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Copyright of Papers in Regional Science is the property of Wiley-Blackwell 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.)

Statements about stability, weathering behaviour and possible rockfalls affecting a real rock massif were made possible by creating a 3D surface/volume model, using as example the 'Großer Wehturm' rock massif, using the high-resolution laser scanning process together with rock mechanical 3D model calculations. The emphasis of this paper is the mathematical modelling, particularly the generation of the 3D model from the surface point cloud and the simulation possibilities. The numerical calculations are based on the Discrete Element Method, considering the rock matrix and joint or bedding interfaces. The 3D modelling delivers, in addition to answers to questions about the extent and degree of deformations and movement mechanisms, knowledge relevant to the transfer of the procedure to other locations. Aussagen zu Standsicherheit, Verwitterungsverhalten und möglichen Felsstürzen an konkreten Felsmassiven wurden mittels der Erstellung und Auswertung eines 3D-Oberflächen-/Volumenmodells am Beispiel des Felsmassivs 'Großer Wehturm' unter Nutzung des hochauflösenden Laserscansverfahrens mit kombinierter felsmechanischer 3D-Modellberechnungen durchgeführt. Der Schwerpunkt dieser Veröffentlichung liegt auf der Numerik, insbesondere der 3D-Modellgenerierung aus der Oberflächenpunktwolke und den Simulationsmöglichkeiten. Die numerischen Berechnungen basieren auf der dreidimensionalen Diskreten Elemente Methode unter Berücksichtigung der Gesteinsmatrix und Kluft- bzw. Schichtgrenzen. Die 3D-Modellierung liefert neben Antworten auf Fragen zu Umfang und Ausmaß von Deformationen und Bewegungsmechanismen auch Erfahrungen bzgl. der Übertragung auf andere Standorte. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper elucidates and discusses Jung's conceptions of the relation between psychology, psychotherapy and religion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food systems have increasingly strong impacts on the environment, and they influence our human well‐being. In Switzerland, food consumption accounts for one‐third of the environmental impact caused by total final consumption. At the same time, non‐communicable diseases have been linked to a number of dietary aspects. In Switzerland, all non‐communicable diseases together are responsible for 80% of total public health care costs annually. Current assessments that link environmental sustainability and human health‐oriented diets for Switzerland lack a transparent representation of the dynamic effects caused by large‐scale conversions of the food system. In this study, therefore, a system dynamics model is employed to investigate intended and unintended changes on the food system structure and on environmental impacts. Several human health‐oriented scenarios are implemented and tested with different production‐ and consumption‐side intervention strategies. Because all scenarios assuming an increase in the consumption of plant‐based products also involve higher consumption of dairy products, consequences for bovine meat need to be considered. The biological link between milk and bovine meat production leads to an unintended increase in bovine meat production as milk production increases. Intervention strategies at the consumption level thus need to be accompanied by intervention strategies at the agricultural production level. Similarly, intervention strategies that aim at improving health outcomes at the production level need to be accompanied by strategies that affect diets and thus consumption preferences. Avoiding instances of policy resistance requires integrated policy design and implementation across agriculture, the environment and human health. This integration is a challenge for farmers, the food industry and consumers alike. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We make use of both an ex post and an ex ante evaluation to analyze the Swiss payment for milk processed into cheese. This payment for each kilogram of raw milk processed into cheese is issued to milk producers through dairy processors. In the ex post evaluation, by applying a vector autoregressive model, we estimate the effects of reductions of the payment for prices of raw milk used to produce Emmentaler, Gruyère, and industrial cheese. Past declines in the payment have only been partially transmitted to raw milk prices. The rate of transmission is higher for milk used for the production of industrial cheese than for artisan cheeses. In the ex ante impact evaluation, we use a partial equilibrium model and develop a counterfactual scenario in which the payment is removed. The payment for milk processed into cheese is found to have effects on cheese production and exports but also has important indirect effects on other dairy products. Our findings suggest that about two-thirds of the payment are benefiting milk producers. At the same time, the overall welfare losses resulting from the elimination of the aid are smaller than the budget allocated to this measure, suggesting a net welfare gain from elimination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and Aims This study investigated the associations of alcohol outlet density with specific alcohol outcomes (consumption and consequences) among young men in Switzerland and assessed the possible geographically related variations. Design and Methods Alcohol consumption