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Split into two articles, the Empirical Paper Series on Secession and Constitutionalism explores the relationship between constitutionalism and secession. The first paper of this series examined the relationship between, on the one hand, the constitutional prohibition and legalisation of secession – ie indivisibility and secession clauses – and, on the other hand, the prevalence of secessionist movements. This second article addresses the very heart of the doctrinal debate between the Indivisibilist and Secessionist schools, namely the relationship between a constitution's framework towards secession and the actual occurrence of secession. Between 1900 and 2018, 24 subnational units seceded from a total of 16 central states. Of these 24 cases of secession, 25 % occurred in central states where secession was prohibited, 13 % in states whose constitution was silent on the issue, and 63 % in states whose constitution contained a right to secession, which indicates a very strong statistical relationship between secession clauses and the actual occurrence of secession. Yet, a closer look into the history of these provisions suggests that the causal relationship between secession clauses and secession itself – if any – goes in a direction opposite to what one would assume. Indeed, not a single one of the 13 secession clauses identified in this paper series ever gave rise to a pro-independence movement. In the vast majority of cases, it is actually the pre-existence of secessionist groups that forced the constitutionalising of a right to secession, either downstream, to pacify a violent secessionist conflict, or upstream, to accommodate a region that set the constitutionalising of such a right as a precondition of its joining a new country that would otherwise not have existed in the first place. Liechtenstein is the only recorded example of a state that constitutionalised a right to secede without being faced with pre-existing secessionist tensions, and none has arisen since secession became legal in Liechtenstein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arguments may sometimes be advanced with a non-standard function. One such function, it is suggested, is the expression of identity, a practice which may play a significant role in political representation. This paper sets out to examine a number of short addresses given at the High-Level segment of the Cop26 conference, which are considered to contain instances of such argumentation. Their content is analysed and evaluated by means of the Comprehensive Assessment Procedure for Natural Argumentation (CAPNA), and an attempt is made to highlight the purposes of the delegates in addressing the conference. At a more fundamental level, the goal of this work is to assess the possibility of identifying arguments as being meant largely as statements of identity or representation, and the suitability of the CAPNA or other norm-based systems for evaluating such discourse. The speakers studied include representatives from OPEC, the Trade Unions, and the leaders of Vietnam and Liechtenstein. Ultimately, the study concludes that while further work is necessary both on understanding the relationship between argument and identity in the political arena, and on the application of argument norms to representational discourse, evaluations of this kind are meaningful and informative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how criminals commit financial crimes in the real estate business in Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative content analysis of 100 semi-standardized expert interviews with both criminals and prevention experts and a quantitative survey of 200 compliance officers led to the identification of specific money laundering techniques in the real estate sector. Findings: Real estate companies in German-speaking countries in Europe continue to be extraordinarily suitable for money laundering and other financial crimes. In particular, they can be used for placement, layering and integration, as well as for violations of the tax code. Most importantly, however, they are vehicles for one of the very few profitable methods of laundering money. Research limitations/implications: As the qualitative findings are based on semi-standardized interviews, they are limited to the perspectives of 100 interviewees. Practical implications: The identification of gaps in existing anti-money laundering mechanisms is intended to provide compliance officers, law enforcement agencies and legislators with valuable insights into how criminals operate. Originality/value: While the existing literature focuses on organizations combating money laundering and on improving anti-money laundering measures, this paper describes how money launderers operate to avoid getting caught. Both prevention and criminal perspectives are taken into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In recent years, there has been a growing body of research suggesting that ASD and ADHD are two disorders that often co-exist. Despite the rapid development of research, little is known about their etiology, diagnostic markers, and interventions, which has led us to review and summarise the development of the field in the hope that this will provide an opportunity to look for future directions. Methods: A bibliometric approach was used to analyse papers in the field of ASD co-morbidities in ADHD on Web of Science from 1991– 2022, using CiteSpace and VOSview to map the country/institution, journal, author, co-citation, and keyword networks in the field and to visualise the results. Results: A total of 3284 papers were included, showing an increasing trend in terms of posting trends. Research on co-morbidities of ASD has proven to be mainly focused on universities. The USA (1662) published the most relevant literature in this area, followed by the UK (651) and Sweden (388). Lichtenstein P is the most published author (84), and research into the pathogenesis of ASD co-occurring ADHD and related clinical diagnostics is currently at the forefront of the field. Conclusion: This analysis identifies the most influential institutions and countries, cited journals, and authors in the field of ASD co-morbid ADHD research. The future direction of ASD co-occurring ADHD should be based on improving case identification, discovering the etiological and diagnostic markers of ASD and ADHD, and finding more effective clinical interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: While existing literature focusses on the causes and negative consequences of corruption, this paper illustrates the potential use of whistleblowing incentives to combat bribery in multinational corporations. The purpose of the present study is to highlight that anti-bribery mechanisms, which have already been successfully applied in the public sector, may also be deployed in multinational organisations. Design/methodology/approach: A two-step qualitative research process was used. Informal interviews were conducted with 35 corrupt public officials, followed by formal interviews with 35 compliance experts and law enforcement officers. During the interviews, the advantages and disadvantages of whistleblowing incentives in multinational corporations