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The high rates of premature contract termination (PCT) in vocational education and training (VET) programs have led to an increasing number of studies examining the reasons why adolescents drop out. Since adolescents' trajectories after a PCT are quite diverse, a thorough assessment of different "dropout directions" is called for. However, empirical studies that distinguish between dropout directions are still scarce. The same is true for studies that differentiate between PCTs initiated by the trainees themselves and those initiated by the training company. Based on data from the German National Educational Panel Study (NEPS) on trainees in German dual VET programs (n = 5823), this study identifies six different dropout directions: (1) downward PCT into unqualified employment or unemployment, (2) downward PCT into a prevocational program, (3) horizontal PCT that represents a change of training company or (4) a change of occupation, and (5) upward PCT into general education or (6) higher education. Using multinomial logistic regression models we examine the effect of (a) the initiating party and (b) self-reported PCT reasons of trainees on dropout directions. Regarding trainees' reasons we include reasons related to different aspects of the training (personal reasons, not the desired training occupation, financial reasons, training quality, conflicts, excessive demand, and being offered a different training position). The results indicate that in cases where trainees are dismissed by the training company, a horizontal change to a different training company becomes more likely, while the probability of an upward dropout into higher education decreases. Regarding PCT decisions made by trainees themselves, a downward PCT into unqualified employment or unemployment is more likely if personal reasons were the cause of a PCT decision. Moreover, the probability of a change of training company (horizontal PCT) increases in cases of conflict and if there is a prospect of a different training position, and decreases if the training position is not the desired occupation. A change of occupation (horizontal PCT) is more likely when there is the opportunity for a different training position available. Furthermore, upward PCTs (both into further general education and higher education) are more likely in cases where the training was in a field that was not the desired occupation. The probability of upward PCT into higher education decreases when there are conflicts and excessive demands, while upward PCTs into general education are significantly less likely when a different training position is obtained. The differential effects that occur for different types of PCTs emphasize that adolescents dropping out of VET cannot be treated as a homogenous group. Consequently, the results underscore the importance of conducting a more thorough assessment of both dropout directions and the initiating party of a PCT in future research.

Context: Due to limited geographical mobility, opportunities for adolescents interested in company-based training are primarily dependent on regional training offers. Competition for company-based training among adolescents varies regionally, and thus, the chance to obtain a training contract varies as well. In this article, we investigate the opportunities for adolescents to obtain company-based training depending on regional training market conditions. We assume that the advantages of obtaining a company-based training place exist in areas of decreased competition among interested adolescents. However, the question is whether those advantages will differ between adolescents depending on characteristics such as school achievement, socioeconomic status or migration background. Furthermore, we assume that, above all, market-induced ease-of-access to company-based training exists for occupations that face hiring challenges and indicates less occupational attractiveness. Methods: The transition from school (after 9th and 10th grade) to company-based training is analysed using data from the German National Educational Panel Study (NEPS, starting cohort 4). This dataset is merged with the official regional training market data regarding local supply and demand ratio for training places (called "SDR") in the dual system of Vocational Education and Training in Germany. Logistic regressions are used to predict the probabilities of obtaining a training place. The focus lies on the interaction effects between SDR and adolescents' education-related characteristics (school certificates and grade point average), socioeconomic characteristics and migration backgrounds. Subgroup-specific analyses of different clusters of hiring challenges for trainee occupations are used to examine whether these effects are valid for all occupations. Findings: The results confirm regional differences in obtaining a training place depending on the SDR. Here, applicant hierarchies according to educational achievement continue to exist if competition for company-based training among adolescents decreases. Beneficiaries are better-qualified adolescents with poorer GPAs. SDR hardly influences social disparities. However, the advantages of obtaining a company-based training place primarily exist for training occupations with hiring challenges when competition for company-based training among adolescents decreases. These occupations have a significantly lower occupational prestige (ISEI-08) compared to occupations with fewer hiring challenges. Conclusion: The results make it clear that market-induced ease-of-access to company-based training is not necessarily an advantage. Because the findings indicate that the advantages pertain mainly to low-prestige occupations, it can be assumed that career-path disadvantages can arise down the road. Future studies should investigate this in more differentiated ways.

