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Procedural fluency and strategic competence in operating and mathematizing with natural and rational numbers are based on a flexible and meaningful use of mental models, strategies, and procedures. The study to be presented in this paper pursued the question as to which subdomains or tasks relating to procedural fluency and strategic competence at upper primary school level are particularly challenging for elementary school student teachers. The newly devised assessment instrument included mathematical problems from a wide variety of content domains such as numbers and operations with natural and rational numbers, place value, computational strategies, estimation, (inverse) proportion, combinatorics, mathematization, and word problems. A preceding theoretical task analysis ensured that the solution of the problems required adaptation of strategies and flexible reasoning about a procedure or a formula. In the assessment, each of the 15 tasks were presented to 280 first-semester student teachers. As the results of the analyses indicate, combinatorial problems and division problems with rational numbers proved to be particularly challenging for a large proportion of the participants. Supplemental qualitative analyses of solution pathways confirmed that the assessment tasks allowed for multiple solution pathways. The item difficulties could be explained by a lack of ability to link mental models, strategies, and procedures. The study makes a connection between theoretical and empirical research on educational standards and teacher education. It contributes to the international state of research about student teachers' content knowledge by providing specific insights concerning procedural fluency and strategic competence., +repphzhbib2023A

Echocardiography is the most common routine cardiac imaging method. Nevertheless, only few data about sex-specific reference limits for right atrium (RA) dimensions are available. Transthoracic echocardiographic RA measurements were studied in 9511 participants of the Gutenberg-Health-Study. A reference sample of 1942 cardiovascular healthy subjects without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was defined. We assessed RA dimensions and sex-specific reference limits were defined using the 95th percentile of the reference sample. Results showed sex-specific differences with larger RA dimensions in men that were attenuated by standardization for body-height. RA-volume was 20.2 ml/m in women (5th–95th: 12.7–30.4 ml/m) and 26.1 ml/m in men (5th–95th: 16.0–40.5 ml/m). Multivariable regressions identified body-mass-index (BMI), coronary artery disease (CAD), chronic heart failure (CHF) and atrial fibrillation (AF) as independent key correlates of RA-volume in both sexes. All-cause mortality after median follow-up-period of 10.7 (9.81/11.6) years was higher in individuals who had RA volume/height outside the 95% reference limit (HR 1.70 [95%CI 1.29–2.23], P = 0.00014)). Based on a large community-based sample, we present sex-specific reference-values for RA dimensions normalized for height. RA-volume varies with BMI, CHF, CAD and AF in both sexes. Individuals with RA-volume outside the reference limit had a 1.7-fold higher mortality than those within reference limits.

Das Dividieren mit mehrstelligen Zahlen sowie das Verständnis und Operieren mit rationalen Zahlen ist für Schüler:innen herausfordernd und stellt zudem wichtige Grundlagen für ein erfolgreiches Weiterlernen in der Domäne Mathematik dar. Um Schüler:innen angemessen zu fördern, müssen Lehrpersonen selbst in der Lage sein, die zu bearbeitenden Probleme auf flexible, verstehensbasierte und kreative Weise zu lösen. Daher fokussiert die hier vorgestellte Studie auf mathematisches Wissen angehender Primarschullehrpersonen zur Division mit natürlichen und rationalen Zahlen. Zunächst wurde theoretisch analysiert, worauf Schwierigkeiten im Verständnis und in der prozeduralen Geläufigkeit zur Division zurückzuführen sein können. Darauf aufbauend wurden entsprechende Testaufgaben entwickelt und in Erhebungen mit angehenden Primarschullehrpersonen im ersten und dritten Semester eingesetzt. Die Befunde verdeutlichen, dass bei einem nennenswerten Anteil der Studierenden zum Studienbeginn sowie im dritten Semester Lücken im Verständnis und in der prozeduralen Geläufigkeit zur Division mit natürlichen und rationalen Zahlen bestehen. Die Befunde werden hinsichtlich ihrer Konsequenzen für die Gestaltung der fachdidaktischen Ausbildung angehender Primarschullehrpersonen und vor dem Hintergrund begrenzt zur Verfügung stehender Ausbildungszeit interpretiert und diskutiert., +repphzhbib2022A