were discussed. The interviewees' responses were subjected to content analysis. Findings: The principal finding was that rewarding employees with significant monetary bonuses may help to increase anti-bribery whistleblowing. However, such bonus payments should be made in only major cases of bribery to safeguard multinational corporations, company cultures and trust among employees. Research limitations/implications: The findings convey the perspectives of the 70 interviewees based in Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. Practical implications: The paper offers suggestions to multinational corporations on how to effectively combat corruption and other forms of white-collar crime. Originality/value: While the empirical findings are based on a European sample, the results may be applied globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how cryptocurrencies are used to launder money and how solutions from Liechtenstein's novel blockchain legislation could be used to tackle the issue. Design/methodology/approach: Within the scope of the literature review, the characteristics of cryptocurrencies and how these characteristics facilitate money laundering are discussed. To investigate concrete methods that money launderers use, a qualitative study with 10 presumed money launderers and 18 prevention experts was conducted. The results were subsequently tested quantitatively. Thereafter, the novel Liechtenstein blockchain act is discussed and it is detailed how the legislation could contribute to the establishment of an international standard in blockchain regulation. Findings: Money launderers continue to abuse cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin as vehicles for financial crime. The Liechtenstein Blockchain Act could serve as a benchmark for regulators around the world aiming to solve the issue. Research limitations/implications: Current anti-money laundering regulations are rather ineffective when it comes to cryptocurrencies. Practical implications: The findings of this paper illustrate that new and innovative means for combating money laundering are needed. In particular, this paper provides insights into cryptocurrency crime and Liechtenstein's response for legislators, law enforcement, compliance officers and regulatory authorities. Originality/value: Liechtenstein's blockchain act, as a potential remedy to money laundering, has thus far not received international attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the pension systems of three European countries - A USTRIA, LIECHENSTEIN, GERMANY offering a broad analysis of the respective institutions, the digitization efforts and the potential of harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) for the public benefit. It describes a real fact of the different approaches in pension systems and digitization strategies in these three European countries. This reinforces the potential of AI and technology to drive progress in the public sector, ultimately creating citizen well-being and government efficiency. The research is extensive and touches on the important factors for the digitization of public systems in A USTRIA, LIECHENSTEIN, GERMANY. In Romania, the National Public Pension House is in a complex process of evolution in terms of creating access to electronic services, increasing the quality of information and communication technologies so that all institutions have the possibility of multiple interactions both with the citizen and with How. business. environment and with other central and local public institutions, actually being optimization and debureaucratization measures. "Digital Austria ", as Austria's digitization experts see it, sets a vision for a digitally responsible and thriving society Liechtenstein, a European country located between Switzerland and Austria, has approved the use of Bitcoin to pay for certain government services. The German Federal Pension Insurance (Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund - DRV-Bund) has introduced a chatbot to answer frequently asked questions from insured persons (German Federal Pension Insurance, 2021). The main objective was to ensure access to information 24/7. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reform of the Catholic clergy initiated by the Council of Trent emphasized the importance of the practical exercise of the care of souls (cura animarum). The ideal priest should, following the example of Christ--the Good Shepherd, take responsible care of his 'sheep'--the parishioners. The paper focuses on how the parish clergy performed pastoral care, based on the analysis of reports written on clerics working in the 1760s in ten Moravian and Silesian estates of the Prince of Liechtenstein. These reports prepared by the Prince's officials mostly contain an evaluation of the performance of the pastoral care by the given cleric. They thus provide an interesting insight into the religious services offered by the lower clergy from the perspective of the owner of the estate, who was also the patron of the local parishes. They show that the Prince of Liechtenstein as the patron, together with his officials, supervised how the clerics provided for the spiritual needs of his subjects and furthermore through the exercise of the right of patronage he helped to provide his subjects with proper pastoral care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Progress in implementing circular solutions in European regions has so far been limited. This is partly due to the multifaceted territorial contexts characterizing the continent. Ultimately, the understanding of territorial dynamics is key to envisage a successful transition to a circular economy (CE). However, CE discussion from a regional standpoint is still limited and CE frameworks that can be applied to monitor and measure the CE potential in a specific territory remain at a rather theoretical level. This paper contributes to this research gap by (1) presenting a regional monitoring framework across three case studies; (2) analysing the respective territorial patterns from a CE perspective. The three case studies include the central cross-border Scandinavian area, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, and the Duchy of Luxembourg. The results reveal that circular initiatives are generally designed on the basis of available local resources and, depending on these, regional strategies seek to optimize the technical and/or biological cycles of local economies. Furthermore, the increasing levels of waste generation observed in all case studies challenge traditional waste policy approaches, generally centred on end-of-life management, in favour of more ambitious initiatives aimed at optimizing use of resources and preventing waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigate the use of intellectual property (IP) in multinationals' tax-avoidance strategies. Income arising from intangible property is generally taxed in the location in which such income is received. Many multinationals (MNCs) therefore use tax havens as a base for IP ownership. We leverage a universe of global patent applications and transactions, combined with financial and ownership information, to investigate whether firms locate their patents in tax havens. We