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This article examines the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the labor market in Germany. It raises concerns about job displacement and wealth disparities, comparing the situation to the historical "Engels' pause" during the Industrial Revolution. While Germany has not yet seen significant wealth inequalities due to AI, there is evidence of an AI-induced Engels' pause, with digital skills becoming increasingly important and AI adoption in the workplace increasing. The article also discusses the challenges faced by migrant workers, power imbalances, and Germany's regulatory approach to AI in the workplace. It highlights the upcoming EU Platform Work Directive and the differing interests of employers' organizations and trade unions in governing AI-driven tools. The potential impacts of AI on labor markets, including inequality and precarious work, are also explored. The article concludes by emphasizing the need for strong policy interventions to address socioeconomic challenges and promote fairness and inclusion in the digitalized world of work. [Extracted from the article]

We study the run on the German banking system in 1931 to understand whether depositors anticipate which banks will fail in a major financial crisis. We find that deposits decline by around 20% during the run. There is an equal outflow of retail and nonfinancial wholesale deposits from both failing and surviving banks. In contrast, we find that interbank deposits almost exclusively decline for failing banks. Our evidence suggests that banks are better informed about which fellow banks will fail. In turn, banks being informed allows the interbank market to continue providing liquidity even during times of severe financial distress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Ankle sprains are a common injury in sports, for which use of external ankle support during rehabilitation has been suggested to improve clinical outcomes. Design: Cohort study. Methods: Thirteen soccer players experiencing acute lateral ankle sprain injury were provided a novel adaptive ankle brace or conventional ankle taping (control) as external ankle support throughout the injury rehabilitation process. All other clinical procedures were identical, and rehabilitation was supervised by the same team staff member. Time from injury to clearance to return to sport was tracked. Player experience with the ankle brace also was queried via electronic surveys. Results: The median time to return to sport was less for the Brace group (52.5 d) compared to the Control group (79.5 d), but the distributions of the 2 groups were not found to differ significantly (P =.109). Player surveys indicated they felt the brace to be comfortable or very comfortable, with better freedom of movement than other braces and the same freedom of movement as wearing no brace. All players reported wearing the brace to be the same or better experience as ankle taping. Discussion: These preliminary results indicate that the adaptive ankle brace is at least as effective as ankle taping for providing external support during the rehabilitation phase following acute lateral ankle sprain and suggest it may be a more effective ankle support solution in terms of patient compliance than conventional bracing or taping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extensive use of external thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS) using expanded polystyrene (EPS) for building insulation in Germany has resulted in accumulating end-of-life EPS-ETICS. To address limited waste management options and enhance EPS circularity, alternative recycling options like pyrolysis or solvent-based recycling need to be implemented. However, efficient recycling requires ex-ante analyses of the corresponding reverse logistics networks, including all necessary pre-treatment and transport processes. This study aims to develop a decision support system to determine optimal EPS-ETICS waste management by minimising the net present value of the corresponding network design. Our mixed-integer linear optimisation model considers decisions on technology, capacity, and location for pre-processing and recycling facilities as well as on material flow allocation. Applied to a German case study, our model finds pyrolysis and solvent-based recycling economically superior to current waste treatment in waste incineration plants. We present an optimal network design combining central pyrolysis with decentral pre-processing. A scenario analysis shows fluctuating styrene and polystyrene prices might favour solvent-based recycling over the optimal choice in pyrolysis, with minor overall cost differences. Further, legal recycling quotas of at least 40% would be necessary to promote solvent-based recycling and enhance EPS circularity beyond what is achievable through pyrolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic led to restrictions in production worldwide. Numerous firms were affected and unable to keep up production due to lockdowns. In disruptive events like this, the resilience of the production system is of central importance, as the survivability of the entire firm depends on it. In this context, the literature argues that cutting-edge technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), raise the proactive and reactive capabilities of firms, enabling them to better resist and recover from disruptive events and thus, show a higher resilience. This paper takes up this topic and observes the Covid-19 pandemic with the aim to analyse whether a firm's AI-readiness had an impact on its production resilience during the spring 2020 lockdown in Germany. For this purpose, we combine two large-scale surveys containing data from 237 manufacturers in Germany and test hypotheses based on quantitative analyses. Our results show that firms could indeed benefit from AI-enabled production during the lockdown. However, it is also clear that manufacturers have to exceed a certain AI threshold to significantly increase their resilient capabilities and realise positive effects. Our findings not only hold implications for research, but also provide recommendations for the resilience management of manufacturers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compare the standard Yo-Yo intermittent recovery (IR) test and an agility Yo-Yo IR test with a higher number of change-of-direction movements to cardiorespiratory match performance. Methods: The study included 11 professional male handball players (age 24.5 [4.6] y) of a German second-league team. The performance parameters of the players of the seasons 2016–17 to 2018–19 were analyzed. The Yo-Yo IR test was compared to a Yo-Yo IR test with multiple multidirectional changes of direction in response to visual stimuli, which was conducted on a SpeedCourt (Yo-Yo SC IR). Peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) and maximum heart rate (HRmax) were measured. Between-methods differences of individual athletes were quantified with Bland–Altman plots. Results: HRmax was not statistically different during the Yo-Yo SC IR test compared to the Yo-Yo IR test (181 [10] vs 188 [8] beats·min−1; P =.16). Agreement between the 2 tests was moderate