Diachronic change and variation in use

Previous studies have demonstrated that in spontaneous speech, Rioplatense Spanish speakers—in contrast to speakers of Peninsular Spanish—sometimes produce clitic-doubled accusative nominal objects. If this contrast between varieties reflects different grammatical systems, it would be expected to also affect the acceptability of clitic doubling across varieties.  We tested this hypothesis in a judgment study that compared the acceptability of dative and accusative clitic-doubled objects between Rioplatense and Peninsular Spanish speakers. Speakers of both varieties showed similar preferences with dative clitic doubling, consistent with previous work. By contrast, accusative clitic doubling was highly acceptable in Rioplatense Spanish, but not in Peninsular Spanish. Based on accounts of the diachronic development of clitic doubling, we argue that the Rioplatense speakers exhibit a diachronically advanced behavior compared to Peninsular Spanish speakers

Veränderungs- und Transformationsprozesse am Arbeitsplatz: Kurzanalysen auf Basis von IAB-Betriebspanel, BIBB/BAuA-Erwerbstätigenbefragung und Sozio-oekonomischem Panel

Viele Beschäftigte erleben unmittelbar den Wandel der Arbeitswelt, weil sich ihr eigenes Arbeitsumfeld verändert, oder indirekt, weil die Betriebe, in denen sie arbeiten, ihre Prozesse und Strukturen reorganisieren. Welche Beschäftigte von diesen Veränderungsprozessen besonders stark betroffen sind und in welchen Betrieben diese besonders häufig zu beobachten sind, lässt sich auf Basis des IAB-Betriebspanels, der BIBB-BAuA-Erwerbstätigenbefragungen und des Sozio-oekonomischem Panels (SOEP) auf einer repräsentativen Basis über einen längeren Zeitraum beobachten. Der vorliegende Tabellenband gibt einen Einblick, welche längerfristigen Trends bei Veränderungsprozessen in der betrieblichen Arbeitswelt zu beobachten sind. Er zeigt auch auf, welche personen- oder betriebsbezogenen Merkmale mit diesen in einem engen Zusammenhang stehen. Die empirischen Auswertungen geben auch Auskunft darüber, welche Erwartungen und Einschätzungen Beschäftigte haben, deren eigenes Arbeitsumfeld sich verändert oder verändert hat.Many employees experience the transformation of work. Their workplaces, working conditions and work environment may have directly changed or they work in firms that have been restructuring processes and organisations. The IAB-Establishment Panel, the BIBB-BAuA-Employment Surveys and the Socio-Economic Panel allow to reveal the characteristics of individuals and establishments that are particularly affected. The compilation of figures in this analysis also provides insights how the transformation of work has evolved over the last decade. It also shows the expectations and assessments of employees who have directly been affected by changes of their own work environment

Investigation of the reaction kinetics of photocatalytic pollutant degradation under defined conditions with inkjet-printed TiO2_{2} films – from batch to a novel continuous-flow microreactor

Pollutants accumulating in natural and drinking water systems can cause severe effects to the environment and living organisms. Photocatalysis is a promising option to degrade such pollutants. When immobilizing the photocatalyst, additional catalyst separation steps can be avoided. Among various reactor types, the use of microreactors in photocatalysis has proven advantageous regarding process intensification. However, so far the local conditions are not well understood and described in literature and there is little quantitative understanding of the relevant phenomena. In this work, inkjet-printing was used to immobilize TiO$_{2}$ as a thin film with a precisely tuneable thickness and catalyst loading. In a batch reactor, the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) as a model pollutant was performed for different initial concentrations and catalyst layer thicknesses. By employing the Langmuir–Hinshelwood model and a light irradiation model, the kinetic parameters were determined. The influence of the light intensity at different positions inside the immobilized photocatalyst on the reaction kinetics is quantified. RhB degradation was tested under defined operational conditions using an in-house developed continuous-flow microreactor with advanced fiber optics for precise light introduction. The models derived from batch experiments were used to simulate the degradation in the continuous-flow microreactor. Results show that the simulation allows prediction of the performance with less than 20% deviation to the experimental data. An analysis of mass transport effects on the reaction rate indicates that external mass transfer is a limiting factor in the microreactor experiment. This study further demonstrates the potential of the new reactor system (microreactor, fiber optics and printed catalyst) for detailed investigations on photocatalytic reaction kinetics