Sonderheft 7 des Soziologiemagazins

Background The current study aims to identify the relationships between coagulation factors and plasma thrombin generation in a large population-based study by comparing individuals with a history of arterial or venous thrombosis to cardiovascular healthy individuals. Methods This study comprised 502 individuals with a history of arterial disease, 195 with history of venous thrombosis and 1402 cardiovascular healthy individuals (reference group) from the population-based Gutenberg Health Study (GHS). Calibrated Automated Thrombography was assessed and coagulation factors were measured by means of BCS XP Systems. To assess the biochemical determinants of TG variables, a multiple linear regression analysis, adjusted for age, sex and antithrombotic therapy, was conducted. Results The lag time, the time to form the first thrombin, was mainly positively associated with the natural coagulant and anti-coagulant factors in the reference group, i.e. higher factors result in a longer lag time. The same determinants were negative for individuals with a history of arterial or venous thrombosis, with a 10 times higher effect size. Endogenous thrombin potential, or area under the curve, was predominantly positively determined by factor II, VIII, X and IX in all groups. However, the effect sizes of the reported associations were 4 times higher for the arterial and venous disease groups in comparison to the reference group. Conclusion This large-scale analysis demonstrated a stronger effect of the coagulant and natural anti-coagulant factors on the thrombin potential in individuals with a history of arterial or venous thrombosis as compared to healthy individuals, which implicates sustained alterations in the plasma coagulome in subjects with a history of thrombotic vascular disease, despite intake of antithrombotic therapy.

Editorial zu Sonderheft 7 des Soziologiemagazins, Upside Down.

Additional file 1.

The chemical industry must become carbon neutral by 2050, meaning that process-, energy-, and product-related CO2 emissions from fossil sources are completely suppressed. This goal can only be reached by using renewable energy, secondary raw materials, or CO2 as a carbon source. The latter can be done indirectly through the bioeconomy or directly by utilizing CO2 from air or biogenic sources (integrated biorefinery). Until 2030, CO2 waste from fossil-based processes can be utilized to curb fossil CO2 emissions and reach the turning point of global fossil CO2 emissions. A technology mix consisting of recycling technologies, white biotechnology, and carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technologies is needed to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality. In this context, CHEMampere contributes to the goal of carbon neutrality with electricity-based CCU technologies producing green chemicals from CO2, N-2, O-2, and H2O in a decentralized manner. This is an alternative to the e-Refinery concept, which needs huge capacities of water electrolysis for a centralized CO2 conversion with green hydrogen, whose demand is expected to rise dramatically due to the decarbonization of the energy sector, which would cause a conflict of use between chemistry and energy. Here, CHEMampere's core reactor technologies, that is, electrolyzers, plasma reactors, and ohmic resistance heating of catalysts, are described, and their technical maturity is evaluated for the CHEMampere platform chemicals NH3, NOx, O-3, H2O2, H-2, CO, and CxHyOz products such as formic acid or methanol. Downstream processing of these chemicals is also addressed by CHEMampere, but it is not discussed here.

The chemical industry must become carbon neutral by 2050, meaning that process-, energy-, and product-related CO2 emissions from fossil sources are completely suppressed. This goal can only be reached by using renewable energy, secondary raw materials, or CO2 as a carbon source. The latter can be done indirectly through the bioeconomy or directly by utilizing CO2 from air or biogenic sources (integrated biorefinery). Until 2030, CO2 waste from fossil-based processes can be utilized to curb fossil CO2 emissions and reach the turning point of global fossil CO2 emissions. A technology mix consisting of recycling technologies, white biotechnology, and carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technologies is needed to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality. In this context, CHEMampere contributes to the goal of carbon neutrality with electricity-based CCU technologies producing green chemicals from CO2, N2, O2, and H2O in a decentralized manner. This is an alternative to the e-Refinery concept, which needs huge capacities of water electrolysis for a centralized CO2 conversion with green hydrogen, whose demand is expected to rise dramatically due to the decarbonization of the energy sector, which would cause a conflict of use between chemistry and energy. Here, CHEMampere's core reactor technologies, that is, electrolyzers, plasma reactors, and ohmic resistance heating of catalysts, are described, and their technical maturity is evaluated for the CHEMampere platform chemicals NH3, NOx, O3, H2O2, H2, CO, and CxHyOz products such as formic acid or methanol. Downstream processing of these chemicals is also addressed by CHEMampere, but it is not discussed here.

In a large German community sample of adults, we investigated the association of chronic anxiousness with cardiovascular disease and mortality. Self-reported anxiousness from 11,643 German adults between 40 and 80 years of age from the Gutenberg Health Study (GHS) was analyzed over 5 years. Multivariable regression modeling assessed the relation between the variables, cardiovascular disease and mortality. Twelve percent of the participants reported consistently raised (chronic) anxiousness over at least 2.5 years. Anxiousness was more often reported by female, younger participants with a lower socioeconomic status, smokers and those with a family history of stroke and myocardial infarction. New onset of cardiovascular disease was linked to chronic anxiousness in men and new onset of anxiousness in women. However, chronic anxiousness did not predict all-cause mortality. Our results revealed that anxiousness is highly prevalent in German adults from middle to old age, affecting women in particular. In our study, we found sex-specific associations between new onset of cardiovascular disease and different forms of anxiousness in men and women. We suggest that even subclinical levels of anxiety need to be considered as cardiovascular risk factors. To elucidate potential harm of anxiousness for mental and physical health, we propose sex-specific analyses in further research studies, taking age and the course of anxiousness into account.