Research shows a heterogeneous picture of migration-related disparities regarding adolescents' educational trajectories at the end of lower-secondary education. Among other disparities, migrants face large disadvantages with regard to the transition to vocational education and training (VET). They are, however, also more likely to change to upper-secondary school tracks at the end of lower-secondary education. Using longitudinal data drawn from the German National Educational Panel Study (NEPS, Starting Cohort 4), this study empirically captures patterns in school-leavers' transition trajectories after lower-secondary education and empirically tests theoretical mechanisms of migration-related educational inequalities. Building on the concept of secondary effects of migrant origin, this study asks to what extent self-selection explains migration-related disparities in the educational trajectories at the end of lower-secondary education. Particular attention is devoted to the extent to which migration-related inequalities in adolescents' transitions can be explained by differences in (1) rational choice factors and (2) the educational expectations and demands of parents and friends. The results show that rational choice factors and the educational expectations of social groups largely contribute to migration-related educational inequalities. The results provide important starting points for educational policy discussions on strategies and measures to address migration-related inequalities in the transition to VET.

Background: For adolescents, preventing a premature training termination (PTT) and withdrawal from education and training after a PTT is an important societal task. While studies reveal that early-risk factors such as a low educational background or selected personality constructs are relevant for predicting PTT, less is known about subsequent trajectories after a PTT and the factors that determine them. Methods: Using data from the German National Educational Panel Study, we examine the influence of early-risk factors and personality constructs on the first PTT (n=4892) in the training course using a binomial logistic regression model. In a second step, by using a sequence and cluster analysis we explore subsequent trajectory patterns within 24 months after PTT (n=944) and analyze the influence of early-risk factors and personality constructs on subsequent trajectory clusters after PTT. Results: We identify 7 different trajectory clusters, of which three clusters show risk-related trajectories (37.0%) with tendencies to withdraw from education and training. Furthermore, our analysis confirms the relevance of early-risk factors for predicting PTT as well as trajectories after PTT: a low educational qualification, graduation after more than the typical number of years, and low parental education increase the probability of discontinuities in adolescents' educational and training paths. Additionally, it is important to consider the influence of personality traits on the subsequent trajectories: adolescents with strong openness tend to have continued school attendance after PTT, indicating a constructive career adaptation process, while adolescents with strong self-efficacy seem to assess their chances in the labor market as positive even without a vocational qualification. Conclusions: The longitudinal perspective on the consequences of a first termination of a VET program revealed that educational trajectories after a PTT are highly heterogeneous indicating the need for different types of policy measures to minimize the incidence of PTT and withdrawing from education and training.

Ebullition transports large amounts of the potent greenhouse gas methane (CH 4 ) from aquatic sediments to the atmosphere. River beds are a main source of biogenic CH 4 , but emission estimates and the relative contribution of ebullition as a transport pathway are poorly constrained. This study meets a need for more direct measurements with a whole-year data set on CH 4 ebullition from a small stream in southern Germany. Four gas traps were installed in a cross section in a river bend, representing different bed substrates between undercut and slip-off slope. For a comparison, diffusive fluxes were estimated from concentration gradients in the sediment and from measurements of dissolved CH 4 in the surface water. The data revealed highest activity with gas fluxes above 1000 ml m - 2 d - 1 in the center of the stream, sustained ebullition during winter, and a larger contribution of ebullitive compared to diffusive CH 4 fluxes. Increased gas fluxes from the center of the river may be connected to greater exchange with the surface water, thus increased carbon and nutrient supply, and a higher sediment permeability for gas bubbles. By using stable isotope fractionation, we estimated that 12-44% of the CH 4 transported diffusively was oxidized. Predictors like temperature, air pressure drop, discharge, or precipitation could not or only poorly explain temporal variations of ebullitive CH 4 fluxes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On 17 April 2019, a coach with tourists from Germany crashed in Madeira, requiring repatriation by the German Air Force. The Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) concept was the central component of patient care. Data in Madeira were collected through a structured interview. The analysis of the Aeromedical Evacuation was based on intensive care transport records. In Germany, all available medical data sheets were reviewed for data collection. Quality of life (HRQoL) was evaluated by the 