GrassPlot - a database of multi-scale plant diversity in Palaearctic grasslands

GrassPlot is a collaborative vegetation-plot database organised by the Eurasian Dry Grassland Group (EDGG) and listed in the Global Index of Vegetation-Plot Databases (GIVD ID EU-00-003). GrassPlot collects plot records (releves) from grasslands and other open habitats of the Palaearctic biogeographic realm. It focuses on precisely delimited plots of eight standard grain sizes (0.0001; 0.001;... 1,000 m(2)) and on nested-plot series with at least four different grain sizes. The usage of GrassPlot is regulated through Bylaws that intend to balance the interests of data contributors and data users. The current version (v. 1.00) contains data for approximately 170,000 plots of different sizes and 2,800 nested-plot series. The key components are richness data and metadata. However, most included datasets also encompass compositional data. About 14,000 plots have near-complete records of terricolous bryophytes and lichens in addition to vascular plants. At present, GrassPlot contains data from 36 countries throughout the Palaearctic, spread across elevational gradients and major grassland types. GrassPlot with its multi-scale and multi-taxon focus complements the larger international vegetationplot databases, such as the European Vegetation Archive (EVA) and the global database " sPlot". Its main aim is to facilitate studies on the scale-and taxon-dependency of biodiversity patterns and drivers along macroecological gradients. GrassPlot is a dynamic database and will expand through new data collection coordinated by the elected Governing Board. We invite researchers with suitable data to join GrassPlot. Researchers with project ideas addressable with GrassPlot data are welcome to submit proposals to the Governing Board

Mortality and pulmonary complications in patients undergoing surgery with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection: an international cohort study

Background: The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on postoperative recovery needs to be understood to inform clinical decision making during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study reports 30-day mortality and pulmonary complication rates in patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: This international, multicentre, cohort study at 235 hospitals in 24 countries included all patients undergoing surgery who had SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed within 7 days before or 30 days after surgery. The primary outcome measure was 30-day postoperative mortality and was assessed in all enrolled patients. The main secondary outcome measure was pulmonary complications, defined as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or unexpected postoperative ventilation. Findings: This analysis includes 1128 patients who had surgery between Jan 1 and March 31, 2020, of whom 835 (74·0%) had emergency surgery and 280 (24·8%) had elective surgery. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed preoperatively in 294 (26·1%) patients. 30-day mortality was 23·8% (268 of 1128). Pulmonary complications occurred in 577 (51·2%) of 1128 patients; 30-day mortality in these patients was 38·0% (219 of 577), accounting for 81·7% (219 of 268) of all deaths. In adjusted analyses, 30-day mortality was associated with male sex (odds ratio 1·75 [95% CI 1·28–2·40], p\textless0·0001), age 70 years or older versus younger than 70 years (2·30 [1·65–3·22], p\textless0·0001), American Society of Anesthesiologists grades 3–5 versus grades 1–2 (2·35 [1·57–3·53], p\textless0·0001), malignant versus benign or obstetric diagnosis (1·55 [1·01–2·39], p=0·046), emergency versus elective surgery (1·67 [1·06–2·63], p=0·026), and major versus minor surgery (1·52 [1·01–2·31], p=0·047). Interpretation: Postoperative pulmonary complications occur in half of patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection and are associated with high mortality. Thresholds for surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic should be higher than during normal practice, particularly in men aged 70 years and older. Consideration should be given for postponing non-urgent procedures and promoting non-operative treatment to delay or avoid the need for surgery. Funding: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, Bowel and Cancer Research, Bowel Disease Research Foundation, Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons, British Association of Surgical Oncology, British Gynaecological Cancer Society, European Society of Coloproctology, NIHR Academy, Sarcoma UK, Vascular Society for Great Britain and Ireland, and Yorkshire Cancer Research