Background The aim of this study was to determine if there is an increased risk of incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) resulting from workplace mobbing measured with two mobbing instruments in the Gutenberg Health Study. Methods In this prospective study, we examined working persons younger than 65 years for the presence of mobbing at baseline and at a 5-year follow-up using a single-item and a 5-item instrument. We used multivariate models to investigate the association between mobbing and incident CVD, hypertension, and change in arterial stiffness and further stratified the models by sex. Results After adjustment for confounders, mobbed workers appeared to have a higher risk of incident CVD than those not mobbed (single-item HR = 1.28, 95% CI 0.73–2.24; 5-item HR = 1.57, 95% CI 0.96–2.54). With the 5-item instrument, men who reported mobbing had a higher risk of incident CVD (HR = 1.77, 95% CI 1.01–3.09), while no association was observed for women (HR = 1.05, 95% CI 0.38–2.91). There was no difference in risks between men and women with the single-item instrument. No association between mobbing and incident hypertension and arterial stiffness was seen. Conclusions Our results show an indication of an increased risk of incident CVD for those mobbed at baseline when using the whole study population. Differences in risks between men and women when using the five-item instrument may be due to the instrument itself. Still, it is essential to detect or prevent workplace mobbing, and if present, to apply an intervention to halt it in order to minimize its adverse effects on CVD.

Buchbesprechung, +repphzhbib2021A

Buchbesprechung

IntroductionWork-life conflicts (WLC) may impact health, but few studies prospectively consider the impact of WLC on objective outcomes such as cardiovascular disease. Using data from the Gutenberg Health Study (GHS), we examined if WLC at baseline was associated with an increased five-year incidence of cardiovascular events (myocardial infarct, stroke, atrial fibrillation, peripheral artery disease, coronary artery disease, chronic heart failure, sudden cardiac death). We also considered if WLC was associated with incident hypertension and arterial stiffness and if the effects of WLC on cardiovascular health differ for men and women.MethodsA working subsample of the 15,010 GHS cohort participants completed the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire, which included five "work-privacy conflict" questions at baseline and at the five-year follow-up. Relative risks for incident hypertension due to increased WLC at baseline (WLC scores exceeding 60 out of 100) were estimated with Poisson regression in the subgroup of participants without hypertension at baseline (n = 2426). Categories of WLC at baseline and follow-up were also used to examine the risk of hypertension due to chronic/recurrent WLC. In this subgroup, we also examined the association between WLC as a continuous score ranging from 0 to 100 with change to arterial stiffness after five years using linear regression. Hazard ratios were estimated for incident cardiovascular events in a larger subsample of participants without prevalent cardiovascular disease at baseline (n = 3698) using Cox regression. We used various multivariable regression models to adjust for sex, age, socioeconomic status, occupational, household, and cardiovascular risk factors.ResultsWe found no association between WLC and incident hypertension or increased arterial stiffness. The fully-adjusted relative risk for WLC >60 at baseline and hypertension was 0.93 (95% 0.74-1.17). The risk of hypertension due to chronic/recurrent WLC >60 was increased but not statistically significant (RR = 1.13, 95% CI 0.83-1.54). Overall, hazard ratios for incident cardiovascular events were also not increased. However, stratifying the results by sex resulted in a hazard ratio of 1.47 (95% CI 0.54-3.98) for incident cardiovascular disease among women in the fully adjusted model.ConclusionsAlthough our results were not statistically significant, they indicate that WLC is negatively impacting the cardiovascular health of women. While these results need to be confirmed with additional research and a longer follow-up, interventions to prevent WLC will promote health and could be especially beneficial for women.