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12). Twenty-eight prehospital patients were transported to the Level III Trauma Center in Funchal (Madeira). Five operative procedures were performed. Fifteen patients were eligible for Aeromedical Evacuation (AE). In the second hospital phase in Germany, in total 82 radiological images and 9 operations were performed. Hospital stay lasted 11 days (median, IQR 10–18). Median follow-up (14 of 15 patients) was 16 months (IQR 16–21). Eighty percent (8 out of 10) showed an increased risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Six key findings were identified in this study: divergent injury classification, impact of AE mission on health status, lack of communication, need of PTSD prophylaxis, patient identification, and media coverage. Those findings may improve AE missions in the future, e.g., when required after armed conflicts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Facing the challenges of climate change, policy making relies on sound greenhouse gas (GHG) budgets. Rivers and streams emit large quantities of the potent GHG methane (CH 4), but their global impact on atmospheric CH 4 concentrations is highly uncertain. In situ data from the hyporheic zone (HZ), where most CH 4 is produced and some of it can be oxidized to CO 2 , are lacking for an accurate description of CH 4 production and consumption in streams. To address this, we recorded high-resolution depth-resolved geochemical profiles at five different locations in the stream bed of the river Moosach, southern Germany. Specifically, we measured pore-water concentrations and stable carbon isotopes (δ13 C) of dissolved CH 4 as well as relevant electron acceptors for oxidation with a 1 cm vertical depth resolution. Findings were interpreted with the help of a numerical model, and 16S rRNA gene analyses added information on the microbial community at one of the locations. Our data confirm with pore-water CH 4 concentrations of up to 1000 µ mol L -1 that large quantities of CH 4 are produced in the HZ. Stable isotope measurements of CH 4 suggest that hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis represents a dominant pathway for CH 4 production in the HZ of the river Moosach, while a relatively high abundance of a novel group of methanogenic archaea, the Candidatus "Methanomethyliales" (phylum Candidatus "Verstraetearchaeota"), indicate that CH 4 production through H 2 -dependent methylotrophic methanogenesis might also be an important CH 4 source. Combined isotopic and modeling results clearly implied CH 4 oxidation processes at one of the sampled locations, but due to the steep chemical gradients and the close proximity of the oxygen and nitrate reduction zones, no single electron acceptor for this process could be identified. Nevertheless, the numerical modeling results showed potential not only for aerobic CH 4 oxidation but also for anaerobic oxidation of CH 4 coupled to denitrification. In addition, the nitrate–methane transition zone was characterized by an increased relative abundance of microbial groups (Crenothrix, NC10) known to mediate nitrate and nitrite-dependent methane oxidation in the hyporheic zone. This study demonstrates substantial CH 4 production in hyporheic sediments, a potential for aerobic and anaerobic CH 4 oxidation, and underlines the high spatiotemporal variability in this habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is considered the most common cause of arrhythmia in children and infants. Regarding the likelihood of a spontaneous resolution of SVTs during the first years of life, drug treatment aims to bridge the time until children 'grow out' out of the arrhythmia. The choice of antiarrhythmic agents and the planning of maintenance therapy are mainly based on clinical experience and retrospective single- and multi-institutional analyses and databases from all over the world approaching differently to this topic. The current study aimed to evaluate the clinical course, pharmacological treatment strategies, and constellations of risk for recurrences in the management of SVTs in children aged 3 < years. The database of the Heart Center Leipzig, Department of Pediatric cardiology, was searched for pediatric patients aged < 3 years with a clinically documented SVT between 2000 and 2019 that received pharmacologic treatment. Patients with complex congenital heart disease or arrhythmias following cardiac surgery were excluded. 69 patients were included. Pharmacologic treatment, follow-up schedule, recurrences, outcomes, and risk factors for complicated courses are reported. Drug therapy of SVTs in young children remains a controversial topic with heterogeneous treatment and follow-up strategies applied. Risk factors for recurrences and/or stubborn clinical courses are difficult rhythm control with 3 or more antiarrhythmic drugs, ectopic atrial tachycardias, and a first occurrence of the SVT in the fetal period. Prospective studies are needed to sufficiently evaluate optimal treatment strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Bradycardic arrhythmias requiring pacemaker (PM) implantation are still common in patients in need of tricuspid valve replacement (TVR). Leaving an existing PM lead in an extravalvular position may represent a helpful alternative in special situations like the implantation of a mechanical TV. This study aimed to examine the short‐ to mid‐term outcome of paravalvular leads concerning lead survival and prosthesis dysfunction in patients after TVR. Methods: A retrospective case‐control study of patients with TVR and ventricular pacing was conducted. Patients from the database