Search

Scholars often describe the history of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) from an exclusive urban development perspective (linear or finger cities) or from a limited mobility perspective (Public Transit). In these histories, walking is described as the yardstick for a station's catchment area. Using primary sources, this article shows how between 1960 and 1990 the Dutch railroads played a forgotten but key and unique role in enriching the TOD concept in the densely populated Western Netherlands with the bicycle as a feeder mode. This created a spatial model of a belt with compact bicycle towns along railroad lines. In the process, the railroad reinforced by local and national policies since then helped create cycling-based rather than walking-based fifteen-minute cities that generated larger catchment zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Originally conceived to create dense, diverse and mixed-used communities that are inclusive and sustainable communities, Transit-oriented Development ("TOD") has come under increasing academic scrutiny on its negative implications on equity and justice. However, these injustices are often examined case-by-case individually, which revealed the lack of a comprehensive framework that is grounded in justice concepts and theories for analysing justice in TOD. In this paper, we aim to show the importance of, and suggest a framework for, analysing justice in TOD holistically. We begin by taking a brief overview of key theories and concepts in process and outcome justice. Then, through a thematic review of justice-related TOD literature, we synthesised three main justice issues currently existing in TOD: transit-induced gentrification; neglect of livelihood and well-being of disadvantaged groups; and poor inclusion and representation of different stakeholders. These issues revealed the interconnectedness and importance of both process and outcome justices in TOD. As such, we formulated an analytical framework by adopting the Institutional Analysis and Development ("IAD") model (a tool for understanding institutional interactions in public policies) to examine process justice; and the 5Ds of the built environment (namely Density, Diversity, Design, Destination Accessibility, and Distance to Transit) to examine outcome justice. In brief, for process justice, our framework advocates open, accessible and equitable particiaption by all interested stakeholders to be able to give views, exercise their power, obtain and share information, and make decisions collectively, with dedicated efforts to facilitate participation of more disadvantaged groups. For outcome justice, our framework calls for providing suitable and equitable built environments (in terms of 5Ds) in different neighbourhoods in a TOD, with special attention towards the needs of disadvantaged groups. The framework serves as general guidance for researchers and planners to analyse the justice implications of TOD (both ex-ante and ex-post) in a holistic and conceptually-grounded manner, with a view to better positioning justice issues and directing efforts towards more just TODs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article combines current grief research with maps of transactional analysis and shows possible topics in the counselling and support of bereaved people. Based on a case history, the author describes the course of grief counselling after a traumatic loss. In doing so, she spans the arc from psychodynamics in acute crisis to resilience factors and the development of autonomy in the face of death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The topic of death and the dying is a crucial aspect of patient care, especially for individuals with terminal illnesses. However, discussions about death and dying are often avoided during patient interactions. In this article, our aim is to explore the reasons behind our fear of death and dying and to assess the importance of addressing these issues in shaping and cultivating relationships with our patients and in our personal lives. We argue that being open to impermanence is a valuable tool in our work with patients and their families and should be integrated into conversations with them. Furthermore, discussions about death and dying should play a central role in medical and nursing education as well as professional development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inclusion of affordable housing in transit-oriented developments (TODs) is necessary for addressing the mobility and shelter needs of transit-dependent and low-income populations. Affordable housing in TODs, however, remains scarce despite state-level policies, interest group advocacy, and developer enthusiasm. We used a multiple case study method and focused on TOD areas in communities with disadvantaged populations in Southern California to examine barriers to and opportunities for affordable housing. We examined the contents of specific plans adopted by local governments to facilitate TODs around 10 selected transit stations in Los Angeles and Orange counties and conducted interviews with planners, policymakers, and developers involved in achieving affordable housing. Our findings indicated that although TOD specific plans permitted higher-density developments, they neither prioritized affordable housing nor presented a coherent vision for an inclusive transit community that would address the needs of different types of households. Moreover, onerous requirements for securing subsidies, patchwork financing, uncertainties in the approval process, and competition from market-rate housing inhibited affordable housing development. Although we did not analyze community opposition to TODs, it was hinted at by our interviewees. Targeting affordable housing in TODs, providing incentives, and strengthening the institutional framework are critical to achieving inclusive transit communities. The development of TODs in a politically fragmented region like Southern California necessitates a lead organization to procure affordable housing investments and strengthen the housing–transportation nexus. We note broader implications of the findings beyond California. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyses actor relationships in Transit Oriented Development (TOD) planning in order to better understand the preconditions necessary for planning processes to result in TOD in lower density contexts, in suburbs, or small cities. Empirically, the analysis builds on a comparative case study of TOD planning projects. The focus in the analytical work is on understanding how market conditions in lower density contexts influence the conditions for TOD planning projects, and how this feeds through to planning processes. The overall conclusion is that we should not expect that planning processes in small cities with low to medium densities of populations and activities differ much from those in more 'classic' highly urban TOD locations. Market conditions had an impact on planning processes, but once in the planning stage conditions for implementation depended more on the ability to handle competing interests and less on market conditions. In terms of policy recommendations, it is important for actors to develop a joint vision of the built environment of the site in question that channels organizations' individual actions in a joint direction. The ability to achieve such a joint vision for the design of the site in question may be more important in small towns than in more 'typical' TOD contexts in denser urban areas. This is because all enablers need to work together in a positive way in such location – which may be marginal from a market point of view – for the development to be able to go ahead. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The night plays an important role in Sibylla Schwarz' self-presentation as a female poet. On the one hand, she expresses her poetic skills by using the night as a literary motif which she combines with metaphors of farewell and death. On the other hand, she presents the night as the time and place of the creation of her poetry, thereby marking it as a secondary activity accepted within the gender discourse of early modern culture. Schwarz' use of the motif of the night vividly illustrates the interplay of convention, strategy and lifeworld reference that is characteristic of her poetry. Im Zuge ihrer Selbstinszenierung als Dichterin macht sich Sibylla Schwarz die Nacht zunutze. Zum einen setzt sie die Nacht als literarisches Motiv ein, über dessen Gestaltung und Kombination mit Abschieds- und Todesmetaphorik sie ihr dichterisches Können zum Ausdruck bringt. Zum anderen inszeniert sie die Nacht als Zeitpunkt bzw. Ort der Entstehung ihrer Dichtung und markiert diese dadurch als eine innerhalb des frühneuzeitlichen Geschlechterdiskurses akzeptierte Nebentätigkeit. Anhand von Schwarz' Nachtmotivik lässt sich das für ihre Lyrik charakteristische Zusammenspiel aus Konvention, Strategie und lebensweltlichem Bezug anschaulich nachvollziehen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article deals with humor at the end of life: After introductory remarks on the complex of topics dying, death and humor, a text can be read, which was written by a young woman six months before her death for this article: Sarah Braun became ill with the neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at the age of 24. In her text, she reflects on the importance of humor in her life and death. Following Sarah Braun’s text »Ich lach mich in den Tod« (I laugh myself to death), a theoretical-conceptual reflection on my part follows: The focus is on the aspects of humor as a survival strategy (relativization, distancing, coping) as well as types of humor, whereby the question is explored whether there is good/bad humor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presented article deals with psychodynamic developments during the years 2020 to 2023 in the course of the Covid-19 pandemic. For a better understanding of the extraordinary stress situation, we develope a connection between the Positive Transac-tional Analysis map of the script and the concepts of Existential Psychotherapy. Helplessness, script bound coping reactions, symbiotic expectations and suppression of authentic feelings (mainly fear and grief) direct to confrontations with four existential concerns (Irvin Yalom): death, responsibility, isolation and sense. Post traumatic reactions seemingly not connecting to the pandemic (depressions, panic disorders, psychosomatic symptoms) are possible consequences. Using a case example of a couples' psychotherapy we demonstrate recollecting, dissolving and working out of the traumatic stress situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quality of urban living environments has become a focal point for local governments and citizens. By conducting a thorough analysis of the human settlement environment, the study can not only gain an intuitive insight into the quality of life of residents but also propose forward-thinking and sustainable suggestions for areas of improvement. This study optimizes and analyzes open platform data closely related to residents and assesses the suitability of different areas for living from diverse perspectives and methodologies. This study has chosen Beijing and Xi'an as the primary case studies. The local living environment is categorized into residential, living, recreational environment, transportation convenience, and safety. Our evaluation combines subjective and objective analysis methods and considers hotspot and cold spot analyses. This study employs the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) as a subjective analysis method and the entropy method for objective analysis. By integrating both methods, it assesses the living environment conditions of Beijing and Xi'an. Furthermore, using GIS software, hotspot analysis is conducted for both cities, identifying areas of high and low quality. Detailed analysis is subsequently carried out for the low-quality clusters. Ultimately, this study, grounded in the theory of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), presents recommendations for sustainable development aimed at representative rural towns and streets. City centers in Beijing and Xi'an have high-quality environments, while the outskirts show declining quality. Xi'an has uneven resource distribution, while Beijing is more balanced, with hotspot analyses indicating specific high- and low-quality cluster locations in both cities. These disparities and characteristics of the low-quality clusters offer insights for future urban development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on a study of how TOD can contribute to sustainable development locally and regionally in sparse settlement structures. While TOD theory focuses on large cities and densely populated areas, it also tends to be applied in less populated areas. 'Station communities' are of great interest in Sweden, given the opportunities they apparently offer to combine economic growth through regional enlargement with decreased climate impact. This idea is, in many ways, inspired by the transit-oriented development (TOD) theory, and applied in the Västra Götaland region, aiming for regional development and increased public transportation use. The study has examined how the conditions for TOD are met in small towns with train stations located in sparse settlement structures through a case study and semi-structured interviews. The results indicate that train stations, together with planning approaches inspired by TOD theory, are regarded as important in municipal planning when identifying future developments, although the prerequisites for TOD are absent and the demand for new housing and businesses is weak. One conclusion is that a new concept is needed that does not focus on densification and urban qualities, but draws on the place qualities, where the connections to the train stations are enforced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the coming of the aging society, the lives and travel of vulnerable groups, especially the elderly, have received unprecedented attention. This paper provides a framework for TOD age inequity research applicable to high-density and public-transport-oriented cities. Our research uses big mobile phone positioning data to extract the age information of TOD (Transit-Oriented Development) station users and uses geographic information and survey data to quantify the TOD service level. Then, we used the Gini coefficient, correlation coefficient analysis, and cluster analysis to explore the differences in TOD resource allocation across age groups on the JR Yamanote Line and part of the JR Chuo line in Tokyo. The results show that inequity exists at the TOD service level regarding user age, and there is a negative correlation between the average age of users and most indicators of TOD. In the clustering results, three unique TOD groups are formed: a) Residence-oriented aging TOD, b) Livable middle-aged TOD, and c) Commuter-oriented young TOD. Based on the research results, we made three suggestions for building an age-friendly TOD: a) More diverse land use, b) Better connectivity between transit nodes and multimodal transportation, and c) Affordable housing cost. • This paper provides a framework for TOD age inequity research applicable to high-density and public-transport-oriented cities. • The TOD user age feature extracted using mobile phone location data is introduced into the node-place model as the third dimension. • The results show that the inequity of TOD resource allocation is related to the average age of users. • The stations are classified into three types, and corresponding optimization suggestions are put forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents a case study of art activism in Nang Loeng, a historic neighbourhood in Bangkok, Thailand. Long recognised for its rich cultural heritage from food to architecture, Nang Loeng has established its name as a site of cultural tourism, drawing interest from tourists, artists, and professional experts. Like many neighbourhoods nearby, Nang Loeng today is being threatened by looming gentrification and eviction, as the inner city is transforming itself into a tourist destination. In particular, the upcoming underground construction has put their housing security under pressure. The paper first discusses the context of rail‐led urban transformation in historic Bangkok, fuelled by the discourse of transit‐oriented development. Then, it introduces Nang Loeng and their series of art‐based programmes. Disappointed by their failure to secure housing tenure from the landlord, Nang Loeng residents have turned to activism as a tool of resistance. Here, the paper pays particular attention to the role of community architects who creatively translates neighbourhood concerns into artistic