindest bei einer kurzen Bearbeitungsdauer – positiv auf die verfügbare Selbstkontrollkraft aus (Baumeister & Vohs, 2007). Der Beitrag knüpft an diese Studien an und untersucht in zwei Studien, die im Rahmen der Begleitforschung zu PISA 2012 durchgeführt wurden, den Zusammenhang zwischen Flow-Erleben und Selbstkontrolle. Flow gilt als der optimale Motivationszustand und wird unter anderem durch die Zentrierung der Aufmerksamkeit sowie das Verschmelzen von Selbst und Tätigkeit charakterisiert. Demnach sollte während des Erlebens von Flow die Aufmerksamkeit nicht bewusst kontrolliert werden müssen und es kommt zum Verlust von Reflexivität und Selbstbewusstheit. Im Rahmen der Studien berichteten Schülerinnen und Schüler ihre momentan verfügbare Selbstkontrollkraft sowie ihr Flow-Erleben vor, während und nach der Bearbeitung von PISA-Leseaufgaben. Die Ergebnisse zeigten, dass Flow-Erleben nicht nur zu einem geringeren Anstieg der momentan verfügbaren Selbstkontrollkraft führt, sondern auch zur Erholung der momentan verfügbaren Selbstkontrolle beiträgt.

Flow-evoking activities foster recovering from Depletion

Self-control is assumed to be a limited resource that becomes drained with use. However, high motivation such as flow experience may compensate for the reduced ability to self-regulate. Results revealed that the more flow students experienced the less depletion of self-regulation was reported.

The EPICA Dronning Maud Land deep drilling operation

We report on the EPICA Dronning Maud Land (East Antarctica) deep drilling operation. Starting with the scientific questions that led to the outline of the EPICA project, we introduce the setting of sister drillings at NorthGRIP and EPICA Dome C within the European ice-coring community. The progress of the drilling operation is described within the context of three parallel, deep-drilling operations, the problems that occurred and the solutions we developed. Modified procedures are described, such as the monitoring of penetration rate via cable weight rather than motor torque, and modifications to the system (e.g. closing the openings at the lower end of the outer barrel to reduce the risk of immersing the drill in highly concentrated chip suspension). Parameters of the drilling (e.g. core-break force, cutter pitch, chips balance, liquid level, core production rate and piece number) are discussed. We also review the operational mode, particularly in the context of achieved core length and piece length, which have to be optimized for drilling efficiency and core quality respectively. We conclude with recommendations addressing the design of the chip-collection openings and strictly limiting the cable-load drop with respect to the load at the start of the run.

Age differences in instability, contingency, and level of self-esteem across the life span

We investigated age differences in instability, contingency, and level of self-esteem from age 13 to 72 years, using data from 1386 individuals who participated in a diary study over 25 days. Instability and contingency of self-esteem decreased from adolescence to old age, whereas level of self-esteem increased. Big Five personality traits predicted the level, but not the slope, of the trajectories of self-esteem characteristics. Age differences in self-esteem characteristics did not merely reflect age differences in instability and level of positive and negative affect. Finally, self-esteem characteristics showed a stable pattern of interrelations across the life span. Overall, the findings suggest that people’s self-esteem tends to become better adjusted—i.e., more stable, less contingent, and higher—across the life course.

Risk factors, aetiology and outcome of ischaemic stroke in young adults: the Swiss Young Stroke Study (SYSS).