of the Leipzig Heart Center were included. Data of the paravalvular lead group (PVG) and coronary sinus lead group (CSG) were compared to a control group with conventional transvalvular leads (TVG). Results: Eighty patients with TVR and cardiac PM (TVG [n = 13], PVG [n = 40], and CSG [n = 27]) were included. The mean follow‐up was 2.8 years. The rate of lead revisions (TVG 15.4%, PVG 2.5%, and CSG 7.5%) was lower in PVG but without significance (P =.286). The CSG demonstrated significantly higher pacing thresholds (1.4 V/0.8 ms) than TVG (0.5 V/0.4 ms), P =.004. However, the deterioration of threshold amplitudes during follow‐up was similar in CSG (7.4%) and PVG (7.5%) compared with controls (7.7%). Function of TV prosthesis regarding development of stenosis or regurgitation showed a similarity between the groups (regurgitation PVG P =.692, CSG P = 1; stenosis PVG P =.586, CSG P = 0.69). Conclusion: Paravalvular positioning of PM leads seems to represent a reasonable alternative to the conventional transvalvular lead positioning concerning the lead and Tricuspid Valve prosthesis's function and durability in selected patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Globally, norovirus (NoV) is the leading cause of gastroenteritis infection among all ages. The development of prevention strategies in the field of occupational health requires a detailed knowledge about the impact of the disease on employees. This review article aims not only at evaluating the burden of NoV outbreaks on staff but also at discussing implications for future prevention strategies. Methods: Published NoV outbreaks in Central and Northern Europe were identified via a systematic literature search. Additionally, published NoV outbreaks in Germany were detected via a manual literature search. Key epidemiological data, as the number of symptomatic staff, was then extracted. The proportion of affected employees was calculated for each dataset (single NoV outbreaks or aggregated data of multiple outbreaks). Results: Overall, 116 datasets were extracted from 72 relevant articles. 144,852 persons were affected by NoV gastroenteritis, 25,408 out of them (17.5%) were employees. 23,874 (94.0%) of them fell sick during outbreaks in hospitals and related settings. NoV cases among personnel in food establishments were reported only sporadically (mean ratio: 0.01). Conclusions: Employees in hospitals and community facilities seem quantitatively to be most vulnerable towards NoV epidemics. Therefore, high quality of prevention measures in these settings, respective compliance with prevention strategies should have the highest priority. The disease can be considered as an occupational disease, even regularly without long-term consequences. Following work safety rules, a vaccination for vulnerable groups should be recommended if the vaccine development turns out to be successful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poll-based methods have been used to forecast elections in various countries and settings. A common factor of these models is the inclusion of a time-dependent variable to model the evolution of public support for a party or cause over time. Typically this variable is modeled as a random walk. This is problematic as the underlying assumptions of a random walk, which are very restrictive, don't hold empirically. We propose a more flexible alternative where the time-dependent variable is modeled using ideas from time series analysis. This approach is embedded in a generic model which allows for the inclusion of various covariates. We rely on Bayesian estimation techniques. Using Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithms, credible intervals can be obtained, and it is straightforward to include the uncertainty of the estimated parameters in forecasts. An application of the model to the German federal election of 2013 indicates the benefits of the new approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the measurement of heart rate undertaken in clinical studies by (1) assessing the repeatability and reproducibility of heart rate measurements by various methods and under various conditions and (2) determining whether a single heart rate measurement at rest is representative of the circadian and inter-day variation of heart rate. Methods: Prospective cohort study in 102 patients with various types of heart disease at Duisburg Heart Center, Germany between 2011 and 2012. The heart rate measurements were based on self-assessment, ECG tracings at rest, and bicycle stress ECG in the office as well as 24-h Holter ECG. Results: Office measurements and self-assessment at rest as well as 24-h Holter ECG and self-assessment at rest are highly correlated, but no correlation between self-assessment and office recordings/24 h recordings under exercise conditions was seen. Coefficient of variability was below 10 % for the self-assessment and for office measurements at rest. There were no differences in coefficient of variability during the day and within the 6 days for self-assessment of heart rate at rest and circadian variation was normal. Conclusions: At rest heart rate measurements by various methods agree sufficiently and inter-day/circadian variation is adequately represented. Under exercise conditions self-assessment of heart rate is not valuable and use of 24 h Holter as well as stress ECG recordings is necessary. Thus, self-reported heart rate measurements by the patient at rest seem to be reliable, but should be used in clinical studies only for heart rate assessment at rest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Patient-centered health