find evidence of disproportionate use of havens for both new patent applications and purchase of existing patents. Tax havens such as the Cayman Islands and Liechtenstein have substantially more patents per inhabitant than the largest patenting nations, such as China and the United States. Some 5% of patents in the European markets are held in tax havens, and 30% of global cross-border patent transactions within MNCs have buyers located in tax havens. MNCs that meet the size threshold requirements for the proposed Global Minimum Tax are particularly active in developing patents: they constitute 2.6% of affiliates but are responsible for 42% of all patent applications and 45% of tax haven ones. The Global Minimum Tax could therefore have an important impact on incentives to locate patents in low-tax jurisdictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Bribery continues to significantly inhibit international development. Despite massive efforts to fight corruption, public officials in many developing countries continue to demand bribes. However, multinational corporations face severe sanctions for engaging in bribery. Hence, this paper aims to investigate whether anti-bribery incentives could help to eliminate corruption. Design/methodology/approach: This study takes an innovative approach toward eliminating corruption: it investigates the potential role of anti-bribery incentives through qualitative content analysis of 35 semi-standardized interviews with anti-bribery experts from Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. Findings: Concrete recommendations for adjustments to incentive systems are provided in an effort to help multinational corporations fight bribery, and thereby, eliminate obstacles to international development. Originality/value: Although the empirical findings are based on conditions Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein and Switzerland, the results have potential global application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Covid‐19 crisis has hit SMEs particularly hard. Numerous business models (BM) have been limited or rendered downright impossible due to decreased social contact. SMEs can respond to this exogenous crisis via temporary business model innovation (BMI). This empirical study investigates these temporary BMs using a multiple case study approach based on five SMEs in Austria, Germany, and Liechtenstein who within a short period of time applied their core competencies and networks to integrate new BMs, which were in some cases very different from existing ones. These had a positive effect on strategic flexibility, and if desired can also be incorporated into the firm long‐term. The paper contributes to SME crisis management during the Covid‐19 pandemic by pointing out and developing a successful management mechanism that allows to survive a crisis or even improve during this time. Moreover, we contribute to BMI literature by explaining temporary BMI as a new form of BMI. It also makes clear to managers that temporary BMs add value to firms and create new revenue streams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the mid 1980s, Lichtenstein, Pnueli, and Zuck proved a classical theorem stating that every formula of Past LTL (the extension of Linear Temporal Logic (LTL) with past operators) is equivalent to a formula of the form \(\bigwedge _{i=1}^n {\mathbf {G}}{\mathbf {F}}\varphi _i \vee {\mathbf {F}}{\mathbf {G}}\psi _i\) , where φi and ψi contain only past operators. Some years later, Chang, Manna, and Pnueli built on this result to derive a similar normal form for LTL. Both normalization procedures have a non-elementary worst-case blow-up, and follow an involved path from formulas to counter-free automata to star-free regular expressions and back to formulas. We improve on both points. We present direct and purely syntactic normalization procedures for LTL, yielding a normal form very similar to the one by Chang, Manna, and Pnueli, that exhibit only a single exponential blow-up. As an application, we derive a simple algorithm to translate LTL into deterministic Rabin automata. The algorithm normalizes the formula, translates it into a special very weak alternating automaton, and applies a simple determinization procedure, valid only for these special automata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding landslide behavior over medium and long timescales is crucial for predicting landslide hazard and constructing accurate landscape evolution models. The behavior of landslides in soil that undergo periodic displacements, termed earthflows or compound soil slides, is especially difficult to forecast at these timescales. This is because velocities can increase by orders of magnitude over annual to decadal timescales, due to processes such as changing recharge conditions, erosion of the landslide toe, and retrogression of the landslide head. In this paper, we provide a detailed analysis of the Schlucher landslide, an unusual earthflow that is perched above the village of Malbun, Liechtenstein. This landslide had been displacing by 10 to 20 cm/year until 2015, when displacements on the order of 2 m/year occurred from 2016 to 2018. These large displacements damaged landslide mitigation measures, caused numerous surface deformation features, and threatened the local population downstream of the earthflow. This landslide has an unusually long monitoring record, with accurate displacement and climatic data available since 1983. We analyze this nearly 40-year monitoring time series to estimate recharge from snowmelt and rainfall, and its correlation with displacement. We also analyze recently collected, high-resolution surface and subsurface data in order to understand landslide response to recharge, landslide kinematics through time, and catastrophic failure potential. We find that interannual displacements can be explained with variations in recharge; however, periodic surges with recurrence times of tens of years must be explained by other mechanisms. In particular, recharge into the landslide during the recent acceleration (2016 to 2018) was not anomalously high. Instead, we argue that loss of internal strength is responsible for this recent acceleration period, and that this mechanism should be considered when forecasting the surge potential for certain earthflows and soil slides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All who have experienced the global pandemic of 2020 can tell you that we live in a changed world. People no longer question whether we are in complexity, that reality has been made explicitly clear. What they want to know now is, what do we do about it, and what does it mean for how we need to lead differently? In this article I explore these questions by integrating generative emergence (Lichtenstein, B. [2014]. Generative emergence: A new discipline of organizational, entrepreneurial, and social innovation. Oxford University Press) and complexity leadership theory (CLT) (Uhl-Bien, M., Marion, R., & McKelvey, B. [2007]. Complexity leadership theory: Shifting leadership from the industrial age to the knowledge era. The Leadership Quarterly, 18(4), 298–318. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2007.04.002). Using COVID-19 as an example, I show how understanding complexity leadership theory as generative emergence can help us better understand how to lead differently in crisis and complexity. Doing so requires that research and practice focus on developing leaders and followers who can respond by adapting, rather than denying or retreating, in the face of complexity pressures. The global pandemic of 2020 has made it clear that we need to place more emphasis on developing leaders and followers who can lead in complexity. This paper does this by using examples from COVID-19 to show the difference between successful and unsuccessful pandemic leadership. Successful leadership has leaders and followers who co-create adaptive responses that use complexity leadership to enable generative emergence. Unsuccessful pandemic leadership turned to order responses that denied the reality of the situation and tried to wish it away, leading to disastrous outcomes and hundreds of thousands of needless deaths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultural studies are strongly linked to teaching a foreign language as a motivational factor and a source of knowledge that can help the learners to better understand the similarities and differences of various cultures and mentalities. There are many theories in the didactics of teaching German culture and civilization and in this paper we aim to illustrate the DACH(L) principle and its applicability in Romanian schools. According to this principle, culture and civilization should be an integrative part of teaching German as a foreign language and learners should receive information about the whole German speaking area and not only facts focused on Germany. This way they would be prepared to face the challenges that they might encounter in either one of the foreign countries in which German is an official language (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, or Liechtenstein). We chose to analyse two schoolbooks that we noticed to be very often used in Romanian schools, namely Limba modernă--germană published by Art Klett, and Beste Freunde published by Hueber. We intend to research which themes and methods of conveying German culture and civilization are frequently used and for which geographical area, in order to determine to which extent these schoolbooks follow the DACH(L) principle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper illustrates how criminals currently launder money in Germany, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland. Semi-structured expert interviews were conducted with 50 money launderers and 50 compliance and prevention experts, whose responses were subjected to qualitative content analysis. Based on the findings therefrom, a quantitative survey of 200 compliance officers was conducted. Together, these two methods revealed the concrete techniques currently used to launder money in Europe. Contrary to popular belief, money laundering is found not to be associated with high costs, and can even generate significant profits. As the findings of the qualitative study are based on semi-standardised interviews, they are limited to the 100 participants' perspectives. By identifying concrete methods of money laundering, this study's findings provide compliance officers, law enforcement agencies, and legislators with valuable insights into how criminals act. Whereas prior literature primarily focuses on organisations and mechanisms aimed at fighting money laundering, this article instead describes how criminals avoid detection by analysing the perspectives of prevention experts and the criminals themselves. Acting on this information should enhance the effectiveness of combating and preventing money laundering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to investigate which configurations of organizational-level and group-level management controls support an identity fit for management accountants in the management accounting profession. It aims to complement recent qualitative management accounting research. This stream just begun to use role and identity theory to investigate role expectations, conflicts and coping strategies of management accountants when they struggle with their work identity. Design/methodology/approach: Based on configuration theory, this study uses a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis to indicate all possible configurations of formal and informal management controls that improve management accountants' sense of their identity in an organization. The analyses are based on the results of a cross-sectional survey of 277 management accountants from Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Findings: The results show that a strong group culture and high psychological safety at the group level are relevant conditions for a high identity fit. Further, the configurations differ regarding the career stages of management accountants. Originality/value: This study contributes to work identity research of management accountants and to research on formal and informal control configurations as a control package. It is of particular importance for various professions that are affected by role change, as from the findings on management accountants' identity fit, implications can also be made for other organizational functions that need to engage in identity work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Currently, three different techniques are favored for repair of an inguinal hernia: (1) The suture repair described by Shouldice. (2) An open mesh repair according to Lichtenstein. (3) Laparo-endoscopic techniques TAPP and TEP. The aim of the presented paper was to describe the ranking of the Transabdominal Preperitoneal Patch Plasty (TAPP) in comparison to the other techniques for inguinal hernia repair.Methods: The manuscript is based on the experiences gained in more than 15,000 TAPPs and numerous own studies as well. The technique of TAPP is described in detail and also the results which can be achieved with special reference to primary unilateral inguinal hernias in male patients. Moreover, a systematic review of the literature is done for the comparison with the other techniques.Results: According to own experiences, 98% of all patients with an inguinal hernia admitted for surgery to Marienhospital Stuttgart could be operated on using the TAPP technique. The recurrence rate and the rate of severe chronic pain in this setting were below 1%. Due to the limited quality of most of the published studies an evidence-based comparison which is the best of the currently most recommended techniques is questionable. Therefore, when comparing TAPP with TEP, no definite conclusion about superiority of one technique over the other is possible. Both techniques are safe and effective if properly performed. The guidelines recommend that the surgeon should use the technique he had learned best and is familiar with. The comparison between TAPP and the Shouldice repair shows less pain and a higher effectivity after TAPP. The recurrence rate after Lichtenstein repair and after TAPP is similar, but pain and recovery time are significantly less after TAPP.Conclusion: Analyzing the own abundant experiences and the reports in the literature, the TAPP technique has the potential to become the standard operative