Investigation of the reaction kinetics of photocatalytic pollutant degradation under defined conditions with inkjet-printed TiO2_{2} films – from batch to a novel continuous-flow microreactor

Pollutants accumulating in natural and drinking water systems can cause severe effects to the environment and living organisms. Photocatalysis is a promising option to degrade such pollutants. When immobilizing the photocatalyst, additional catalyst separation steps can be avoided. Among various reactor types, the use of microreactors in photocatalysis has proven advantageous regarding process intensification. However, so far the local conditions are not well understood and described in literature and there is little quantitative understanding of the relevant phenomena. In this work, inkjet-printing was used to immobilize TiO$_{2}$ as a thin film with a precisely tuneable thickness and catalyst loading. In a batch reactor, the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) as a model pollutant was performed for different initial concentrations and catalyst layer thicknesses. By employing the Langmuir–Hinshelwood model and a light irradiation model, the kinetic parameters were determined. The influence of the light intensity at different positions inside the immobilized photocatalyst on the reaction kinetics is quantified. RhB degradation was tested under defined operational conditions using an in-house developed continuous-flow microreactor with advanced fiber optics for precise light introduction. The models derived from batch experiments were used to simulate the degradation in the continuous-flow microreactor. Results show that the simulation allows prediction of the performance with less than 20% deviation to the experimental data. An analysis of mass transport effects on the reaction rate indicates that external mass transfer is a limiting factor in the microreactor experiment. This study further demonstrates the potential of the new reactor system (microreactor, fiber optics and printed catalyst) for detailed investigations on photocatalytic reaction kinetics

Observing many researchers using the same data and hypothesis reveals a hidden universe of uncertainty

This study explores how researchers’ analytical choices affect the reliability of scientific findings. Most discussions of reliability problems in science focus on systematic biases. We broaden the lens to emphasize the idiosyncrasy of conscious and unconscious decisions that researchers make during data analysis. We coordinated 161 researchers in 73 research teams and observed their research decisions as they used the same data to independently test the same prominent social science hypothesis: that greater immigration reduces support for social policies among the public. In this typical case of social science research, research teams reported both widely diverging numerical findings and substantive conclusions despite identical start conditions. Researchers’ expertise, prior beliefs, and expectations barely predict the wide variation in research outcomes. More than 95% of the total variance in numerical results remains unexplained even after qualitative coding of all identifiable decisions in each team’s workflow. This reveals a universe of uncertainty that remains hidden when considering a single study in isolation. The idiosyncratic nature of how researchers’ results and conclusions varied is a previously underappreciated explanation for why many scientific hypotheses remain contested. These results call for greater epistemic humility and clarity in reporting scientific findings

Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy in gastroenteropancreatic NEN G3:a multicenter cohort study

Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) is an established treatment of metastatic neuroendocrine tumors grade 1–2 (G1–G2). However, its possible benefit in high-grade gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN G3) is largely unknown. We therefore aimed to assess the benefits and side effects of PRRT in patients with GEP NEN G3. We performed a retrospective cohort study at 12 centers to assess the efficacy and toxicity of PRRT in patients with GEP NEN G3. Outcomes were response rate, disease control rate, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and toxicity. We included 149 patients (primary tumor: pancreatic n = 89, gastrointestinal n = 34, unknown n = 26). PRRT was first-line (n = 30), second-line (n = 62) or later-line treatment (n = 57). Of 114 patients evaluated, 1% had complete response, 41% partial response, 38% stable disease and 20% progressive disease. Of 104 patients with documented progressive disease before PRRT, disease control rate was 69%. The total cohort had median PFS of 14 months and OS of 29 months. Ki-67 21–54% (n = 125) vs Ki-67 ≥55% (n = 23): PFS 16 vs 6 months (P < 0.001) and OS 31 vs 9 months (P < 0.001). Well (n = 60) vs poorly differentiated NEN (n = 62): PFS 19 vs 8 months (P < 0.001) and OS 44 vs 19 months (P < 0.001). Grade 3–4 hematological or renal toxicity occurred in 17% of patients. This large multicenter cohort of patients with GEP NEN G3 treated with PRRT demonstrates promising response rates, disease control rates, PFS and OS as well as toxicity in patients with mainly progressive disease. Based on these results, PRRT may be considered for patients with GEP NEN G3.acceptedVersio