care implies that medical decisions are made jointly by physician and patient, based on patient needs. Aims were to (a) identify treatment goals for a new questionnaire on patient needs and benefits in nail psoriasis treatment; (b) analyze the importance of treatment goals in patients with nail psoriasis in general and in defined subgroups; and (c) determine the association between overall treatment goal importance and quality of life.Methods: The study comprised the following steps: qualitative survey on needs and burdens in 120 patients; development of items by an interdisciplinary expert group; item testing in 55 patients in four countries; revision of the questionnaire and assessment in 203 patients in six countries (Germany, Denmark, Italy, Spain, USA, Japan). The percentage of patients rating the goals as 'quite/very important' was compared between various patient subgroups.Results: Based on 692 free-text statements, 26 items were developed which were reduced to 24 items after pilot testing. Each of these treatment goals applied to the majority of patients in the multi-center study. Goal importance increased with severity of nail psoriasis, but not with age or disease duration. Manual dexterity and social interaction were of particular importance. Goal importance and quality of life were associated, but not redundant (r = 0.612, p < 0.001).Conclusions: Patients with nail psoriasis have manifold and specific treatment goals. Goal importance is a construct different from disease-specific quality of life and should be assessed separately. The new questionnaire can support goal setting in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlabelled: Wilms tumour, or nephroblastoma, is one of the childhood cancers included in two recent population-based case-control studies in West Germany. Altogether, 177 children under the age of 10 years with Wilms tumour diagnosed between 1988 and 1994 and 2006 control children sampled from population registration files participated. Information on potential risk factors was obtained from the parents using a questionnaire and by subsequent telephone interview. We found an association with a high birth weight >4000 g (odds ratio 1.58; 95% confidence interval 1.01-2.48), which was somewhat stronger for children aged 2 years or older. Findings for young maternal age at birth and certain parental occupationally related exposures were not reported by previous studies and thus may be chance findings. As opposed to previous studies, we failed to confirm associations with high parental age at birth, maternal coffee and tea consumption during pregnancy, and exposure to pesticides.Conclusion: Based on this large population-based case-control study, high birth weight may play a role in the aetiology of Wilms tumour, but many risk factors previously suggested are of less importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing share of renewable energies in the German energy sector is changing the present generation structure and requires the usage of more flexible technologies. Storage systems are one option to balance fluctuating electricity generation and demand. But due to the high investments required, all storage technologies have difficulties meeting the challenge of economic feasibility. However, chemical long-term storage technologies that use a gaseous medium as the energy carrier have the advantage of being a versatile storage medium that can be sold on different markets. This paper shows that serving both the electricity and fuel markets has positive impacts on the profitability of hydrogen storage systems. Under favorable conditions, which are characterized by high shares of renewable energies and high prices for energy carriers, a positive economic result is possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Our objective was to test the hypothesis that the risk of childhood leukemia is associated with allergies or a family history of allergy. We used a German population-based case-control study with self-reported information on allergies of the children and their first-degree relatives. Our study included a total of 1,130 cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), 164 cases of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and 2,957 controls. A major finding of our study is that hay fever, neurodermatitis and contact eczema are underrepresented within the group of children with ALL, with respective odds ratios (OR) of 0.45 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.31–0.66) for hay fever, of 0.49 (CI 0.34–0.71) for neurodermatitis and of 0.62 (CI 0.39–0.99) for eczema, respectively. Atopic diseases, comprising hay fever, neurodermatitis and asthma, are much stronger related with a reduced risk of ALL than other allergies (OR 0.52, CI 0.40–0.67 vs. OR 0.89, CI 0.66–1.21). The strongest association is seen with an atopy in the index child; however, ALL risk is also reduced if one of the parents or a sibling had an atopic disease. No such consistent pattern is seen for AML. Our data suggest that atopy or a family history of atopy are associated with a reduced risk of childhood ALL. Recall bias remains a concern, but sensitivity analysis provided some evidence that the protective effect is unlikely to be attributable to this bias in its entirety. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates the carbon dioxide distribution in the surface waters of the Elbe estuary during high river discharge in Germany. Estuary supersaturation of carbon dioxide with respect to the atmosphere; Stable stratification of the water column during the productive seasons; Carbon cycling.

The article discusses changes to the law governing pension reform in Germany. The retirement premium has actually shrunk, but the media have given the impression that the long-term stability of the pension system cannot be guaranteed. Numerous rules and regulations changes are said to have led to a loss of transparency in pension rights.

Data from a case-control study in Lower Saxony, Germany, were used to assess whether the risk for childhood cancer may be reduced by bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination in the neonatal period. There were 420 newly diagnosed childhood cancer cases from the German cancer registry and 613 controls eligible for this study. A mailed questionnaire was completed during a telephone interview with parents. Details on the perinatal history were abstracted from the birth charts by nurses blinded to the children's case-control status. Complete information was available for 259 cases and for 323 controls. A total of 85% of the controls had been BCG vaccinated in the newborn period. The adjusted odds ratios for BCG vaccination were 0.90 (95% confidence interval; 0.51-1.61) for leukemia and 0.61 (95% confidence interval; 0.25-1.50) for other cancers. Based on these data the probability of a 50% or more reduction of more reduction of the cancer risk by BCG vaccination in the newborn period is small. The statistical power of this study, however, was not high enough to rule out a smaller, still relevant reduction in cancer risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents the concept of product stewardship as policy approach towards solid waste management. Background on waste minimization; Economics of the German Packaging Ordinance; Economic incentives within the dual system; Impact of the planned Directive on Packaging Waste.

Examines the efficacy and tolerability of hydrochlorothiazide and verapamil in treating patients with hypertension in Germany. Results of long term double blind comparative trial; Methodology of the treatment; Dosage of the drug for treatment of hypertension.

We observed a moderate but statistically non-significant association between magnetic fields (MF) and childhood leukaemia. This is the first such study to cover residential exposure to 16.7 Hz (railway frequency) MF though based on few exposed subjects. Our study does not exclude a small excess risk, but the attributable risk must be very low. It is reassuring that neglecting 16.7 Hz MF in childhood cancer studies appears to have little effect on findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses trends in Germany toward more flexible alternatives for those in the transition from employment to retirement. Legislated initiatives include early retirement with financial penalty, women's retirement age set at 60 years, retirement options for the severely disabled at age 60, and partial retirements involving part-time employment at employee and employer discretion.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Test-to-stay concepts apply serial testing of children in daycare after exposure to SARS-CoV-2 without use of quarantine. This study aims to assess the safety of a test-to-stay screening in daycare facilities. METHODS: 714 daycare facilities and approximately 50 000 children ≤6 years in Cologne, Germany participated in a SARS-CoV-2 Pool-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) screening from March 2021 to April 2022. The screening initially comprised post-exposure quarantine and was adapted to a test-to-stay approach during its course. To assess safety of the test-to-stay approach, we explored potential changes in frequencies of infections among children after the adaptation to the test-to-stay approach by applying regression discontinuity in time (RDiT) analyses. To this end, PCR-test data were linked with routinely collected data on reported infections in children and analyzed using ordinary least squares regressions. RESULTS: 219 885 Pool-PCRs and 352 305 Single-PCRs were performed. 6440 (2.93%) Pool-PCRs tested positive, and 17 208 infections in children were reported. We estimated that during a period of 30 weeks, the test-to-stay concept avoided between 7 and 20 days of quarantine per eligible daycare child. RDiT revealed a 26% reduction (Exp. Coef: 0.74, confidence interval 0.52-1.06) in infection frequency among children and indicated no significant increase attributable to the test-to-stay approach. This result was not sensitive to adjustments for 7-day incidence, season, SARS-CoV-2 variant, and socioeconomic status. CONCLUSIONS: Our analyses provide evidence that suggest safety of the test-to-stay approach compared with quarantine measures. This approach offers a promising option to avoid use of quarantine after exposure to respiratory pathogens in daycare settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An aliphatic ether (1-phytanyl-1-octadecanyl-ether) of high molecular weight was used as a sole carbon source in degradation experiments with different aerobic bacteria. The enriched culture B5, obtained from fuel contaminated soils, was able to degrade the substance for more than 90%. A culture of Rhodococcus ruber was similarly effective. Detailed investigation of the metabolites allowed us to characterize an unusual degradation pathway via a mid-chain oxidation mechanism ('internal oxidative pathway'). Obviously, formation of intermediate alkenes mainly at the unbranched side chain was a prerequisite for bacterial degradation