Background Vascular alterations induced by antineoplastic treatment might be considered as a possible underlying mechanism of increased cardiovascular sequelae in childhood cancer survivors (CCSs). We aimed to evaluate arterial stiffness among long-term CCSs and to compare the data against a population-based sample. Methods and Results Arterial stiffness was assessed by digital photoplethysmography (stiffness index; m/s) among 1002 participants of the CVSS (Cardiac and Vascular Late Sequelae in Long-Term Survivors of Childhood Cancer) study, diagnosed with neoplasia (1980-1990) before an age of 15 years. A population-based sample from the GHS (Gutenberg Health Study) (n=5252) was investigated for comparison. All subjects underwent a comprehensive, standardized clinical examination in the same study center. CCSs had higher stiffness index (β=0.66 m/s; 95% CI, 0.51-0.80 m/s) in multivariable linear regression analysis after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors compared with the population sample of comparable age range. Stiffer vessels were found among CCSs also in absence of arterial hypertension (β=0.66; 95% CI, 0.50-0.81) or history of chemotherapy/radiotherapy (β=0.56; 95% CI, 0.16-0.96) in fully adjusted models. Moreover, stiffness index differed by tumor entity, with highest values in bone and renal tumors. Almost 5.2-fold higher prevalence of stiffness index values exceeding age-specific, population-based reference limits was observed among CCSs compared with GHS participants. Conclusions This is the first study demonstrating increased arterial stiffness among long-term CCSs. The data suggest that vascular compliance might differ in survivors of childhood cancer from the established development concept for arterial stiffness in the population; cancer growth and antineoplastic treatment might be relevant determinants of the pathobiological features. Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT02181049.

Additional file 1.

Aims Platelet indices have been associated with traditional cardiovascular risk factors, cardiovascular diseases and all‐cause mortality. This study aimed to investigate the role of platelet count, mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet‐to‐leukocyte ratio, including platelet‐to‐monocyte and platelet‐to‐lymphocyte ratio with cardiac function, heart failure (HF) phenotypes and clinical outcome, worsening of HF. Methods and results Univariate and multivariable linear and Cox regression analyses were used to investigate the associations between platelet indices, cardiac function and worsening of HF in 3250 subjects enrolled in the MyoVasc study. Higher MPV, lower platelet count, lower platelet‐to‐leukocyte and platelet‐to‐monocyte ratios have been associated with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (beta estimate [β]MPV [fL] = −0.05 [−0.09; −0.02], βplatelet count (× 10 /L) 9 = 3.4 [1.2; 5.6], βplatelet‐to‐leukocyte ratio = 1.4 [1.1; 1.8], βplatelet‐to‐monocyte ratio = 28 [20; 36]) and increased E/E' ratio (β MPV [fL] = 0.04 [0.003; 0.07], βplatelet count (× 10 /L) 9 = −3.1 [−5.3; −0.92], βplatelet‐to‐leukocyte ratio = −0.83 [−1.2; −0.46], βplatelet‐to‐monocyte ratio = −20 [−28; −12]), independent of age and sex. Cox regression demonstrated an increased risk for worsening of HF in subjects with MPV > 75th percentile (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.47 [1.16; 1.87]), platelet count 75th percentile (HR = 1.50 [1.17; 1.93]) ratios, independent of potential confounders. MPV > 75th percentile and platelet count

Control over the interaction between light and matter will have far-ranging consequences in chemistry, material science, physics, and biology. An important tool for the advanced control of light is offered by 3D photonic crystals with a photonic band gap, a range of frequencies for which light is forbidden to exist. We have developed methods to precisely control the location of lead sulfide quantum dots on silicon surfaces by attaching the dots to functionalized polymer brushes. Encouraged by successes on planar silicon wafers, we introduced quantum dots with polymer brushes in the nanopores of 2D and even 3D photonic band gap crystals. By synchrotron X-ray fluorescence tomography, we obtain detailed information on the positioning of the brushes and the dots. Notably, the quantum dot signal correlates very strongly with the brush signal, validating our approach. In optical experiments we find evidence for considerable emission inhibition in the 3D photonic band gap.

Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) declines with age by approx. 1 ml/min/m2 per year beginning in the third decade of life. At 70 years of age > 40 ml/min/m2 of GFR will be lost. Thus, factors affecting loss of GFR have significant public health implications. Furthermore, the definition of chronic kidney disease based on GFR may not be appropriate for the elderly. We analyzed factors affecting absolute and relative change of eGFR over a 5 year period in 12,381 participants of the Gutenberg Health Study. We estimated GFR at baseline and after 5 years of follow-up by two different equations. Association with the decline of estimated GFR (eGFR) was assessed by multivariable regression analysis. We confirmed a median loss of eGFR per year of approx. 1 ml/min/m2. Aside from albuminuria systolic blood pressure was most strongly associated with faster decline of eGFR followed by echocardiographic evidence of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and reduced ejection fraction. White blood cell count showed a moderate association with eGFR loss. Diastolic blood pressure, serum uric acid and serum albumin were associated with slower GFR decline in multivariable analysis. Sensitivity analysis with exclusion of individuals taking diuretics, antihypertensive, antidiabetic, or lipid lowering drugs confirmed these associations.