technique for repair of inguinal hernias in future. However, due to the low level of evidence of most of the studies definite conclusions are difficult to draw at this point of time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Based on the new international guidelines for groin hernia management, there is no one surgical technique that is suited to all patient characteristics and diagnostic findings. Therefore, a tailored approach should be used. Here, a distinction must be made between primary unilateral inguinal hernia in men and in women, bilateral inguinal hernia, scrotal inguinal hernia, inguinal hernia following pelvic and lower abdominal procedures, patients with severe cardiopulmonary complications, recurrent inguinal hernias and incarcerated inguinal and femoral hernias. This paper now explores the relevant studies on TEP for elective primary unilateral inguinal hernia in men, which constitutes the most common indication for repair.Material: A systematic search of the available literature was performed in February 2019 using Medline, PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Springer Link and the Cochrane Library. Only meta-analyses, systematic reviews, RCTs and comparative registry studies were considered. 117 publications were identified as relevant.Results: RCTs and comparative registry analyses demonstrated the advantages of TEP with regard to postoperative complications, complication-related reoperations, and postoperative and chronic pain compared with Lichtenstein repair for elective primary unilateral inguinal hernia repair in men. No relevant differences were found compared with TAPP. Mesh fixation is not needed in TEP, but heavyweight meshes result in a lower recurrence rate. Extraperitoneal bupivacaine analgesia vs placebo does not demonstrate any advantages, but drainage is advantageous for seroma prophylaxis. The risk of chronic pain is negatively influenced by small defects, younger patient age, preoperative pain, higher BMI, postoperative complications, higher ASA score and risk factors.Conclusion: For the subgroup of elective primary unilateral inguinal hernia in men, accounting for a proportion of less than 50% of the total collective, advantages were identified for TEP compared with open Lichtenstein repair but not versus TAPP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper argues that the World Trade Organization (WTO) and one of its important instruments, Trade Policy Review (TPR), should refocus on what they were created for: trade policy. This strategy is shown to be well‐founded in international trade theory. In contrast, the TPR 2017 on Switzerland and Liechtenstein deals with a large number of policies that are not or only indirectly related to international trade, but lie at the core of a country's self‐identification and sovereignty. It is concluded that the world trade system would gain in political support and thus benefit if countries were limited in their interference at the border, but enjoyed more freedom in their national policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to examine the evolution of the foundation (Stiftung) in the Principality of Liechtenstein. The article therefore deals with recent changes in the statutory legislation governing them as well as with current developments in case law. The paper will also address the different approaches taken towards foundations by the civil law and common law traditions within Europe. In fact, the jurisdiction of Liechtenstein embraces elements of both the civil and the common law traditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the technical efficiency of private banking institutions in Switzerland and Liechtenstein by means of data envelopment analysis (DEA). The average wealth manager's relative inefficiency level is found to exceed 20% in most of the years between 2003-2007. Results also reveal that the average bank is well above its efficient scale of operations. Private banks from Liechtenstein fare better than their Swiss counterparts. Specialization and investment performance appear to be important factors in distinguishing efficient from inefficient institutions. The significance of these bank features, however, can be traced back to the worst performers in the sample. Bank size, capital strength, asset composition, network size, and ownership do not help answer the question of what constitutes an efficient wealth manager. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reputation management is by no means restricted to companies and other organizational entities. In fact, nations today are increasingly concerned with their reputation relative to other nations and turn to actively measuring and managing that reputation. This paper draws on findings from an extensive study of the reputation and identity of the Principality of Liechtenstein, conducted from April to December 2002, on behalf of the Liechtenstein Government. Against the background of this study, a team of five communications professionals, including the authors of this paper, was faced with the challenge that there was no ready-made instrument available for measuring country reputations, which would allow benchmarking against Liechtenstein's competitors. In close collaboration with Charles J. Fombrun and the Reputation Institute, the researchers therefore set out to develop a new instrument: the Fombrun-RI Country Reputation Index, which is an adapted version of the validated Harris-Fombrun Reputation Quotient used for measuring corporate reputations. The present paper describes how this generic new instrument was developed and outlines a strategic framework for effective national reputation management: the Country Reputation Cockpit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Results of the most commonly used inguinal hernia repair techniques often originate from expert centers or from randomized controlled studies. In this study, we portray daily-practice results of a high-volume, regional surgical group in the Netherlands, comparing TREPP (open (posterior) transrectus sheath pre-peritoneal) with Lichtenstein (open anterior) and TEP (endoscopic (posterior) totally extraperitoneal). We hypothesize that the TREPP shows more favorable outcome compared to the current gold standard procedures: TEP and Lichtenstein. Methods: Between January 2016 and December 2018, 3285 consecutive patients underwent surgical treatment and were included for analysis. The outcome measures were postoperative pain, recurrence rate and other surgical complications. Propensity-score matching was used to address potential selection bias. Results: After propensity-score matching, there was no statistically significant difference in postoperative pain in the TREPP group compared to the Lichtenstein group (TREPP 7.3% versus Lichtenstein 6.3%; p = 0.67) nor in TREPP compared to TEP (TREPP 7.4% versus TEP 4.1%; p = 0.064). There was no statistically significant difference in recurrences in the TREPP group compared to Lichtenstein (3.8% vs 2.5%; p = 0.42), nor in the TREPP versus TEP comparison (3.9% vs 2.8%; p = 0.55) Conclusion: This study compares TREPP with Lichtenstein and TEP in the presence of postoperative pain, recurrences and other adverse outcomes. After propensity-score matching, no