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A corrigendum has been issued for an article titled "Observational study on the neonatal outcome during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany" published in Acta Paediatrica. The corrigendum addresses typing errors in Table 1, specifically related to the numbers of live births, stillbirths, and perinatal complications. The errors have been rectified in the updated version of the table, and the calculations and scientific conclusions of the article remain unchanged. The authors have provided their contributions to the study, and a graph (Table S1) is included. [Extracted from the article]

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Public opinion polls have become vital and increasingly visible parts of election campaigns. Previous research has frequently demonstrated that polls can influence both citizens' voting intentions and political parties' campaign strategies. However, they are also fraught with uncertainty. Margins of error can reflect (parts of) this uncertainty. This paper investigates how citizens' voting intentions change due to whether polling estimates are presented with or without margins of error. Using a vignette experiment (N=3224), we examine this question based on a real‐world example in which different election polls were shown to nationally representative respondents ahead of the 2021 federal election in Germany. We manipulated the display of the margins of error, the interpretation of polls and the closeness of the electoral race. The results indicate that margins of error can influence citizens' voting intentions. This effect is dependent on the actual closeness of the race and additional interpretative guidance provided to voters. More concretely, the results consistently show that margins of error increase citizens' inclination to vote for one of the two largest contesting parties if the polling gap between these parties is small, and an interpretation underlines this closeness. The findings of this study are important for three reasons. First, they help to determine whether margins of error can assist citizens in making more informed (strategic) vote decisions. They shed light on whether depicting opinion‐poll uncertainty affects the key features of representative democracy, such as democratic accountability. Second, the results stress the responsibility of the media. The way polls are interpreted and contextualized influences the effect of margins of error on voting behaviour. Third, the findings of this paper underscore the significance of including methodological details when communicating scientific research findings to the broader public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Alevi movement, originating more than three decades ago in Turkey and the Western European diaspora, has led to significant social and cultural shifts within Alevi communities. This movement witnessed the emergence of Alevi associations, increased religio‐political activities, and a fervent search for a redefined Alevi identity. The quest for a comprehensive understanding of Alevi identity remains a contested debate, prominently reflected within Alevi youth, who navigate complex socio‐cultural landscapes and encounter challenges in defining their identity amidst competing narratives and associations. This paper examines the identity formation strategies of young Alevis in Berlin, drawing on ethnographic fieldwork conducted between 2021 and 2023. Contrary to mainstream portrayals of Alevi youth experiencing a loss of identity, this study argues for the presence of continuity dynamics, emphasising inherited Alevi mindsets and emotions. Through interviews and analysis of a documentary produced by Berlin Alevi youth, the paper explores new narratives about Alevi history, sociology, and theology constructed by young Alevis, highlighting their role in shaping contemporary Alevism in Germany. This research contributes original data and discussions to the existing literature on Alevi youth, shedding light on their evolving identities and the dynamics of Alevi discourse in diasporic settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the influence of class on migrants' social positioning strategies in transnational spaces. It contributes to debates about the processes of transnational class‐making and class formation. Going beyond an analysis of class in socio‐economic terms, the paper focuses on peoples' (changing) subjective understandings of middle‐class membership as a relevant factor in migrants' transnational social positioning strategies. Based on qualitative interview data with middle‐class migrants in Germany, the presentation relates their experiences with downward social mobility before and after migration to their subjective perspectives on middle‐class membership over time and in different places. The findings show that middle‐class performance is shaped by migration experiences but also shapes peoples' mobility trajectories and therefore influences and promotes different transnational lifestyles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crisis management is a challenging and interdisciplinary task in which various information must be acquired and fused. In Germany, Civil Crisis Management is usually organized into two parts: the organizational‐administrative division and the operative‐tactical division, which are subordinate to the authorities (political) leadership. To organize an efficient and interdisciplinary response, crisis staffs can be called up. In these administrative crisis staffs, information sources are bundled, responsible experts collaborate and exchange information. To achieve a common understanding of the crisis, situational displays are created. Situational displays present the extend of the crisis and offer high‐level information required by the staff members. They can show the extent of the crisis area on maps or integrate other, for example numeric, information. This paper presents both state of the art in situational display creation and the most recent requirements in administrative crisis management. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and workshops regarding the tools for the creation of situational displays. For both data gathering methods, we were able to acquire active crisis management experts as participants. To determine the state of the art for situational displays for administrative crisis management staff we utilized structured questionnaires, which were answered by 14 crisis management authorities. Through two expert workshops with each nine participants, the requirements for situational display were collected. This paper compares the two datasets to evaluate the recent state of situational displays for administrative crisis staff in practice. The article summarizes usage of situational displays by practitioners and compiles lessons from the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The need to develop and provide integrated observation systems to better understand and manage global and regional environmental change is one of the major challenges facing Earth system science today. In 2008, the German Helmholtz Association took up this challenge and launched the German research infrastructure TERrestrial ENvironmental Observatories (TERENO). The aim of TERENO is the establishment and maintenance of a network of observatories as a basis for an interdisciplinary and long‐term research program to investigate the effects of global environmental change on terrestrial ecosystems and their socio‐economic consequences. State‐of‐the‐art methods from the field of environmental monitoring, geophysics, remote sensing, and modeling are used to record and analyze states and fluxes in different environmental disciplines from groundwater through the vadose zone, surface water, and biosphere, up to the lower atmosphere. Over the past 15 years we have collectively gained experience in operating a long‐term observing network, thereby overcoming unexpected operational and institutional challenges, exceeding expectations, and facilitating new research. Today, the TERENO network is a key pillar for environmental modeling and forecasting in Germany, an information hub for practitioners and policy stakeholders in agriculture, forestry, and water management at regional to national levels, a nucleus for international collaboration, academic training and scientific outreach, an important anchor for large‐scale experiments, and a trigger for methodological innovation and technological progress. This article describes TERENO's key services and functions, presents the main lessons learned from this 15‐year effort, and emphasizes the need to continue long‐term integrated environmental monitoring programmes in the future. Plain Language Summary: This paper discusses the importance of creating comprehensive environmental observation systems to better understand and address global and regional environmental changes. In 2008, a German research infrastructure named Terrestrial Environmental Observatories (TERENO) was established to build and maintain a network of observatories. The goal is to conduct interdisciplinary, long‐term research on the impacts of global environmental changes on terrestrial ecosystems and their socio‐economic effects. The TERENO network employs advanced methods from environmental monitoring, geophysics, remote sensing, and modeling to study various environmental aspects. Over the past 15 years, four observatories have been part of this network, contributing to valuable experience in overcoming challenges and exceeding expectations. Today, TERENO is a crucial component for environmental modeling and forecasting in Germany, serving as an information hub for practitioners and policymakers. It also fosters international collaboration, supports large‐scale experiments, and drives methodological and technological advancements. The article highlights key lessons learned from this 15‐year effort and emphasizes the importance of continuing such