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Sand trapping fences are a widely used nature-based solution to initiate dune toe growth along sandy shorelines for coastal protection. At present, the construction of sand trapping fences is based on empirical knowledge, since only a few scientific studies investigating their efficiency exist. However, the restoration and maintenance of beach-dune systems along the coast requires knowledge of the interaction between the beach-dune system and the sand trapping fences to provide guidance for coastal managers on how and where to install the fences. First, this review gives an overview of the typical aerodynamic and morphodynamic conditions around a single porous fence and the influence of various fence height and porosity values to understand the physical processes during dune establishment. Second, different approaches for evaluating the efficiency of sand trapping fences to trap sediment are described. This review then highlights significant differences between sand trapping fence configurations, nationally as well as internationally, regarding the arrangement, the materials used, and the height and porosity. In summary, it is crucial to enable an intensive exchange among the respective coastal authorities in order to create uniform or transferable guidelines taking local conditions into account, and thus work collaboratively on the idea of sand trapping fences as a nature-based solution in coastal areas worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates under which circumstances increases in circularity through the reuse of use‐phase‐intensive electrical and electronic equipment lead to environmental benefits. We combine dynamic material flow analysis (dMFA) and life cycle assessment (LCA) to assess a Circular Economy strategy toward its environmental sustainability on midpoint and endpoint levels. The hybrid approach measures long‐term implications of policy decisions in multiple impact categories and shows the need to comprehensively evaluate Circular Economy activities. We apply the approach to the strategy of setting reuse targets in a case study on washing machines in Germany. As a consequence of a reuse target, the product portfolio changes over time. The resulting stocks and flows are calculated in a dMFA, and attributed with the respective LCA‐based environmental impacts. We present cumulated impacts between 2015 and 2050 for scenarios with different reuse targets for 18 midpoints and three endpoints of the impact assessment method ReCiPe 2016, and the cumulative energy demand. The latest proposal of a 5% reuse target results in average impact reductions of 1% compared to "business as usual." An increase of reuse up to 87% results in an average impact reduction of 9%, ranging from an increase of 1% (water consumption) to a decrease up to 26% (land use). This shows that even high reuse rates only have a limited leverage on reducing environmental impacts and that it is therefore necessary to include detailed environmental assessments in a holistic evaluation of Circular Economy activities. This article met the requirements for a gold‐gold JIE data openness badge described at http://jie.click/badges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eine bedarfsgerechte sektorenübergreifende Versorgung [1] kann in Deutschland nach unseren Erfahrungen besonders schwer für Patientinnen mit Brustkrebs sichergestellt werden, da sie langwierige und komplexe Behandlungsmaßnahmen benötigen. Sie durchlaufen mehrere Therapiephasen während ihrer Erkrankung und wechseln häufig zwischen den Sektoren (Fachbereiche Gynäkologie, Radiologie, Pathologie, Onkologie und Psychoonkologie). Ebenso häufig ist auch sozialmedizinische bzw. sozialberaterische Expertise gefragt. Darüber hinaus sind die Patientinnen krankheits- und behandlungsbedingten Belastungen ausgesetzt (z.B. körperliche Beschwerden wie Schmerzen, Einschränkung der Leistungsfähigkeit im Alltag, existentielle Bedrohung). Diese Belastungen sind häufig mit einer eingeschränkten Lebensqualität und psychischen Beeinträchtigung verbunden. So konnten internationale und nationale Studien zeigen, dass ein großer Teil der Frauen Angst vor dem Fortschreiten der Krankheit und dem Tod haben oder sich die Erkrankung negativ auf das Familien- und Berufsleben auswirkt [2-7]. Des Weiteren stellen die Studien Probleme im Informationsfluss und der Kommunikation zwischen den Behandlern und der Patientin sowie Defizite in der Vernetzung (gerade auch bei psychosozialen Therapiemaßnahmen) fest [8-10]. Diese Versorgungsmängel zu beheben, dafür setzt sich eine Case-Management-Begleitstelle für Frauen mit Brustkrebs ein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the European waste management hierarchy, preparation for reuse (PfR) is preferable to recycling. From an environmental point of view, reuse is beneficial, if the impacts that arise during a certain usage duration of a reused product are smaller than those of a new product. If this is not the case, reuse is not beneficial to recycling. This study explores potential benefits of PfR compared to other waste management options for four white goods (washing machine, refrigerator, range, freezer) and four small electric devices (PC, printer, monitor, laptop) by the use of Life Cycle Assessment. These eight devices account for 68% by weight of all the collected waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) in Germany. The results show, that the assumption that reuse is preferable to recycling does not apply to every case. Especially the impact categories of global warming , water consumption and cumulative energy demand are strongly dominated by the use phase of white goods, therefore a reuse of inefficient devices should be avoided. The results show that a reuse of products with an European energy efficiency rating of D and C is not recommended for any of the analyzed products. For small electric devices, the use phase is less dominant in comparison to the production, therefore reuse leads to significant saving potentials in almost all impact categories. A comparison of energy efficiency classes allows for product-specific decisions, whereas the assessment approach based on average devices yields for generalizable recommendations. Therefore, the results support environmentally conscious consumer decisions about the acquisition of a new versus a second-hand product and enable End-of-Life decision making in terms of the separation of reusable devices at collection points. Image 1 • Comparative LCAs on reuse of relevant white goods and small electric devices. • Effect of energy mix, lifetime and efficiency on environmental impacts of reuse. • Preferability of reuse compared to recycling does not apply to every electrical device. • Reuse of white goods with an energy efficiency rating of D and C is not recommended. • Reuse of small electric devices leads to benefits in almost all impact categories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Breast cancer patients are as a rule in need of a multiple sequential in-patient, day-patient and out-patient permanent treatment. The required care demands a trans-sectoral networking of all multi-professional persons involved in diagnostics, therapies, rehabilitation and aftercare. A method to develop the integration of treatment processes, as well as thereby resulting in increased effectiveness and efficiency, can constitute the concept of case management. A prerequisite for an effective implementation of case management and thus the starting point of the present survey is a well-functioning network encompassing optimal cooperation. Within the framework of the evaluation of the case management-based integrated care model "mammaNetz" for women with mamma carcinoma as a whole and against the background of the potential for innovation and improvement of case management on the one hand as well as the existence of only few empirical data otherwise, the present survey of members of a trans-sectoral network of the service centre was accomplished., Method: Medical and non-medical networking partners of the service centre (N=168) were questioned by regular mail about different aspects of the cooperation. Identical items in both surveys were compared., Results: The return rate for the medical networking partners is about 59% (n=35), whereby only medical network partners in private practice participated in the survey. For the non-medical networking partners about 60% (n=66) participated. Medical networking partners assess the cooperation with the service centre in reference to the exchange of information slightly more positively (66%) than the non-medical networking partners (59%). Medical networking partners are in significantly more frequent contact with the service centre and see in the cooperation significantly more advantages for their own office/facility (each with p=0.001) than non-medical networking partners. Overall the results suggest that medical as well as non-medical networking partners consider the functioning and the methodical concept of the service centre to be reasonable., Conclusion: The implementation of an interdisciplinary process of support for patients with mamma carcinoma necessitates a good cooperation between networking partners, case managers and patients. Within the framework of a follow-up survey with the objective of a deeper process evaluation, non-medical networking partners should be divided into further professional specific subcategories. In this manner interventions that are fitted to specific occupational groups can be derived., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)