for HRmax and good for heart rates >180 beats·min−1. Mean average VO2peak was 51.7 (3.9) and 50.9 (2.8) mL·min–1·kg–1 for the Yo-Yo SC IR test and the Yo-Yo IR test (P =.693), respectively. Conclusions: A Yo-Yo test with multidirectional changes of direction in response to visual stimuli yielded good agreement with the frequently used linear running tests and can be used to assess players' VO2peak. The HRmax achieved during this test should be used with caution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of wearables in the workplace allows for close monitoring of work processes and might also have consequences for work content and skill requirements. Past research has emphasized the detrimental effects of wearables, particularly those caused by the standardization of work and monitoring of workers. By contrast, this study asks under what conditions the implementation of wearables as part of digital assistance systems is beneficial for workers. Based on recent contributions in the field of labor process theory, this study analyzes the implementation of new technologies using the concepts of the regulatory regime, organizational first-order factors, and workplace second-order choices. The analysis is based on findings from 48 interviews with 83 interviewees in 16 German manufacturing workplaces along with making site visits. It examines the implementation of wearables and the impacts on work content, skills, working conditions, and employment. Besides showing how labor agency affects the implementation of new technologies, the particular contribution of this study lies in analyzing the differences in the implementation of wearables in capital- and labor-intensive organizations. While standardization of work and reduction of work content prevailed in labor-intensive processes, capital-intensive processes were most often characterized by the extension of skill requirements and the risk of work intensification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we analyze the subjective inclusion experiences of visually impaired (VI) adult tennis players from an ableism-critical perspective. The primary focus of this research is the inclusive potential of blind tennis from the perspective of VI individuals. Episodic interviews were conducted to capture subjective perspectives. A qualitative text analysis revealed that the interviewees were confronted with multiple ability assumptions by sighted people in their everyday lives. Deficit notions on the performance of VI people included sports, work, and general activities. Participation in blind tennis helped the interviewees build a "competent identity" and acquire various skills useful for their everyday lives as participation in blind tennis was a pathway for competence in sports. Further research is needed to identify exclusion experiences from the perspective of disabled people to recognize the potential of different sports in reducing barriers to participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores how selective default expectations affect the pricing of sovereign bonds in a historical laboratory: the German default of the 1930s. We analyze yield differentials between identical government bonds traded across various creditor countries before and after bond market segmentation. We show that, when secondary debt markets are segmented, a large selective default probability can be priced in bond yield spreads. Selective default risk accounted for one-third of the yield spread of German external bonds over the risk-free rate during the 1930s. Selective default expectations arose from differences in the creditor countries' economic power over the debtor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of regenerative treatment of intrabony defects in combination with consecutive orthodontic therapy with clear aligners in stage IV (type 2) periodontitis. Method and materials: Ten patients with a total of 103 intrabony defects were analyzed after regenerative surgery using collagen-deproteinized bovine bone mineral with or without collagen membrane or enamel matrix derivative followed by orthodontic therapy with clear aligners. Changes in radiographic bone level and probing pocket depths were evaluated after 1 year (T1) and at final splinting (T2) after orthodontic tooth movement. Results: Mean radiographic bone level gain was significant, with 2.13 ± 1.64 mm at T1 and 3.02 ± 2.00 mm at T2. Mean probing pocket depth was significantly reduced from 5.40 ± 1.80 mm at baseline to 3.78 ± 1.73 mm at T1, and remained stable with 3.73 ± 1.70 mm at T2. Pocket closure (≤ 4 mm probing pocket depth) was accomplished in 76% of all defects. Tooth loss amounted to 2.9%. Conclusion: Within the limitations of the retrospective study design, the findings suggest that the interdisciplinary treatment of periodontitis stage IV by regenerative periodontal surgery and consecutive orthodontic therapy with clear aligners can lead to favorable results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The business case constitutes an important instrumental motive for corporate social responsibility (CSR), but its relationship with other moral and relational motives remains controversial. In this article, we examine the articulation of motives for CSR among different stakeholders in Germany historically. On the basis of reports of German business associations, state agencies, unions, and nongovernmental organizations from 1970 to 2014, we show how the business case came to be a dominant motive for CSR by acting as a coalition magnet: the vocabulary was used strategically by key policy entrepreneurs, while being ambiguous for flexible interpretations by different stakeholders, and thereby growing in attractiveness. As a resulting discourse coalition emerged among business, state, and civil society actors, the moral and relational motives for CSR became increasingly marginalized. The article offers a new approach to studying motives and contributes to understanding the complementary or competing nature of different motives for CSR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Critics opine that full expensing of research and development (R&D) depresses near-term profits and incentivizes myopic managers to under-invest in R&D, compromising firm efficiency. Advocates of the expensing rule argue that little rigorous research evidence supports the claimed adverse consequences. We examine the impact of the R&D expensing rule on firm efficiency by exploiting an exogenous shock: a shift in the accounting regime in Germany from full expensing to partial capitalization of R&D when it mandated International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) adoption in 2005. We employ Stochastic Frontier Analysis and Data Envelopment Analysis to estimate efficiency for the same German firms before and after the IFRS adoption. We find robust evidence of efficiency improvement in the post-period relative to the pre-period for German R&D firms that report R&D expenditures, and for both early adopters and timely adopters. We also document that financially constrained firms and firms experiencing rapid R&D growth prior to the IFRS adoption show greater efficiency improvement. Moreover, we conduct three falsification tests to make