Search

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]

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]

In the present paper, the fracture toughness of a polyurethane (PUR) foam (manufactured by Necumer GmbH, Germany, under the commercial designation Necuron 651) is experimentally and numerically investigated in order to examine its dependence on the specimen sizes. As a matter fact, to the best knowledge of the present authors, such an analysis is still missing in the technical literature. To perform the experimental campaign, notched PUR foam beams, with different geometrical sizes, are tested under three‐point bending loading, and the Modified Two‐Parameter Model (recently proposed by some of the present authors) is employed to measure the fracture toughness. Subsequently, such an experimental campaign is numerically simulated by applying a micromechanical model, implemented in a non‐linear finite element homemade code. Finally, the results obtained are compared with some experimental data available in the literature, related to the same PUR foam. Highlights: The fracture toughness of a polyurethane foam is experimentally investigated.Notched PUR foam beams, with different sizes, are tested under three‐point bending.The Modified Two‐Parameter Model is employed to measure the fracture toughness.A numerical simulation is performed with a non‐linear finite element model.The results are compared with some experimental data available in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper contributes to the literature evaluating the performance of local governments by analyzing the effect of local public expenditures on sports facilities on sports participation in Germany. To this end, we use a new data base containing public expenditures at the municipality level and link this information with individual level data. We form locally weighted averages of expenditures based on geographic distances and analyze how effects of sports facility expenditures change with different expenditures levels ("dose‐response relationship"). We find no effect of sports facility expenditures on individual sports participation. These findings are robust across age groups and municipality sizes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An important aspect of rainfall estimation is to accurately capture extreme events. Commercial microwave links (CMLs) can complement weather radar and rain gauge data by estimating path‐averaged rainfall intensities near ground. Our aim with this paper was to investigate attenuation induced complete loss of signal (blackout) in the CML data. This effect can occur during heavy rain events and leads to missing extreme values. We analyzed 3 years of attenuation data from 4,000 CMLs in Germany and compared it to a weather radar derived attenuation climatology covering 20 years. We observed that the average CML experiences 8.5 times more blackouts than we would have expected from the radar derived climatology. Blackouts did occur more often for longer CMLs (e.g., >10 km) despite their increased dynamic range. Therefore, both the hydrometeorological community and network providers can consider our analysis to develop mitigation measures. Plain Language Summary: Commercial microwave links (CMLs) are used to transmit information between towers of cellphone networks. If there is rainfall along the transmission path, the signal level is attenuated. By comparing the transmitted and received signal levels, the average rainfall intensity along the path can be estimated. If the attenuation is too strong, no signal is received, no information can be transmitted and no rainfall estimate is available. This is unfavorable both for network stability and rainfall estimation. In this study, we investigated the frequency of such blackouts in Germany. How many blackouts per year are observed in a 3 year CML data set covering around 4,000 link paths and how many are expected from 20 years of weather radar data? We observed that the average CML experiences 8.5 times more blackouts than we would have expected from the radar derived climatology. Blackouts did occur more often for long CMLs, which was an unexpected finding. While only one percent of the annual rainfall amount is missed during blackouts, the probability that a blackout occurs was very high for high rain rates. Both, the hydrometeorological community and network providers can consider our analysis to develop mitigation measures. Key Points: Complete loss of commercial microwave link (CML) signals during heavy rain leads to missing rainfall extremesMagnitude of observed blackouts exceeds climatologically expected valuesUnexpectedly, longer CMLs experience more blackouts [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A quarter of a century after Germany's reunification, Eastern Germans still earn substantially less than Western Germans. This paper revisits the German wage differential and isolates the effect of differing returns to human capital endowments, the possibility of a location effect, and human capital depreciation on the regional wage gap. While the endowment effect, location effect, and human capital depreciation jointly account for the wage differential between Easterners and Westerners living in the West, the same does not hold true for individuals settled in the East, where part of the wage gap remains unexplained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of radical innovations for the economy has received increasing attention by German policy‐makers. This paper investigates how (un‐)related variety and external linkages influence these innovations in German labour market regions. Evidence is found that related and unrelated knowledge capabilities both support the emergence of radical innovations, although strong related capabilities are especially important. External linkages have an inverted u‐shape relation to radically new ideas and can act as substitute for missing unrelated competences in a region. The results shed new