forms. Through the case of Buffalo Field Festival, the paper illustrates how the community architects, artists and local residents collaboratively use Nang Loeng's cultural assets to make subtle political statements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine a coupled Radhakrishnan–Kundu–Lakshmanan (cRKL) equation that includes self-phase modulation, third order dispersion, self-steepening, and cross-phase modulation effects. A propagating ultrafast pulse in nonlinear systems is described by the given equation. Utilizing the coupled Radhakrishnan–Kundu–Lakshmanan (cRKL) model, we explored the dynamics of various innovative optical solitons, such as wing-shaped, W-shaped, and brilliant solitons. We used mathematical methods like the Jacobi elliptical sn function method to get the exact analytical solution. Our results demonstrate that the self-phase modulation (SPM), self-steepening (SS), cross-phase modulation (XPM), and third order dispersion (TOD) can be effectively varied to influence the structure of the solitons. It is demonstrated that the precise balance between the self-steepening effect, the self-phase modulation, and the group velocity dispersion forms these novel W-shaped chirp-free dark solitons and dark and bright solitonic structures. By choosing appropriate settings for the physical variables, it is possible to create a graphic representation of the properties of optical solitons. The study and application of nonlinear materials with third order dispersion, cross-phase modulation, self-phase modulation effect, and self-steepening nonlinearity may take new paths as a result of our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Das Gespräch orientiert sich an Irving Yaloms Buch A Matter of Death and Life (2021), in dem er seinen Abschieds- und Trauerprozess von seiner Ehefrau reflektiert, mit der er seit seinem 14. Lebensjahr zusammen war. Mittlerweile ist Yalom 91-jährig und krank, sodass er sich nun auf seinen eigenen Tod einstellt. Mit diesem Interview ist ein sehr persönliches Dokument über sein Leben und Wirken entstanden. Er beschreibt, wie wichtig ihm das Schreiben war und immer noch ist, es half und hilft ihm, über Krisen hinwegzukommen, sie schreibend zu verarbeiten. Man erfährt viel über Yaloms jüdisch/russischen Lebenshintergrund und den seiner Familie während des Zweiten Weltkriegs, wie dieser ihn geprägt hat, und man versteht, dass er ein schwer traumatisiertes Kind war, das, ohne es zu wissen, im Laufe des Lebens transgenerative Folgen der Traumatisierung der ganzen Familie übernahm. Vor diesem Hintergrund betont er, dass es in der Arbeit mit Menschen, die solchen Extremerfahrungen ausgesetzt waren, in der Therapie eine echte Beziehungserfahrung braucht, wo die Erfahrung von Nähe möglich ist, etwas was in der frühen Kindheit fehlte. Angesichts der aktuellen Bedrohungen des Lebens auf unserem Planeten empfiehlt er genau dies für die Therapiepraxis, aber auch Therapiegruppen für TherapeutInnen, in denen sie daran arbeiten können, wie sie selbst mit den bei ihnen aufgeworfenen existenziellen Themen umgehen angesichts Pandemie, Krieg und Klimakatastrophe. Es lohnt sich, auch das YouTube-Video (https://www.europsyche.org/latest-news-2/latest-news) anzusehen, setzt aber Englischkenntnisse voraus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This paper unravels relationships between built environment and vibrancy across station types. • An extended node-place model was applied to identify a TOD typology. • An interpretable machine learning method was used to explore the nonlinear effects. • Significant variations in the predicting power of BE across station types were presented. Transit-oriented development (TOD) has great potential to foster vibrant communities through improved access to activities around station areas. Several studies have investigated station area vibrancy and associations with TOD built environment (BE). However, few have considered the nonlinear impacts and varying relationships across station types. Taking Nanjing, China as a case study, we aim to 1) identify types of metro station areas (MSAs) with a "node-place-functionality" model and 2) unravel the nonlinear BE-vibrancy relationships and variations across MSA types. We find that five types best characterize the TOD built environment and present different levels of vibrancy indicated by the Baidu Heat Index. The GBDT (gradient boosting decision tree) models reveal transit accessibility, intersection density and commercial service density as the top three predictors of daytime and nighttime vibrancy, all presenting nonlinear and threshold effects. We also find the predicting power of BE features differs significantly across MSA types. The nuanced analyses provide context-specific planning guidance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

La Bible hébraïque met fréquemment en scène des personnages et des voix solitaires, mais il n'existe pas encore d'étude spécifique de la »solitude«. Cet article examine l'usage du lexème בד / בדד et analyse quatre passages dans lesquels apparaît l'expression »être assis seul« (בדד + ישׁב), à savoir Lv 13,46; Jr 15,17; Lm 1,1 et 3,28. Le contexte littéraire et les structures discursives dans lesquels s'inscrit בדד + ישב sont d'un intérêt capital, mais la caractérisation et l'évaluation de la solitude reçoivent également une certaine attention. L'étude se termine par une synthèse qui met en évidence les liens entre la solitude, la société, Dieu et la mort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the Winter Olympics, Beijing proposed to speed up the construction of rail transit. Taking Beijing as the research object, the accessibility of rail transit stations in the 6 districts of the city were analyzed by using POI services and route planning services provided by Internet map providers, relying on ArcMap10.6 platform. The research holds that the development of rail transit in Beijing is not sufficient and unbalanced. Network density has an important influence on the accessibility of rail transit stations. The travel mode of rail transit + cycling can improve the accessibility of stations in underdeveloped areas. In Shijingshan District, the accessibility of rail transit stations in the region can be improved by optimizing the slow traveling environment between the Winter Olympics branch line, Subway Line 6 and Subway Line 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dissertation project deals with young people's ideas and everyday experiences regarding the topics death, dying and mourning. The aim of the research is to find out how confirmation work can be designed to reach a heterogeneous group of confirmands with their questions and needs concerning these topics. For this purpose, the state of research is examined in an interdisciplinary perspective. A survey of confirmands and team members will be conducted in order to close research gaps. The evaluation is carried out in the context of value field research, among other things, in order to identify different needs and ideas of different types of adolescent lifestyles, and to discuss them in a differentiated way in terms of religious education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the acceleration of urbanization and the development of urban rail transit (URT) in China, an increasing number of metropolises have begun to apply transit-oriented development (TOD) theory in URT planning. However, spatial mismatches between residences and jobs, unbalanced traffic infrastructure utilization, and environmental pollution persist. Moreover, studies of regional-scale TOD theory are lacking in China. In this paper, an integrated model based on TOD theory is presented that optimizes land use and transportation simultaneously for a region covered by URT in China under New-type urbanization, aiming to achieve sustainable development. A max–min ant system (MMAS) algorithm integrated with the Frank–Wolfe and Dial algorithms is proposed. Jianzhou New Town is taken as a case study to validate the effectiveness of the model and algorithm. The superiority of the scheme of this integrated model is shown through comparative analysis. This research provides a new concept for governments and planners about the integrated planning of urbanization and transportation. In addition, this research extends TOD theory to employ an improved multi-objective planning model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding how built environment