sure our results are not attributable to other accounting changes associated with the IFRS adoption, and find no efficiency improvement for the three control groups (German "no-R&D" sample, U.K. firms, and Australian firms), respectively. We conclude that the change in the R&D reporting rule is the likely catalyst for improvements in efficiency of German R&D firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As organizations strive for more flexibility, decentralized decision‐making has been at the core of many modern HR approaches. Yet, on a company‐wide scale, it remains unclear whether decentralized decision‐making structures improve organizational performance. Our study aims to illuminate prior ambiguous evidence by examining an employee‐level mechanism underlying the organizational‐level relationship between decentralization and performance, and scrutinizing the critical role of formal leaders for empowering employees in decentralized structures. Integrating the perspective of organizational structure as opportunities and constraints with social information processing theory, we argue that transferring decision‐making authority to lower organizational levels positively affects employees' emergent leadership, but only to the extent that direct supervisors engage in empowering leadership and guide employees' behaviors in decentralized structures. Our predictions are supported by a multilevel, multisource field study of 5807 individuals across 144 companies. We further find that emergent leadership yields a positive effect on organizational performance. By developing a multilevel model that explicates both an employee‐level mechanism and a contingency of the decentralization–organizational performance link, our study enriches understanding of the key role that formal leaders play for achieving the strategic goals of decentralized decision‐making in organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By employing a dynamic model with two limit order books, we show that fragmentation is associated with reduced competition among liquidity suppliers and lower picking-off risk of limit orders. Due to these countervailing channels, the impact of fragmentation on liquidity and welfare differs with asset volatility: When volatility is high (low), liquidity and aggregate welfare in a fragmented market are higher (lower) than in a single market. However, fragmentation always shifts welfare away from agents with exogenous trading motives and toward intermediaries. We empirically corroborate our model's predictions about liquidity. Our model reconciles the mixed results in the empirical literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent developments in communication technology and changes in people's communication habits facilitate new data collection forms in web surveys. Technical devices, such as computers, tablets, and smartphones, enable researchers to rethink established communication forms and add a human touch to web surveys. Designing web surveys more human-like has the great potential to make communication between researchers and respondents more natural, which may result in higher survey satisfaction and data quality. Considering the existing survey literature, there are only a few studies investigating respondents' willingness for new communication forms in web surveys. Hence, in the present study, we explore respondents' willingness to take part in web surveys to have interviewers read questions via pre-recorded videos (question delivery) and in which respondents provide their answers orally via self-recorded videos (question answering). We included two willingness questions – one on question delivery via pre-recorded videos and one on question answering via self-recorded videos – in the non-probability SoSci panel in Germany. The results reveal that respondents' willingness to have questions read by interviewers is higher than their willingness to self-record video answers. Believing that technology facilitates communication and perceiving the survey as being interesting increases willingness, whereas evaluating the survey topic as sensitive decreases willingness. Personality traits do not play a role when it comes to respondents' willingness, except for extraversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Academy of Management Learning & Education is the property of Academy of Management and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Several studies have found that individuals with a partner were less physically active than those without. To better understand the reasons for this association, we examine whether the existence of a relationship or the current presence of a partner influences physical activity (PA). Methods: We use data from the most recent German Time Use Survey 2012/13 to examine leisure-time PA. All leisure-time activities reported in the time diaries are classified according to their metabolic equivalent of task (MET) to calculate the mean MET scores. First, we use ordinary least square regressions and logistic regressions to examine the effects of living together with a partner or not on mean daily MET scores and on exercise. Second, we apply person-day fixed effects models to estimate the impact of current partner presence on current PA levels. Results: Having a partner is negatively associated with exercising but is not correlated with mean leisure-time MET scores for both women and men. For those with a partner, current MET levels are substantially lower when the partner is present than when the partner is absent. When partners spend leisure-time activities apart, their MET levels are higher than those of individuals without a partner. Conclusions: The results suggest that it is not the mere existence of a romantic relationship but the current copresence with a partner that affects PA behavior. Therefore, interventions to increase PA may be promising if they can encourage couples to be active together. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this study was to extend the contemporary athlete activism literature by (a) exploring athlete activism beyond a strictly North American context and (b) examining how athlete activism at an organizational/institutional level (i.e., sport organization) may be framed differently than activist efforts at an individual level (i.e., athlete). By examining two examples of activism in German soccer, we show that the framing of both athlete-enacted and organization-enacted examples of activism highlighted the importance of speaking up when human rights are violated, called for the display of solidarity, and discussed the broader political implications for such protests. Additionally, framing of both examples of activism included voices of criticism regarding the sport organizations governing global sport. As calls for accountability of sport organizations suppressing athlete expression are becoming increasingly common in global sport, this study adds to a shifting focus of activism research targeting the sport institutions that often perpetuate the various injustices individual athletes call attention to. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mutual funds often invest in other funds. In this paper, we analyze the economics behind such cross-fund investments and investigate their financial stability implications. Using granular data for the German fund sector, our main findings are that cross-fund investments (a) are becoming increasingly important over time, (b) were heavily liquidated during March 2020, and (c) display measurable contagion effects. Overall, cross-fund investments can elevate structural fund sector vulnerabilities. Authors have furnished an Internet Appendix , which is available on the Oxford University Press Web site next to the link to the final published paper online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using regulatory data, we study German bank lending in countries targeted by financial sanctions. We find that domestic banks in Germany reduce lending in sanctioned countries, whereas their foreign bank affiliates outside Germany increase lending. In some cases, this is because the bank affiliates' host countries have not imposed sanctions themselves. However, even German bank affiliates in host countries that enact sanctions like Germany increase lending if these host countries lack strong institutions and anticrime policies. These findings suggest that even universally adopted sanctions distort bank capital flows and competition if the level of their enforcement varies across bank locations. Authors have furnished an Internet Appendix , which is available on the Oxford University Press Web site next to the link to the final published paper online [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How do media discourses on German national identity differ before and after the arrival of refugees in 2015/16? National identity discourses are often closely linked to immigration dynamics, inter alia due to boundary making through the othering of immigrants. While this relation is well documented in the case of Germany, scholars have yet to study how the arrival of refugees in 2015/16 has been integrated in discourses on national identity in more detail. In this paper, we conduct an inductive qualitative content analysis of Die ZEIT, Süddeutsche Zeitung and Bild am Sonntag in 2014 and 2019 and find an important shift within the media representation of German national identity. While in 2014, a self-understanding of Germany as an immigration country dominated the media landscape, by 2019, national identity discourses became more fragmented and neither the idea of a tolerant Germany nor the idea of an anti-immigration Germany clearly dominated. Based on this analysis, we argue that 2015/16 can be understood as a turning point for discourses on German national identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following implementation of a national prevention program against iodine deficiency-related disorders in 1993 in Germany, the prevalence of thyroid disorders declined, but aggregated drug dispensation data suggested a recent increase in thyroid hormone use. We aimed to systematically investigate trends in the use of thyroid diagnostic and treatment measures between 2008 and 2019 in Germany. Using the GePaRD database (claims data from ~ 20% of the German population), we determined the annual age-specific and age-standardized prevalence of the use of thyroid diagnostics (thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) measurement, thyroid ultrasound, scintiscan, biopsy) and treatment (medication, surgery, radioiodine therapy) from 2008 to 2019 stratified by sex. Between 2008 and 2019, the age-standardized prevalence of TSH measurement increased by 44% in males (from 165 to 238 per 1,000 persons) and by 31% in females (from 134 to 176 per 1,000). The prevalence of thyroid ultrasound use showed no clear time trend, while there was a decrease in the prevalence of scintiscan use (males/females: decrease by 42/43%) and biopsy (males/females: decrease by 42/34%). The prevalence of levothyroxine use increased by ~ 31% both in males (from 36 to 47 per 1,000) and females (from 134 to 175 per 1,000), while the prevalence of thionamide use, iodine use, thyroidectomy, and radioiodine therapy decreased. Our study suggests a continued decline in the prevalence of clinically significant thyroid disorders between 2008 and 2019. The substantial increase in the prevalence of TSH measurement and levothyroxine use during this time period might indicate overuse of diagnostics and overtreatment, warranting further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sociolinguistics has seen an emergence of new theoretical perspectives that somehow cater for the, according to Li, 'complex linguistic realities of the twenty-first century' (2017, p.14). Thus 'overwriting' conventional ways of understanding language/language use and its relation to identity construction. Taking these changes as a starting point, this paper expands research into complex identity construction of students attending a complementary language school and investigation of linguistic repertoires of German language learners through language portrait work. The motivation for the research presented in this paper is to explore the relationship between linguistic repertoires and complex identities of young people attending a complementary language school in a multilingual city. It suggests an organic approach to investigating the relationship between young people as social beings, that are more than 'just' language learners per se, and the ways they use organic linguistic repertoires (OLRs) to construct their complex linguistic identities. The findings presented in this paper highlight the complexities of young people's identities in relation to their OLR. The term OLR points towards the dynamic nature of 'languages'. Although these terms point toward a dynamic understanding of language and identity the term OLR seems to foreground the changing nature of these, pointing toward their 'aliveness'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports findings from an exploratory study on multilingual speakers conducted in Germany. Data were collected using a questionnaire instrument launched in 2021. To our knowledge, this is the first enquiry into multilinguals' own perception of their spoken languages in Germany. The core research questions addressed in this paper are (1) whether some languages are perceived as more valuable or prestigious than others by their speakers and (2) whether speakers of certain languages experience discrimination more often than speakers of other languages. In the data exploration it was assumed that (a) all languages other than English, French, Italian, and Spanish (besides Latin the standard foreign languages in schools) will be valued 'lower'; and (b) speakers will report experiences of discrimination with respect to their use of those languages other than German or the foreign languages mentioned above. The results indeed demonstrate differences in the perceived value and prestige of certain languages. Multivariate statistical analyses indicate that L1 speakers of languages with perceived lower value (e.g. Turkish) experience discrimination significantly more often than L1 speakers of other home languages (e.g. English). Additionally, qualitative data analyses exemplify levels of discrimination and lived experience of languages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To