integrated environmental monitoring programs in the future. Key Points: Integrated observatories ensure a holistic Earth Systems perspective, offering data for current and future ecological challengesThe scientific and societal value of observatories is invaluable, but their design, construction and operation require considerable effortFor assured long‐term data collection, research infrastructure must have flexible design for adapting to changing research needs [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In Germany, children diagnosed with cancer survive their initial disease in more than 80%, and the majority will become long‐term survivors. Around the age of 18, survivors are transferred to adult healthcare. The transition can be a critical period in the process of care at which many childhood cancer survivors discontinue to participate in regular follow‐up care. Hence, the objective of the paper was to explore (a) survivors' attitudes towards pediatric follow‐up care and (b) their concerns regarding the transition process to draw conclusions for optimizing pediatric care and transition processes. Methods: We conducted semi‐structured interviews with 21 adolescent childhood cancer survivors between the ages of 14 and 20. The survivors were recruited via a pediatric oncology department of a university hospital in Germany. Based on the principles of qualitative content analysis, a deductive‐inductive method according to Kuckartz was applied. Results: Based on the interview guide and derived from the exploratory research questions, two key categories were generated: (a) Survivors' attitudes towards pediatric follow‐up care, which encompasses all formal and emotional aspects of survivors regarding follow‐up care, and (b) their concerns regarding transition from pediatric to adult healthcare, where hindering and facilitating factors for a successful transition occur. Our results show high satisfaction among survivors with follow‐up care. Nevertheless, they wish to be more integrated into processes and the organization of their follow‐up care. Most adolescent survivors do not feel ready for transition. Conclusion: The integration of survivors into the organization processes and routines, and the promotion of emotional detachment from pediatric health care professionals (HCPs) are important to reduce concerns and uncertainties of adolescent survivors regarding the transition process and to promote subjective readiness for transition. To gain confidence in the adult healthcare, it is crucial to provide tailored education depending on individual requirements and needs and to build trusting relationships between survivors and adult HCPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper shows that visions of the future can be used as a predictor of cooperation and division between actors in their efforts to shape the institutional environment, specifically policy in socio‐technical systems. Accordingly, the paper suggests a new method to analyze visions: a virtual solution space in which visions can be grouped according to their similarity. The similarity of visions is calculated based on cluster analysis. Empirically, the paper focuses on the networks between industry associations in the heating transition in the German building sector. It shows that actors whose visions of future socio‐technical system developments overlap are more likely to cooperate with each other. It also suggests that the fragmentation of the residential heating system in Germany is reflected in a fragmented actor network. Furthermore, the authors show that shared technological interests can outweigh similar visions. These fragmented technological interests hinder meaningful cooperation. This is potentially one reason why a powerful low‐carbon heating coalition in Germany that could facilitate an accelerated deployment of low‐carbon heat systems by driving policy change has not emerged to date. The paper contributes to a better understanding of how niche actors in sustainability transitions use their agency and specifically strategize to bring about institutional change. In this respect, the authors discuss how differing levels of system‐fragmentation influence transition dynamics in general and institutional change dynamics in particular. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Risk, Hazards & Crisis in Public Policy 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.)

The purpose, aim and goals of higher education itself have been discussed and researched in the context of massified and marketised higher education in Germany, with a focus mainly on higher education national policies or the view of faculty staff. By shifting the perspective instead to the students, this article asks what higher education means to them nowadays. This study is based on 95 interviews with German graduate students from three disciplines (i.e. business administration/management, medicine and musicology) and it offers a typology of what students understand as the purpose of higher education. Six types were reconstructed from the empirical material, along three main lines of higher education's purpose (i.e. occupational, personal and societal). This paper also shows how the chosen discipline becomes more salient for the student's perception of higher education purpose than their social background. This questions previous research that found strong ties between instrumentalism and social background in higher education. This paper also demonstrates that social differences do matter in their egalitarian or elitist variation of understanding within non‐instrumentalist types. Overall, this study illustrates how heterogenous contemporary higher education purpose has become, which mirrors a further general differentiation in higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the role of linguistic capital in production and reproduction of social inequalities drawing on 20 in‐depth qualitative interviews with Chinese international students in a German university. The paper highlights that while studying abroad can provide advantages when it comes to learning a new foreign language, it can also bring some disadvantages for those who are educated in a foreign language. It underscores that being proficient in a foreign language is not solely about the ability to communicate, but also about assigning a social value to it for some speakers such as international students. Moreover, the contexts of countries of origin and education are essential. The findings indicate that being educated in a foreign language can lead to various difficulties for international students, such as feeling excluded from social circles, facing academic challenges, and encountering obstacles when trying to find a job while studying. However, despite these challenges, education in a foreign language and particularly in Germany is perceived as advantageous because it helps students to accumulate linguistic and cultural capital, which they believe will benefit them in the labour market upon their graduation. Therefore, this paper stresses the importance of not only the advantages of linguistic capital, but also the ways in which it can simultaneously function as both an advantage and a disadvantage, thereby perpetuating inequalities within and across borders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing scientific and regulatory concern regarding environmental concentrations of bisphenol A (BPA) increases the need to understand the sources and sinks of this chemical. We developed a coupled flow network/fugacity‐based fate and transport model to assess the contribution of different emissions sources to the concentration of BPA in surface water in Germany. The model utilizes BPA loadings and sinks, BPA physicochemical properties, a water flow network, environmental characteristics, and fugacity equations. The model considers industrial emissions, leaching from BPA‐containing articles, wastewater treatment and bypass events, and emissions from landfills. The model also considers different scenarios that account for changes in the usage profile of BPA. Model predictions compare favorably to measured surface water concentrations, with the modeled concentrations generally falling within the range of measured values. Model scenarios that consider reductions in BPA usage due to government‐mandated restrictions and voluntary reductions in usage predict falling BPA concentrations that are consistent with the most recent monitoring data. Model predictions of the contributions from different usage scenarios and wastewater treatment methods can be used to assess the efficacy of different restrictions and waste handling strategies to support efforts to evaluate the costs and benefits associated with actions aimed at reducing BPA levels in the environment. This feature of the model is of particular importance, given current efforts to update the regulations regarding BPA usage in the EU. The model indicates that as the current restriction on BPA in thermal paper works through the paper recycling process, BPA concentrations will continue to decrease. Other actions, such as upgrades to the stormwater and wastewater infrastructure to minimize the frequency of storm‐related bypasses, are predicted to provide more meaningful reductions than additional restrictions on usage. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:226–238. © 2023 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC). Key Points: We used a coupled fugacity‐based model and flow network to model BPA in surface waters of Germany that considered different scenarios representative of current and future BPA usage.There was good agreement between the measured and modeled concentrations, and the model predicted the observed reduction in surface water concentrations associated with recent usage restrictions.The model predicts that improved management of landfills and landfill leachate and improvements in stormwater infrastructure can result in significant reductions in loadings and therefore further reductions in surface water BPA concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous literature has identified income, health status and social relationships as the most important predictors of subjective wellbeing (SWB). In addition, the literature has identified a non‐linear relationship between age and SWB, with a dip in SWB in midlife. Explanations of the non‐linear age–SWB relationship include the notion of unmet aspirations and the idea that people's emotional response to the drivers of SWB changes with age. Against this background, we use representative longitudinal data for Germany (1992–2019) with about 570,000 observations for more than 88,000 individuals aged 16–105 years to investigate if and how the association between SWB and its main predictors changes over the lifecycle. Using fixed effects estimation to control for cohort effects and unobserved personal characteristics, we find that the marginal effects of income and social relationships vary with age in a wave‐like fashion, while the positive marginal effect of good health status increases monotonically and progressively with age. Our results are similar for alternative measures of SWB (life satisfaction and living in misery), and for men and women separately. The age‐related changes in the importance of income and social relationships for SWB found in this paper help to explain the relationship between age and SWB found in previous literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the role of family trajectories during childhood in explaining inequalities by maternal education in children's math and reading skills using harmonized, longitudinal, and nationally representative surveys, which follow children over the course of primary and lower secondary school in four high‐income countries (England, France, Germany, and the United States). As single parenthood and family transitions are more likely among less educated parents and are associated with fewer resources for children, we explore whether growing up outside a stable two‐parent family mediates educational inequalities in math and reading scores. Results show a strong educational gradient in family trajectories in the four countries, but this varies by child age and by country. Children who experience a family transition record lower test scores, although the magnitude differs by the type of postseparation arrangements. Overall, family trajectories are strongly associated with children's math and reading scores but, because of the importance of selectivity in family trajectories, they play only a modest role in explaining the skills gaps by maternal education, considerably less than determinants such as income. The penalties associated with not living within a stable two‐parent family are always larger in the United States and England than in France and Germany. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Addressing the complexities of transitioning to a sustainable bioeconomy, this paper presents a novel approach for developing regional transformation pathways (RTPs) based on narratives derived from the shared socioeconomic pathways. The methodology emphasizes a comprehensive understanding of underlying perspectives and perceptions, incorporating socio‐economic, environmental, and political dimensions. The developed indicator framework captures a balanced representation of diverse interests by integrating insights from stakeholder analyses. The case study in the Rheinisches Revier region, Germany, exemplifies the approach's applicability, providing valuable insights for decision‐making processes in the context of regional transitions toward a low‐carbon economy. The results consist of five developed RTPs, offering a multitude of potential future trajectories of possible directions for regional transformations. Understanding potential pathways and related consequences is crucial for informed decision‐making concerning resource use optimization since transformations of that scale influence the composition of supply chains and resource networks. This informed approach contributes to strategic planning and helps ensure resources are utilized efficiently and sustainably. By emphasizing the crucial role of transparency and reflection of assumptions in addressing the complexities of societal transformation processes, our approach seeks to support the implementation of a sustainable and inclusive bioeconomy at the regional level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To describe activities and professional characteristics of nurses in expanded roles in acute care in Germany and achieve a greater understanding of the current situation of advanced practice nursing. Background: Advanced practice nursing plays an important role in meeting increased demands in healthcare and promoting high‐quality care. Introduction: In Germany, advanced practice nursing is still at an early stage with a lack of studies describing the scope of practice of nurses in expanded roles. Methods: We conducted a cross‐sectional‐study using a paper‐and‐pencil questionnaire. In a nationwide convenience sample, we surveyed nurses with an academic degree, who work in an acute care hospital and take over expanded roles in direct patient care. Reporting followed the STROBE checklist. Results: Of 108 eligible nurses, 84 (77%) completed the survey. The majority had a Master's degree (63.1%) and the average work experience was 18.2 years. Participants carried out activities in all the domains that were queried (direct clinical practice, guidance and coaching, consultation, leadership and research) with differences within and between domains. Foci were on direct clinical practice and coaching and guidance. Discussion: In Germany, qualifications are nearing the international standard of advanced practice nursing. Results suggest that participants partly undertake activities within the scope of registered nurses' practice that do not correspond fully to their formal qualifications. Conclusion and implications for nursing and/or health policy: In order to foster the role development of expanded practice nurses in Germany, political efforts are needed in terms of training (e.g. specific Master's programmes), funding of corresponding positions in practice and control mechanisms (e.g. professional registration). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The massive expansion of English in Germany over the past few decades has not challenged a robustly exonormative orientation, which still by and large recognises standardised British and American English as the most authentic and prestigious representations of the language. Attitudes to the use of English in the national context are diverse, ranging from enthusiastic embracement via grudging acceptance to active resistance. This diversity of opinion reflects the fact that English is currently transitioning from a foreign language (EFL) to a lingua franca (ELF). On the national scale, ELF use is promoted in business, academia and, more generally, among young and well‐educated Germans with an international orientation, but deeply resented by sectors of society. This paper argues that English (in its lingua franca function) has become the only language other than German that has open prestige. The task ahead will be to develop strategies of intelligent multilingualism that will help to 'domesticate' English in the national sociolinguistic context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On the one hand, unemployment is known to have detrimental effects on individuals' mental health. On the other hand, poor mental health reduces re‐employment chances quite drastically, creating a vicious cycle. Active labour market policies (ALMPs) such as training programs or wage subsidies have been shown to ameliorate negative effects on mental health and improve labour market integration on average for the general unemployed population. In the context of individuals with severe mental health issues, however, it is unclear whether these interventions can be expected to deliver similar positive effects. In fact, one may argue that they have the potential to worsen employment prospects of individuals by adding additional stress to their pre‐existing mental health problems. Hence, this paper estimates the long‐term causal effects of ALMPs on the labour market integration of individuals with self‐reported severe mental health issues and compares estimates to individuals without such issues using unique combined survey and administrative data. Effects are estimated using the innovative double machine learning method and show that ALMPs do not only improve labour market integration of unemployed individuals with severe mental health issues, but they do so more effectively than for other unemployed individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Endometriosis affects approximately 10% of women of reproductive age and leads to significant morbidity and financial burden. Consequently, countries such as France and Germany are formulating strategies to combat endometriosis. In this study, we propose the implementation of our three‐dimensional model (3D‐E) to raise awareness about endometriosis and enhance timely diagnosis, treatment, and long‐term care for affected patients. Methods: Based on the adapted Six Sigma Principle and the modified recommendation of Sales et al. for implementing evidence‐based findings into a clinical routine, we first conducted a comprehensive investigation to identify risk factors leading to diagnostic delay of endometriosis. After identifying improvable factors, the applicable options were selected due to defined criteria such as integrability in the clinical routine, cost‐effectiveness, and evidence‐based‐principle. Finally, solutions feasible for health care providers were integrated and the 3D‐E model was established. Results: Some of the main risk factors contributing to diagnostic delays are symptoms acceptance and misinterpreted symptoms, especially if presenting to nongynecologists in cases of extragenital