statistically significant difference in postoperative pain or recurrences remained between either TREPP compared to Lichtenstein, or TREPP compared to TEP. Based on these results, TREPP, Lichtenstein and TEP showed comparable results in postoperative pain, recurrences and other surgical site complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hernia surgery is one of the commonly done procedures in General surgery. A hernia is defined as an abnormal protrusion of an organ or tissue through a defect in its surrounding walls. Aims and Objectives: Comparison of morbidity in terms of total analgesic usage, mean length of hospital stay, comparison among open and TEP repair of hernias in primary inguinal hernias among males. Material and Methods: This study was done on 80 patients with clinical diagnosis of primary inguinal hernia over a period of one year to compare the result of two surgeries, open lichenstein repair (n=40) and TEP repair (n=40). Results: Postoperative pain using VAS was found to be lower in patients having laparoscopic TEP hernia repair when compared to open lichenstein tension free repair (p <0.01). Operating time was observed to be more with TEP group with mean of 59 ± 17.02 minutes compared with open group which had mean of 44.92±12 minutes. Mean number of analgesic in open cases was 6.65 ± 1.81 whereas in case of TEP group it was 4.35±1.47 over a period of one month. Conclusion: Lichtenstein tension free mesh hernioplasty still remains the gold standard operation done for inguinal hernia. TEP repair has proven to be superior in terms of perioperative hemorrhage and post-operative analgesia requirement. Study concluded that laparoscopic TEP repair of inguinal repair have a considerable clinical advantage over open hernia repair in terms of postoperative pain and analgesia requirement, hospital stay and postoperative complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic inguinodynia is considered the most disabling complications post-inguinal hernia repair. A novel technique (All-in-One Mesh Hernioplasty) is viable for whole cases of the primary inguinal hernia which utilizes a smaller pre-cut mesh covering whole weak regions of the inguinal canal and is wrapped by a fibro-cremasteric sheath to avoid contact between the prosthesis and neural structures. The present study aimed to compare the outcomes of the Lichtenstein technique and the All-in-One Mesh Hernioplasty technique. Methods: A randomized clinical trial was conducted on 80 patients with a primary inguinal hernia in the Department of General Surgery, Zagazig University Hospitals, Egypt, from January 2018 to January 2020. The patients were categorized equally into 2 groups: group A, involving 40 patients repaired by Lichtenstein technique and group B, involving 40 patients repaired by All-in-One Mesh Hernioplast technique. Results: There was no significant variation (P> 0.05) among the two groups concerning demographic and clinical presentation. There was no significant variation (P> 0.05) among them as regards wound hematoma, infection, seroma, scrotal edema, and urine retention. Chronic groin pain, persistent numbness, and foreign body sensation were less in group B than in group A and this variation was statistically significant (P=0.003), while there was no significant variation (P> 0.05) between them in hospital stay, time of return to work or normal activity, and mean postoperative follow-up. Conclusions: All-in-One Mesh Hernioplasty is a safe and effective technique in repairing the primary inguinal hernia with less postoperative chronic inguinal pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wastewater-based epidemiology has garnered considerable research interest, concerning the COVID-19 pandemic. Restrictive public health interventions and mobility limitations are measures to avert a rising case prevalence. The current study integrates WBE monitoring strategies, Google mobility data, and restriction information to assess the epidemiological development of COVID-19. Various SARIMAX models were employed to predict SARS-CoV-2 cases in Liechtenstein and two Austrian regions. This study analyzes four primary strategies for examining the progression of the pandemic waves, described as follows: 1—a univariate model based on active cases; 2—a multivariate model incorporating active cases and WBE data; 3—a multivariate model considering active cases and mobility data; and 4—a sensitivity analysis of WBE and mobility data incorporating restriction policies. Our key discovery reveals that, while WBE for SARS-CoV-2 holds immense potential for monitoring COVID-19 on a societal level, incorporating the analysis of mobility data and restriction policies enhances the precision of the trained models in predicting the state of public health during the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Elementary Education / Revija za Elementarno Izobraževanje is the property of University of Maribor, Faculty of Education and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Acta Historiae Artis Slovenica is the property of Scientific Research Centre of Slovenian Academy of Sciences & Arts and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Informal care is often accompanied by a reduction or abandonment of professional activity by the caregiver. Therefore, caregiving may be associated with a lower pension for the former caregiver than for people without care obligations. There is a large gender difference in informal care responsibilities, and this may contribute to the gender pension gap. As the impact of care-related labour market decisions depends on the design of the pension system, we carry out a cross-country comparison, in which we analyse the impact of care obligations in countries with high (Luxembourg), middle (Liechtenstein, Belgium, Portugal) and low (Slovenia) gender pension gaps. Using typical-case simulation models, we examine how the impact of care-related events is mediated by pension rules, given women's labour market decisions. To what extent does working part time or interrupting one's career at the age of 30 or 54 reduce the later pension benefit? How are these losses mitigated by pension credits that are conditional on caregiving? We find that the mitigating effects are generally strongest in Belgium, followed by Luxembourg and Slovenia. Such credits hardly exist in Portugal, while in Liechtenstein they have only a small impact. However, the consequences of either working part time or interrupting work can also be mitigated via general rules in the system that are unrelated to caregiving (such as in Portugal and Liechtenstein). They can, on the other hand, be aggravated by the existence of higher accrual rates for individuals who extend their careers, as in Luxembourg and Slovenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the Dr. Risch medical group employed the multiplex TaqPathTM COVID-19 CE-IVD RT-PCR Kit for large-scale routine diagnostic testing in Switzerland and the principality of Liechtenstein. The TaqPath Kit is a widely used multiplex assay targeting three genes (i.e., ORF1AB, N, S). With emergence of the B.1.1.7 (Alpha) variant, a diagnostic flaw became apparent as the amplification of the S-gene target was absent in these samples due to a deletion (ΔH69/V70) in the Alpha variant genome. This S-gene target failure (SGTF) was the earliest indication of a new variant emerging and was also observed in subsequent variants such as Omicron BA.1 and BA4/BA.5. The Delta variant and Omicron BA.2 did not present with SGTF. From September 2020 to November 2022, we investigated the applicability of the SGTF as a surrogate marker for emerging variants such as B.1.1.7, B.1.617.2 (Delta), and Omicron BA.1, BA.2, and BA.4/BA.5 in samples with cycle threshold (Ct) values < 30. Next to true SGTF-positive and SGTF-negative samples, there were also samples presenting with delayed-type S-gene amplification (higher Ct value for S-gene than ORF1ab gene). Among these, a difference of 3.8 Ct values between the S- and ORF1ab genes was found to best distinguish between "true" SGTF and the cycle threshold variability of the assay. Samples above the cutoff were subsequently termed partial SGTF (pSGTF). Variant confirmation was performed by whole-genome sequencing (Oxford Nanopore Technology, Oxford, UK) or mutation-specific PCR (TIB MOLBIOL). In total, 17,724 (7.4%) samples among 240,896 positives were variant-confirmed, resulting in an overall sensitivity and specificity of 93.2% [92.7%, 93.7%] and 99.3% [99.2%, 99.5%], respectively. Sensitivity was increased to 98.2% [97.9% to 98.4%] and specificity lowered to 98.9% [98.6% to 99.1%] when samples with pSGTF were included. Furthermore, weekly logistic growth rates (α) and sigmoid's midpoint (t0) were calculated based on SGTF data and did not significantly differ from calculations based on comprehensive data from GISAID. The SGTF therefore allowed for a valid real-time estimate for the introduction of all dominant variants in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Latin-writing humanist poet Ondrej Rochotský (circa 1583 - after 1623), originally from Nemecká Ľupča, Slovakia, belongs to the category of Charles University graduates who worked in Bohemia in the period preceding the Battle of White Mountain and established their standing and careers here and also published their work here. The paper brings insight into his publications, which document the relationships between him and his patrons from among the Bohemian and Moravian aristocracy, especially with Charles of Žerotín the Elder and his related members of the aristocracy, Karl of Liechtenstein, Samuel Radešínsky of Radešovice and other aristocrats and ennobled burghers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We calculate intersite magnetic couplings for Sm2Fe17, Nd2Fe14, and Nd2Fe14X (X = B, C, N, O, F) using Liechtenstein’s formula on the basis of first-principles calculation and analyze them to investigate the Curie temperature of Sm2Fe17 and Nd2Fe14B. We find that the magnetic coupling in the dumbbell bond is strongly ferromagnetic in our calculation, which is against a previous conjecture explaining the low Curie temperature for Sm2Fe17. The calculated values of the couplings explain the experimentally observed difference in the Curie temperature of Sm2Fe17 and Nd2Fe14B. We also address boron’s effects on the Curie temperature of Nd2Fe14B, especially in connection with Kanamori’s theory of cobaltization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Journal for Traffic & Transport Engineering is the property of Scientific Research Journals Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Swiss Political Science Review is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Technological & Economic Development of Economy is the property of Vilnius Gediminas Technical University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The COVID‐19 crisis provides important examples whereby Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway (the EEA EFTA States) deemed it necessary to influence the content of EU rules. Despite participating in the internal market through the EEA Agreement, they were not initially excluded from the EU's restrictions on the export of personal protective equipment and later the export of vaccines against COVID‐19, and they sought to reverse these decisions. This article explores how the EEA EFTA States influenced EU policy in this regard and which methods proved to be most effective. Did the nature of the COVID‐19 crisis have an impact on EU decision‐making processes as well as the methods and channels used by the EEA EFTA States? The EEA EFTA States' relationship with the EU is also examined as it relates to their ability to influence EU legislation and the legitimacy of such influence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spin crossover materials are bi-stable systems with potential applications as molecular scale electronic switches, actuators, thermometers, barometers, and displays. However, calculating the enthalpy difference, ΔH, between the high spin and low spin states has been plagued with difficulties. For example, many common density functional theory (DFT) methods fail to even predict the correct sign of ΔH, which determines the low temperature state. Here, we study a collection of Fe(II) and Fe(III) materials, where ΔH has been measured, which has previously been used to benchmark density functionals. The best performing hybrid functional, TPSSh, achieves a mean absolute error compared to experiment of 11 kJ mol−1 for this set of materials. However, hybrid functionals scale badly in the solid state; therefore, local functionals are preferable for studying crystalline materials, where the most interesting spin crossover phenomena occur. We show that both the Liechtenstein and Dudarev DFT+U methods are a little more accurate than TPSSh. The Dudarev method yields a mean absolute error of 8 kJ mol−1 for Ueff = 1.6 eV. However, the mean absolute error for both TPSSh and DFT+U is dominated by a single material, for which the two theoretical methods predict similar enthalpy differences—if this is excluded from the set, then DFT+U achieves chemical accuracy. Thus, DFT+U is an attractive option for calculating the properties of spin crossover crystals, as its accuracy is comparable to that of meta-hybrid functionals, but at a much lower computational cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The Lichtenstein repair has been synonymous with "open" inguinal hernia repair (IHR) for 40 years. However, international guidelines have suggested that posterior mesh placement results in advantageous biomechanics and reduced risk of nerve-related chronic pain. Additionally, the use of local anesthetics has been shown to reduce postoperative pain and complication risks. An open transrectus preperitoneal/open preperitoneal (TREPP/OPP) repair combines posterior mesh placement with the use of local anesthetic and as such could be the ideal repair for primary inguinal hernia. Using the Abdominal Core Health Quality Collaborative (ACHQC) registry, we compared open anterior mesh with open posterior mesh repairs. Methods: We performed a propensity score matched analysis of patients undergoing open IHR between 2012 and 2022 in the ACHQC. After 1:1 optimal matching, both the TREPP/OPP and Lichtenstein cohorts were balanced with 451 participants in each group. Outcomes included patient-reported quality of life (QoL), hernia recurrence, and postoperative opioid use. Results: Improvement was seen after TREPP/OPP in EuraHS QoL score at 30 days (OR 0.558 [0.408, 0.761]; p = 0.001), and the difference persisted at 1 year (OR 0.588 [0.346, 0.994]; p = 0.047). Patient-reported opioid use at 30-day follow-up was significantly lower in the TREPP/OPP cohort (OR 0.31 [0.20, 0.48]; p < 0.001). 30-day frequency of surgical-site occurrences was significantly higher in the Lichtenstein repair cohort (OR 0.22 [0.06–0.61]; p = 0.007). There were no statistically significant differences in hernia recurrence risk at 1 year, or rates of postoperative bleeding, peripheral nerve injury, DVTs, or UTIs. Conclusion: Our analysis demonstrates a benefit of posterior mesh placement (TREPP/OPP) over anterior mesh placement (Lichtenstein) in open inguinal hernia repair in patient-reported QoL and reduced opioid use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inguinal hernia surgery is a constantly evolving field, with ongoing research efforts aimed at enhancing surgical techniques and outcomes for patients. This retrospective study conducted between 2015 and 2020 in the First Surgical Clinic of Craiova Emergency Clinical Hospital focused on the occurrence and characteristics of postoperative pain following inguinal hernia repair using the tension-free Lichtenstein procedure. A total of 178 patients were included in the study, with 16.85% reporting postoperative pain. The average pain intensity was 6.4 on a scale of 1 to 10. Patients described the pain as numbness, burning sensation, stinging, pressure, and tingling sensations. Notably, 50% of patients reported pain related to weather changes. While the study explored potential relationships between patient demographics, hernia type, and postoperative pain, no statistically significant associations were found. Approximately 20% of patients with postoperative pain reported adverse effects on their work, and 10% used analgesics for pain management. This study highlights the multifaceted nature of postoperative pain following inguinal hernia repair, emphasizing the need for further research to identify individual risk factors and adherence to international guidelines for hernia management. The findings also underscore the importance of effective pain management strategies to improve patient comfort and quality of life post-surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Geomechanik und Tunnelbau is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The aim of this study was to delimit potential rockfall propagation zones based on simulated 2 m resolution rockfall trajectories using Rockyfor3D for block volume scenarios ranging from 0.05–30 m3, with explicit inclusion of the barrier effect of standing trees, for an area of approx. 7200 km2 in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. For the determination of the start cells, as well as the slope surface characteristics, we used the terrain morphology derived from a 1 m resolution digital terrain model, as well as the topographic landscape model geodataset of swisstopo and information from geological maps. The forest structure was defined by individual trees with their coordinates, diameters, and tree type (coniferous or broadleaved). These were generated from detected individual trees combined with generated trees on the basis of statistical relationships between the detected trees, remote sensing-based forest structure type definitions, and stem numbers from field inventory data. From the simulated rockfall propagation zones we delimited rockfall hazard indication zones (HIZ), as called by the practitioners (because they serve as a basis for the Swiss hazard index map), on the basis of the simulated reach probability rasters. As validation, 1554 mapped past rockfall events were used. The results of the more than 89 billion simulated trajectories showed that 94% of the mapped silent witnesses could be reproduced by the simulations and at least 82% are included in the delimited HIZ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Banking & Commercial Law Journal / Banka ve Ticaret Hukuk Dergisi is the property of Research Institute of Banking & Commercial Law and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: The retinae of diurnal vertebrates have characteristics. Most lizards are strictly diurnal, and their retinal morphology is still unknown. Materials and methods: The retina of the African five-lined skink (Trachylepis quinquetaeniata) was studied using light and transmission electron microscopy. Results: The retina's ten layers were all detected. The inner nuclear layer was the thickest by an average of 67.66 μm, and the inner plexiform layer was 57.564 μm. There were elliptical, long cylindrical, and spherical melanosomes (small and large) in the pigment epithelial layer of the retina. The cylindrical melanosomes had a large area on the lateral surfaces of cones to increase light scatter absorption. The photoreceptor layer of the retina had cones only. There were single and double cones, with the double cones consisting of principal and accessory cones. The cones had inner and outer segments separated by oil droplets. A spherical paraboloid body existed between the limiting membrane and the ellipsoid. All single cones had a paraboloid, and double cones had a large paraboloid in the accessory cone. The presence of paraboloids and large ellipsoids with mitochondria of varying sizes may have helped focus the light on cone segments. Conclusion: The African five-lined skink's eye was light-adapted due to a variety of retinal specializations related to the demands of its diurnal lifestyle in its environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To realize a systematic review to evaluate groin hernia surgery for adults in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis, the primary objective of which was to determine the surgical techniques used for unilateral groin hernia surgery in sub-Saharan Africa. Studies published in the last 20 years were considered. A meta-analysis estimated the pooled prevalence with 95% confidence interval (CI) of mortality, chronic pain and recurrence. A subgroup analysis compared the rate of complications between complicated or uncomplicated hernia. Results: We included 113 articles. The most used technique was Bassini in 40.1%, followed by Lichtenstein in 29.9% and Shouldice in 12.6%. The overall mortality rate was 0.6% (95% CI 0.4–0.9). The pooled recurrence rate was 1.4% (95% CI 1.05–1.9). The pooled rate of chronic pain was 2.7% (95% CI 1.9–3.7). We found that mortality rate for complicated hernias (6.4%) was higher compared to uncomplicated hernias (0.2%). This difference was statistically significant [p ≤ 0.001; OR = 47.7; 95 CI (27.2–83.47)]. Conclusion: This review showed that pure tissue repairs are the most used techniques with Bassini and Shouldice as leading procedures. The post-operative rates of recurrence and chronic pain are low. However, there is a high heterogeneity between studies than can underestimate these pooled prevalences. The consultation at complication stage remains frequent and associated with a higher mortality. Futures studies should focus on improving the quality of studies in terms of design and follow-up to increase the degree of evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]