analyse porcine Pasteurella multocida isolates obtained from the national resistance monitoring program GE RM -Vet 2008–2021 in Germany for phenotypic and genotypic macrolide resistance. Methods The antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolates was determined by broth microdilution according to CLSI standards. Closed genomes were obtained by WGS via Illumina MiSeq and MinION platforms followed by a hybrid assembly. Results Of 1114 porcine P. multocida isolates, only four isolates (0.36%), one each from 2008, 2010, 2019 and 2021, exhibited resistance to at least one macrolide tested. The isolate from 2010 was only resistant to erythromycin and WGS analysis neither revealed a macrolide resistance gene nor a macrolide resistance-mediating mutation. The isolates from 2008 and 2019 were resistant to erythromycin, tilmicosin, tildipirosin, tulathromycin and gamithromycin and showed either only the A2058G mutation in all six 23S rRNA operons or the chromosomally located macrolide resistance genes msr (E) and mph (E), respectively. The isolate from 2021 was resistant to erythromycin, tulathromycin, gamithromycin and tylosin and carried a novel integrative and conjugative element of 64 966 bp, designated Tn 7730 , in its chromosomal DNA. It harboured the macrolide resistance genes mef (C), mph (G) and estT , the lincosamide resistance gene lnu (H), and the tetracycline resistance gene tet (Y), the last two were detected for the first time in P. multocida. Conclusion Macrolide resistance in German porcine P. multocida can be due to resistance-mediating mutations or resistance genes. The presence of the novel Tn 7730 carrying three different macrolide resistance genes is alarming and should be monitored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this study was to identify the most responsive foot position for detection of isolated unstable syndesmotic injury. Methods: Fourteen paired human cadaveric lower legs were positioned in a pressure-controlled radiolucent frame and loaded under 700 N. Computed tomography scans were performed in neutral position, 15° internal / external rotation, and 20° dorsal / plantar flexion of the foot before and after cutting all syndesmotic ligaments. For each position, generated 3D models of the intact and injured distal tibiofibular joints were matched and analyzed by calculating three parameters: diastasis, anteroposterior displacement, and shortening of the fibula. Results: Transection of syndesmotic ligaments resulted in significant posterior translation of the fibula (4.34°, SD 1.63°, p < 0.01) compared to uninjured state for external rotation, significant anterior translation (-2.08°, SD 1.65°, p < 0.01) for internal rotation, and significant posterior translation (1.32°, SD 1.16°, p = 0.01) for dorsiflexion. Furthermore, the syndesmotic injury led to significantly increased clear space (0.46 mm, SD 0.46 mm, p = 0.03) in external rotation of the foot. Conclusion: External rotation of the foot under loading seems to be the most responsive position for detection of isolated syndesmotic instability. Under external rotational stress, anteroposterior instability and increased clear space resulting from a complete isolated unstable syndesmotic lesion were most evident. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The use of positron-emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) in radiation therapy (RT) has increased. Radiation oncologists (RadOncs) have access to PET/CT with a variety of tracers for different tumor entities and use it for target volume definition. The German Society of Nuclear Medicine (DGN) and the German Society of Radiation Oncology (DEGRO) aimed to identify current patterns of care in order to improve interdisciplinary collaboration. Methods: We created an online survey on participating RadOncs' use of PET tracers for different tumor entities and how they affect RT indication, dose prescription, and target volume definition. Further topics were reimbursement of PET/CT and organizational information (fixed timeslots and use of PET with an immobilization device [planning/RT-PET]). The survey contained 31 questions in German language (yes/no questions, multiple choice [MC] questions, multiple select [MS] questions, and free-text entry options). The survey was distributed twice via the DEGRO member mailing list. Results: During the survey period (May 22–August 7, 2023) a total of 156 RadOncs (13% of respondents) answered the survey. Among these, 59% reported access to diagnostic PET/CT within their organization/clinic and 24% have fixed timeslots for their patients. 37% of survey participants can perform RT-PET and 29% have the option of providing a dedicated RT technician for planning PET. Besides [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG; mainly used in lung cancer: 95%), diagnostic prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-PET/CT for RT of prostate cancer is routinely used by 44% of participants (by 64% in salvage RT). Use of amino acid PET in brain tumors and somatostatin receptor PET in meningioma is low (19 and 25%, respectively). Scans are reimbursed through private (75%) or compulsory (55%) health insurance or as part of indications approved by the German Joint Federal Committee (Gemeinsamer Bundesausschuss; 59%). 98% of RadOncs agree that PET impacts target volume definition and 62% think that it impacts RT dose prescription. Discussion: This is the first nationwide survey on the role of PET/CT for RT planning among RadOncs in Germany. We find high acceptance of PET results for treatment decisions and target volume definition. Planning PET comes with logistic challenges for different healthcare settings (e.g., private practices vs. university hospitals). The decision to request PET/CT is often based on the possibility of reimbursement. Conclusion: PET/CT has become an important tool for RadOncs, with several indications. However, access is still limited at several sites, especially for dedicated RT-PET. This study aims to improve interdisciplinary cooperation and adequate implementation of current guidelines for the treatment of various tumor entities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, several threatening developments regarding antibacterial drugs, such as rising bacterial resistance and delivery bottlenecks, have occurred. Since antibacterial drugs are crucial for modern medicine, understanding events and influencing factors relevant for long-term developments is essential. Therefore, we analyzed the number of prescriptions and costs, defined daily dose (DDD) and DDD costs of antibacterial drugs in Germany, based on the Arzneiverordnungsreport (AVR, Drug description report) between 1985 and 2022. Based on prescription rates in 2022, we selected the TOP15 and TOP5. For a more in-depth analysis, we analyzed data from the wissenschaftliches Institut der AOK (WidO, scientific institute of the AOK). The number of prescriptions increased between 1985 and 2013, but since 2014, there has been a declining trend with a noticeable COVID-related dip. Over the years, a shift in drug classes occurred. Once very popular drugs like penicillins and tetracyclines are no longer as important. Conversely, aminopenicillins and