Ischaemic stroke (IS) in young adults has been increasingly recognized as a serious health condition. Stroke aetiology is different in young adults than in the older population. This study aimed to investigate aetiology and risk factors, and to search for predictors of outcome and recurrence in young IS patients. We conducted a prospective multicentre study of consecutive IS patients aged 16-55 years. Baseline demographic data, risk factors, stroke aetiology including systematic genetic screening for Fabry disease and severity were assessed and related to functional neurological outcome (modified Rankin Scale, mRS), case fatality, employment status, place of residence, and recurrent cerebrovascular events at 3 months. In 624 IS patients (60 % men), median age was 46 (IQR 39-51) years and median NIHSS on admission 3 (IQR 1-8). Modifiable vascular risk factors were found in 73 %. Stroke aetiology was mostly cardioembolism (32 %) and of other defined origin (24 %), including cervicocerebral artery dissection (17 %). Fabry disease was diagnosed in 2 patients (0.3 %). Aetiology remained unknown in 20 %. Outcome at 3 months was favourable (mRS 0-1) in 61 % and fatal in 2.9 %. Stroke severity (p < 0.001) and diabetes mellitus (p = 0.023) predicted unfavourable outcome. Stroke recurrence rate at 3 months was 2.7 %. Previous stroke or TIA predicted recurrent cerebrovascular events (p = 0.012). In conclusion, most young adults with IS had modifiable vascular risk factors, emphasizing the importance of prevention strategies. Outcome was unfavourable in more than a third of patients and was associated with initial stroke severity and diabetes mellitus. Previous cerebrovascular events predicted recurrent ones.

Deficiency of ECHS1 causes mitochondrial encephalopathy with cardiac involvement.

OBJECTIVE Short-chain enoyl-CoA hydratase (ECHS1) is a multifunctional mitochondrial matrix enzyme that is involved in the oxidation of fatty acids and essential amino acids such as valine. Here, we describe the broad phenotypic spectrum and pathobiochemistry of individuals with autosomal-recessive ECHS1 deficiency. METHODS Using exome sequencing, we identified ten unrelated individuals carrying compound heterozygous or homozygous mutations in ECHS1. Functional investigations in patient-derived fibroblast cell lines included immunoblotting, enzyme activity measurement, and a palmitate loading assay. RESULTS Patients showed a heterogeneous phenotype with disease onset in the first year of life and course ranging from neonatal death to survival into adulthood. The most prominent clinical features were encephalopathy (10/10), deafness (9/9), epilepsy (6/9), optic atrophy (6/10), and cardiomyopathy (4/10). Serum lactate was elevated and brain magnetic resonance imaging showed white matter changes or a Leigh-like pattern resembling disorders of mitochondrial energy metabolism. Analysis of patients' fibroblast cell lines (6/10) provided further evidence for the pathogenicity of the respective mutations by showing reduced ECHS1 protein levels and reduced 2-enoyl-CoA hydratase activity. While serum acylcarnitine profiles were largely normal, in vitro palmitate loading of patient fibroblasts revealed increased butyrylcarnitine, unmasking the functional defect in mitochondrial β-oxidation of short-chain fatty acids. Urinary excretion of 2-methyl-2,3-dihydroxybutyrate - a potential derivative of acryloyl-CoA in the valine catabolic pathway - was significantly increased, indicating impaired valine oxidation. INTERPRETATION In conclusion, we define the phenotypic spectrum of a new syndrome caused by ECHS1 deficiency. We speculate that both the β-oxidation defect and the block in l-valine metabolism, with accumulation of toxic methacrylyl-CoA and acryloyl-CoA, contribute to the disorder that may be amenable to metabolic treatment approaches.

Tall cell papillary thyroid carcinoma: new diagnostic criteria and mutations in BRAF and TERT

The tall cell (TC) variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) has an unfavorable prognosis. The diagnostic criteria remain inconsistent, and the role of a minor TC component is unclear. Molecular diagnostic markers are not available; however, there are two potential candidates: BRAF V600E and telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter mutations. Using a novel approach, we enriched a collective with PTCs that harbored an adverse outcome, which overcame the limited statistical power of most studies. This enabled us to review 125 PTC patients, 57 of which had an adverse outcome. The proportion of TCs that constituted a poor prognosis was assessed. All of the tumors underwent sequencing for TERT promoter and BRAF V600E mutational status and were stained with an antibody to detect the BRAF V600E mutation. A 10% cutoff for TCs was significantly associated with advanced tumor stage and lymph node metastasis. Multivariate analysis showed that TCs above 10% were the only significant factor for overall, tumor-specific, and relapse-free survival. Seven percent of the cases had a TERT promoter mutation, whereas 61% demonstrated a BRAF mutation. The presence of TC was significantly associated with TERT promoter and BRAF mutations. TERT predicted highly significant tumor relapse (P<0.001). PTCs comprised of at least 10% TCs are associated with an adverse clinical outcome and should be reported accordingly. BRAF did not influence patient outcome. Nevertheless, a positive status should encourage the search for TCs. TERT promoter mutations are a strong predictor of tumor relapse, but their role as a surrogate marker for TCs is limited.