light on the emergence of radical innovations and thus have interesting scientific and practical implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the relationship between Big Five personality traits and individuals' intentions to migrate in countries that vary in their culture. Using data collected from university students in Germany, we find that extraversion and openness are positively associated with migration intentions, while agreeableness, conscientiousness, and emotional stability negatively relate to migration intentions. Openness positively and extraversion negatively relate to the willingness to move to culturally distant countries after controlling for geographic distance and economic differences between countries. Extravert and conscientious individuals are less likely to prefer linguistically distant countries contrary to agreeable individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The decision, whether to undergo fertility preservation or not is highly demanding for cancer patients. Decision aids may act as an additional source of support. So far, only a limited number of decision aids regarding fertility preservation for female cancer patients exist and have been evaluated systematically. This paper presents the results of secondary analyses of the first randomized controlled trial evaluating an online decision aid for female cancer patients affected by different types of cancer. It focuses on fertility‐related knowledge, attitude toward fertility preservation, and long‐term effectiveness regarding decisional regret. Material and methods: Young female cancer patients between 18 and 40 years of age were recruited after fertility counseling with a reproductive specialist. They were assigned to either the control group (counseling only) or the intervention group (counseling followed by the additional use of the decision aid). Both groups had to complete a questionnaire after counseling as well as 1 and 12 months later, covering topics such as fertility‐related knowledge, attitude towards fertility preservation, decisional conflict and regret. Recruitment was ongoing during 18 months in eight fertility centers located in Switzerland and Germany. Results: Mean age of participating women was 29.31 years (SD 4.57). Of the entire sample (n = 51) 53% were affected with breast cancer, 27.4% with lymphoma, and 19.6% with various other types of cancer. Knowledge regarding the most common fertility preservation methods was high and comparable in both groups. Positive attitude significantly exceeded negative attitude among all participants (p = 0.001). Although the altogether low scores for decisional regret were on a higher level in the control group (T2: mean = 19.00, SD = 13.24; T3: mean = 22.0, SD = 20.67) than in the intervention group (T2: mean = 14.12, SD = 11.07; T3: mean = 12.94, SD = 13.24), there were no statistically significant differences between and within both groups. There was a positive association between decisional conflict and decisional regret at T3 (p = 0.001, r = 0.510). Conclusions: This decision aid was suitable as an additional source of knowledge and may positively impact decisional regret in the long term. Results suggest that the provision of an online decision aid as a complement to fertility counseling may facilitate decision‐making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses the quasi‐experimental setting of the 2004 EU enlargement, as well as town‐level data along the affected German border, to estimate the effect of economic integration on border town population development. Using a difference‐in‐differences approach, we find that the accession has had a significant positive effect on the rate of population change after 2004. However, this does not offset the, generally, poorer population development of border towns compared to interior towns. Moreover, the integration effect appears to strongly depend on initial local conditions. No effects were found for Polish towns on the opposite side of the border. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers Habermas' model of a post‐secular political order in the light of the debate on male circumcision that arose in Germany after a court ruled that male circumcision was an unjustifiable act of bodily harm. Central to this model is the idea that religious reasons can only become effective in central legal institutions when they are translated into secular reasons. My paper demonstrates that there are two distinguishable readings of this proviso. On the one hand, there is a broad reading according to which it is only necessary to reach a conclusion that is in line with the democratic principle stating that all citizens can be regarded as co‐legislators even if non‐generalizable value orientations might then shape the interpretation of fundamental rights (in the case of circumcision, the right to bodily integrity). On the other hand, a truly secular (narrow) reading would avoid the inclusion of non‐generalizable value orientations. The debate on circumcision demonstrates that these two interpretations lead to different and conflicting modes of justification. The broad reading allows for a justification of male circumcision, whereas the narrow reading makes such a justification unlikely. In addition, the filtering function of the proviso is weakened in a broad reading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the mutual impact channels of Germany's major regional policy instrument (GRW) on regional economic development. Different from earlier studies which have predominately focused on a partial assessment of output effects, we explicitly endogenize the factor inputs of the underlying production function. This allows us to comprehensively assess the role of the GRW in driving per capita output, employment, human and physical capital intensities as well as the region's technological growth. The results from a spatial panel vector autoregressive model show that GRW funding has significant positive effects on