Personelle Einkommensverteilung und der Einfluss von Imputed Rent

'Die vorliegende Untersuchung befasst sich mit verschiedenen Verfahren zur Beruecksichtigung von Einkommensvorteilen aus selbstgenutztem Wohneigentum ('Imputed Rent') und deren Einfluss auf die personelle Einkommensverteilung. Nach einer theoretischen Darstellung der Verfahren und ihrer jeweiligen Vor- und Nachteile erfolgt eine empirische Umsetzung auf Basis der Mikrodaten des Sozio-oekonomischen Panels (SOEP). Ausgewaehlte Ergebnisse werden mit solchen auf Basis der Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) fuer die USA verglichen. Abschliessend erfolgen aufgrund theoretischer Vorueberlegungen und der empirischen Ergebnisse Empfehlungen zum Umgang mit 'Imputed Rent' bei Analysen zur personellen Einkommensverteilung und Einkommensmobilitaet.' (Autorenreferat)'This article deals with various methods for dealing with income advantages of owner occupied housing (imputed rents). It also explores the effects of such advantages on the distribution of individual income. Following a description of the theoretical aspects of the various methods as well as their advantages and disadvantages, an empirical study based on the microdata of the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) is then presented. Selected results are compared with results based on data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) for the United States. In conclusion, recommendations for taking imputed rent into account in analysis of the distribution of individual income and income mobility are given, based on the theoretical framework and the empirical results of this study.' (author's abstract)SIGLEAvailable from http://www.diw.de/deutsch/publikationen/diskussionspapiere/docs/papers/dp225.pdf / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekDEGerman

The personal distribution of income and imputed rent A cross-national comparison for the UK, West Germany, and the USA

Gegenstand der Untersuchung sind Einkommensvorteile, die sich aus selbstgenutztem Wohneigentum ergeben (abgeleitete Rente), und die Auswirkungen dieser Vorteile auf die personelle Einkommensverteilung. Die Verfasser geben einen kurzen Ueberblick ueber die unterschiedlichen Methoden zur Berechung abgeleiteter Renten bei Haushaltsumfragen und legen dann eine international vergleichende Untersuchung vor, die auf Mikrodaten der British Household Panel Study (BHPS), des deutschen Soziooekonomischen Panels (SOEP) und der US-Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) basiert. Die angelsaechsischen Laender und Deutschland weisen deutliche Unterschiede in Haeufigkeit und Hoehe abgeleiteter Renten und bei den Auswirkungen auf die Einkommensverteilung insgesamt auf. Die Beruecksichtigung abgeleiteter Renten als Teil der Altersvorsorge verbessert jedoch in allen drei Laendern die Qualitaet der Bewertung der wirtschaftlichen Position aelterer Menschen. (ICEUebers)'This article deals with income advantages derived from owner occupied housing (Imputed Rent, IR) and their impact on the personal income distribution. Following a brief description of different methods with which to calculate IR in household surveys, we conduct a cross-national comparative study based on micro-data from the British Household Panel Study (BHPS), the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP), and the US Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID). We find distinct differences between the Anglo-Saxon countries and Germany in terms of prevalence and extent of IR as well as in terms of the impact on the overall income distribution. In all three countries, however, using IR in measures of old age provision improves the quality of economic well-being assessment for the elderly.' (author's abstract)German title: Personelle Einkommensverteilung und abgeleitete Rente: ein internationaler Vergleich fuer Grossbritannien, Westdeutschland und die USASIGLEAvailable from http://www.diw.de/deutsch/publikationen/diskussionspapiere/docs/papers/dp271.pdf / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekDEGerman

Missing income data in the German SOEP Incidence, imputation and its impact on the income distribution

