Intergenerational Relationships

Intergenerational relationships within family and kinship have become a salient issue in scientific research. Major reasons were intense demographic changes in the 20th century, such as the increased life expectancy in combination with decreased fertility, and its implications for major institutions of the social welfare state. This has resulted in the realization of several larger studies, which may serve for the analysis of the situation of old aged people, such as the German Socio-economic Panel, the Generations and Gender Survey, the Family Survey, the German Aging Survey, the Survey on Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe, and the Panel Analysis of Intimate Relationships and Family Dynamics. However, an overarching theoretical and research perspective on intergenerational relationships from their creation (fertility) over parenting to the most long-lasting relationship between adults of different generations is still missing. In order to overcome this deficiency, the paper recommends for future data structures to obtain information on intergenerational relationships (1) simultaneously and complete, (2) in a life-span perspective, (3) from a panel design, and (4) a multi-actor design. Studies should (5) account for cultural variability of intergenerational relationships and (6) for institutional settings in cross-national comparisons.Intergenerational Relationships, Intergenerational Solidarity, Life Course, Demographic Change, Ageing, Panel Studies

Information compression in the context model

The Context Model provides a formal framework for the representation, interpretation, and analysis of vague and uncertain data. The clear semantics of the underlying concepts make it feasible to compare well-known approaches to the modeling of imperfect knowledge like that given in Bayes Theory, Shafer's Evidence Theory, the Transferable Belief Model, and Possibility Theory. In this paper we present the basic ideas of the Context Model and show its applicability as an alternative foundation of Possibility Theory and the epistemic view of fuzzy sets

Intergenerationale Transmission von kulturellem Kapital unter Migrationsbedingungen. Zum Bildungserfolg von Kindern und Jugendlichen aus Migrantenfamilien in Deutschland

Anhand der Daten des Sozio-ökonomischen Panels (SOEP) wird untersucht, auf welche Faktoren die bestehenden ethnischen Ungleichheiten im deutschen Bildungssystem zurückzuführen sind. Die hier gewählte theoretische Perspektive verbindet einen lebensverlaufs- mit einem humankapitaltheoretischen Ansatz. Dabei wird die Bedeutung der intergenerationalen Transmission von Bildung als kulturellem Kapital in Verbindung mit ökonomischem und sozialem Kapital in der Migrationssituation untersucht. Hierzu durchgeführte multiple Regressionsanalysen ergeben, daß der Bildungserfolg der Migrantenkinder in einem zwar signifikant positiven, aber sehr schwachen Zusammenhang mit dem in der Herkunftsfamilie vorhandenen ökonomischen und kulturellen Kapital steht. Die Analyse der Bedeutung eingliederungsspezifischer Variablen für die schulische Bildung von Migrantenkindern ergab, daß deren Abiturwahrscheinlichkeit stark von den familiären Sozialisationsbedingungen abhängt. Unterschiede im Bildungserfolg zwischen Migrantenkindern unterschiedlicher Nationalitäten sind weitgehend auf die jeweiligen mit der Nationalität systematisch variierenden Ausprägungen der familiären Sozialisationsbedingungen zurückzuführen. Diskriminierungs- oder Institutioneneffekte konnten dagegen nicht festgestellt werden. (DIPF/Orig.)On the basis of the data provided by the Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP), the authors examine which factors lead to the existing ethnic inequalities within the German educational system The theoretical perspective chosen here combines a hfe-span approach with a human capital approach The significance of the intergenerational transmission of education as cultural capital in combination with economic and social capital is analyzed in the specific Situation of migration The multiple regression analyses revealed that the link between the educational achievement of migrant children and the economic and cultural capital of the family of origin was significantly positive, however, it is a very weak link The analysis of the impact of mtegration-specific variables on the school career of migrant children showed that the probabihty of a migrant child passing the final examination at a secondary school depends to a high degree on family background variables. Dispanties in the educational achievement of migrant children of different nationality are largely due to the respective forms of famihal conditions of socialization which vary systematically with nationality Effects of discrimination or of institutional settings, however, could not be ascertained. (DIPF/Orig.