attributes are associated with transit commuting mode choice is essential for planners to promoting transit through land use and transportation policies. Scholars usually assume that their relationships follow a (generalized) linear pattern and are homogeneous over space. These assumptions may lead to inconsistent estimates. This study develops a semi-parametric multilevel mixed logit model to identify non-linear and spatially heterogeneous relationships between built environment attributes and transit commuting in Nanjing, China. The results show that built environment variables in residential areas have saliently non-linear associations with transit commuting, and the associations vary across traffic analysis zones. Densification facilitates transit use but it has a diminishing return. A medium level of mixed-use is conducive to transit commuting. Transit supply has to exceed a certain threshold to be effective. These findings offer nuanced guidance for transit-oriented neighborhood planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intermodal use of micromobility alternatives alongside transit networks significantly extends station catchment areas. However, the determination of the size of neighborhood stations often reveals a subset of users surpassing the measured distance threshold, prompting the question of why these intermodal passengers cover longer distances. This scientific article seeks a comprehensive understanding of the distances traveled and itinerary choices made by micromobility users, intending to offer adapted urban planning recommendations. This study expands upon the emerging scientific literature that highlights how intermodal passengers are increasingly making detours and breaks to enhance their travel experience. By doing so, it challenges and seeks to reverse the traditionally negative perceptions associated with extended travel distances and prolonged waiting periods. This approach underscores a paradigm shift in how journey optimization is perceived, particularly in the context of intermodal transportation. Given the complexity of intermodal travel, this investigation examines the interrelationships among detours, breaks, and spatial and temporal optimization strategies. Detours are categorized according to their typology and their geometric forms, referred to as "Escaping Transit Voronoi Station" (E - TVS), while breaks, indicated by waiting times, are analyzed regarding activities conducted during the modal chain. The study employs an objective approach by utilizing a questionnaire to capture geocoded trips. Key findings from the geostatistical analysis reveal that micromobility users are willing to travel an additional 2 km or 10 min during access or egress to avoid transfers, thus extending the catchment area to 6 km, representing a 125% larger coverage compared to trips without detours. The implementation of detours by micromobility allows for average time savings of 19% and spatial distance savings of 3%, primarily made to avoid public transport transfers. Furthermore, breaks during the intermodal journey provide an opportunity to shop around the station, optimizing the overall modal chain. Remarkably, 95% of the analyzed intermodal trips exhibit temporal and/or spatial optimization. These findings underscore the potential of designing a public transportation system that combines efficiency with well-spaced stops and proximity-based accessibility, reconciling the performance-adherence dilemma and fostering Transit-Oriented Development areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Residential self-selection (RSS) confounds the connection between the built environment and travel behavior. Existing studies have used endogenous switching regression models to quantify the proportions of the built environment itself and RSS in the observed behavioral difference between different environments. However, the models are sensitive to model specification and assume pre-defined (mostly linear) relationships among variables. This study applies a double machine learning approach to fill the gap. The empirical context is to jointly model residential choice of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) neighborhoods and weekly driving distance of household owning cars in Jinan, China. The results showed that the RSS effect accounts for about 40% of the observed difference in driving distance between the households living inside and outside of BRT neighborhoods. This results also emphasizes the necessity of relaxing the linearity assumption in the research on the relationships among the built environment, RSS, and travel behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the fact that historical studies on the navy and navigation in the Middle Ages in general and in Castile in particular have taken a great leap, not only quantitatively but also qualitatively, studies related to the living conditions and mentalities of personnel shipped do not seem to have had the same interest. Here we present some aspects, brushstrokes drawn from legal and chronological sources. Legal sources offer us a way to approach living conditions on merchant ships. The chronicles offer information on the dangers derived from direct combat action at sea, the influence of meteorological conditions, as well as related to the recruitment and supplies of the embarked personnel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies explore the impact of rail transit on land development and identify the size of its impact area. However, many pre-specify their relationship as linear or quadratic. This restrictive assumption biases the estimate for rail transit impact. To relax this assumption, this study employs gradient boosting decision trees to the 2008 and 2014 building census data in Shenzhen, China, and examines the nonlinear relationship between distance to metro stations and land development intensity, i.e., changes in floor area. We find that metro transit is more important in predicting changes in floor areas than other transportation infrastructures. Distance to metro station shows a threshold effect on development intensity, with the effect extending to 1.25 km from the station. Metro stations and land availability have a synergistic effect, strengthening the development of adjacent lands. Overall, metro transit and supportive policies are important instruments to shape urban form in urbanizing China. • Metro transit plays a leading role in shaping land development in Shenzhen. • The influence of metro stations on land development extends to 1250 m. • Distance to metro station moderates the effect of land availability on development intensity. • Transit-supportive policies are critical to land development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eschatologische Vorstellungen, wie sie seit jeher Bestandteil christlicher Glaubenswelten waren, sind in der Moderne in eine tiefe Krise geraten. Im Zuge des Wandels des Welt- und Geschichtsbildes haben die klassischen Bilder von Weltende und Gericht, Himmel und Hölle radikal an Plausibilität verloren. Mehr noch: Auch die großen Gestalten der Theologiegeschichte des 20. Jahrhunderts waren weitgehend darum bemüht, Eschatologie weniger als materialdogmatische Lehre von den „letzten Dingen" zu verstehen, denn als prinzipielle Dimension theologischer Reflexion zu begreifen. Vor diesem Hintergrund geht es dem Beitrag um eine Wiedergewinnung der materialdogmatischen Eschatologie. Im Anschluss an methodische Überlegungen Friedrich Schleiermachers steht dabei der Status eschatologischer Aussagen zur Debatte. In dreifacher Hinsicht (hermeneutisch, kritisch, theo-logisch) lässt sich Eschatologie als Arbeit an einem theologischen Wirklichkeitsbegriff begreifen: Sie dient erstens einer kritischen Hermeneutik eschatologischer Imaginationen, sie bemüht sich zweitens um eine Labilisierung fixierter Wirklichkeitsinterpretationen, und sie bestimmt drittens den christlichen Gottesgedanken angesichts schlechthinniger Hinfälligkeit und radikaler Vergänglichkeit aller erfahrbaren Realität fort. »Tod«, »Ewigkeit« und »Auferstehung« markieren diejenigen basalen Symbolgehalte christlicher Eschatologie, deren lebensdienliche Funktion sich in den religiösen Praxisvollzügen bewähren muss, indem durch sie Trost, Hoffnung und Gottvertrauen noch an den Gräbern möglich werden kann. Summary: Living in the "immanent frame" (Ch. Taylor) of modernity includes among other things the closing of eschatological thinking. "This world is all we have." As a consequence of the "loss of heaven", already Friedrich Schleiermacher has tried to critically reconstruct the eschatological symbols of Christian doctrine in his Glaubenslehre. By following his critical hermeneutics of eschatology the article reflects on three basic tasks for any contemporary dogmatic eschatology: hermeneutical, critical, and theo-logical. In consequence, eschatological thinking should not abandon concrete images of eternal life, but has to reflect them critically. Whereas naïve eschatological realism tends to exuberant imagination, eschatological reductionism, often in favor of a strictly present eschatology and of existentialism, rejects the necessary labilisation of any closed concept of reality. Therefore, only a theo-logical reconstruction of eschatological key-issues (in the strict sense) can balance the tasks of both, the critique of human phantasms and of the "closed immanent frame" of reality. In sum, eschatology represent consequent theo-logy insofar as the divine reality ("God") is understood and reconstructed again as the radically creative and ultimate source at the very end of individual and cosmic life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Theoretically, transit-oriented development (TOD) can enhance accessibility by providing a relatively high level of transport connections and high-density, mixed-use, cycling- and pedestrian-friendly land use around transit stations. Empirically, there is a noted positive relationship between the transport component of TOD and accessibility, but the evidence is more mixed with respect to components other than transport (e.g., high urban density and diversity, or proximity of land uses to the transport node). In order to examine how the specific components of TOD are related to accessibility and the relative importance of each component to enhance accessibility, the paper develops a methodology to explore the relationship between each TOD component and accessibility, and applies it to Beijing, China. First, the paper assesses the accessibility of metro station areas in Beijing. Second, it studies how TOD components are related to accessibility at the one-hour travel time catchment level. The results highlight that, in the Beijing context, both a station area's location relative to the city center and the land use pattern (e.g., a relatively lower average residential density; a relatively higher average all-job density; a relatively lower average job density in the sector of retail, accommodation, and catering; a relatively higher average job density in the sector of education, health, and culture; and a relatively lower average degree of functional mixes) around all the stations within the targeted station's one-hour travel catchment are relatively more important to enhance the area's accessibility than improving the area's transit performance. This outcome provides insights for developing area-specific and targeted strategies to enhance the accessibility of a given metro station area in Beijing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concreteness of life presupposes not only death but equally the process of dying. Reflecting these Phenomena - dying and death - is necessary to make the phenomenon of life more comprehensible. Both the individual and the social life need to be confronted with the factualness of cessation. In this respect, every social form, which does not escape itself, cannot one-dimensionally celebrate life without reflecting on death. A self-conscious life-entity must (1) be able to differentiate between living and dying and recognize its own death; (2) make itself known the deviations mechanisms of this process; (3) give thought to suicide and sense its limits; (4) reveal the obstructions that daily-life represents in order to reflect on this process. The reflection of dying and death may not represent something new, it is, however, an ever-vital moment of human life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land value capture is considered as a promising strategy to finance transit-oriented development (TOD). This paper aims to provide a better understanding of the potential to apply negotiable developer obligations (NDOs) for TOD projects in China through two game experiments simulating negotiation processes. Based on the conceptual framework of three fundamental dilemmas, our findings indicate that (1) value capture-based contributions to TOD often 'compete' with other public goals; (2) despite lacking clear regulation, some cities have successfully introduced informal practices to acquire developer contributions; and (3) NDOs seem less feasible under the current conditions of the anti-corruption campaign in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently urban issues show a dramatically increasing rely on auto use, which seriously affects the sustainable development of the city and makes how to build low-carbon cities become one of the urgent problems to be solved in the process of urban development. Therefore, low-carbon cities have become principles for China's next generation of growth and the research hot spot of urban traffic planning. By taking a look at the concepts such as Compact City, transit-oriented development (TOD) city and 'small block' zoning, the article combined the relationship between urban spatial layout patterns and traffic development mode to build a green, low-carbon and sustainable urban development model. Finally, taking the urban design of the new district in the east of Handan City as an example, this research applied the concepts and approaches to planning practice, hoping to provide reference for building low carbon cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Realizing the vision of sustainable cities in Indonesia is a necessity. The Indonesian government continues to encourage all parties making various approaches to solving the urban problems to create a livable city in 2045. The TOD is widely recognized by researchers as one of the most feasible and comprehensive sustainable planning approaches. In Indonesia, only Jakarta has begun implementing TOD since 2017. This study aims to obtain respondents' perceptions (government, business actors, and experts) to assess the alignment of the Jakarta TOD Model compared with the key success factor of TOD best practice, also in line with the principles of urban transportation sustainable development. This analysis is quantitative descriptive for hypothesis testing uses non-parametric statistical tests: Independent and Bayesian One-Sample T-Test. The results of the analysis show us that the Jakarta TOD Application Model is not in line yet with the principles of urban and transportation sustainable development. This is caused by several factors of Bayes interpretation. Refers to the result of variable Large Bayes effect analysis (based on Cohen's value d), its need to be re-arrangement some regulations and/or policies by considering: an institutional improvement, integrated planning, definition of TOD, partnership patterns, development strategy, sustainable and inclusive development goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Land use has effect on residents' shopping in metro station areas nearest to home. • Modifiable Areal Unit Problem (MAUP) influences this effect. • Effect of service land use is different with general land use in attracting shopping. • Service land use accumulates greater effect with scales other than 800 m. • Potential social benefit of catchment area land use planning deserves more attention. Land use planning has been emphasised by both planners and researchers in providing incentives for local shopping. This study advances the body of knowledge by investigating land use and shopping trips in the catchment area for the metro station nearest to home, a unique context that serves both as a shopping destination and a transit origin for further shopping opportunities. Negative binomial and Tobit regressions were applied respectively to examine the effect of land use density on weekly shopping frequency in the station area nearest to home, and its share of individual's total shopping. The impact of the Modifiable Areal Unit Problem (MAUP) on these statistical relationships was addressed, with land use densities objectively measured in seven spatial scales using a radial buffer scheme. Results from all regressions suggest the existence of MAUP in influencing the sign, significance and size of the station area land use effects on shopping trips. A nuanced disaggregation of service types identifies both complementary and competitive relations among services, even under the same generic category, such as dining. The results show that model adopting 400 m radial buffer as measurement scale accumulates greater effect of service land use on station area shopping frequency, while model adopting the 1200 m scale accumulates greater effect of service land use on the station area shopping's share of individual's total shopping. This paper presents the sensitivity of effect of land use on shopping trips in station areas to the spatial scale of land use measurement. It provides pragmatic guidelines for station area planning to augment retail attractiveness and the social benefits of the catchment area for the metro station. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) is used as a tool to create a livable urban environment by improving the integration between land-use and transportation systems. The capital city of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, aims to promote a sustainable transportation system by launching its first Light Rail Transit (LRT) network. Mitigate the need for mass transport, congestion, make transit a better choice, and encourage local economic development. Hence, a method was introduced to analyze the spatial and statistical conditions of accessibility on the existing transit stations of Addis Ababa. The methodology proposed measured the impact of accessibility around the existing TOD by defining a criterion that establishes the accessibility level[5-6]. These criteria included proximity, urban densities, land-use diversity, and design of the urban spaces. The urban form of a place depends on accessibility. Mobility changes the character of a place. If the place changes, accessibility is likely to change. Therefore, TOD features that directly correlated with accessibility along the rail-based train stations will be explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concreteness of life presupposes not only death but equally the process of dying. Reflecting these Phenomena - dying and death - is necessary to make the phenomenon of life more comprehensible. Both the individual and the social life need to be confronted with the factualness of cessation. In this respect, every social form, which does not escape itself, cannot one-dimensionally celebrate life without reflecting on death. A self-conscious life-entity must (1) be able to differentiate between living and dying and recognize its own death; (2) make itself known the deviations mechanisms of this process; (3) give thought to suicide and sense its limits; (4) reveal the obstructions that daily-life represents in order to reflect on this process. The reflection of dying and death may not represent something new, it is, however, an ever-vital moment of human life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewed interest in light-rail transit (LRT) in North America has heightened the need for an improved understanding of transit impacts on land value uplift (LVU). A number of studies have investigated the relationship, with findings varying with local contexts and estimation methods. Most of these studies focus on the aggregate effects of transit using cross-sectional models, but do not examine the spatial and temporal heterogeneity in transit impacts through quasi-experimental approaches. To bridge this gap, we build a set of spatio-temporal difference-in-differences (STDID) models for the causal identification of transit-induced land-value uplift, taking the new LRT line in Canada's Waterloo Region as the case study. The study contributes to the transit-induced LVU literature in several ways. First, we account for the space-time influence of recent comparable sales in price determination, a transaction data-generating process often excluded in hedonic studies. Second, our models reveal the disaggregate effects of transit policies in different station areas and transit phases. Third, we provide a pre-LRT analysis in a car-dependent mid-sized urban area, which offers insight into speculative investment in TOD areas and/or resident anticipation of future accessibility benefits. The findings can provide guidance for value-capture programs and cost-benefit analysis for transit-oriented development in mid-sized cities. • Renewed interest in LRT in North America has heightened the need for assessing transit impacts on land-value uplift. • STDID models were applied for causal identification of transit-induced LVU in a mid-sized urban area. • Transit-induced LVU for single-family housing was found in the region after the funding was secured. • Heterogeneous effects across TOD areas and housing types suggest the necessity for disaggregate analyses to provide context-specific guidance. • This study sheds light on the spatial and temporal heterogeneity in transit impacts through quasi-experimental approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a passive transit accessibility model and showcases its applications to Brisbane, Australia, as a robust decision support tool for transport and urban planning. Active accessibility describes how easy it is for a person to reach essential activities such as work, education or shopping, while passive accessibility refers to the ease of an activity located in a given area being reached by potential users such as workers, students or shoppers. The passive accessibility measure can help determine the location of new activity centres where good transit access is essential to serve nearby communities. Two case studies are presented to demonstrate the application of the model. First, the model is used to examine the passive transit accessibility of major employment and commercial areas in Brisbane, Australia, to identify areas deemed in needs of transit service improvement. Second, the model is incorporated into the node–place modelling framework for assessment of potential transit oriented development (TOD). The node–place model offers a conceptual framework for evaluating the (re)development potential or enhancing the transit supply of station areas. The node–place model is used to classify 1186 analysis zones in Brisbane. The study identifies areas that have potential for transforming into TODs after improving transit accessibility or changing land use or development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Green Belt in England is probably the most longstanding and internationally recognised Urban Growth Boundary (UBG). However, developers, think tanks and academics often accuse UGB's of being the leading cause of the housing affordability problems around the world and articulate an alternative vision of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD). This paper, based upon a regional case study of the West Midlands and 74 interviews with planners and planning stakeholders, argues that the debate around TOD in the Green Belt needs to be more cognisant of regional geographical variation in public transport provision. Moreover, drawing upon the views of planners who play a key a role in allocating land for development, the paper underlines that decisions regarding TOD need to made strategically as reflecting the policy's purpose as a regional growth management policy. Reflecting on the broader academic literature, it highlights the need for greater strategic integration of transport and land-use planning alongside reviving strategic planning to evaluate various spatial blueprints for urban growth management. The paper has broader relevance to international debates about the feasibility and potential of TOD, especially in addressing housing affordability problems around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public agencies can take a leading role in catalyzing TOD by making land available to developers (selling or leasing land, potentially below market prices). In particular, park-and-ride areas that are publicly owned can be leveraged to support TOD uses, such as affordable housing, office space, small businesses, and mixed-use buildings given their convenient access to transit systems and often large land areas. However, few previous studies have discussed the use of publicly owned park-and-rides, which are an important component of publicly owned land, as a catalyst for TOD. To fill the gap in the literature and effectively support TOD planning, this research developed a