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Abstract: To evaluate scenic quality and for visual impact assessment, empirical data on landscape perception and preference are needed. Traditional means of data acquisition in perception research and public participation (on-site studies and photograph-based surveys) have serious disadvantages, for example, high costs or difficulties in participant accessibility. One possible solution for these problems is the use of the Internet for visual landscape assessment, which is described concerning its methodology and which is empirically tested in Germany regarding the influence of technical, methodological, demographic and motivational factors on dropout, response time and evaluation results. The reliability of the online survey is tested by using the test–retest-method and the split-half-method. The acquired data''s validity is analysed by comparing the records gathered in the World Wide Web with data collected during an on-site survey and a traditional colour print-based questionnaire. In this study, scenic quality assessment is only influenced to a very small degree by demographic and motivational factors and fully independent of the technical and methodological configuration of the Internet questionnaire. According to the results of this study, the scenic quality categories of visual variety, beauty, visual naturalness as well as overall scenic quality can be validly recorded on the Internet, while the assessment of a landscape''s peculiarity/typicality cannot be done online without further background knowledge on the landscapes presented. Limits, potentials and possible applications of online scenic quality assessment are discussed. Most of the general advantages of web experiments could be realized within the online scenic quality evaluation, which should encourage scientists and practitioners to further use and develop the method presented. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Discusses the `too-big-to-fail' doctrine and the stability of the banking system. Description of the German approach of indirect deposit insurance through a liquidity bank; Comparison of industrialized countries with regard to deposit insurance schemes, banking structures and methods of handling a banking crisis; Transferability of the German Likobank approach.

The article discusses the problem of early retirement pensions in Germany being paid to those who are unemployable or somewhat employment impaired. The applicable law is cited, followed by a discussion of the problematic meaning of the "labor market." Criticism of judicial rulings respecting the law are presented, and legal reforms are suggested regarding early retirement eligibility.

Objectives: comparison of diagnostic, clinical and therapeutic features and their predictive value for the outcome of encopresis in children and adolescents., Methods: 85 children and adolescents (aged 9.6 +/- 3.2 years) with severe encopresis (ICD 10: F98.1) were investigated during inpatient treatment and 35 of them again 5.5 +/- 1.8 years later. Mentally retarded patients were excluded. Inpatient therapy consisted of treating constipation and/or stool regulation by means of laxatives, behavioural approaches, and the specific therapy of comorbid psychiatric disorders., Results: During inpatient treatment 22% of the patients experienced total remission, 8% an unchanged persistence of symptoms. Of the 35 patients studied at follow-up 5.5 years later, 40% were symptom-free. As main result, prognostic outcome depended significantly on sufficient treatment of obstipation. Another important factor was the specific therapeutic approach to psychiatric comorbidity, especially to ADHD. The outcome for patients with comorbid ICD 10: F43 was significantly better than for the other patients. Those who were symptom-free at discharge had significantly better long-term outcomes., Conclusions: Decisive to the success of encopresis treatment were the stool regulation and the specific therapy of associated psychiatric illnesses, in particular of ADHD. Inpatient treatment revealed significantly better long-term outcomes where total remission had been achieved by the time of discharge from hospital.