Facetten und Fakten der Flüchtlingsdebatte: Eine Analyse aus wirtschaftsethischer Perspektive

Im Jahr 2015 wurden in Deutschland über eine Million Flüchtlinge registriert. In demselben Zeitraum wurden etwa 450.000 Asylanträge gestellt, was die höchste Antragszahl seit 1992 darstellt. Von den 450.000 Anträgen sind ungefähr 50 Prozent positiv beschieden worden, sodass nicht nur viele Anträge eingegangen sind, sondern auch viele Menschen längerfristig in Deutschland bleiben werden, die es zu integrieren gilt. Diese Zuwanderung birgt gleichzeitig Herausforderungen und Chancen. Vor allem stellt sie die Menschen, Gesellschaft und Staaten jedoch vor eine Vielzahl von Dilemmata, die im folgenden Report beleuchtet werden. Dabei werden insbesondere die ethischen Dilemmata betrachtet, die auf den drei Ebenen der Gesellschaft vorliegen. Die Ordnungsebene steht vor Dilemmata hinsichtlich staatlicher Entscheidungen wie der geeignetsten Verteilung von Flüchtlingen über die Länder oder der Ausgestaltung von Asylverfahren. Die Institutionenebene sieht sich vor Entscheidungen wie der Unsicherheit bei der Einstellung von Flüchtlingen. Auf der Individualebene muss jeder Einzelne das Dilemma überwinden, ob und in welchem Ausmaß er eigenen Aufwand betreiben möchte, um eine Integration der Flüchtlinge zu unterstützen

Intergenerational Relationships

Intergenerational relationships within family and kinship have become a salient issue in scientific research. Major reasons were intense demographic changes in the 20th century, such as the increased life expectancy in combination with decreased fertility, and its implications for major institutions of the social welfare state. This has resulted in the realization of several larger studies, which may serve for the analysis of the situation of old aged people, such as the German Socio-economic Panel, the Generations and Gender Survey, the Family Survey, the German Aging Survey, the Survey on Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe, and the Panel Analysis of Intimate Relationships and Family Dynamics. However, an overarching theoretical and research perspective on intergenerational relationships from their creation (fertility) over parenting to the most long-lasting relationship between adults of different generations is still missing. In order to overcome this deficiency, the paper recommends for future data structures to obtain information on intergenerational relationships (1) simultaneously and complete, (2) in a life-span perspective, (3) from a panel design, and (4) a multi-actor design. Studies should (5) account for cultural variability of intergenerational relationships and (6) for institutional settings in cross-national comparisons

Meta‐analysis of the association between sodium‐glucose co‐transporter‐2 inhibitors and risk of skin cancer among patients with type 2 diabetes

A slight increase in melanoma risk was observed among sodium‐glucose co‐transporter‐2 (SGLT‐2) inhibitor users in the regular reports. However, the association remains uncertain. To address this issue, we performed a systematic search of electronic databases up to May 2, 2018 and a meta‐analysis of 21 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 20 308 patients. We did not find a significant increase in risk of melanoma among SGLT‐2 inhibitor users (Peto odds ratio [OR], 2.17; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.80‐5.89; I2, 0%). Similar results were observed in the subgroup analyses according to the type of SGLT‐2 inhibitor, type of control, ages of patients, race/ethnicity, and trial durations. For non‐melanoma skin cancer risk, no significant difference was observed when all trials were combined (Peto OR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.47‐1.07; I2, 0%), while a significantly decreased risk was observed among trials with duration <52 weeks (Peto OR, 0.12; 95% CI, 0.02‐0.59; I2, 0%). No evidence of publication bias was detected in the analyses. Current evidence from RCTs did not support a significantly increased risk of skin cancer associated with SGLT‐2 inhibitors

Cardiovascular risk profile and frailty in a population-based study of older British men.

BACKGROUND: Frailty in older age is known to be associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. However, the extent to which frailty is associated with the CVD risk profile has been little studied. Our aim was to examine the associations of a range of cardiovascular risk factors with frailty and to assess whether these are independent of established CVD. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of a socially representative sample of 1622 surviving men aged 71-92 examined in 2010-2012 across 24 British towns, from a prospective study initiated in 1978-1980. Frailty was defined using the Fried phenotype, including weight loss, grip strength, exhaustion, slowness and low physical activity. RESULTS: Among 1622 men, 303 (19%) were frail and 876 (54%) were pre-frail. Compared with non-frail, those with frailty had a higher odds of obesity (OR 2.03, 95% CI 1.38 to 2.99), high waist circumference (OR 2.30, 95% CI 1.67 to 3.17), low high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) (OR 2.28, 95% CI 1.47 to 3.54) and hypertension (OR 1.79, 95% CI 1.27 to 2.54). Prevalence of these factors was also higher in those with frailty (prevalence in frail vs non-frail groups was 46% vs 31% for high waist circumference, 20% vs 11% for low HDL and 78% vs 65% for hypertension). Frail individuals had a worse cardiovascular risk profile with an increased risk of high heart rate, poor lung function (forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)), raised white cell count (WCC), poor renal function (low estimated glomerular filtration rate), low alanine transaminase and low serum sodium. Some risk factors (HDL-C, hypertension, WCC, FEV1, renal function and albumin) were also associated with being pre-frail. These associations remained when men with prevalent CVD were excluded. CONCLUSIONS: Frailty was associated with increased risk of a range of cardiovascular factors (including obesity, HDL-C, hypertension, heart rate, lung function, renal function) in older people; these associations were independent of established CVD