multi-criteria prioritization tool to identify the most promising locations for TOD and tested it at three park-and-ride sites owned by the Washington State Department of Transportation. The tool was developed through the Delphi process, which is an effective and inexpensive approach to evaluate relevant indicators by synthesizing the opinions of experts from various backgrounds. Five categories with a total of 14 TOD indicators, including transit supportive land-use zoning, job accessibility, land price, land-use mix, and household income, were selected as measures of TOD suitability. The importance of these indicators varied with three different TOD scenarios: (1) emphasis on affordable housing, (2) emphasis on market-rate housing, and (3) emphasis on mixed-use development. Using the calculated suitability scores, this tool can prioritize potential TOD sites for further review. • This paper aims to demonstrate the idea of catalyzing TOD in a market economy by using publicly owned land. • A multi-criteria prioritization tool is developed to identify the most promising park-and-ride sites for TOD planning. • A Delphi study produces 14 key indicators (e.g., transit supportive zoning, job accessibility) to measure TOD suitability. • The indicators' importance varies across the TOD scenarios, resulting in different TOD suitability levels for the same site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to deal with severe traffic and environmental issues, transit-oriented development (TOD) has been encouraged in China. Land-based value capture strategies have been applied, with varying degrees of success, as a way of co-financing TOD investments. Often, these strategies are based on innovative, but informal planning and land management practices which help to bypass institutional barriersto the effective use of land-based value capture mechanism. This paper aims to identify the interaction between the institutional context and land-based value capture mechanisms for TOD in China and discusses potential ways to deal with those informal practices based on both empirical evidence from successful cases in some Chinese cities and international practices. The findings from literature review, expert interviews, a focus group meeting and three case studies highlight several insights: 1) the effectiveness of land-based value capture for TOD in China is constrained by unsupportive planning, rigid financial regulation, and inefficient governance; 2) informal planning strategies, including the "rail plus property strategy", the "two-step bidding strategy" and the "land reserve strategy" have been experimentally applied to bypass these barriers; and 3) evidence from international TOD policies on the one hand and the institutionalization of experimental planning strategies on the other hand suggests some options how China could move forward in this matter. • Three types of institutional barriers to value capture prevent effective TOD strategies in China. • Informal strategies have been taken by several Chinese cities as a way to bypass current regulation. • Supportive policies, planning experiments, and land value taxation are suggested as three institutional innovations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transit-friendly development has recently become a popular strategy to increase transit mode share in the United States. Many policies and programs have been proposed and implemented across the country to increase residential and job densities, walkability, and mixed-use development around major transit stations in order to encourage transit ridership. Using data from all rail transit stations across the United States, this paper presents an analysis of commute mode share for people who live within walking distance to rail transit with regard to the urban form at both neighborhood and regional levels. This study provides additional evidence to better understand how transit accessibility and urban design jointly aim to encourage transit use and reduce driving in rail stations areas across the U.S. and thus cope with ever-growing traffic congestion in urban areas. It is one of the first analyses to examine the relationships between urban form measured at both local/neighborhood and metropolitan levels and the commuting mode share across major transit station areas nationwide. It utilizes a Seemingly Unrelated Regression modeling method (SUR) -which is based on generalized least squares (GLS)- and estimates three primary modes of auto, transit, and walk/bike. Findings suggest that urban form at both station area (local effect) and at the whole metropolitan area (regional effect) influences commuting patterns. Factors such as population and employment densities, walkability, and transit accessibility at both local and regional levels are significantly associated with commute mode share. Job accessibility via transit in the entire region (measured by the number of jobs located within 45 min from a transit stop) is another important factor encouraging transit ridership for every-day commuting trips. • The relationships between urban form at various scales on commuting mode share is analyzed. • Seemingly Unrelated Regression Modeling method (SURE) is utilized to estimate three primary modes of auto, transit, and walk/bike. • It examine how urban form measured at both local/neighborhood and metropolitan levels impacts the commuting mode share across major transit station areas nationwide. • Provides additional evidence on how transit-friendly design could help reduce automobile use and promote the more sustainable travel modes such as transit and walking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In his essay On the Psychic Mechanism of Forgetfulness Freud assigns the later described as »parapraxis«mental performance in the theoretical framework, which he had previously developed from the analysis of mental disorders. He extends the scope of his reflections into the sphere of normal psychic functioning. In 1898, Freud is busy preparing The Interpretation of Dreams, a work in which he opens up a first basic look into the construction of the psychic apparatus and the basic rules of its functioning. His identification with Luca Signorelli as the artist, who has created a great work of art formative for the future, and the considerable fear of annihilation that came to life in Freud in this situation, and which express themselves in the pictorial programme of the Orvieto Cathedral, are discussed in the present examination. The self-portrait of himself and Fra Angelico, which Signorelli has inserted in a prominent place of the work of art, direct Freud's identification and his confrontation with the loss of his colleague and friend Josef Breuer at the latest after the publication of the Studies on Hysteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is a response to Heather Walton's IAPT presidential address titled "A Theopoetics of Practice – Re-forming in Practical Theology." Practices examined in this article are rituals and caring related to death and dying in literature. By making use of Ronald Grimes' so-called fictive ritual the portrayal of rituals and caring in novels by the Afrikaans novelist Karel Schoeman are examined. As a response to Walton's address, a theopoetics is developed from the ars moriendi in the work of Schoeman. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Forensic sciences are a highly diverse field and in particular deal with cases in which, according to statements made by the public prosecution, affected personś causes of death remain unexplained. Within this sovereign task, forensic toxicology plays an important role. While using sophisticated instrumental analytics, forensic toxicology investigates whether a toxicological influence existed prior to death. In this study, two representative case reports are presented which outline the different approaches followed in the field of forensic toxicology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spatial disintegration of transit systems and land development is a vital challenge to the effectiveness of transit-oriented development policies. While transit land use integration and disintegration has received much research interest, conclusions remain mixed. This paper aims to clarify this area, using the large city of Beijing, China, as a case study. It evaluates whether and how Beijing’s land and metro developments have disintegrated according to the basic principles of the Alonso-Muth-Mills model. A before-and-after approach is applied during a period of rapid transit development: 2008–2015. The results show that metro development, generally, was not clearly integrated with land use. Although newly transferred land parcels were geographically concentrated around metro stations, land use types and the degree of land intensification were unrelated to metro development; rather, the road system had a greater influence on these aspects. In addition, metro development led to more fragmented land use in the core areas (<1.5 km) of metro stations than in the fringe areas (1.5–3 km away). This situation was mainly caused by institutional barriers to land-metro integration, such as revenue-oriented land development, the remaining centrally planned system of infrastructure investment, improper urban planning, and the fragmentation of development management that has occurred following China’s political decentralization and marketization. Improving the integration of transit and land development will be difficult unless further reforms and institutional capacity-building are achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transit oriented development (TOD) has been an important topic for urban transportation planning research and practice. This paper is aimed at empirically examining the effect of rail transit station-based TOD on daily station passenger volume. Using integrated circuit (IC) card data on metro passenger volumes and cellular signaling data on the spatial distribution of human activities in Shanghai, the research identifies variations in ridership among rail transit stations. Then, regression analysis is performed using passenger volume in each station as the dependent variable. Explanatory variables include station area employment and population, residents’ commuting distances, metro network accessibility, status as interchange station, and coupling with commercial activity centers. The main findings are: (1) Passenger volume is positively associated with employment density and residents’ commuting distance around station; (2) stations with earlier opening dates and serving as transfer nodes tend to have positive association with passenger volumes; (3) metro stations better integrated with nearby commercial development tend to have larger passenger volumes. Several implications are drawn for TOD planning: (1) TOD planning should be integrated with rail transit network planning; (2) location of metro stations should be coupled with commercial development; (3) high employment densities should be especially encouraged as a key TOD feature; and (4) interchange stations should be more strategically positioned in the planning for rail transit network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable development is regarded as a pivotal factor for smart urban planning. Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) is a well-known land use transportation integration (LUTI) planning method, which can fulfill sustainable development objectives. In this study, a new spatial index is developed to measure TOD levels in neighborhoods of Tehran, the capital of Iran. To develop the TOD index, several criteria and indicators are first computed using spatial analyses, before being aggregated using a fuzzy-analytic hierarchy process (fuzzy-AHP). The fuzzy-AHP method generates three types of factor maps: that are optimistic, pessimistic, and moderate. This process evaluates the sensitivity of the TOD index by determining the indicators' weights from various views, or perspectives. The results of this sensitivity analysis show the robustness of results from various views. Furthermore, in order to assess the efficiency of the proposed method, the moderate TOD-level map is compared with both the level of public transit services and trip attraction in neighborhoods. This comparison shows that the TOD map has an accuracy of 77 percent in urban modeling, which verifies the efficiency of the proposed method for measuring TOD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing pace of urbanization has given rise to numerous challenges in urban areas, including limited land resources, severe traffic congestion, and environmental degradation. To address these issues, Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) has been identified as an effective strategy for promoting sustainable urban development by enhancing the link between transportation and land use. This study explores the nonlinear relationship between public-transport accessibility and urban development from the perspective of mountainous cities, using Chongqing, China as a case study. The gradient-boosting decision tree (GBDT) is employed to analyze nonlinear effects via big data and open data. The results of the study reveal that metro and street accessibility significantly impact urban development in Chongqing, while the effects of the central-business-district (CBD) and bus transportation are weaker compared to plain cities. Four metro stations in Chongqing are selected to examine the local effects of public-transport accessibility on urban development. This research sheds light on the accessibility and urban-development issues in mountainous cities, considering the influence of topographical factors. • Accessibility indicators affecting urban development are identified. • Public transportation accessibility has a non-linear effect on urban development. • Buses and CBD effects in mountainous cities differ from those in plain cities. • TOD strategies and recommendations for urban development are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From a sociopolitical aspect there is increasing interest in the quality of healthcare. In this context valid, reproducible, comparable and risk-adjustable markers that are easily identified have become crucial for consistent documentation of quality. We recommend MTL30 (mortality, transfer, length of stay) as one of these markers to consistently measure the quality of large visceral surgical interventions. The MTL30 subsumes a number of known markers that may help to predict postoperative complications. The MTL30 is considered to be fulfilled when a patient on the 30th day following surgery, a) has died b) is still in the hospital or c) has been transferred to another acute care hospital. The evaluation of the StuDoQ register of the German Society for General and Visceral Surgery (DGAV) shows that MTL30 occurs significantly more often than any of the individual parameters. The correlation between MTL30 and other patient-specific risk factors, e.g. American Society of Anesthesiologists classification (ASA), age, etc. enables a risk adjustment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tramways have made a remarkable comeback in France since the 1980s. An organization of public transport based on the decentralized administration system set up in the early 1980s has allowed local urban authorities to make their own choices to develop public transport networks in the context of automobile domination. As in many other countries, worries about fossil fuel dependency and demands concerning sustainable urban development appear as strong elements in favour of urban light rail. However, in France, tramways are not just technical solutions for traffic congestion, they have also become a symbol of a cultural mutation in urban development planning. Coupled with a national political push for a more inclusive city in social terms, tramways are the backbone of contemporary urban policies, in a French version of transit-oriented development (TOD), especially for mid-size cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gregory of Tours, the most important writer in 6th-century Gaul, demonstrates within his Ten Books a clear understanding both of the bishop's office and of dying, death and afterlife. In the tradition of the Bible and the patristics, especially Ambrose and Augustine, Gregory uses descriptions of death, especially cases of episcopal death, to underline his point of view. Furthermore, Gregory uses concepts of a "good" and a "bad" death to stress the bishop's position compared to other groups like the Merovingian kings. The Ten Books present almost 100 descriptions of episcopal death, examples of "good", "bad", also "realistic" cases of death, but no orthodox bishop, according to Gregory's own evaluation, dies a "bad", a cruel or unworthy death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]