endometriosis with atypical presentation. Therefore, we tried to sensitize colleagues (first dimension) with a review paper in Germany's largest medical journal and started an elective for medical students (second dimension) at our university. In order to involve additional health care professionals in endometriosis care (third dimension), we are preparing the concept of the EndoNurse. Conclusion: The 3D‐E model is a relatively low‐cost, comprehensive, and worldwide adaptable approach for facilitating knowledge transfer, sensitizing health care providers, and improving endometriosis diagnostics and therapy for patients with endometriosis who are in the center of the model. Synopsis: The 3D‐E model could have the potential to be a first step to improve endometriosis awareness and care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: People with aphasia (PWA) frequently experience difficulties in understanding longer written content such as paragraphs or books. Reading strategies are a promising approach to treat text‐level reading comprehension deficits in PWA. Nevertheless, empirical evidence for their efficacy remains rare. Aims: The primary objective of this study was to analyse the efficacy of a strategy‐based intervention on text‐level reading comprehension in PWA. Secondary objectives were to compare the effects of two strategy‐based intervention components and to explore potential moderator effects. Methods & Procedures: A protocol was published prior to data acquisition. In a repeated measures trial, 26 German participants with chronic, post‐stroke aphasia participated in a waiting period without aphasia treatment (control condition) followed by a strategy‐based intervention called 'Strategiebasierte Textverständnis‐Therapie bei Aphasie' (StraTexT, 14 face‐to‐face‐sessions, twice per week, 60 min each). Two strategy combinations, Intervention Micro targeting microstructure and Intervention Macro targeting macrostructure, were applied to newspaper and magazine articles. Participants were randomly allocated to two parallel groups that received these strategy combinations in interchanged sequences. Assessments were implemented before and after each period as well as 3 and 6 months after the intervention. The primary outcome measure was text‐level reading comprehension measured with the total score of a German version of the Test de Compréhension de Textes (TCT‐D). Secondary outcome measures addressed the self‐reported perception of reading abilities, reading activities and feelings about reading (German version of the Comprehensive Assessment of Reading in Aphasia CARA reading questionnaire) as well as selected cognitive functions. Outcomes & Results: The per‐protocol‐analysis included data from 22 participants. We found significant small improvements up to 6 months post‐intervention compared to pre‐intervention in the TCT‐D Total (d = 0.35–0.46) as well as medium to large improvements in the CARA questionnaire (d = 0.68–0.96). Up to 3 months after the intervention, treatment‐induced improvements in the TCT‐D Total were significantly larger than change without treatment during the control condition. There was no evidence of moderator effects. Furthermore, we found improvements in several cognitive functions. Conclusions & Implications: Reading strategies can lead to long‐term improvements in text‐level reading comprehension and in self‐reported reading abilities, feelings about reading and reading activities in aphasia. In regular clinical settings, it seems reasonable to implement both Intervention Micro and Intervention Macro. It remains important to investigate participant characteristics that contribute to treatment success. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: What is already known on the subject: Systematic reviews and multiple case studies suggest that reading strategies are a promising approach to treat text‐level reading comprehension in aphasia. The efficacy of reading strategies has been demonstrated for different populations. However, to date no group study has evaluated the efficacy of reading strategies on text‐level reading comprehension in people with aphasia. What this study adds: This study provides the first group‐level evidence about the efficacy of a systematic strategy‐based intervention in 22 people with post‐stroke chronic aphasia. During 14 treatment sessions, participants applied four reading strategies to newspaper and magazine articles within two intervention components called Intervention Micro and Intervention Macro (two strategies per intervention component). We found improvements in text‐level reading comprehension for at least 3 months post‐intervention, as well as effects on selected cognitive functions and self‐reported reading abilities, thoughts and feelings about reading and the ability to engage in reading activities. What are the clinical implications of this work?: The strategies and materials evaluated in this study could be used in clinical practice with people with aphasia. In order to replicate treatment effects in clinical practice, we suggest applying the strategy combination with the same protocol features (e.g., frequency, duration, homework, product orientation) as in this study, implementing Intervention Micro and Intervention Macro sequentially in either order. As treatment response was not equal in all individuals, it seems important to investigate individual features that contribute to treatment success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Religiosity influences economic behavior in various domains, but what determines religiosity? Using data from the representative Socio‐Economic Panel Study for Germany (SOEP), this paper shows that religious activity increases after a family member's death. The life event's effect is larger after a partner's death when compared to a parent's death. Our results indicate that the influence of a family member's death on religious activity is temporary and are consistent with the religious coping hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fire risk analysis of electric vehicles and internal combustion vehicles in open car parks: part 2: fire safety and reliability analysis In order to counteract climate change, it is necessary to switch from vehicles with combustion engines to electric vehicles. Consequently, an increasing number of electric vehicles can be observed in Germany. In this context, the question arises whether and if how this development influences the fire risks in open car parks. Answers to this question are the subject of a research project under the leadership of the Institute of Steel Construction of Leibniz University Hannover in cooperation with the iBMB, Division of Fire Safety, of TU Braunschweig. In particular, the project is investigating the influence of a fire scenarios with electric vehicles compared to vehicles with combustion engines on the load‐bearing behaviour structure of an open car park. In this paper, the methodological approach to evaluate the fire risk based on a reliability analysis for the load‐bearing structure of these car parks is explained. By means of the reliability analysis, the fire risk assessment procedure is illustrated for the composite beam using exemplary fire scenarios. As a result, it can be concluded from the fire risk analysis that fire scenarios with electric vehicles do not have a higher fire risk than conventional vehicles with combustion engines and fulfil the required safety level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the origins of German banks' risk‐taking in the years preceding the 1931 crisis. The 1920s were marked by a large and prolonged increase in capital flows into Germany, chiefly from the United States and the United Kingdom. This coincided, at the individual bank level, with a rise in leverage and a fall in liquidity. We examine possible connections between the two phenomena. Our analysis is based on a combination of historiographical work and statistical modelling based on a newly hand‐collected bimonthly dataset on German reporting banks from 1925 to 1935. Bank by bank we examine the effects of foreign inflows on decisions related to leverage, lending, and liquidity. The Dawes Plan of 1924 and the relative absence of a too‐big‐to‐fail (TBTF) environment allow us to mitigate endogeneity concerns. We suggest that while capital inflows did not seem to impact banks' liquidity decisions, their impact on leverage was non‐negligeable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Students often show unfavourable attribution: they attribute poor school performance to stable factors such as lack of ability and good school performance to variable factors such as effort. However, attribution can be influenced by individualized digital re‐attributional feedback leading to positive motivational effects and higher learning outcomes. This is very promising, but it still is unclear, whether this digital re‐attributional feedback can also be successfully integrated in everyday classroom activities. Objectives: The present field experiment investigated how integrating digital re‐attributional feedback into classroom instruction affects student attribution, motivation and learning outcomes. Methods: In the experiment, 8th–10th grade high school students (N = 322) worked with a digital mathematics learning program which was integrated in a three‐week teaching unit. Half the students in each classroom received only standard feedback after each practice task (SF group); the other half received additionally an individual re‐attributional feedback (RF group) after every third task. Attribution, mathematics self‐concept, and self‐efficacy were measured by an online questionnaire twice a week; learning outcomes in mathematics were measured weekly. Results and Conclusion: Hierarchical analyses showed that re‐attributional feedback led to a more favourable attribution in case of success on stable factors. Especially low‐performing students benefited from this feedback. No effects on attribution in case of failure, self‐efficacy or learning outcomes could be found. Further research could investigate if certain adaptations to the digital re‐attributional feedback is more effective in a real classroom setting and has a broader impact on different students. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic: Working with computers in the classroom and at home is becoming more common.Re‐attributional feedback can increase student's motivation when given directly after solving a task and at a high density.Digital re‐attributive feedback can be given in a high density.Re‐attributional training sessions have been shown to be effective in individual training sessions or outside the students' classroom. What this paper adds: The study took place within a real teaching environment during mathematics class for 4 weeks.Digital re‐attributional feedback sessions were directly integrated into the students' online learning which was part of the teaching plan. The implications of study findings for practitioners: Computer‐based re‐attributional training show some limited effects in regular classroom instruction and could be well integrated in student online learning—when adapted accordingly.Low‐performing students show less favourable attribution than better‐performing students in case of success and benefit the most from re‐attributional training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