regional output, the employment rate and human capital intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Female labour force participation (FLFP) increased significantly in the 20th century. Nevertheless, there are persisting spatial differences in FLFP. Using data from Germany, this paper demonstrates that regional differences in the degree of industrialization in the 1920s explain spatial variation in FLFP at that time and almost 100 years later. The latter finding is not explained by persisting industry structures. Additionally, there is evidence that regions with historically high FLFP have a higher social acceptance of working women. Together these results suggest that policies to increase FLFP should account for the historical context of each region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regional governments' discretion in allocating structural funds is limited by the competences of the European Commission to control fiscal activities of decentralized governments. Regional political behaviour and the complexity of the implementation process shape the policy outcome. Who benefits from structural funds? In this paper, we analyse implementation of ERDF funds in East Germany in the financial perspective 2007 to 2013. We find that less rural regions and some economic sectors benefit by more than others. A few beneficiaries control the highest share of the funds. The Gini coefficients vary by group of actor and show high inequality in the distribution of the funds. This indicates that a few actors have better access to the funds than others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the evolution of geographical concentration in German manufacturing and service sectors over a long time period. Drawing on detailed plant data of 187 industries from 1980 to 2010, we corroborate previous studies and observe substantial concentrations in both sectors. However, we also document a secular trend of deconcentration over three decades, even in knowledge‐intensive industries. By constructing counterfactual distributions, we show that the underlying mechanisms differ across sectors. Dispersion of manufacturing industries is driven by closing or contracting plants within industrial agglomerations, while dispersion of the service sector is fostered by the creation of new plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seasonal prediction is one important element in a seamless prediction chain between weather forecasts and climate projections. After several years of development in collaboration with Universität Hamburg and Max Planck Institute for Meteorology, the Deutscher Wetterdienst performs operational seasonal forecasts since 2016 with the German Climate Forecast System, now in Version 2 (GCFS2.0). Here, the configuration of the previous system GCFS1.0 and the current GCFS2.0 are described and the performance of the two systems is compared over the common hindcast period of 1990–2014. In GCFS2.0, the forecast skill is improved compared to GCFS1.0 during boreal winter, especially for the Northern Hemisphere where the Pearson correlation has increased for the North Atlantic Oscillation index. Overall, a similar performance of GCFS2.0 in comparison to GCFS1.0 is assessed during the boreal summer. Future developments for climate forecasts need a stronger focus on the performance of interannual variability in a model system. Plain Language Summary: Information about the expected departure from the "normal" climatic conditions of an upcoming season would be tremendously valuable for many sectors of society. In Germany, three institutes join their expertise to build a climate forecast system using the Earth system model of the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology. This model describes the atmosphere, land and rivers as well as the ocean and sea ice. The model describes their interactions and is well designed for climate studies on a much longer timescale than a season. Max Planck Institute for Meteorology, Universität Hamburg and the German Meteorological Service Deutscher Wetterdienst have developed the methods those are necessary for such a forecast system and operationally perform the seasonal predictions. This paper compares two versions of our forecast system. The forecast quality during different seasons is particularly investigated. The expectation that the second model system is much better than the first system is not entirely fulfilled. We discuss possible reasons and suggest a stronger focus on the model quality for interannual variability for future model development. Key Points: A climate forecast system is developed on the basis of a coupled climate modelThe comparison of the first to the second version shows improvements in North Atlantic Oscillation forecasts. Forecast skill in tropical regions is not improved [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents evidence for a limnological response to the Laacher See eruption (LSE) as detected in lake sediments from Nahe, northern Germany. The sediment section of the Allerød period dating to between 13 422 and 12 708 cal. a BP is preserved in annual laminations. Within this section, the LSE was identified as a cryptotephra layer (12 944±44 cal. a BP). Microfacies analysis, continuous high‐resolution geochemical measurements and pollen analyses enabled a high‐resolution reconstruction of environmental change. The older part of the Allerød (c. 13 422 to 12 943 cal. a BP) was characterized by relatively stable sedimentation conditions. Evidence for windier conditions dating to c. 13 160 to 13 080 cal. a BP probably reflects the Gerzensee oscillation. Pronounced changes of the lake sedimentation followed the LSE. Four unusually thick varves with increased amounts of allochthonous material indicate serious disturbance of the local environment immediately after the LSE, related to increased storminess and/or the occurrence of high intensity rainfall events. A pronounced reduction of biogenic silica accumulation for c. 60 years after the LSE could reflect a period of acidification. Indications of a simultaneous lake level increase until c. 60 years after the LSE are in line with the supposed reduced evapotranspiration associated with cooler conditions. About 120 years after the LSE, increased oxygen access at the lake bottom, allochthonous input and Cl fluxes point to an onset of increasingly stronger westerly winds, probably as a long‐term response to the LSE. This supports the idea of a southward shift of the mid‐latitude westerlies wind system within the interval between the LSE and the beginning of the Younger Dryas. The pace of the southwards shift of this wind system decreased from 10 km a−1 in the initial phase (40–120 years after LSE) to 6 km a−1 in the later phase (120–200 years after LSE). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Recent observations linked coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) to thromboembolic complications possibly mediated by increased blood coagulability and inflammatory endothelial impairment. We aimed to define the risk of acute stroke in patients with severe and non‐severe COVID‐19. Methods: We performed an observational, multicenter cohort study in four participating hospitals in Saxony, Germany to characterize consecutive patients with laboratory‐confirmed COVID‐19 who experienced acute stroke during hospitalization. Furthermore, we conducted a systematic review using PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library and bibliographies of identified papers following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses guidelines including data from observational studies of acute stroke in COVID‐19 patients. Data were extracted by two independent reviewers and pooled with multicenter data to calculate risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for acute stroke related to COVID‐19 severity using a random‐effects model. Between‐study heterogeneity was assessed using Cochran's Q and I2 statistics. International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews registration number: CRD42020187194. Results: Of 165 patients hospitalized for COVID‐19 (49.1% males, median age = 67 years [57–79 years], 72.1% severe or critical) included in the multicenter study, overall stroke rate was 4.2% (95% CI: 1.9–8.7). Systematic literature search identified two observational studies involving 576 patients that were eligible for meta‐analysis. Amongst 741 pooled COVID‐19 patients, overall stroke rate was 2.9% (95% CI: 1.9–4.5). Risk of acute stroke was increased for patients with severe compared to non‐severe COVID‐19 (RR = 4.18, 95% CI: 1.7–10.25; P = 0.002) with no evidence of heterogeneity (I2 = 0%, P = 0.82). Conclusions: Synthesized analysis of data from our multicenter study and previously published cohorts indicates that severity of COVID‐19 is associated with an increased risk of acute stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Triassic to Recent fossil record of the dinoflagellates is represented overwhelmingly by geologically resistant, organic‐walled, non‐motile resting cysts; such cysts are formed following the sexual phase in the life cycle. Very few confirmed records exist of the motile stage being preserved in the fossil record. This paper reports the occurrence of two very unusual dinoflagellate taphofacies, one developed in bituminous shales and the other in micrites, from the Oligocene fossil Lagerstätte at Sieblos, Hesse, Germany. A new dinoflagellate taxon, Sieblososphaera martini sp. nov. has been identified through analysis of dissociated skeletal elements in the bituminous shales and external moulds and casts in the micrites. The unique preservation of these fossils confirms them not only as primary biogenically silicified motile thecate cells, but also indicates that there was a much greater range of tabulation present within the subfamily Lithoperidiniaceae than has hitherto been recognized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The burden of influenza in primary care is difficult to assess, since most patients with symptoms of a respiratory infection are not tested. The case definition of "medically attended acute respiratory infection" (MAARI) in the German physician sentinel is sensitive; however, it requires modelling techniques to derive estimates of disease attributable to influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Objectives: The objective of this paper was to review and extend our previously published model in order to estimate the burden of RSV and the differential burden of the two influenza B lineages (Victoria, Yamagata) as well as both influenza A subtypes on primary care visits. Methods: Data on MAARI and virological results of respiratory samples (virological sentinel) were available from 2010/11 until 2017/18. We updated the previously published generalized additive regression model to include RSV. Results: We found that the proportion of MAARI due to RSV is substantial only in the 0‐1‐ and 2‐4‐year‐old age groups (0‐1 years old: median 7.5%, range 4.0%‐14.8%; 2‐4 years old: median 6.5%, range 4.0%‐10.3%); in the 0‐1 years old age group, RSV leads in almost all seasons to a higher burden than any influenza type or subtype, but this is reversed in the age group 2‐4 years old. Conclusions: We succeeded in rearranging our previously published model on MAARI to incorporate RSV as well as the two influenza B lineages (Victoria, Yamagata) in the time period 2010 to 2018. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wind power in Germany has triggered much debate regarding the impacts on landscape and vista. This paper investigates the impact of wind farms on surrounding property values using a hedonic pricing model in a spatial fixed effects and a locally weighted specification. We find that proximity generally causes negative impacts on the surrounding property values. Thereby, local statistics reveal varying spatial patterns across the study area and provide evidence for visibility effects as being a key driver of negative impacts captured by distance measures. The analysis was performed for a study area in Germany. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a simple model of the housing market and homelessness by taking into consideration both flat size and quality. A critical income ensuring positive housing consumption can be determined. The empirical analysis of districts in North Rhine- Westphalia suggests that conditions on the housing market, income levels and several variables depicting a district's social environment are important drivers of homelessness: high rents and relatively few vacant small flats lead to an increase in homelessness. The condition of vacant flats significantly affects homelessness levels too. Homelessness also increases when the share of those with a very low income is higher, since this makes it more difficult to reach the critical income. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the introduction of tuition fees at German public universities as an exogenous shock, this paper investigates its causal impact on the enrolment and migration decision of high-school graduates. Specifically, we conduct a quasi-experimental analysis by exploiting the spatial and temporal variation in tuition fee regimes as a result of a Federal Constitutional Court decision. Our empirical results show that the introduction of tuition fees had a particular impact on student migration. We observe three effects: first, male students show a stronger migration response compared to female students. Second, changes in migration behaviour are sensitive to geographical distance. Finally, comparing different types of higher education institutions, we find that the migration effect is larger for universities compared to technical colleges and colleges of arts or music. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides up-to-date data on service use for mental health problems and disorders among adults aged 18-79 years in Germany derived from the Mental Health Module of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults (DEGS1-MH; N=4483). Data are based exclusively on self-report. Respondents were examined by clinically trained interviewers with a modified version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview DIA-X/M-CIDI to assess diagnoses according to the criteria of DSM-IV-TR. Service use, i.e. contact to mental health care services, due to mental health problems was assessed for the past 12 months and lifetime, by type of sector and type of institution. Among respondents with a 12-month diagnosis of a mental disorder, 23.5% of the women and 11.6% of the men reported any service use in the past 12 months. Service use depends on type of diagnosis, comorbidity and socio-demographic characteristics. Lowest 12-month utilization rates were found for substance use disorders (15.6%; lifetime use 37.3%), highest for psychotic disorders (40.5%; lifetime 72.1%). Further, a considerable time lap was found between disorder onset and subsequent service use among the majority of cases with anxiety and mood disorders. This paper provides self-reported epidemiological data on mental health service use in Germany, complementing administrative statistics and the predecessor mental health module of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey (GHS-MHS) from 1998. Despite considerable changes in the mental health field in Germany and the existence of a comprehensive mental health care system without major financial barriers, we find no indications of substantially higher utilization rates for mental disorders as compared to other comparable European countries. Further, no indications of major overall changes in utilization rates are apparent. To pinpoint areas with unmet needs, more detailed analyses of the data are needed taking into account type, frequency, and adequacy of service use and treatment of mental disorders. Appropriately matched comparisons with the GHS-MHS are needed to identify changes in patterns of utilization and interventions by type of disorder. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invited for this month's cover picture are the groups of Wolfgang Hübner (TU Kaiserslautern, Germany), Annie Powell (Karlsruhe Institut of Technology, Germany), and Andreas‐Neil Unterreiner (Karlsruhe Institut of Technology, Germany). The cover picture shows the Dy2Ni2‐molecular magnet being excited with a UV/Vis laser pulse, together with its time‐resolved spectrum after the pulse. The comparison of the theoretical and the experimental spectra together with both the observed and the calculated relaxation times reveal, among others, three key points: the intermediate states participating in the laser‐induced dynamics, the partial metal‐to‐oxygen charge‐transfer excitations, and the order of magnitude of the coupling of the molecular magnet to the thermal bath of the environment. Read the full text of their Full Paper at10.1002/open.202100153. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate whether economic functional regions capture spatial clustering of core economic indicators better than administrative regions. For this purpose, we use hierarchical linear models to measure the degree of homogenization of different regional delineations. Our results for Germany show that economic functional regions tend to capture spatial clustering better than administrative ones. However, a considerable amount of clustering at a lower aggregation level cannot be accounted for by economic functional regions, especially around metropolitan centres. Furthermore, economic functional regions, which depict commuting interrelations well, are less able to capture spatial homogenization than other economic functional delineations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides up to date prevalence estimates of mental disorders in Germany derived from a national survey (German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults, Mental Health Module [DEGS1-MH]). A nationally