Environmental considerations and current status of grouping and regulation of engineered nanomaterials

This article reviews the current status of nanotechnology with emphasis on application and related environmental considerations as well as legislation. Application and analysis of nanomaterials in infrastructure (construction, building coatings, and water treatment) is discussed, and in particular nanomaterial release during the lifecycle of these applications. Moreover, possible grouping approaches with regard to ecotoxicological and toxicological properties, and the fate of nanomaterials in the environment are evaluated. In terms of potential exposure, the opportunities that arise from leveraging advances in several key areas, such as water treatment and construction are addressed. Additionally, this review describes challenges with regard to the European Commission’s definition of ‘nanomaterial’. The revised REACH information requirements, intended to enable a comprehensive risk assessment of nanomaterials, are outlined

Analytical and toxicological aspects of nanomaterials in different product groups: Challenges and opportunities

The widespread integration of engineered nanomaterials into consumer and industrial products creates new challenges and requires innovative approaches in terms of design, testing, reliability, and safety of nanotechnology. The aim of this review article is to give an overview of different product groups in which nanomaterials are present and outline their safety aspects for consumers. Here, release of nanomaterials and related analytical challenges and solutions as well as toxicological considerations, such as dose-metrics, are discussed. Additionally, the utilization of engineered nanomaterials as pharmaceuticals or nutraceuticals to deliver and release cargo molecules is covered. Furthermore, critical pathways for human exposure to nanomaterials, namely inhalation and ingestion, are discussed in the context of risk assessment. Analysis of NMs in food, innovative medicine or food contact materials is discussed. Specific focus is on the presence and release of nanomaterials, including whether nanomaterials can migrate from polymer nanocomposites used in food contact materials. With regard to the toxicology and toxicokinetics of nanomaterials, aspects of dose metrics of inhalation toxicity as well as ingestion toxicology and comparison between in vitro and in vivo conclusions are considered. The definition of dose descriptors to be applied in toxicological testing is emphasized. In relation to potential exposure from different products, opportunities arising from the use of advanced analytical techniques in more unique scenarios such as release of nanomaterials from medical devices such as orthopedic implants are addressed. Alongside higher product performance and complexity, further challenges regarding material characterization and safety, as well as acceptance by the general public are expected

Spectral cinema from a phantom state: film aesthetics and the politics of identity in Divided Heaven and Solo Sunny

In this essay I draw on close textual analysis to consider the interface between film aesthetics and the politics of identity in Konrad Wolf’s Der geteilte Himmel / Divided Heaven (1964) and Solo Sunny (1979). Both films focus on women who have to confront painful processes of self realisa-tion in specifically East German contexts. They also show Wolf and his collaborators working in two very different modes, from a nouvelle vague-inspired mix of location shooting and self-conscious formal artifice to a more laconic style and mobile camera that borrow from documentary aesthetics. Viewed from the perspective of today, the films resist the reductive stereotyping of what Christa Wolf in 1991 called the 'phantom' East Germany, and offer a more productive haunting. As living ghosts in the post-reunification era, they are a reminder of the necessity of remembering, and so confound both a negative 'master narrative' of the GDR and a collective amnesia with no interest in this history