Antarctic Zone nutrient conditions during the last two glacial cycles

In a sediment core from the Pacific sector of the Antarctic Zone (AZ) of the Southern Ocean, we report diatom-bound N isotope (δ15Ndb) records for total recoverable diatoms and two distinct diatom assemblages (pennate and centric rich). These data indicate tight coupling between the degree of nitrate consumption and Antarctic climate across the last two glacial cycles, with δ15Ndb (and thus the degree of nitrate consumption) increasing at each major Antarctic cooling event. Coupled with evidence from opal- and barium-based proxies for reduced export production during ice ages, the δ15Ndb increases point to ice age reductions in the supply of deep ocean-sourced nitrate to the AZ surface. The two diatom assemblages and species abundance data indicate that the δ15Ndb changes are not the result of changing species composition. The pennate and centric assemblage δ15Ndb records indicate similar changes but with a significant decline in their difference during peak ice ages. A tentative seasonality-based interpretation of the centric-to-pennate δ15Ndb difference suggests that late summer surface waters became nitrate free during the peak glacials.

Continuous eclogite melting and variable refertilisation in upwelling heterogeneous mantle

Large-scale tectonic processes introduce a range of crustal lithologies into the Earth's mantle. These lithologies have been implicated as sources of compositional heterogeneity in mantle-derived magmas. The model being explored here assumes the presence of widely dispersed fragments of residual eclogite (derived from recycled oceanic crust), stretched and stirred by convection in the mantle. Here we show with an experimental study that these residual eclogites continuously melt during upwelling of such heterogeneous mantle and we characterize the melting reactions and compositional changes in the residue minerals. The chemical exchange between these partial melts and more refractory peridotite leads to a variably metasomatised mantle. Re-melting of these metasomatised peridotite lithologies at given pressures and temperatures results in diverse melt compositions, which may contribute to the observed heterogeneity of oceanic basalt suites. We also show that heterogeneous upwelling mantle is subject to diverse local freezing, hybridization and carbonate-carbon-silicate redox reactions along a mantle adiabat.

A novel regulatory macrophage induced by a helminth molecule instructs IL-10 in CD4+ T cells and protects against mucosal inflammation

Immunomodulation is a common feature of chronic helminth infections and mainly attributed to the secretion of bioactive molecules, which target and modify host immune cells. In this study, we show that the helminth immunomodulator AvCystatin, a cysteine protease inhibitor, induces a novel regulatory macrophage (Mreg; AvCystatin-Mreg), which is sufficient to mitigate major parameters of allergic airway inflammation and colitis in mice. A single adoptive transfer of AvCystatin-Mreg before allergen challenge suppressed allergen-specific IgE levels, the influx of eosinophils into the airways, local and systemic Th2 cytokine levels, and mucus production in lung bronchioles of mice, whereas increasing local and systemic IL-10 production by CD4(+) T cells. Moreover, a single administration of AvCystatin-Mreg during experimentally induced colitis strikingly reduced intestinal pathology. Phenotyping of AvCystatin-Mreg revealed increased expression of a distinct group of genes including LIGHT, sphingosine kinase 1, CCL1, arginase-1, and costimulatory molecules, CD16/32, ICAM-1, as well as PD-L1 and PD-L2. In cocultures with dendritic cells and CD4(+) T cells, AvCystatin-Mreg strongly induced the production of IL-10 in a cell-contact-independent manner. Collectively, our data identify a specific suppressive macrophage population induced by a single parasite immunomodulator, which protects against mucosal inflammation.