International trade in services has increased significantly in recent decades, mainly due to innovations in information and communication technology. This development has also increased the importance of service offshoring, as companies spread their production processes across several countries. This paper examines the intensity of offshoring of specific tasks of occupations, which in turn leads to higher imports, and explores the impact of such substitution on wages in the home economy. We use micro‐level data from the Occupational Information Network and the Socio‐Economic Panel in Germany and draw on the OECD's Input–Output Database. In total, we used data from about 62,000 person‐years in 45 industries in Germany during 2014–2018. A particular focus of our study is on the interaction between service offshoring and the tradability as well as skill levels of workers. Our main findings suggest that service offshoring itself exerts downward pressure on workers' wages. This effect is amplified by the degree of tradability of the occupations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the COVID‐19 pandemic, national triage guidelines were developed to address the anticipated shortage of life‐saving resources, should ICU capacities be overloaded. Rationing and triage imply that in addition to individual patient interests, interests of population health have to be integrated. The transfer of theoretical and empirical knowledge into feasible and useful practice models and their implementation in clinical settings need to be improved. This paper analyzes how triage protocols could translate abstract theories of distributive justice into concrete material and procedural criteria for rationing intensive care resources during a pandemic. We reconstruct the development and implementation of a rationing protocol at a German university hospital: describing the ethical challenge of triage, clarifying the aspirational norms, and summarizing specific norms of fair triage and allocation for developing an institutional policy and practice model and implementing it. We reflect on how critical topics are seen by clinicians and what helped manage the perceived burdens of the triage dilemma. We analyze what can be learned from this debate regarding the difficult issues around triage protocols and their potential implementation into clinical settings. Analyzing the ought‐to‐is gap of triage, integrating abstract ethical principles into practical concepts, and evaluating those should clarify the benefits and risks of different allocation options. We seek to inform debates on triage concepts and policies to ensure the best possible treatment and fair allocation of resources as well as to help protect patients and professionals in worst‐case scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Towards the end of the Cold War, the vocabulary of global power, space and economy received a qualitative update. Amongst the terms rapidly gaining prominence since the early 1990s has been the notion of geoeconomics, the coining of which has frequently been attributed to the strategist Edward N. Luttwak. In his interpretation, it signified a transition away from Cold War ideological and military geopolitical competition towards commerce and market‐based geo‐power. Over the past three decades, a 'geoeconomics boom' set in, characterised by think tanks and a varied body of politico‐economic literature making extensive use of the term. Conventionally treated as a neologism, the provenance and earlier iterations of geoeconomics, some dating back more than a century, have been largely ignored by both celebratory and critical accounts. In this paper, we trace and contextualise these earlier instances, leading us to the Geopolitik era in Germany and references to geoeconomics in the United States in the decades after WWII. We thereby offer a critical genealogy of geoeconomics, conceptualised as an object of definitional struggle. Proponents of the term sought to position it variously as a tool of national economic cohesion and competition or as a way of understanding and harnessing shifting global power relations, whilst others sought to subsume geoeconomics to geopolitics. These past struggles track forward into ongoing dialectical tensions between geoeconomics and geopolitics as competing but related geostrategic visions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Nibelungen bridge as a pilot project for digitally assisted structural maintenance The construction industry is one of the main consumers of natural resources and contributes significantly to CO2 emissions in Germany with an annual waste volume of 54 %. Therefore, the preservation of existing buildings can make a significant contribution to environmental protection and resource conservation. However, effective monitoring and maintenance concepts are needed to extend the service life of structures while maintaining their stability and functionality. This paper deals with a pilot project in which the Nibelungen Bridge Worms serves as a validation object to develop a new, digitally supported maintenance strategy. First, the bridge and its maintenance history will be presented. Subsequently, the pilot project is put into the context of the DFG priority programme SPP 2388 "Hundert plus". Afterwards, the specific key aspects including geometric modelling, structural health monitoring (SHM), digital twinning, level 4 recalculation and the assessment of detected structural damages are described. Finally, conclusions and outlooks are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental policy integration (EPI), that is, the incorporation of environmental concerns in non‐environmental policy areas, has been widely adopted in public policies. However, EPI research has found much discrepancy between environmental objectives and actual implementation. This paper argues that analyzing EPI in the context of policy mixes with multiple objectives, multiple instruments and their calibrations helps to better understand unavoidable tensions and limitations. We develop a framework to assess EPI at these three levels of policy output, synthesizing the EPI and policy mix literatures. We further distinguish four analytical dimensions to assess calibrations: stringency, specificity, flexibility, and temporality. A case study of the national implementation of the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in Germany 2014–2022 is used to elaborate the conceptual argument. The CAP has saliently incorporated environmental objectives, while implementation, including the calibrations of most instruments within predetermined corridors, is left to member states. A systematic meta‐review of 142 texts evaluating policy instruments and calibrations in the CAP 2014–2022, focusing on Germany, found that several CAP instruments link most farm income support to pro‐environmental behavior. These instruments could potentially have high environmental effectiveness and efficiency. But actual policy calibrations delivered weak EPI due to low stringency and specificity, while high flexibility and temporal accommodation of farmers' needs might support EPI by increasing acceptance. Weak EPI resulted from instrument calibrations in the face of unavoidable trade‐offs between competing objectives. Our results demonstrate that calibrations can significantly affect the strength of EPI adoption, and the priorities within policy mixes more generally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a consequence of increasingly sustainability‐oriented markets, greenwashing (GW) has become a global marketing problem throughout recent years. Previous studies do not differentiate between varying forms of GW when analyzing their effects on consumers' brand attitude but rather use GW as a one‐dimensional condition that either exists or does not exist. This paper explores how different greenwashing practices (GWPs) influence consumers' brand attitudes. We introduce a two‐dimensional typology of GWPs that differentiates between claim‐type (false, vague, or hidden information) and macro‐level of initiation (product and firm level), resulting in six distinct categories of GWPs. We then introduce 315 German participants to the six different GW scenarios in a survey and measure their respective brand attitudes. Our findings reveal that respondents react significantly differently to most GWPs, which implies that if we want to understand the problem of GW from the eyes of consumers, we need to differentiate between various forms of GW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate nursing/midwifery students, Clinical