representative sample ( N = 5318) of the adult (18-79) population was examined by clinically trained interviewers with a modified version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (DEGS-CIDI) to assess symptoms, syndromes and diagnoses according to DSM-IV-TR (25 diagnoses covered). Of the participants 27.7% met criteria for at least one mental disorder during the past 12 months, among them 44% with more than one disorder and 22% with three or more diagnoses. Most frequent were anxiety (15.3%), mood (9.3%) and substance use disorders (5.7%). Overall rates for mental disorders were substantially higher in women (33% versus 22% in men), younger age group (18-34: 37% versus 20% in age group 65-79), when living without a partner (37% versus 26% with partnership) or with low (38%) versus high socio-economic status (22%). High degree of urbanization (> 500,000 inhabitants versus < 20,000) was associated with elevated rates of psychotic (5.2% versus 2.5%) and mood disorders (13.9% versus 7.8%). The findings confirm that almost one third of the general population is affected by mental disorders and inform about subsets in the population who are particularly affected. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We identify spatial agglomerations in the German food industry, using the Cluster Index by Sternberg and Litzenberger. Previous studies have analysed this industry utilizing aggregated data with the result of a lack of agglomerations. Given its heterogeneous character, the present study analyses subsectors of the German food industry at a disaggregated spatial and sectoral level. The results show spatial agglomerations in particular for the subsectors processing and preserving of meat, fish, fruit, wine, milk, mineral water as well as for breweries. This indicates that those subsectors are characterized by stronger cluster self-enforcing processes likely in combination with a favourable proximity to natural resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the 1960s and 1970s, the German state governments reduced the number of municipalities. Many independent municipalities in the outskirts of cities became districts of the respective cities. Using propensity score matching, I examine how the reforms influenced population growth in these incorporated units. The results show that the population of small incorporated municipalities grew by about 47 percentage points faster than the population of small municipalities that remained independent. The results do not show that large incorporated municipalities grew faster than large municipalities that remained independent. Population growth was stronger in municipalities that were incorporated later. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a large consensus that higher education institutions exert notable effects on their regional environment. So far, however, much of the related evidence is based on case studies. Few findings are available on a more generalizable level. To bridge this gap, our study uses spatial panel-data models to identify the impacts of higher education institution ( HEI) activities on GDP per capita and unemployment in Germany. Beyond demand-side effects, we seek to identify the, arguably more important, indirect long-term effects of knowledge generation. Accounting for regional spillovers, we find that on average HEI contributed €8,300 to regional GDP per capita in the period 2000 to 2011. Furthermore, we find that they help to significantly reduce unemployment rates in the long run. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we investigate the feasibility and added value of using the seasonal hindcasts of the ECMWF System 4 as a hazard event set for European winter windstorms damage calculations. The windstorms are identified for every ensemble member and every year by an objective windstorm tracking algorithm. The damages are calculated directly from the obtained wind footprints via the open source natural catastrophe damage model CLIMADA for Germany, the UK, France and Spain and compared to the loss from ERA‐Interim. The results show that the ensembles of losses in System 4 nicely capture the inter‐annual loss variability of the reanalysis. Due to more than 1,500 years of "virtual reality" windstorm data from the hindcasts, the return levels of extreme losses can be estimated fairly accurately. Based on System 4, the losses in the scale of 1990 (January, February, March and December including the prominent windstorm Daria) represent a 20‐year event in Germany whereas they represent a 100‐year event for the UK. Thus, a considerably shorter return period compared to return periods calculated from ERA‐Interim alone. Further we investigate the link between the annual losses and large‐scale drivers derived from mean‐sea‐level‐pressure (MSLP) data in System 4. We can show that within System 4 there is a significant link between increased loss potentials for strongly positive North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) phases for Germany and the UK as well as a reduced loss potential for Spain. The link between the other analysed indices is weak bar the East Atlantic (EA) pattern index. Thus, if the NAO in System 4 is correct we can assume that the windstorms in System 4 are useable. If this premise is given our study shows that the loss estimates and ultimately the return levels of losses from System 4 can be used in an operational way. The seasonal hindcasts of the ECMWF System 4 are used as a hazard event set for European winter windstorms loss calculations. The windstorms are identified for every ensemble member and every year by an objective windstorm tracking algorithm. The loss is calculated directly from the obtained wind footprints via the open source natural catastrophe damage model CLIMADA for Germany, the UK, France and Spain and compared to the loss from ERA‐Interim. Losses of the magnitude up to double the losses from 1990 are physically possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]