'Based on data from the German Socio-Economic Panel study (SOEP) this paper deals with the question of selectivity of missing data on income due to item-non-response and with imputation as one alternative strategy to cope with this issue. In contrast to cross-section surveys, the imputation of missing values in such panel data can profit from longitudinal information which is available for the very same observation units from other points in time. The 'row-and-column imputation procedure' developed by Little and Su (1989) considers longitudinal as well as cross-sectional information in the imputation process. This procedure is applied to the SOEP when deriving annual income variables, complemented by purely cross-sectional techniques. Our empirical work starts with a description of the overall incidence of imputation and its relevance given by imputed income as a percentage share of the total income mass: While e.g. 21% of all observations have at least one missing income component of their pre-tax posttransfer income, 9% of the overall income mass is imputed. However, this picture varies considerably for more recent sub-samples of the panel survey. Secondly, we analyse the respective impact of imputation on the personal distribution of income as well as on results of income mobility. When comparing income inequality measures based only on truly observed information to those derived from all (i.e., observed and imputed) observations, we find a small increase in inequality due to imputation and this effect appears to be relevant in both tails of the distribution. Longitudinal analyses support the hypothesis of missing income data being a predictor of subsequent unit-non-response. We also find unit-non-response to be positively correlated with item-non-response in previous waves of the panel survey. Finally, multivariate models show that survey-related factors (number of interviews, interview mode) as well as indicators for variability in income receipt (due to increased complexity of household structure and income composition) are significantly correlated with item-nonresponse. Summing up, our empirical results based on the German SOEP indicate the selectivity of item-non-response on income questions in social surveys and push the necessity for adequate imputation.' (author's abstract)Auf der Grundlage von Daten des deutschen Sozio-oekonomischen Panels (SOEP) wird die Frage der Selektivitaet von fehlenden Einkommensdaten infolge von Item-Non-Response untersucht. Im Gegensatz zu Laengsschnittstudien kann die Unterstellung von fehlenden Werten in solchen Paneldaten von der laengsschnittlichen Information profitieren, die fuer genau dieselben Beobachtungseinheiten fuer andere Zeitpunkte verfuegbar ist. Die vorliegende empirische Studie beginnt mit einer Beschreibung dieses Verfahrens und seiner Bedeutung. Es wird zweitens der Einfluss dieser Prozedur sowohl auf die personelle Einkommensverteilung als auch auf die Ergebnisse der Einkommensmobilitaet analysiert. Laengsschnittstudien unterstuetzen dabei die Hypothese, dass fehlende Einkommensdaten ein Praediktor fuer nachfolgenden Unit-Non-Response sind. Multivariate Modelle zeigen schliesslich, dass erhebungsbezogene Faktoren (Anzahl der Interviews, Interviewart) wie auch Indikatoren fuer die Variabilitaet im Einkommen (aufgrund der zunehmenden Komplexitaet der Haushaltsstruktur und der Einkommenszusammensetzung) in signifikanter Weise mit Item-Non-Response korreliert sind. (ICIUebers)German title: Fehlende Einkommensdaten im deutschen SOEP: Haeufigkeit, Bereinigung und Einfluss auf die EinkommensverteilungAvailable from Deutsches Institut fuer Wirtschaftsforschung -DIW Berlin-, Berlin (DE) / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekSIGLEDEGerman

Kapitaldeckung in der Gesetzlichen Krankenversicherung Zur Berechnung der finanziellen Auswirkungen eines Umstieg vom Umlage- auf das Kapitaldeckungssystem

'In diesem Beitrag werden die fiskalischen Belastungen eines Umstiegs vom bestehenden Umlageverfahren zu einem kapitalgedeckten System in der Gesetzlichen Krankenversicherung (GKV) dargestellt. Mit Hilfe eines statischen Mikrosimulationsmodells, auf Basis der Daten des sozio-oekonomischen Panels (SOEP), werden die Transferzahlungen berechnet, die - unter Zugrundelegung unterschiedlicher Annahmen - in einzelnen Uebergangsszenarien anfallen. Ziel ist es, den Betrag zu quantifizieren, der sich aus der Differenz der Leistungsausgaben und den Beitragseinnahmen unter Beruecksichtigung einer Belastungsobergrenze von 15% der Bemessungsgrundlage ergibt. Als Grundlage fuer einen Krankenversicherungsbeitrag mit Kapitaldeckung wird hierbei auf Kalkulationen einer Privaten Krankenversicherung zurueckgegriffen. Es wird gezeigt, wie hoch das Transfervolumen waere, um einen Uebergang in die kapitalgedeckte Krankenversicherung in der GKV zu realisieren.' (Autorenreferat)'This paper presents the financial effects of a transition from the pay-as-you-go to a capital funded health insurance system in Germany. The focus of the following article will be on the financial need in different settings which are given by the difference of the spending for health care and the insurance contributions with an upper limit of 15% of the underlying assessment basis. Calculations made with a static microsimulation model based on the data of the German Socio Economic Panel Study (SOEP).' (author's abstract)Available from http://www.diw.de/deutsch/publikationen/diskussionspapiere/docs/papers/dp275.pdf / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekSIGLEDEGerman