146 research outputs found

    Attitudes towards inheritance taxation - results from a survey experiment

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    Inheritance taxation divides public opinion and is among the most unpopular taxes in many countries, although only a minority of people have to pay it. Using a survey experiment with vignettes on a sample of German citizens (N = 479), we examine attitudes towards inheritance taxation. Our results reveal several relevant dimensions for a proposed fair inheritance tax rate (PITR): The PITR decreases with a close relationship between testator and heir and when the asset is a family-occupied house or family enterprise compared with a “lump sum”. It increases with the value of bequest and income of the heir representing equity considerations. Respondents advocate higher tax rates to reduce fiscal budget deficits. Respondents with a strong family orientation propose a low inheritance tax rate. The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10888-016-9344-4.Emerging Field Initiative (EFI) of the University of Erlangen-Nurember

    Organizational Effects on Individuals´ Life Chances

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    Die kumulative Dissertation beschäftigt sich mit der Frage, inwiefern Organisationen individuelle Lebenschancen beeinflussen. Unter Lebenschancen werden dabei die Chancen auf Bildung, Gesundheit, Erwerbstätigkeit sowie Freiwilligenengagement verstanden. Im Einzelnen wird untersucht, (a) ob die institutionell geregelte Allokationspraxis bei der Vergabe von Spenderorganen alltagsweltlichen Gerechtigkeitsvorstellungen entspricht, (b) wie sich die Integration auf dem Arbeitsmarkt sowie im Bildungssystem auf das Gesundheitsverhalten in Form von Zigarettenrauchen auswirkt, (c) welche makrosozialen Faktoren die Partizipation in Vereinen und Verbänden fördert, (d) welche Rolle die Institutionenzugehörigkeit bzgl. der Erfolgschancen auf dem akademischen Arbeitsmarkt spielt und (e) ob Privatschulen einen besonderen Effizienzvorteil für Kinder mit Migrationshintergrund bieten. Neben diversen institutionellen Einflüssen kann zudem der Effekt des makrosozialen Kontexts auf diese Einflüsse gezeigt werden.The cumulative dissertation focuses on the organizational effects on individuals´ life chances. The different meanings of life chances cover the chances for education, health, employment and membership in civil organizations. In detail the following questions are examined: (a) Does the organizational practice of the allocation of organs match the public sense of justice? (b) How does integration into the job market and educational system affect health behavior like smoking? (c) Which macro-social factors encourage participation in civil organizations? (d) Are there any institutional effects on individuals´ chances of success in academia? (e) Does the attendance of private schools lead to a better performance of students from immigrant backgrounds? In addition to institutional impacts on individuals´ life chances, macro-social influences on these institutional effects can be shown

    Membrane-Bound Hsp70 an Activating Ligand for NK Cells

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    A broad variety of tumor cells express Hsp70 on their cell surface. These tumor cells are more sensitive to the lysis mediated by NK cells. Here, it was shown that the 14mer peptide TKD (TKDNNLLGRFELSG, aa450-463) derived from the C-terminus of Hsp70 is the minimal sequence of Hsp70 that has the capacity to activate NK cells. NK cells incubated with low dose IL-2 (100 IU/ml) plus TKD (2 µg/ml) showed an enhanced proliferative capacity and an enhanced cytolytic activity and migratory capacity against Hsp70 membrane-positive tumor cells. Furterhmore, secretion of the cytokines IFN-g and TNF-a was enhanced. TKD stimulated NK cells also showed enhanced intracellular levels of the serine protease granzyme B. Since binding of fulllength Hsp70 protein and TKD to NK cells was specific and concentration-dependent, an involvement of a Hsp70 specific receptor was hypothesized. It was shown that the C-type lectine receptor CD94 is involved in Hsp70/TKD-NK cell interaction: (i) CD94 was upregulated in NK cells after incubation with Hsp70/TKD; (ii) binding of Hsp70 could be inhibited by a CD94 specific antibody; (iii) Hsp70 reactivity correlated with CD94 expression on NK cells; and (iv) Hsp70 reactivity of NK cells could be inhibited by a CD94 specific antibody. Finally, the mechanism of lysis of Hsp70 membrane-positive tumor cells by NK cells could be elucidated. It was shown that the serine protease granzyme B binds to Hsp70/TKD on the cell surface of Hsp70 membrane-positive tumor cells and is specifically taken up by these cells. As demonstrated by different apoptosis assays (Annexin V staining, cytochrome c release, and DAPI staining) granzyme B causes apoptosis specifically in Hsp70 membrane-positive tumor cells, but not in their Hsp70 membrane-negative counterparts

    The Influence of Regional Social Inequality and Labour Market Characteristics on Health

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    Der Einfluss von Kontextfaktoren auf den individuellen Gesundheitsstatus hat sich in zahlreichen Studien selbst dann gezeigt, wenn auf die individuelle sozioökonomische Situation (und sonstige relevante Einflussgrößen) kontrolliert wurde. Der Beitrag untersucht, ob und inwiefern sich Merkmale des Wohnortes auf den individuellen Gesundheitsstatus auswirken. Dabei wird nicht nur auf Einkommensniveau und -ungleichheit Bezug genommen, sondern ebenfalls auf Effekte von Bildungsniveau und -ungleichheit und der regionalen Arbeitslosenquote. Als Datengrundlage für die individuellen Merkmale wird die Welle des Sozio-oekonomischen Panels (SOEP) aus 2006 herangezogen, während regionale Informationen auf der Basis der Raumordnungsregionen des Mikrozensus von 2005 zugespielt und mittels Mehrebenenanalyse ausgewertet werden. Die Ergebnisse zeigen zum einen, dass regionale Bildungsungleichheit den individuellen Bildungseffekt verstärkt. Demnach weisen Angehörige bildungsferner Schichten in bildungsungleichen Regionen besonders geringe Gesundheitschancen auf. Zum anderen verstärkt eine hohe regionale Arbeitslosenquote den negativen Effekt der individuellen Arbeitslosigkeit der Männer auf ihre Gesundheit.The influence of contextual factors on individual health status has been demonstrated by a number of studies even when controlling for the individual socio-economic situation (and other relevant factors). The article examines whether and to what extent variables of the place of residence have an effect on individual health status. We do not only refer to income levels and inequality, but also to effects of the educational level and inequality and the regional unemployment rate. As data basis for the individual level, we use the 2006 wave of the German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP) and add regional information on the aggregate level based on the regional units (Raumordnungsregionen) of the Microcensus of 2005. These data will be analysed using multilevel models. The results reveal that regional educational inequality intensifies the individual educational effect, whereby members of less-educated groups in educationally disparate regions exhibit particularly low health chances. In addition, a high regional unemployment rate intensifies the negative effect of individual unemployment on men’s health

    Female physician and pregnancy- effect of the amended German maternity protection act on female doctors' careers.

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    OBJECTIVES In Germany, the 2018 amended Maternity Protection Act frequently leads to fundamental restrictions for female physicians, especially surgeons, and now even also for students impeding the progress of their careers. Our goal was to assess the current situation for pregnant female physicians and students, respectively, and their perspective on this amendment regarding their career path. METHODS A nationwide survey was conducted in Germany from December 2020 to February 2021. The questionnaire included 790 female physicians and students who were pregnant after the inception of the amended Act. Those women pregnant after the beginning of the corona pandemic were excluded. RESULTS The survey revealed that two thirds of female physicians worked a maximum of 50% in their previous professional activity as soon as they reported pregnancy. Amongst medical students this amounted up to 72%. 18% of the female physicians and 17% of the female medical students respectively could not follow the sense of these restrictions. 44% of female medical physicians and 33% of female students felt their career impeded. This led up to 43% amongst female medical doctors and 53% amongst female medical students, respectively, who were concerned to announce their pregnancy. As a consequence, pregnancies were reported at 12 weeks in female physicians compared to 19 weeks in medical students. CONCLUSIONS Analyses of the current survey revealed that a relevant number of female physicians and medical students felt impeded in their career path through the application of the amended Maternity Act

    Long-Lasting, Patient-Controlled, Procedure-Free Contraception: A Review of Annovera with a Pharmacist Perspective

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    Annovera (segesterone acetate and ethinyl estradiol vaginal system) is a US Food and Drug Administration FDA-approved long-lasting, reversible contraceptive that is fully administered by the user and does not require a procedure for insertion or removal. The vaginal system is in the shape of a ring and contains low doses of a novel progestin, egesterone acetate, and ethinyl estradiol. It is made of silicone and is fully pliable and flexible. The vaginal system is reusable for 13 cycles, using a 21 days in/7 days out regimen, providing women with the ability to control their fertility. Particularly now during the COVID-19 pandemic when access to contraception has been further reduced, patients may benefit from a method that is both long-lasting and patient-controlled

    Erhebung und Nutzung unstrukturierter Daten in den Sozial-, Verhaltens- und Wirtschaftswissenschaften

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    Die zunehmende Digitalisierung unserer Lebenswelt in den letzten Jahrzehnten hat zu einer Reihe von neuen Datenquellen für die Sozial-, Verhaltens- und Wirtschaftswissenschaften geführt. Hierzu gehören vor allem auch unstrukturierte Daten, die sich dadurch auszeichnen, dass sie nicht in Form eines festen Datenformats vorliegen und daher nicht einfach datenanalytisch weiterverarbeitet werden können (z.B. Facebook-Texte, Instagram-Bilder, YouTube-Videos, Twitter-Nachrichten). Die Nutzung unstrukturierter Daten ist mit spezifischen Herausforderungen verknüpft, die gerade dadurch entstehen, dass die Daten typischerweise nicht in einer kontrollierten wissenschaftlichen Studie erhoben werden, sondern häufig im natürlichen Lebensumfeld anfallen. Aufbauend auf den Ergebnissen eines Expert:innen-Workshops werden die spezifischen Herausforderungen bei der Erhebung und Nutzung unstrukturierter Daten beschrieben und Empfehlungen formuliert. Diese orientieren sich am Total Error Framework und beziehen sich auf die Datengenerierung (Definition von Untersuchungseinheiten, Coverage und Sampling Error, Nonresponse und Missing Data Error), die Datenaufbereitung (Spezifikationsfehler, Validität, Messfehler und inhaltliche Fehler) sowie die Datenanalyse (Record Linkage und Verarbeitungsfehler, Modellierungsfehler, analytische Fehler). Abschließend werden offene Fragen und Herausforderungen bei der Forschung mit unstrukturierten Daten diskutiert. Der Output richtet sich einerseits an Studierende sowie Forschende der Sozial-, Verhaltens- und Wirtschaftswissenschaften, andererseits an alle, die mit unstrukturierten Daten arbeiten und Schlüsse aus diesen für praktische Anwendungsfragen ziehen

    The adaptor molecule CARD9 is essential for tuberculosis control

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    The cross talk between host and pathogen starts with recognition of bacterial signatures through pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), which mobilize downstream signaling cascades. We investigated the role of the cytosolic adaptor caspase recruitment domain family, member 9 (CARD9) in tuberculosis. This adaptor was critical for full activation of innate immunity by converging signals downstream of multiple PRRs. Card9−/− mice succumbed early after aerosol infection, with higher mycobacterial burden, pyogranulomatous pneumonia, accelerated granulocyte recruitment, and higher abundance of proinflammatory cytokines and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in serum and lung. Neutralization of G-CSF and neutrophil depletion significantly prolonged survival, indicating that an exacerbated systemic inflammatory disease triggered lethality of Card9−/− mice. CARD9 deficiency had no apparent effect on T cell responses, but a marked impact on the hematopoietic compartment. Card9−/− granulocytes failed to produce IL-10 after Mycobaterium tuberculosis infection, suggesting that an absent antiinflammatory feedback loop accounted for granulocyte-dominated pathology, uncontrolled bacterial replication, and, ultimately, death of infected Card9−/− mice. Our data provide evidence that deregulated innate responses trigger excessive lung inflammation and demonstrate a pivotal role of CARD9 signaling in autonomous innate host defense against tuberculosis

    Дослідження структури порушених відкритою розробкою земель й пошук шляхів вдосконалення рекультивації залишкових виробок кар'єрів

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    Стаття присвячена дослідженням структури порушених земель, на ділянках з видобутку корисних копалин відкритим способом. Наведено площі порушень земель при розробці основних видів корисних копалин. Проаналізовано ризики, що виникають із несвоєчасною рекультивацією земель гірничого відводу, а також від покинутих гірничих виробок старих кар'єрів. Паралельно розглянуті обсяги відходів гірничого виробництва та їх повторне використання в якості заповнювача для залишкових вироблених просторів кар'єрів.The article is devoted to the research of land violation indicators at the extraction of minerals by surface mining method. Data gives about the land violations area at the mining key minerals. Ana-lyzed the risks from the not-on-time reclamation of the mining clam and abandoned excavations of the old quarries. In parallel considered the volumes of mining wastes and their reuse as aggregate for filling residual spaces of surface mines.Статья посвящена исследованиям площадей нарушения земель, связанных с добычей полезных ископаемых открытым способом. Приведены площади нарушений земель при разработке основных видов полезных ископаемых. Проанализированы риски, представляемые несвоевременной рекультивацией земель горного отвода, а также заброшенными горными выработками старых карьеров. Параллельно рассмотрены объемы отходов горного производства и их повторное использование в качестве заполнителя для остаточных выработанных пространств карьеров
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