cephalosporins have become more relevant. Particularly, the TOP5 drugs have seen an increasing proportion. DDD costs have decreased in most substance classes over time. There is a strong association between decreasing costs and rising prescriptions. Falling costs have a stronger immediate impact on prescriptions that rising costs. When costs are very low, drugs might be prescribed excessively. Supply bottlenecks can also result. The main prescribers are mainly in primary care. Their share of prescription has changed little over the years, but is decreasing regarding total consumption. In comparison to other European countries, Germany ranks in the lower third regarding prescriptions. In most countries, the COVID pandemic has led to a reduced prescription of antibacterial drugs. In conclusion, we provided a comprehensive overview of the antibacterial drug market in Germany over the past four decades and identified costs as a major driver of antibacterial drug prescriptions. Increased costs may reduce uncritical prescription of antibacterial drugs, development of bacterial resistance, supply shortages and occurrence of adverse effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Organizational diversity training is designed to enhance employees' skills and competencies regarding diversity and its management. The question of its effectiveness, and the conditions under which it thrives, remains a matter of debate. Unlike previous studies that have predominantly focused on the perspective of training participants, this study shifts the lens to the viewpoints of diversity training providers in Germany – a country where the formal requirement for diversity management was implemented relatively recently. The primary objective is to ascertain the critical factors influencing training effectiveness from the providers' perspective. Design/methodology/approach: This research draws upon case studies based on document analysis and qualitative interviews with diversity training providers across Germany. Findings: The investigation reveals that the effectiveness of diversity training, as perceived by providers, hinges on several key factors: the organizational environment (including the widespread recognition of diversity issues and the presence of an organizational diversity framework), the attributes of diversity trainers (notably their personal familiarity with diversity) and the setting and design of the training (such as venue, duration and a blend of instructional approaches). A notable barrier to achieving effective training outcomes is the lack of supportive conditions within client companies, exemplified by limited training budgets, which impedes the accurate assessment of training effectiveness. Originality/value: This study marks a novel contribution to the field by explicitly focusing on the perspective of diversity training providers in Germany. It provides new insights into the importance of the organizational context surrounding diversity education within the private sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of FinanzRundschau is the property of De Gruyter and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objectives: Prescriptive views of aging (PVoA) are normative age-based expectations about age-appropriate behavior for older adults, e.g. that they should stay fit/active (active aging norms) but also behave altruistically toward younger generations (altruistic disengagement norms). We aimed at examining age differences in endorsement of active aging and altruistic disengagement and investigated predictors of endorsement. Method: In the AGEISM Germany survey, a representative sample of N = 1,915 German participants was recruited, covering a wide age range (Mage=56.57 years, 16-96 years). Cross-sectional data was collected via computer-assisted telephone interviews. Results: Active aging was more strongly endorsed than altruistic disengagement. Endorsement of both PVoA was higher in older age groups – even more pronounced for altruistic disengagement. Endorsement of both norms was positively associated with positive age stereotypes. Furthermore, active aging was predicted by age centrality whereas altruistic disengagement was predicted by negative age stereotypes. Age was still a robust predictor of PVoA even after entering additional predictors. Conclusion: Although associated, prescriptive age norms (i.e. beliefs how older people should behave) and descriptive age norms (i.e. beliefs about how older adults and the aging process are like) represent partly independent belief systems, highlighting the importance to assess & further investigate predictors and consequences of PVoA, which become more prevalent with age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyzed 3,081 invasive and noninvasive Streptococcus pyogenes cases (January 2005-December 2023) at a tertiary care hospital in southwest Germany. Absolute numbers of case-patients increased each year from 2005 until the COVID-19 pandemic. Odds ratios for invasive streptococcal disease were significantly influenced by year, male sex, and older age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyzes how a preexisting far-right social movement organization responded to the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on the case of the Patriotic Europeans against the Islamization of the Occident (PEGIDA) in Germany. We show that PEGIDA quickly adapted its previous immigration-related collective action frame, now predominantly portraying itself as a defender of democracy, constitutionality, and civil rights, while accusing the German government of installing a 'Corona dictatorship'. In addition to improving our understanding of the development of a key far-right social movement organization during the pandemic, our article contributes to the study of far-right ideology more broadly. Examining a critical case of far-right activism, our analysis of PEGIDA underscores the need to review the conventional scholarly distinction between radical and extreme right ideology based on formal pro- and anti-democracy stances. While claiming to espouse the idea of democracy, activists sharply attacked democratic institutions and their main representatives as 'totalitarian' or 'dictatorial' – a key extremist feature of contemporary far-right discourse particularly visible during the pandemic. Indeed, PEGIDA's discursive shift during the pandemic seems to be in line with broader developments of far-right ideology in the protest arena and in party politics, where formal support of democracy goes together with a rhetoric of delegitimization of contemporary democratic institutions and their representatives. Methodologically, we draw from original empirical data collected with the tools of (virtual) ethnography and protest event analysis that we analyze through a frame-analytical lens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Influenza-associated excess mortality and morbidity is commonly estimated using statistical methods. In Germany, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) uses the relative mortality distribution method (RMDM) to estimate influenza-associated excess mortality without reporting age-specific values. In order to better differentiate the distribution