Mentors, Link Teachers and Head Nurses experiences within "Dedicated Education Unit" model in 6 European clinical placements and analyse the necessary elements for a powerful clinical learning environment. Design: A multi‐country, phenomenological, qualitative study. Methods: Focus group interviews were performed to identify the personal and organizational factors of importance for students and nurses/midwives. Results: Data analysis produced 4 main themes (1) Clinical placement organization, (2) students' clinical knowledge and skill acquisition, (3) students, and nurses/midwives' experiences within the DEU model and (4) factors for creating an effective learning environment. Conclusions: A close educational‐service collaboration, a realistic clinical placement planning, a focus on student learning process and an investment in professionals' education and development among others, are elements to set up a powerful clinical learning environment. Implications for the profession: It is considered advisable and urgent to improve the working conditions of nurses/midwives and the learning environments of students as a strategy to alleviate the global shortage of nurses and respond to the increasingly demanding health needs of the population. Impact: Due to the close relationship between students' learning and features of the clinical environment nurse educators seek innovative models which allow students to manage patient care and their transition to professional practice. To implement new learning strategies, identifying students, nurses and midwives perceptions and suggestions is a powerful information to evaluate implementation process and outcomes. Public Contribution: Our findings could help academic and clinical managers to meet the human and organizational requirements to create a successful learning environment in every student placement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While macroinvertebrate dispersal operates at the individual level, predictions of their dispersal capabilities often rely on indirect proxies rather than direct measurements. To gain insight into the dispersal of individual specimens, it is crucial to mark (label) and capture individuals. Isotopic enrichment with 15N is a non‐invasive method with the potential of labelling large quantities of macroinvertebrates. While the analysis of 15N is widely utilised in food web studies, knowledge on the specific utility of isotopic enrichment with 15N for mass labelling of macroinvertebrate individuals across different taxa and feeding types is limited. Previous studies have focused on single species and feeding types, leaving gaps in our understanding of the broader applicability of this method. Therefore, this study aimed to test and compare isotopic mass enrichment across several macroinvertebrate taxa and feeding types. We released 15NH4Cl at five stream reaches in North‐Rhine Westphalia, Germany, and successfully enriched 12 distinct macroinvertebrate taxa (Crustacea and Insecta). Significant enrichment was achieved in active and passive filter feeders, grazers, shredders and predators, and predominantly showed positive correlations with the enrichment of the taxa's main food sources phytobenthos and particulate organic matter. Enrichment levels rose rapidly and peaked at distances between 50 m and 300 m downstream of the isotopic inlet; significant enrichment occurred up to 2000 m downstream of the isotopic inlet in all feeding types. Macroinvertebrate density estimates on the stream bottom averaged to a total of approximately 3.4 million labelled individuals of the 12 investigated taxa, thus showing the high potential of isotopic (15N) enrichment as a non‐invasive method applicable for mass labelling across different macroinvertebrate feeding types. Hence, isotopic enrichment can greatly assist the analysis of macroinvertebrate dispersal through mark‐and‐recapture experiments, as it allows to measure the movement at the level of individual specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To report the interim results of the PERPRISE study (Study 509; NCT04202159), which is evaluating perampanel as the only adjunctive anti‐seizure medication (ASM) in adults with focal to bilateral tonic–clonic seizures (FBTCS) or primary generalized tonic–clonic seizures (GTCS). Methods: PERPRISE is an ongoing 12‐month multicenter, prospective, observational, non‐interventional study of perampanel in a real‐world setting in Germany. Patients are aged ≥18 years with FBTCS or GTCS due to focal or idiopathic generalized epilepsy. Perampanel, as an adjunctive therapy to ASM monotherapy ('add‐on therapy') or as a substitute for one ASM in dual therapy ('substitution therapy'), is prescribed in line with its SmPC. The Interim Analysis Set comprises the first 100 patients who received ≥1 dose of perampanel and attended or discontinued prior to the ~6‐month visit. Interim endpoints include retention rate, measures of effects on seizure frequency, and treatment‐emergent adverse events (TEAEs). Results: One hundred patients were included in the Interim Analysis Set (add‐on, n = 43 [43.0%]; substitution, n = 55 [55.0%]; unknown, n = 2). The 6‐month retention rate was 78.0% (add‐on, 83.7%; substitution, 72.7%). For the overall population with GTCS and/or FBTCS, seizure‐freedom rate at 6 months was 58.8% (add‐on, 72.2%; substitution, 47.9%) and 50% responder rate at 6 months was 82.6% (add‐on, 89.2%; substitution, 76.6%). Retention rates and seizure outcomes were better with perampanel as an early‐line treatment than as a late‐line treatment. TEAEs were reported by 48 patients (48.0%), most commonly dizziness (n = 9), fatigue (n = 7), and irritability (n = 7). Sixteen patients (16.0%) withdrew from perampanel treatment due to TEAEs. Significance: The interim analysis of PERPRISE offers insight into the real‐world use of perampanel in Germany, including for the first time, clinical practice data from patients with GTCS and switching ASMs within a dual therapy. Further data from PERPRISE will be of value to inform clinical decision‐making in this patient cohort. Plain Language Summary: Patients with epilepsy often take more than one medication for seizure control. This 12month study looked at patients in Germany receiving perampanel as only add‐on medication. The interim analysis shows, that at 6 months, over 70% of the 100 patients continued to use perampanel; 59% experienced no seizures during treatment with perampanel, and in 83%, seizure frequency was reduced by half. Side effects occurred in 48% of patients (most commonly dizziness, fatigue, and irritability) and caused 16% to withdraw from the study. Overall, perampanel was a suitable as only add‐on medication for patients with epilepsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Wilms tumor (WT) is the most common childhood kidney cancer. It is a rapid growing embryonal tumor in young children and can be diagnosed with and without tumor related symptoms. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the route to diagnosis of WT treated prospectively according to the SIOP 93‐01/GPOH and 2001/GPOH in Germany between 1993 and 2022. Four routes were defined: diagnosis due to tumor‐related symptoms, incidental diagnosis during another disease, diagnosis by preventive examinations, and diagnosis within a surveillance program. For these groups we compared clinical and tumor characteristics and outcome. Results: Of 2549 patients with WT 1822 (71.5%) were diagnosed by tumor‐related symptoms, 472 (18.5%) incidentally, 213 (8.4%) by preventive medical examinations, and 42 (1.6%) by surveillance. Age, general health status, tumor volume, and local and overall stage varied significantly between these groups. The youngest patients were those diagnosed by preventive medical examination (mean: 1.70 years). These patients also showed the best general health status. Tumor volume at diagnosis (549 mL) and after preoperative chemotherapy (255 mL) was significantly higher for children with tumor‐related symptoms. The highest percentage of local stage I (78.6%) and the lowest percentage of metastatic disease (4.8%) was found in the surveillance group. The outcome of patients was not significantly different, with up to 19.0% relapses in the surveillance group and 3.0% deaths in the group with tumor‐related symptoms. Conclusion: The route to diagnosis of WT correlates with age, general health status, tumor volume, and stage distribution, but does not impact the outcome of patients. Nonetheless, diagnosis without tumor related symptoms results in lower treatment burden and thus improved quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To establish the life expectancy burden of esophago‐gastric cancer by analyzing years of life lost (YLL) for a Western patient population after treatment of early esophageal (EAC) or early gastric (GAC) adenocarcinoma. Background: For patients with early EAC or GAC, the short‐term prognosis after surgical resection is very good. Little data is available regarding long‐term prognosis when compared to the general population. Methods: Two hundred and fourteen patients with pT1 EAC (n = 112) or GAC (n = 102) were included in the study. Patients with EAC underwent transthoracic en‐bloc esophagectomy; those with GAC had total or subtotal gastrectomy with D2‐lymphadenectomy. Surviving patients had a median follow‐up of approximately 14 years. YLL was calculated using average life expectancy data from Germany. Results: Patients with EAC were younger (median age 61 years) than those with GAC (66 years) (p = 0.031). The male:female ratio was 10:1 for EAC and 3:2 for GAC (p < 0.001). Multivariate survival analysis showed the age of the patients ≥60 years and the existence of lymph node metastasis was associated with poor prognosis. The median YLL for all patients who died over follow‐up was 8.0 years. For patients under 60 years, it was approximately 20 years, and for older patients, approximately 5 years (p < 0.001) without difference in tumor stage between