Distribution networks with periodically repeating events often hold great promise to exploit economies of scale. Joint replenishment problems are a fundamental model in inventory management, manufacturing, and logistics that capture these effects. However, finding an efficient algorithm that optimally solves these models, or showing that none may exist, has long been open, regardless of whether empty joint orders are possible or not. In either case, we show that finding optimal solutions to joint replenishment instances with just two products is at least as difficult as integer factorization. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first time that integer factorization is used to explain the computational hardness of any kind of optimization problem. Under the assumption that Riemann's Hypothesis is correct, we can actually prove that the two-item joint replenishment problem with possibly empty joint ordering points is NP-complete under randomized reductions, which implies that not even quantum computers may be able to solve it efficiently. By relating the computational complexity of joint replenishment to cryptography, prime decomposition, and other aspects of prime numbers, a similar approach may help to establish (integer factorization) hardness of additional open periodic problems in supply chain management and beyond, whose solution has eluded standard methods., 20 pages, 4 figures

"Auch der Verein für Hamburgische Geschichte (VHG) hat lange Zeit vermieden, sein größtes Versagen zu thematisieren", konstatiert der aktuelle Vereinsvorsitzende im Vorwort des Buches. Damit rückt er die Studie explizit in den Kontext der Bewältigungs- und Aufarbeitungsforschung zum Umgang von Ministerien und Parlamenten mit der NS-Vergangenheit, deren Konjunktur noch nicht vorüber ist. Auch von Verlagsseite wird das umfängliche Werk als "erste kritische Detailstudie zur NS-Geschichte eines deutschen Geschichtsvereins" beworben. ...

Gunnar B. Zimmermann, Bürgerliche Geschichtswelten im Nationalsozialismus. Der Verein für Hamburgische Geschichte zwischen Beharrung und Selbstmobilisierung, Göttingen (Wallstein) 2019, 704 S. (Beiträge zur Geschichte Hamburgs, 67), ISBN 978-3-8353-3391-8, EUR 39,90., Francia-Recensio, 2020/1

To investigate the prevalence and new onset of depression and anxiety among subjects with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and its association with AMD in a large European cohort with relatively good visual acuity. 11,834 participants enrolled in the German population-based Gutenberg Health Study were studied. AMD was diagnosed by grading of fundus photographs. Depression and anxiety were assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-2 Scale, respectively. Logistic regression analyses were performed and adjusted for several parameters. 1,089 (9.2%) participants were diagnosed having AMD. Prevalence of depression in AMD and non-AMD participants was 7.2% and 8.0%, respectively and prevalence of anxiety was 4.2% and 7.0%, respectively. New onset of depression and anxiety at 5-year follow-up in AMD subjects was 2.6% and 3.6%, respectively. AMD was not associated with depression (OR 0.93; CI 95% 0.70–1.20; p = 0.62). AMD was associated with less anxiety (OR 0.67; CI 95% 0.47–0.93; p = 0.02). This is the first study analyzing both prevalence and new onset of depression and anxiety in AMD subjects. AMD- and non-AMD participants had a similar prevalence and new onset of depression in our population-based sample. Participants without AMD had a higher prevalence of anxiety. AMD was not associated with depression.

To investigate the prevalence and new onset of depression and anxiety among subjects with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and its association with AMD in a large European cohort with relatively good visual acuity. 11,834 participants enrolled in the German population-based Gutenberg Health Study were studied. AMD was diagnosed by grading of fundus photographs. Depression and anxiety were assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-2 Scale, respectively. Logistic regression analyses were performed and adjusted for several parameters. 1,089 (9.2%) participants were diagnosed having AMD. Prevalence of depression in AMD and non-AMD participants was 7.2% and 8.0%, respectively and prevalence of anxiety was 4.2% and 7.0%, respectively. New onset of depression and anxiety at 5-year follow-up in AMD subjects was 2.6% and 3.6%, respectively. AMD was not associated with depression (OR 0.93; CI 95% 0.70–1.20; p = 0.62). AMD was associated with less anxiety (OR 0.67; CI 95% 0.47–0.93; p = 0.02). This is the first study analyzing both prevalence and new onset of depression and anxiety in AMD subjects. AMD- and non-AMD participants had a similar prevalence and new onset of depression in our population-based sample. Participants without AMD had a higher prevalence of anxiety. AMD was not associated with depression.

Additional file 1: Supplementary Table 1. Baseline characteristics for the hypertension analysis. Supplementary Table 2. Sensitivity analysis using the five-item mobbing instrument. Supplementary Table 3. Associations of mobbing at baseline with change in arterial stiffness (AS). Supplementary Table 4. Associations of incident and recurrent mobbing with incidence of hypertension. Supplementary Table 5. Associations of incident and recurring mobbing with change in arterial stiffness (AS).

Additional file 1: Table S1. Gender differences within immigrants from Eastern Europe, Former Soviet Union and Arabic-Islamic countries.