of the added substrate. Degradation proceeded - in spite of the usually preferred terminal oxidation - via oxidation of the internal double bond and was followed by an ester cleavage. In turn, a series of alcohols was formed which were subsequently oxidized to the respective carboxylic acids and were further metabolized via the normal beta-oxidation pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• MoorFutures® was the first standard for carbon credits from peatland rewetting. • It used a vegetation-based methodology for greenhouse gas emissions. • New methods for water quality, evaporative cooling and biodiversity are provided. • Simple and premium approaches have been tested at a study site. • The cost-efficient and robust approach can be adapted for other regions. In 2011, MoorFutures® were introduced as the first standard for generating credits from peatland rewetting. We developed methodologies to quantify ecosystem services before and after rewetting with a focus on greenhouse gas emissions, water quality, evaporative cooling and mire-typical biodiversity. Both standard and premium approaches to assess these services were developed, and tested in the rewetted polder Kieve (NE-Germany). The standard approaches are default tier 1 estimation procedures, which require little time and few, mainly vegetation data. Based on the Greenhouse gas Emission Site Type (GEST) approach, emissions decreased from 1,306 t CO 2 e in the baseline scenario to 532 t CO 2 e in the project scenario, whereas 5 years after rewetting they were assessed to be 543 t CO 2 e per year. Nitrate release assessed via Nitrogen Emission Site Types (NEST) was estimated to decrease from 1,088 kg N (baseline) to 359 kg N (project), and appeared to be 309 kg N per year 5 years after rewetting. The heat flux − determined with Evapotranspiration Energy Site Types (EEST) – decreased from 6,691 kW (baseline) to 1,926 kW (project), and was 2,250 kW per year 5 years after rewetting. Mire-specific biodiversity was estimated to increase from very low (baseline) to high (project), but was only low 5 years after rewetting. The premium approaches allow quantifying a particular ecosystem service with higher accuracy by measuring or modelling. The approaches presented here have been elaborated for North-Germany but can be adapted for other regions. We encourage scientists to use our research as a model for assessing peatland ecosystem services including biodiversity in other geographical regions. Using vegetation mapping and indicator values derived from meta-analyses is a cost-efficient and robust approach to inform payment for ecosystem services schemes and to support conservation planning at regional to global scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We review and contrast three frameworks for analyzing human-land interactions in the Holocene: the traditional concept of favored and disfavored landscapes, the new concept of ResourceCultures from researchers at University of Tübingen, and complex adaptive systems, which is a well-established contemporary approach in interdisciplinary research. Following a theoretical integration of fundamental concepts, we analyze three paired case studies involving modern agriculture in Germany and Belize, prehistorical changes in land use in southwest Germany, and aquaculture on the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of North America. We conclude that ResourceCultures and complex adaptive systems provide different but complementary strengths, but that both move beyond the favordisfavor concept for providing a holistic, system-level approach to understanding human-land interactions. The three frameworks for understanding human responses to contemporary cultural and biophysical challenges are relevant to new thinking related to sustainability, resilience, and long-term environmental planning in the Anthropocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The outbreak in Germany's gay hotspot Berlin included 222 cases, most self-identifying as MSM. • Hepatitis A vaccination is recommended and free of charge for MSM in Germany. • The vaccination coverage was low among MSM, in particular among young and foreign-born. • Various measures were implemented targeting the MSM community, physicians, and the public. • Increased vaccination uptake shows the success of the interventions. To describe the characteristics of a large hepatitis A virus (HAV) outbreak among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Berlin and to assess the impact of measures implemented. Cases of laboratory-confirmed, symptomatic HAV infection notified in Berlin, Germany between August 2016 and February 2018 were analysed using routine and enhanced surveillance data including genotyping results. Several studies involving different groups of participants were conducted to further investigate the outbreak, including surveys on knowledge and practices of HAV vaccination among physicians and vaccination coverage and determinants of vaccination status among MSM. The measures implemented were categorized by target group in a Gantt chart. To assess their impact, health insurance data on HAV vaccination uptake were analysed, comparing Berlin and other federal states. During the outbreak period, a total of 222 cases were reported (of which 91 were sequence-confirmed), with a peak in case numbers in January 2017. Physicians were aware of the existing vaccination recommendations, but vaccination coverage among 756 MSM