of the disease burden, a distinction by age is of high relevance. Therefore, we aimed to revise the existing excess mortality model and provide age-specific excess mortality estimates over multiple seasons. We also used the model to determine influenza-associated excess hospitalizations, since the RKI excess hospitalization model is currently based on another approach (i.e., combination of excess physician visits and hospitalized proportion). Methods: This study was a retrospective data analysis based on secondary data of the German population from 1996–2018. We adapted the RKI's method of estimating influenza-associated excess mortality with the RMDM and also applied this approach to excess hospitalizations. We calculated the number of excess deaths/hospitalizations using weekly and age-specific data. Results: Data available in Germany are suitable for addressing the restrictions of the RKI's mortality model. In total, we estimated 175,858 (176,482 with age stratification) influenza-associated excess all cause deaths between 1995–1996 and 2017–2018 ranging from 0 (17 with age stratification) in 2005–2006 to 25,599 (25,527 with age stratification) in 2017–2018. Total influenza-associated excess deaths were comparable to RKI's estimates in most seasons. Most excess deaths/hospitalizations occurred in patients aged ≥ 60 years (95.42%/57.49%) followed by those aged 35–59 years (3,80%/24,98%). Compared with our model, the RKI hospitalization model implies a substantial underestimation of excess hospitalizations (828,090 vs. 374,200 over all seasons). Conclusion: This is the first study that provides age-specific estimates of influenza-associated excess mortality in Germany. The results clearly show that the main burden of influenza is in the elderly, for whom prevention and control measures should be prioritized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: A scoping review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of parenting and family-based interventions that aim to reduce severe and persistent conduct problems among 10–17 year-olds. The review also examined feasibility for conducting a network meta-analysis of common therapy elements measured by RCTs. Materials and methods: The review adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA- ScR). Searches were conducted in ERIC, PsycINFO, and MEDLINE without limits on publication year, language or publication country. Study methodological quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklist for RCTs. Results: Twenty-five eligible RCTs were identified. The studies trialed nine interventions, with Multisystemic Therapy (MST) being the most evaluated (N = 10), followed by Functional Family Therapy (FFT, N = 4), and Treatment Foster Care Oregon (TFCO, N = 3). Only 10 of the 25 RCTs revealed treatment effect on conduct problems, including 6 of 9 MST, 1 of 4 FFT and all 3 TFCO trials. Discussion: Surprisingly few RCTs of parenting and family-based interventions have been carried out exclusively with this population. Available data suggests that MST and FFT have uncertain effectiveness for reducing severe and persistent conduct problems. While the quality of the reviewed studies was generally high, only two reported substantive data on common therapy elements. Conclusion: There is need for more RCTs of parenting and family-based interventions delivered for older children and adolescents with severe and persistent conduct problems. Future RCTs should systematically measure common therapy elements with a view to advancing intervention science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a critical analysis of the multifaceted intermediary role played by ed-tech (educational technology) consulting providers in the realm of educational governance. The study draws on multidisciplinary research and uses illustrative examples from Germany to outline their impact on the integration of digital technologies in schools. By employing an analytical framework that encompasses three key perspectives—policy, pedagogy, and economics—the paper explores the complexities of consultancy between governance actors, sectors, and fields of knowledge. Considering these dimensions together, the study offers a comprehensive understanding of ed-tech consulting, shedding light on its influence on policy enactment, educational practices, and economic value chains. It underscores the challenges and tensions that consultants must navigate, while raising concerns about their potential to pre-empt pedagogical decisions and diffuse commercial interests into educational settings. As such, this paper aims to provide a conceptual foundation for investigating these ambiguities, with the goal of stimulating further research into the growing field of ed-tech consulting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim: Children with special healthcare needs (CSHCN) often face oral health challenges. This retrospective cross‐sectional study at a university hospital aimed to determine CSHCN's medical spectrum, dental treatment needs, and mode of treatment: general anesthesia (GA) or outpatient dental care (ODC). Design: Data from the Department of Conservative Dentistry, Heidelberg University Hospital, 2012–2022, were reviewed, considering age, gender, International Classification of Diseases‐10 diagnoses, caries experience (dmft/DMFT), restorative parameters, and treatment under GA/ODC. For patients under GA, their American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification was considered. Descriptive statistics, Kruskal–Wallis test, Mann–Whitney U‐test and logistic regression were utilized. Results: Of 669 patients, congenital and chromosomal malformations (34.7%), diseases of the nervous system (19.1%), and mental and behavioral disorders (16.0%) were mainly diagnosed. Dentin caries prevalence was high at 79.1%, with treatments performed mainly under GA (51.4%). The odds of receiving treatment under GA decreased with patient age and increased with higher dmft/DMFT scores. Most under GA were classified as ASA 3 (51.7%), indicating high anesthesia risks. Conclusion: Children with special healthcare needs often have diseases that can lead to higher challenges related to cooperation. The high prevalence of dentin caries underscores the substantial need for dental treatments, which were consequently often performed under GA, despite the associated risks. These findings stress the need for trained dental professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Cardiac surgery in patients on chronic renal dialysis is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Minimally invasive extracorporeal circuits (MiECC) have shown a positive impact on patient outcome in different high-risk populations. This retrospective study compares the outcome of these high-risk patients undergoing heart surgery either with a MiECC or a conventional extracorporeal circulation (CECC). Methods: This is a single-center experience including 131 consecutive dialysis dependent patients undergoing cardiac surgery between January 2006 and December 2016. A propensity score matching was employed leaving 30 matched cases in each group. Results: After propensity score matching the 30-day mortality was significantly lower in the MiECC group (n = 3 (10%) vs n = 10 (33%) in the CECC group, p =.028). Further, intraoperative transfused units of packed red blood cells were lower in the MiECC group (1.4 ± 1.8 units vs 2.8 ± 1.7, p <.001). Conclusions: There are evident advantages to using MiECC in dialysis dependent patients, especially regarding mortality. These findings necessitate additional research in MiECC usage in high-risk populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intracranial bleeding (ICB) is a serious complication during veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-V ECMO), with potentially fatal consequences. Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the incidence, time of detection of ICB among patients treated with V-V ECMO and potential risk factors for developing ICB during V-V ECMO. Methods: Five hundred fifty six patients were included in this retrospective single center analysis. Results: Median time on V-V ECMO was 9 (IQR 6-15) days. Intracranial bleeding during V-V ECMO was detected in 10.9% of all patients (61 patients with ICB). Only 17 patients with ICB presented obvious clinical symptoms. Intracranial bleeding was detected on cerebral imaging in median after 5 days (IQR 1-14) after starting V-V ECMO. Overall survival to hospital discharge was 63.7% (ICB: 29.5%). Risk factors of ICB before starting V-V ECMO in univariable analysis were platelets <100/nl (OR: 3.82), creatinine >1.5mg/dl (OR: 1.98), norepinephrine >2.5mg/h (OR: 2.5), ASAT >80U/L (OR: 1.86), blood-urea >100mg/dl (OR: 1.81) and LDH >550u/L (OR: 2.07). Factors associated with cannulation were rapid decrease in paCO2 >35mmHg (OR: 2.56) and rapid decrease in norepinephrine >1mg/h (OR: 2.53). Multivariable analysis revealed low platelets, high paCO2 before ECMO, and rapid drop in paCO2 after V-V ECMO initiation as significant risk factors for ICB. Conclusion: The results emphasize that ICB is a frequent complication during V-V ECMO. Many bleedings were incidental findings, therefore screening for ICB is advisable. The univariate risk factors reflect the underlying disease severity, coagulation disorders and peri-cannulation factors, and may help to identify patients at risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Most patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) decease during therapy on the system. However, the actual causes of death have not been studied sufficiently. This study analyses the etiology, prevalence, and risk factors for the outcome variable death during ongoing ECMO for all patients and divided according to venoarterial (VA) or venovenous (VV) support. Methods: We retrospectively analysed all patients receiving ECMO support at our institution between March 2006 to January 2021. Only the patients deceased during ongoing support were included. Results: 2016 patients were placed on VA (n = 1168; 58%) or VV (n = 848; 42%) ECMO; 759 patients (37.7%) deceased on support. The causes of death differed between the support types: VA ECMO patients mostly died from cerebral ischemia (34%), low-cardiac output (LCO; 24.1%) and multi-organ failure (MOF; 21.6%), whereas in VV ECMO cases, refractory respiratory failure (28.2%), and sepsis (20.4%) dominated. Multivariate regression analysis revealed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and acidosis prior to ECMO as risk factors for dying on VA ECMO, while high inotropic doses pre-ECMO, a high fraction of inspired oxygen on day 1, elevated lactate dehydrogenase, and international normalized ratio levels lead to an unfavourable outcome in VV ECMO patients. Conclusion: Even in highly experienced centers, ECMO mortality remains high and occurs mainly on support or 24 h after its termination. The causes of death differ between VV and VA ECMO, depending on the underlying diseases responsible for the need of extracorporeal support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, we combined the Focus on Multilingualism approach with the human capital theory to investigate multilingual profiles among first-generation adult immigrants in Germany and the relationship between immigrants' multiliteracy and their employment status. We used data representative for Germany on the self-reported literacy skills in the majority, heritage, and foreign languages of first-generation immigrants (n = 451, age 18–64) gathered in the LEO 2018 study. To analyze multilingual literacy skills, we estimated adults' multilingual profiles using LCA. In a second step, we conducted logistic regression models with multiliteracy and employment status. We found two multilingual profiles of first-generation immigrants: a profile with higher and a profile with lower literacy skills in all investigated languages. The profiles differed by the level of adults' literacy skills in all investigated languages and showed a unique non-overlapping language ordering pattern. The results gained from the logistic regressions revealed that multiliteracy in first-generation immigrants may represent human capital in Germany. After controlling for additional variables (age, gender, education), the analysis showed that higher multiliteracy increases the probability of adult immigrants' employment. Furthermore, our findings indicated independent positive effects of literacy in each language in multilingual repertoires on employment probability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nurses experience high job demands, which makes recovery particularly necessary to maintain well-being and performance. However, these demands also make recovery challenging. Short mindfulness meditations could potentially help alleviate this paradox. Methods: Two ecological momentary intervention studies were conducted among geriatric nurses (Study 1: break study) and hospital nurses (Study 2: after-work study) to investigate whether short audio-guided mindfulness meditations are beneficial for recovery during breaks and psychological detachment after work. Furthermore, break recovery and after-work detachment were examined as mediators of the associations between mindfulness meditations and after-break/after-sleep mood and attention after respective recovery periods. Multilevel path models were based on a sample of 38 nurses and 208 after-break surveys in the break study and 26 nurses and 192 after-sleep surveys in the after-work study. Results: Compared to breaks spent as usual, breaks that incorporated short mindfulness meditations were associated with higher break recovery, which mediated the positive associations between mindful breaks and after-break calmness, valence, and energetic arousal. Only with certain constraints did mindfulness meditations predict a lower rate of attention failures. In the after-work study, short mindfulness meditations were positively related to psychological detachment, which mediated the positive associations between the intervention and after-sleep valence and calmness. Conclusion/Application to Practice: Both pilot studies showed that short mindfulness meditations aid in recovery among nurses. However, to fully utilize the advantages of recovery-promoting breaks, structural changes are necessary to ensure that breaks of an appropriate duration are consistently implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]