We consider single-machine scheduling problems that are natural generalizations or variations of the min-sum set cover problem and the min-sum vertex cover problem. For each of these problems, we give new approximation algorithms. Some of these algorithms rely on time-indexed LP relaxations. We show how a variant of alpha-point scheduling leads to the best-known approximation ratios, including a guarantee of 4 for an interesting special case of the so-called generalized min-sum set cover problem. We also make explicit the connection between the greedy algorithm for min-sum set cover and the concept of Sidney decomposition for precedence-constrained single-machine scheduling, and show how this leads to a 4-approximation algorithm for single-machine scheduling with so-called bipartite OR-precedence constraints.

This contribution reports on the first meeting of the new formed working group “Data Analysis and Classification in Marketing (AG Marketing)” of the data science society (GfKl) held at the KIT, Karlsruhe, November 14th – 15th, 2019. The abstracts of the presentations given reflect the ongoing trend to exploit a large variety of digital data sources for marketing purposes and the need for advanced and innovative analysis methods.

The edited collection explores the perceptions and memories of parliamentarianism accross Europe, examining the complex ideal of parliament since 1800. Parliament has become the key institution in modern democracy, and the chapters present the evolution of the ideal of parliamentary representation and government, and discuss the reception and value of parliament as an institution. Examining the history of parliament through concepts and ideals, this book traces a transnational, European exchange of models, routines and discourse.

Next Generation Audio (NGA) codecs offer new features for consumers such as advanced user interactivity, immersive sound and optimized reproduction across different classes of playback devices. Yet, ‘real world’ experience in the application of NGA workflows in classical music production is limited: The realistic depiction of the original concert hall sound and the treatment of elevated sound sources impose challenges when recording and mixing. Besides producing for immersive reproduction systems, sound engineers face new tasks like the integration of user interactivity, ensuring downmix compatibility and loudness consistency. This paper expounds our field test for an NGA production workflow found suitable for complex orchestral music. Using MPEG-H 3D Audio as an example, we recorded three full-length concerts with Gewandhausorchester Leipzig. Among them is the prestigious new year's concert with Beethoven’s 9th symphony conducted by Gewandhauskapellmeister Andris Nelsons. We developed a microphone setup for the immersive recording of classical music in Gewandhaus and achieved convincing results with the recording and mixing strategies presented in this paper. The perceived reverberance in the mixes was found to be realistically relatable to the excellent room sound in the original concert hall. Elevated sources, like the choir and soloists, were clearly depicted as such. For metadata authoring and mastering, MPEG-H production tools were used to regulate loudness, dynamic range and downmix compatibility, targeting playback over loudspeakers and 3D audio soundbars. Additionally, we tested two different approaches for interactivity that are suitable for classical music listeners.

«Timo Leuders, Andreas Schulz und Sabine Kowalk widmen sich den Lernstandsdiagnosen, auch als VERA 3 und 8 bekannt. Als diagnostisches Verfahren evaluiert es dezidiert die erreichten Kompetenzen von Schülerinnen und Schülern, sodass sich zielgerichtet und individuell passende Förderangebote ableiten lassen und wertvolle Impulse zur Unterrichtsentwicklung gewonnen werden können.» Dieser Beitrag ist integraler Teil des: Handbuchs Evaluation in Schule und Unterricht, dessen Beschreibung wie folgt lautet: Dieses Handbuch stellt alle Verfahren der Evaluation in Schule und Unterricht dar – sowohl in der Theorie als auch in der Praxis. Neben einer Vielzahl an Methoden und Konzepten widmet es sich sowohl der internen wie der externen Evaluation (Schulinspektion, Peer Review). Dabei umfasst die interne Evaluation alle Schritte von der Bestandsaufnahme über die Schulprogramm- bis hin zur Projektevaluation. In zwei weiteren Kapiteln berichten die Autor_innen über Praxisbeispiele einzelner Schulen und die Evaluationspraxis anderer Länder wie z.B. Schottland, Kanada und der Schweiz. Konkret beantwortet das Handbuch folgende Fragen: Inwiefern dient Evaluation der Unterrichtsentwicklung? Wie kann sie dazu beitragen, die Handlungssicherheit der Lehrkräfte zu erhöhen? Wie kann sie auf Lehrende und Lernende einer Schule zugeschnitten werden? Und inwiefern lässt sich mithilfe von Evaluation klären, ob sich Innovationen bewährt haben? Zugriff auf sämtliche Volltexte dieses Handbuchs innerhalb des PH-Netzwerks hier., +repphzhbib2019A