was low, with 32.7% being completely vaccinated and 17.3% being incompletely vaccinated before 2017. HAV vaccination before 2017 was associated with being born in Germany (odds ratio 2.36) and HIV-positive (odds ratio 1.80). HAV monovalent vaccination uptake increased by 164% from 2016 to 2017 among males in Berlin, compared to 7% in other federal states. Multiple measures targeting the MSM community, physicians, and public health to increase HAV vaccination uptake were successfully implemented. To prevent future HAV outbreaks, we recommend monitoring vaccination coverage among MSM, promoting awareness of existing recommendations among physicians, and ensuring access for foreign-born and young MSM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the potential of the Power-to-Gas (PtG) concept in Baden-Württemberg (BW), south west Germany. A macroeconomic analysis shows that a cost-covering operation of PtG for hydrogen production is first possible under our assumptions in 2030. Previous model-based analyses for Germany identified locations, mainly in north-west Germany, where these plants could achieve these full load hours and thus be economical in the future energy system by 2040. Importantly, although some short-term storage devices (batteries) are installed in BW in this scenario, no PtG plants are seen at the level of the transport network. A more detailed analysis for BW at the municipality level develops residual load profiles for individual 110 kV transformers and municipalities. A very large increase in the residual load profiles in the north-east of Baden-Württemberg by 2040 is encountered, suggesting a requirement for network strengthening and local storage, including PtG, in this area. Four very different and representative model regions are further analysed, whereby only Aalen, a region with large wind potentials in the north east of BW, is identified as having significant potentials for PtG by 2040 (between 69 and 155 MWel). The current restrictions for injecting hydrogen into the gas network (2–10% by volume) mean that these PtG plants would have to incorporate a methanation step in order to upgrade and feed in SNG. The generation of SNG on a local level is therefore expected to be an option by about 2040, if the development of renewable energy generation proceeds as quickly as expected in the current energy-political scenario explored here. The existing CO 2 sources for methanation are not located in the vicinity of the expected PtG plants, so that a CO 2 separation from the air and/or a liquefied transport could be most economical. Further work is required to consider the local energy infrastructure, especially electrical and gas distribution networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Design: A multicenter, population based, case-control study.Objective: The aim of the present analysis is to clarify potential differences in the "occupational risk profiles" of structural lumbar disc diseases on the one hand, and low back pain (LBP) on the other hand.Summary Of Background Data: Physical workplace factors seem to play an important etiological role.Methods: We recruited 901 patients with structural lumbar disc diseases (disc herniation or severe disc space narrowing) and 233 control subjects with "low-back-pain." Both groups were compared with 422 "low-back pain free" control subjects. Case history, pain data, neurological deficits, and movement restrictions were documented. LBP was recorded by the Nordic questionnaire on musculoskeletal symptoms. All magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, and X-rays were inspected by an independent study radiologist. The calculation of cumulative physical workload was based on a computer-assisted interview and a biomechanical analysis by 3-D-dynamic simulation tool. Occupational exposures were documented for the whole working life.Results: We found a positive dose-response relationship between cumulative lumbar load and LBP among men, but not among women. Physical occupational risks for structural lumbar disc diseases [odds ratio (OR) 3.7; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 2.3-6.0] are higher than for LBP (OR 1.9; 95% CI 1.0-3.5).Conclusion: Our finding points to potentially different etiological pathways in the heterogeneous disease group of LBP. Results suggest that not all of the structural disc damage arising from physical workload leads to LBP.Level Of Evidence: 4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In 2007 the German Space Agency (DLR) initiated the Kompaktsatellit series of small satellites. With growing scientific interest in the threat of future asteroid impacts on Earth, the first mission selected for the Kompaktsatellit programme was AsteroidFinder, a mission to characterise the unknown Inner Earth Object (IEO) population. The mission is based around the AsteroidFinder Instrument (AFI), a high-performance optical telescope, with asteroids identified on-ground via their apparent motion against the fixed star background. Such a challenging mission implies significant demands on the Kompaktsatellit bus platform required to support the AFI. The tight constraints of small satellite design, namely time, finance and available mass, require innovative solutions to problems. With a launch scheduled for 2014 and the project due to enter Phase C in 2011, the challenges of achieving high science with a small satellite are already apparent. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]