Ceramide remodeling and risk of cardiovascular events and mortality

BackgroundRecent studies suggest that circulating concentrations of specific ceramide species may be associated with coronary risk and mortality. We sought to determine the relations between the most abundant plasma ceramide species of differing acyl chain lengths and the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) and mortality in community‐based samples. Methods and ResultsWe developed a liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry assay to quantify plasma C24:0, C22:0, and C16:0 ceramides and ratios of these very–long‐chain/long‐chain ceramides in 2642 FHS (Framingham Heart Study) participants and in 3134 SHIP (Study of Health in Pomerania) participants. Over a mean follow‐up of 6 years in FHS, there were 88 CHD and 90 heart failure (HF) events and 239 deaths. Over a median follow‐up time in SHIP of 5.75 years for CHD and HF and 8.24 years for mortality, there were 209 CHD and 146 HF events and 377 deaths. In meta‐analysis of the 2 cohorts and adjusting for standard CHD risk factors, C24:0/C16:0 ceramide ratios were inversely associated with incident CHD (hazard ratio per average SD increment, 0.79; 95% confidence interval, 0.71–0.89; P<0.0001) and inversely associated with incident HF (hazard ratio, 0.78; 95% confidence interval, 0.61–1.00; P=0.046). Moreover, the C24:0/C16:0 and C22:0/C16:0 ceramide ratios were inversely associated with all‐cause mortality (C24:0/C16:0: hazard ratio, 0.60; 95% confidence interval, 0.56–0.65; P<0.0001; C22:0/C16:0: hazard ratio, 0.65; 95% confidence interval, 0.60–0.70; P<0.0001). ConclusionsThe ratio of C24:0/C16:0 ceramides in blood may be a valuable new biomarker of CHD risk, HF risk, and all‐cause mortality in the community

Expression of the nociceptin precursor and nociceptin receptor is modulated in cancer and septic patients

Background A role of nociceptin and its receptor (NOP) in pain and immune function has been suggested. The hypothesis was that mRNA expression of NOP and the nociceptin precursor pre-pronociceptin (pN/OFQ) in peripheral blood cells differs in end-stage cancer patients suffering from chronic pain and septic intensive care unit (ICU) patients compared with healthy controls. Methods Blood samples were drawn from end-stage cancer patients and septic ICU patients. Additionally, postoperative patients representing individuals with surgical stress and healthy controls were enrolled as comparative groups. NOP and pN/OFQ mRNA expression, quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), was compared between study groups, and associated to opioid medication, pain intensities, and the inflammatory markers procalcitonin (PCT) and interleukin-6. Results NOP expression was significantly higher in cancer patients [normalized ratio, median (inter-quartile range): 10.2 (7.4/17.8)], postoperative patients [8.0 (5.3/10.2)], and ICU patients [6.6 (4.2/9.5)] compared with healthy controls [4.4 (2.7/7.0); P<0.001]. Expression of pN/OFQ was lower in cancer patients [3.8 (1.9/5.9)] and ICU patients [1.9 (1.0/2.7)] but not in postoperative patients compared with healthy controls [7.2 (6.1/9.4); P<0.001]. Increased plasma PCT was associated with decreased pN/OFQ in all patient groups. In cancer patients, no association was seen with pain scores, opioid medication or duration of analgesia, and NOP or pN/OFQ mRNA. Conclusions NOP and pN/OFQ expression in peripheral blood cells was modulated in end-stage cancer and septic patients compared with healthy controls, whereas changes in postoperative patients were minor. The involvement of the NOP-pN/OFQ system in inflammation, impaired immune function, and pain has to be further elucidate