PurposeWe aimed to determine the prevalence of characteristics and pathologies of the vitreo‐macular interface within the general population.MethodsThe Gutenberg Health Study is a population‐based study in Germany, including an ophthalmological examination with refraction, biometry and optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging. Characteristics of the vitreo‐macular interface were graded on volume scans including visibility of an epiretinal membrane, full‐thickness macular hole, lamellar hole and pseudohole. Overall and age‐specific prevalences including 95% confidence intervals [95%‐CI] were calculated. Association analyses were conducted to determine systemic and ocular factors that are associated with epiretinal membranes (the most common pathology) using multivariable logistic regression.ResultsA total of 1890 people aged 40–80 years were included in the study. Of these, 4.7% (95%‐CI: 3.8%–5.8%) had an epiretinal membrane in at least one eye, 0.1% a full‐thickness macular hole, 0.6% a lamellar hole and 0.6% a pseudohole. The presence of an epiretinal membrane was associated with higher age, myopic refractive error and prior retinal laser therapy, but not with gender, body height, body weight, smoking, prior cataract surgery or intraocular pressure.ConclusionsEpiretinal membranes are more frequent in older and myopic subjects and in those with prior retinal laser therapy.

Background To estimate the burden of diseases, it is important to consider patient-reported outcomes including Quality of Life (QoL). The aim of this study is to provide population-based reference data for the National Eye Institute 25-Item Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25), stratified by sex and age. Methods The Gutenberg Health Study (GHS) is a population-based, prospective, observational cohort study in Germany, including 15,010 participants aged between 35 and 74. The baseline examination was conducted between 2007 and 2012. To overcome known shortcomings of the NEI VFQ-25, we calculated the previously proposed visual functioning scale and the socio-emotional scale based on Rasch-transformed person-level data. We present mean values, standard deviations and percentiles for age decades stratified by sex. We used a linear regression model to assess the influence of age, sex, socioeconomic status, distance-corrected visual acuity (better-seeing eye) and the absolute difference in distance-corrected visual acuity of both eyes on vision-related QoL. Results NEI VFQ-25 data are available from 12,231 participants (82%). Both the long-form visual functioning scale (LFVFS) and the long-form socio-emotional scale (LFSES) showed a clear age dependency, with an average LFVFS score of 92.8 for men and 90.5 for women in the youngest age group and 85.7 and 83.4 in the oldest age group, and a LFSES score of 98.3 for men and 98.1 in women in the youngest and 94.7 and 94.5 in the oldest decade. The largest difference was observed between the youngest age group (35–44 years) and the 45–54 years group. Men tended to have slightly higher scores than women. In the multivariable linear regression analysis, age (per 5 years −0.42), female sex (−1.57), worse distance-corrected visual acuity of the better eye (per 0.1 increase in logMAR −2.92) and the difference between both eyes (per 0.1 increase in logMAR −0.87) were associated with a reduced LFVFS score (all p

The relation between inflammation, hemostasis and arterial stiffness is of pathophysiological relevance for the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Data investigating this interplay using stiffness index (SI) by digital photoplethysmography are not available yet. Therefore, sex-specific relation between SI and inflammatory and hemostatic biomarkers was investigated within 13,724 subjects from the population-based Gutenberg Health Study. C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell count (WBCC), neopterin, interleukin-18, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA), fibrinogen and hematocrit were measured. Multivariable linear regression analysis with adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors, medication, and hormonal status (in females) revealed an independent association between SI and WBCC, IL-1RA and hematocrit in both sexes, and with fibrinogen in women. There was a joint effect of increasing tertiles of SI and biomarker concentrations for future CVD risk prediction. Subjects with both SI and biomarker concentration above the median had the worst overall survival and with both below the median the best survival during a follow-up period of 6.2 ± 1.7 years, except for hematocrit. The results support the relation between inflammation, hemostasis and arterial stiffness measured by digital photoplethysmography. Markers of inflammation and hemostasis modulate the ability of SI to identify subjects at risk for future CVD or higher mortality.

BACKGROUND: The distribution of visual impairment is an indicator of the health status of the population and for the frequency of diseases of the eye. METHODS: The Gutenberg Health Study (GHS) is a population-based cohort study in Germany concerning adults aged 35 to 74. 15 010 subjects from the Mainz–Bingen region underwent general medical and ophthalmological examination, with measurement of the distance-corrected visual acuity in each eye separately. As per the World Health Organization criteria, visual impairment was defined as an acuity below 0.3 in the better eye, and blindness as an acuity below 0.05. All patients who were found to be visually impaired or blind underwent further individual study with clinical history-taking, split-lamp examination, and fundus photography. RESULTS: Data from 14 687 subjects were evaluated. The mean age of the participants was 55.0 years (standard deviation, 11.1 years). The prevalence of visual impairment was 0.37% (95% confidence interval [0.28; 0.49]) (n = 55) and was higher in women (0.44%) than in men (0.31%). Blindness was present in 0.05% [0.03; 0.11] (n = 8) of the subjects. The prevalence of visual impairment from age 65 onward was 0.79%, three times higher than in the younger age groups. 54.5% of the visually impaired subjects had multiple underlying ophthalmological pathologies. CONCLUSION: The causes of visual impairment are manifold. Loss of vision is often the combined effect of multiple pathological factors. The etiology of visual impairment is thus a more complex matter than is commonly assumed.