these age cohorts. YLL did not differ for GAC vs. EAC. Conclusion: After surgical resection, the prognostic burden as measured by YLL is relevant for all patients with early esophageal and gastric adenocarcinomas and especially for younger patients. Reasons for YLL need further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hippoboscid flies are bloodsucking arthropods that can transmit pathogenic microorganisms and are therefore potential vectors for pathogens such as Bartonella spp. These Gram‐negative bacteria can cause mild‐to‐severe clinical signs in humans and animals; therefore, monitoring Bartonella spp. prevalence in louse fly populations appears to be a useful prerequisite for zoonotic risk assessment. Methods: Using convenience sampling, we collected 103 adult louse flies from four ked species (Lipoptena cervi, n = 22; Lipoptena fortisetosa, n = 61; Melophagus ovinus, n = 12; Hippobosca equina, n = 8) and the pupae of M. ovinus (n = 10) in the federal state of Saxony, Germany. All the samples were screened by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for Bartonella spp. DNA, targeting the citrate synthase gene (gltA). Subsequently, PCRs targeting five more genes (16S, ftsZ, nuoG, ribC and rpoB) were performed for representatives of revealed gltA genotypes, and all the PCR products were sequenced to identify the Bartonella (sub)species accurately. Results and Conclusions: The overall detection rates for Bartonella spp. were 100.0%, 59.1%, 24.6% and 75.0% in M. ovinus, L. cervi, L. fortisetosa and H. equina, respectively. All the identified bartonellae belong to the Bartonella schoenbuchensis complex. Our data support the proposed reclassification of the (sub)species status of this group, and thus we conclude that several genotypes of B. schoenbuchensis were detected, including Bartonella schoenbuchensis subsp. melophagi and Bartonella schoenbuchensis subsp. schoenbuchensis, both of which have previously validated zoonotic potential. The extensive PCR analysis revealed the necessity of multiple PCR approach for proper identification of the ruminant‐associated bartonellae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reach their net‐zero targets, countries will have to compensate hard‐to‐abate CO2 emissions through carbon dioxide removal (CDR). Yet, current assessments rarely include socio‐cultural or institutional aspects or fail to contextualize CDR options for implementation. Here we present a context‐specific feasibility assessment of CDR options for the example of Germany. We assess 14 CDR options, including three chemical carbon capture options, six options for bioenergy combined with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), and five options that aim to increase ecosystem carbon uptake. The assessment addresses technological, economic, environmental, institutional, social‐cultural and systemic considerations using a traffic‐light system to evaluate implementation opportunities and hurdles. We find that in Germany CDR options like cover crops or seagrass restoration currently face comparably low implementation hurdles in terms of technological, economic, or environmental feasibility and low institutional or social opposition but show comparably small CO2 removal potentials. In contrast, some BECCS options that show high CDR potentials face significant techno‐economic, societal and institutional hurdles when it comes to the geological storage of CO2. While a combination of CDR options is likely required to meet the net‐zero target in Germany, the current climate protection law includes a limited set of options. Our analysis aims to provide comprehensive information on CDR hurdles and possibilities for Germany for use in further research on CDR options, climate, and energy scenario development, as well as an effective decision support basis for various actors. Plain Language Summary: Countries aiming to achieve net‐zero emissions will have to remove the remaining carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through carbon dioxide removal (CDR). However, current assessments of CDR options rarely consider socio‐cultural or institutional aspects or set the CDR options in the specific context of their implementation. In this study, researchers conducted the first context‐specific feasibility assessment of CDR options in Germany, considering six dimensions, including technological, economic, environmental, institutional, and social‐cultural aspects. The study assessed 14 CDR options, including chemical carbon capture options, bioenergy combined with carbon capture and storage, and options to increase ecosystem carbon uptake. The study found that CDR options like cover crops or seagrass restoration face low implementation hurdles but have small CO2 removal potentials, while options like woody‐biomass combustion or mixed‐feedstock biogas production have high CDR potentials but face large economic and institutional hurdles. The analysis aims to provide comprehensive information on CDR options for use in further research and as an effective decision support basis for a range of actors. Key Points: More context‐specific assessments of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) options are needed to guide national net‐zero decision makingEcosystem‐based CDR options with comparably low implementation hurdles in Germany show relatively small CO2 removal potentialsHigh CDR potential options in Germany face high institutional, technological and societal hurdles linked in many ways to geological storage [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Similarities and differences between the features related to the productivity of onshore and offshore wind energy are developed with the aid of information theory techniques complemented by normal statistics. The data comes from the 13‐year period between 2010 and 2022 for the registered turbines in Germany (practically all). The information content of the generated power is dynamically measured by the mutability of the files storing the information. Monthly statistics show that in spite of the Summer months being relatively unproductive, the corresponding mutability shows the possibility of making use of short periods of intermediate productivity in the case of offshore plants. Favorable conditions for wind energy generation in Wintertime are reached for both onshore and offshore production, although the latter is favored. More homogeneity and stability in the data are still necessary to generalize algorithms, protocols, and criteria. This general study shows the success of the information theory techniques in describing wind ramps. Applications to specific zones could improve the efficiency and capacity factor of particular wind turbines depending on their exposure to wind streams or the blocking of nearby mountains and forestry. The information theory techniques presented here allow for a different and novel viewpoint to detect favorable and unfavorable wind energy periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work assesses pathways towards a net‐zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions chemical industry sector in Germany until 2050, focusing on the ammonia, methanol, ethylene and adipic acid subsectors and the effect of the recycling of C embedded in chemical end products on the GHG abatement cost and primary resource demand. This was done using a bottom‐up mathematical optimization model, including the energy sectors and the chemicals sector, with electricity and biobased options considered. Results show that net‐zero GHG emissions for the considered chemicals in 2050 are attainable at a marginal cost of 640–900 €/tCO2‐eq, even with 26%–36% of demand being satisfied by fossil production routes. This is possible because renewable organic chemicals can act as carbon sinks if, at their end of life, C is permanently stored via landfilling or passed on to the next value chain via recycling. Nonetheless, considering the cost implications, the practical deployment of renewable chemicals is a challenge. The considered renewable chemicals cost 1.3–8 times more than their fossil counterparts, resulting in a marginal CO2 price of 480 €/tCO2‐eq when all primary resources (energy crops, forest residues and renewable electricity) are considered, or 810 €/tCO2‐eq when the availability of arable land is restricted. In the transition to net‐zero emissions for the chemicals under study, a circular economy is important not only for reducing demand for primary resources as is typically the case but also reduces GHG abatement costs by 13%–24% through carbon capture and utilization effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five years after a German study on insect biomass described a multi‐decade decline in nature protected habitats, the DINA (Diversity of Insects in Nature protected Areas) project has investigated the status of insects in 21 selected nature reserves across Germany in the years 2020 and 2021. We used the same methods and protocols for trapping and measuring the biomass of flying insects as in the earlier study. Across two vegetation periods, we accumulated a comprehensive data set of 1621 data points of two‐week emptying intervals to evaluate the insect biomass along gradients from arable land into nature reserves through transects of Malaise traps. On average, we observed an increase in maximum insect biomass per day along the transect from the edge to the centre of the nature reserve. Overall, the measured insect biomass remained at low levels, consistent with previous findings from the years 2007–2016. There were no significant regional differences. The results show that protected habitats have higher insect biomass compared to farmland and are therefore essential for insects but are unlikely to be sufficient to sustain insect biodiversity. Further measures need to be taken for better protection and sustainment of insects, which fulfil key functions in all terrestrial ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) is a safe procedure performed