and drinking consequences were measured in a 2010-2011 study assessing substance use risk factors (Cohort Study on Substance Use Risk Factors) among 5519 young Swiss men. Outlet density was based on the number of on- and off-premise outlets in the district of residence. Linear regression models were run separately for drinking level, heavy episodic drinking ( HED) and drinking consequences. Geographically weighted regression models were estimated when variations were recorded at the district level. Results No consistent association was found between outlet density and drinking consequences. A positive association between drinking level and HED with on-premise outlet density was found. Geographically weighted regressions were run for drinking level and HED. The predicted values for HED were higher in the southwest part of Switzerland ( French-speaking part). Discussion and Conclusions Among Swiss young men, the density of outlets and, in particular, the abundance of bars, clubs and other on-premise outlets was associated with drinking level and HED, even when drinking consequences were not significantly affected. These findings support the idea that outlet density needs to be considered when developing and implementing regional-based prevention initiatives. [Astudillo M, Kuendig H, Centeno-Gil A, Wicki M, Gmel G. Regional abundance of on-premise outlets and drinking patterns among Swiss young men: District level analyses and geographic adjustments. Drug Alcohol Rev 2014;33:526-33] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background In Switzerland, there is a dearth of information on the extent to which patients with chronic illnesses receive care congruent with the Chronic Care Model (CCM). To drive quality improvement programmes, it is necessary to have practical assessment tools in the country's own language to evaluate the delivery of CCM activities. Methods German translation and adaptation of the original Assessment of Chronic Illness Care (ACIC). We followed a sequential forward and backward translation approach. In a multidisciplinary committee review the original English version and the translations were compared, instructions and formats modified and cross-cultural equivalences verified. The second version was pre-tested and multidisciplinary group discussion led to the final version which aimed to create a comprehensive culturally adapted translation capturing the original idea of the items rather than a direct one to one translation. Results Difficulties encountered during the translation process consisted in the difference of health care settings and health care organization in Switzerland and USA.The adapted German version was delivered to a managed care organization in the city of Zurich to test the initial use for diabetes care. The average ACIC subscale scores were: organization of the health care delivery system: mean (m) = 7.31 (SD = 0.79), community linkages: m = 3.78 (SD = 1.09), self-management support: m = 4.88 (SD = 1.21), decision support: m = 4.79 (SD = 1.16), delivery system design: m = 5.56 (SD = 1.28) and clinical information systems: m = 4.50 (SD = 2.69). Overall, the ACIC subscale scores were comparable with the scores of the original testing. Conclusion After cultural adaptations the German version of the ACIC is applicable as a tool to guide quality improvement in chronic illness care in German speaking countries in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The management of agricultural trade organizations in Switzerland is characterized by completely new entrepreneurial challenges due to a progressive opening of agricultural markets and a corresponding reform in the state's agricultural policy. The need for well-suited strategic management tools has suddenly become manifest. Given this background, the intervention described in this article took place in a division of a union of cooperatives in the Swiss agribusiness, which is a typical example of a small to medium-sized enterprise (SME). The aim of the project was to search for possible ways to sustain the viability of the division in the future. The intervention started with the development of an overall descriptive network-type model of the strategically relevant issues faced by the division. A system dynamics (SD) model was built as a decision support tool for one of two crucial strategic issues: the organization of the distribution system. Based on the insights derived from model-building and simulation, the management team changed its shared mental model of the issue at hand, achieving a deeper understanding of the situation faced, the options available and their implications. Thereupon, they have started to reorganize the whole distribution system. In sum, the modeling and simulation activities undertaken had a powerful trigger function in the process by inducing organizational learning at a very fast pace. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reconciling the differential perspective with the Piagetian perspective is a very difficult task. The Piagetian perspective admits the existence of interindividual differences but interprets them as noise masking the universal logical succession of structures, whereas the differential perspective views development as consisting of "vicarious processes." As a matter of historical fact, the main aim of the "procedural studies" carried out in Geneva was to introduce concrete microgenesis into the macrogenetic Piagetian model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]