One of the main goals of research in (mathematics) education is the generation of knowledge on processes of teaching and learning. The approaches of many research projects in German-speaking countries that contributed to achieving this goal during recent decades are diverse. Many of these projects are characterized by narrowly focusing on distinctive phenomena within learning and teaching mathematics, by taking a multi-step approach that develops theory in a series of consecutive studies (often one area of interest is pursued over many years) and by a mixed-method research strategy that integrates different methodological practices. This chapter provides exemplary insight into these kinds of research in mathematics education in German-speaking countries over the last few decades. After a brief glimpse into the beginnings, we deliver four examples that illustrate the features of these kinds of research and also describe the perspectives of researchers by way of short interview excerpts., +repphzhbib2020A

Table S4b. Linear regression estimates of the influence of both the better-seeing and worse-seeing eyes on the NEI VFQ-25 socioemotional scale score in the German population-based Gutenberg Health Study (GHS), 2007–2012, restricted to participants aged 65 years and older. (PDF 215 kb)

Purpose Most definitions of visual impairment focus on the status of the better-seeing eye only, but this approach might underestimate the influence of the worse-seeing eye on the vision-related quality of life (VRQoL). Methods We assessed distance-corrected visual acuity in both eyes and VRQoL using the “National Eye Institute 25-Item Visual Function Questionnaire” (NEI VFQ-25) in the German population-based Gutenberg Health Study. We calculated the Rasch-based visual functioning scale (VFS) and socioemotional scale (SES). We categorized the visual acuity of the better-seeing eye (BE) and worse-seeing eye (WE) as follows: (1) no visual impairment (VI) ( 0.5 logMAR). Next, the subjects were categorized as follows: both eyes with no VI (no/no), the better-seeing eye with no VI and the worse-seeing eye with mild VI (no/mild), no VI/severe VI (no/severe), both eyes with mild VI (mild/mild), light VI/severe VI (mild/severe), and both eyes with severe VI (severe/severe). We calculated the median scores for VFS and SES. We used linear regression to estimate the combined influence of BE/WE on VFS and SES. Results We included 11,941 participants (49.9% female, age range: 35–74 years) with information on VRQoL and visual acuity. The median VFS/SES scores were 90/100 (no/no VI group), 84/97 (no/mild group), 81/94 (no/severe group), 70/90 (mild/mild group), 67/74 (mild/severe group), and 63/76 (severe/severe group). These differences were supported by the regression analysis results. Conclusion Relying on the function of the better-seeing eye considerably underestimates the impact of visual impairment on VRQoL. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12955-019-1158-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Table S3a. Linear regression estimates of the influence of both the better-seeing and worse-seeing eyes on the NEI VFQ-25 visual functioning scale score in the German population-based Gutenberg Health Study (GHS), 2007–2012, restricted to participants aged younger than 65 years. (PDF 215 kb)

Table S4a. Linear regression estimates of the influence of both the better-seeing and worse-seeing eye on the NEI VFQ-25 socioemotional scale score in the German population-based Gutenberg Health Study (GHS), 2007–2012, restricted to participants aged younger than 65 years. (PDF 215 kb)

Designing simple appointment systems that under uncertainty in service times, try to achieve both high utilization of expensive medical equipment and personnel as well as short waiting time for patients, has long been an interesting and challenging problem in health care. We consider a robust version of the appointment scheduling problem, introduced by Mittal et al. (2014), with the goal of finding simple and easy-to-use algorithms. Previous work focused on the special case where per-unit costs due to under-utilization of equipment/personnel are homogeneous i.e., costs are linear and identical. We consider the heterogeneous case and devise an LP that has a simple closed-form solution. This solution yields the first constant-factor approximation for the problem. We also find special cases beyond homogeneous costs where the LP leads to closed form optimal schedules. Our approach and results extend more generally to convex piece-wise linear costs. For the case where the order of patients is changeable, we focus on linear costs and show that the problem is strongly NP-hard when the under-utilization costs are heterogeneous. For changeable order with homogeneous under-utilization costs, it was previously shown that an EPTAS exists. We instead find an extremely simple, ratio-based ordering that is 1.0604 approximate.