in diagnostic work‐up of cardiac disease. Hypothesis: Data regarding temporal trends of total numbers, characteristics, in‐hospital outcomes, and complications of patients undergoing EMB are sparse. Methods: The nationwide German inpatient sample (2005–2019) was used for this analysis. Patient cases of EBM during the 5‐year cycles from 2005 to 2009, 2010 to 2014, and 2015 to 2019 were compared, and temporal trends regarding total numbers and presumable major and minor EMB‐associated complications were investigated. Results: Overall, 67 745 EMB were performed in Germany 2005–2019. Total number of EMB increased from 3083 in 2005 to 5646 in 2019 (β 0.40 [95% confidence interval [CI] 0.37–0.43], p <.001). Among these EMB, 19 083 (28.2%) were performed during the period 2005–2009, 22 867 (33.7%) 2010–2014, and 25 795 (38.1%) between 2015 and 2019. The proportion of patients aged ≥70 years was highest 2015–2019 (2005–2009: 9.3%; 2010–2014: 13.8%; 2015–2019: 16.1%, p <.001) and the most aggravated comorbidity profile (Charlson Comorbidity Index 2.25 ± 1.93; 2.67 ± 2.14; 3.01 ± 2.29, p <.001) was also detected 2015–2019. Major complications occurred less often in the period 2015–2019 compared to 2005–2009 (odds ratio [OR] 0.921 [95% CI 0.893–0.950], p <.001), whereas minor complications were more frequently observed between 2015 and 2019 (OR 1.067 [95% CI 1.042–1.093], p <.001). While a decrease in major complications was detected irrespective of age, an increase in minor complications was identified only in patients between 30–59 years. Conclusions: Annual numbers of EMB increased significantly in Germany 2005–2019. Patients who underwent EMB in recent years were older and showed an aggravated comorbidity profile accompanied by fewer major complications, underscoring safety of the procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Starting in the 1990s in the United States, individuals with lived experience of mental health crises and recovery have been employed as peer support workers (PSWs) internationally. However, the implementation of PSW in clinical contexts remains challenging. Methods: This manuscript presents and discusses the methodological framework of the ImpPeer‐Psy5 study on the PSW implementation in the German mental healthcare sector. This study used a mixed‐methods and collaborative research approach, as well as participatory research strategies. After describing the study design, populations, teamwork and assessments, the epistemic challenges of its methodological framework will be critically discussed and how it has iteratively shaped the object of study. Discussion and Practical Implications: The healthcare, policy and funding context of PSW implementation as well as the study's methodological framework have differently influenced the ways in which the implementation of PSW has been conceived in this study. The choice of a collaborative or participatory methodological framework is advised to better align research questions and procedures to the specific needs and challenges of PSWs and other stakeholders concerned with PSW implementation. Patient and Public Contribution: The research team of the ImpPeer‐Psy5 study was collaboratively staffed by a portion of researchers who also identify as users or survivors of psychiatric services. A nonprofit organization for the training of PSWs served as a practice partner throughout the research process. Different participatory formats involve a significant number of diverse stakeholders relevant to PSW implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is unpredictable and can severely impair patients' quality of life. Patients with CSU need a convenient, user‐friendly platform to complete patient‐reported outcome measures (PROMs) on their mobile devices. CRUSE®, the Chronic Urticaria Self Evaluation app, aims to address this unmet need. Methods: CRUSE® was developed by an international steering committee of urticaria specialists. Priorities for the app based on recent findings in CSU were defined to allow patients to track and record their symptoms and medication use over time and send photographs. The CRUSE® app collects patient data such as age, sex, disease onset, triggers, medication, and CSU characteristics that can be sent securely to physicians, providing real‐time insights. Additionally, CRUSE® contains PROMs to assess disease activity and control, which are individualised to patient profiles and clinical manifestations. Results: CRUSE® was launched in Germany in March 2022 and is now available for free in 17 countries. It is adapted to the local language and displays a country‐specific list of available urticaria medications. English and Ukrainian versions are available worldwide. From July 2022 to June 2023, 25,710 observations were documented by 2540 users; 72.7% were females, with a mean age of 39.6 years. At baseline, 93.7% and 51.3% of users had wheals and angioedema, respectively. Second‐generation antihistamines were used in 74.0% of days. Conclusions: The initial data from CRUSE® show the wide use and utility of effectively tracking patients' disease activity and control, paving the way for personalised CSU management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Free play is a natural activity in toddlerhood, depending on environmental conditions like available objects and the social environment. The COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences for parents' mental health held the potential to change toddlers' play environment. This cross-sectional study investigated 2-year-olds' (N = 97) free play with objects, and aspects of caregiver mental well-being in three cohorts during the pandemic in Germany. Caregivers reported their positive mental health (PMH), threat perception, perception of current family situation from negative to positive, and workload. We categorized toddlers' behavior in free play sessions in their homes with a fixed set of objects through behavioral coding. Play behavior did not differ between cohorts and did not correlate with caregivers' positive mental health, threat perception, and perception of family situation. A MANOVA revealed a significant main effect of cohort on PMH, threat perception and perception of family situation, qualified by two discriminant functions. Full sample analyses revealed that toddlers of caregivers perceiving a workload increase compared to the time before the pandemic showed less pretend play, and less functional and nonfunctional play. The results provide insights into 2-year-olds' play behavior during a global pandemic and highlight the role of caregiver availability for children's play., (© 2024 The Authors. Infancy published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Congress of Infant Studies.)

Aim: A substantial gap between young people's need for mental health care services and their actual access to such services led worldwide organizations (e.g., the WHO) to recommend the implementation of early intervention programs and youth mental health services. Some countries around the world have established structures to meet this recommendation. In this paper, we describe soulspace as the first integrated youth mental health service for young people aged between 15 and 35 years in Berlin, Germany., Methods: We introduce soulspace as easily accessible mental health care for young people, and we characterize soulspace along the lines of the internationally established eight key principles of integrated youth mental health services (Killackey, et al., 2020, World Economic Forum). Soulspace is a cooperation between clinical outpatient units of psychiatric clinics for adolescents and young adults as well as a community-based counselling service. It provides initial contact, counselling, diagnostics, and treatment., Results: Our analyses of the pathways to soulspace and the characteristics of the soulspace users suggest that the low threshold is a facilitator to help finding for young people in comparison to more conventional early intervention models. That is, having transferred the early intervention center in a youth-facing counselling service as was done in soulspace seems to have reduced the threshold to seek help for families and for young people in need for support., Conclusions: In summary, with soulspace, an easily accessible mental health care service was established that integrates counselling and specialized psychiatric treatment if needed., (© 2024 The Authors. Early Intervention in Psychiatry published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)

In 1936, Bruno Schulz published the first detailed, book-length review of the methodology of psychiatric genetic research, based on his experiences at the German Research Institute of Psychiatry. Emphasis is placed on proper selection of relatives and the ascertainment corrections required for Mendelian transmission models. Twin studies are considered as is the impact of reduced fertility on patterns of risk. For the field work, Schulz emphasizes the importance of trust-building, confidentiality, collateral informants, and the use of medical and other administrative records, all ideally stored in personal files. Several methods of age-correction are reviewed. Schulz provides detailed algebraic treatments of these and other problems, including tests for etiologic homogeneity, with worked examples. He emphasizes two fundamental concerns in psychiatric genetics research: (i) its inter-dependency with the optimal diagnostic boundaries, which are rarely known and (ii) the genetic homogeneity of clinical samples. Given these problems, he is pessimistic about finding Mendelian transmission patterns. He assesses the predominant 19th-century method of psychiatric genetic investigation-"hereditary burden"-to be crude and biased by family size. Although written at a time of consolidation of Nazi power in Germany, this book nowhere endorses their racial/eugenic policies and can be seen as subtly questioning them., (© 2023 The Authors. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)