Concurrent, Web-First, or Web-Only? How Different Mode Sequences Perform in Recruiting Participants for a Self-Administered Mixed-mode Panel Study

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many survey programs switched to self-administered modes of data collection, often offering respondents both web-based and paper-based questionnaires. However, there is little guidance as to when to offer which mode, especially when the aim is to recruit participants for a panel survey. This study examines the effectiveness of different mode-sequence designs by analyzing an experiment implemented in the recruitment wave of the German panel study "Family Research and Demographic Analysis." We randomly assigned 108,256 individuals aged 18-49 years to one of three mode-sequence-design conditions: concurrent, web-first including a paper-based questionnaire with the second reminder (web-first-2), and web-first including a paper-based questionnaire with the third reminder (web-first-3). A fourth, simulated group did not receive a paper-based questionnaire (web-only). We analyzed how different mode-sequence designs affected outcome rates, sample composition, response distributions, data quality, share of paper-based questionnaires, postage costs, number of postal mailings in the recruitment wave, and participation in the first regular wave. Our results show no differences in response distributions and small differences in sample composition across the four mode-sequence designs. As the web-first-2 and simulated web-only designs yielded comparatively good response and recruitment rates at reasonable costs, we recommend their use when surveying adults between 18 and 49 years old.Während der COVID-19-Pandemie gingen viele Erhebungsprogramme zu selbstverwalteten Formen der Datenerhebung über und boten den Befragten häufig sowohl webbasierte als auch papierbasierte Fragebögen an. Es gibt jedoch kaum Anhaltspunkte dafür, wann welcher Modus angeboten werden sollte, insbesondere wenn das Ziel darin besteht, Teilnehmende für eine Panelerhebung zu rekrutieren. Diese Studie untersucht die Effektivität verschiedener Modus-Sequenz-Designs durch die Analyse eines Experiments, das in der Rekrutierungswelle der deutschen Panelstudie "Familienforschung und Demographische Analyse" durchgeführt wurde

Long term results of postoperative Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) in the treatment of Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) located in the oropharynx or oral cavity

Background: To report our long-term results with postoperative intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in patients suffering from squamous-cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oral cavity or oropharynx. Methods: Seventy five patients were retrospectively analyzed. Median age was 58 years and 84 % were male. 76 % of the primaries were located in the oropharynx. Surgery resulted in negative margins (R0) in 64 % of the patients while 36 % suffered from positive margins (R1). Postoperative stages were as follows: stage1:4 %, stage2:9 %, stage3:17 %, stage4a:69 % with positive nodes in 84 %. Perineural invasion (Pn+) and extracapsular extension (ECE) were present in 7 % and 29 %, respectively. All patients received IMRT using the step-and-shoot approach with a simultaneously integrated boost (SIB) in 84 %. Concurrent systemic therapy was applied to 53 patients, mainly cisplatin weekly. Results: Median follow-up was 55 months (5–150). 13 patients showed locoregional failures (4 isolated local, 4 isolated neck, 5 combined) transferring into 5-year-LRC rates of 85 %. Number of positive lymph nodes (n > 2) and presence of ECE were significantly associated with decreased LRC in univariate analysis, but only the number of nodes remained significant in multivariate analysis. Overall treatment failures occurred in 20 patients (9 locoregional only, 7 distant only, 4 combined), transferring into 3-and 5-year-FFTF rates of 77 % and 75 %, respectively. The 3-and 5-year-OS rates were 80 % and 72 %, respectively. High clinical stage, high N stage, number of positive nodes (n > 2), ECE and Pn1 were significantly associated with worse FFTF and OS in univariate analysis, but only number of nodes remained significant for FFTF in multivariate analysis. Maximum acute toxicity was grade 3 in 64 % and grade 4 in 1 %, mainly hematological or mucositis/dysphagia. Maximum late toxicity was grade 3 in 23 % of the patients, mainly long-term tube feeding dependency. Conclusion: Postoperative IMRT achieved excellent LRC and good OS with acceptable acute and low late toxicity rates. The number of positive nodes (n > 2) was a strong prognostic factor for all endpoints in univariate and the only significant factor for LRC and FFTF in multivariate analysis. Patients with feeding tubes due to postoperative complications had an increased risk for long-term feeding tube dependency

Metronomic antiangiogenic therapy with capecitabine and celecoxib in advanced tumor patients--results of a phase II study

Combined therapy of continuous low dose capecitabine and high dose celecoxib targeting angiogenesis was used in a phase II trial to treat advanced cancer patients. Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) was used to monitor antiangiogenic effects.; 37 Patients (21 men, 16 women), mean age 60 years, with advanced and progressive cancer of various tumor types were included. Therapy consisted of 2 x 500 mg oral capecitabine/ day and 2 x 400 mg oral celecoxib/day continuously until progression of disease. To monitor antiangiogenic effects, DCE-MRI measurements were performed at baseline, after 1 month, and after 3 months of therapy. Tumor assessment was performed according to RECIST criteria, toxicity was evaluated according to the CTC version 2.0 catalogue.; Therapy was well tolerated without grade 3 and 4 toxicities. The mean number of treatment cycles was 4 (range: 1-15+). Disease stabilization after 3 cycles was seen in 11 patients. 6 patients were stable over long periods. The mean number of treatment cycles in this group was 10 (range: 7-15+). DCE-MRI demonstrated a reduction of tumor vessel permeability and blood flow in patients who reached stable disease or some minor regression.; Continuous dosing of the combination of capecitabine and celecoxib was well tolerated, produced antiangiogenic effects, and has antitumor activity. Patients with rapid progression did not benefit

New Limits on Sterile Neutrinos from Suzaku Observations of the Ursa Minor Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy

We present results of our search for X-ray line emission associated with the radiative decay of the sterile neutrino, a well-motivated dark matter candidate, in Suzaku Observatory spectra of the Ursa Minor dwarf spheroidal galaxy. These data represent the first deep observation of one of these extreme mass-to-light systems and the first dedicated dark matter search using an X-ray telescope. No such emission line is positively detected, and we place new constraints on the combination of the sterile neutrino mass and the active-sterile neutrino oscillation mixing angle. Line flux upper limits are derived using a maximum-likelihood-based approach that, along with the lack of intrinsic X-ray emission, enables us to minimize systematics and account for those that remain. The limits we derive match or approach the best previous results over the entire 1--20 keV mass range from a single Suzaku observation. These are used to place constraints on the existence of sterile neutrinos with given parameters in the general case and in the case where they are assumed to constitute all of the dark matter. The range allowed implies that sterile neutrinos remain a viable candidate to make up some -- or all -- of the dark matter and also explain pulsar kicks and various other astrophysical phenomena.Comment: revised to closely match version to be published in ApJ v. 69

SDSS 0956+5128: A Broad-line Quasar with Extreme Velocity Offsets

We report on the discovery of a Type 1 quasar, SDSS 0956+5128, with a surprising combination of extreme velocity offsets. SDSS 0956+5128 is a broad-lined quasar exhibiting emission lines at three substantially different redshifts: a systemic redshift of z ~ 0.714 based on narrow emission lines, a broad MgII emission line centered 1200 km/s bluer than the systemic velocity, at z ~ 0.707, and broad H\alpha and H\beta emission lines centered at z ~ 0.690. The Balmer line peaks are 4100 km/s bluer than the systemic redshift. There are no previously known objects with such an extreme difference between broad MgII and broad Balmer emission. The two most promising explanations are either an extreme disk emitter or a high-velocity black hole recoil. However, neither explanation appears able to explain all of the observed features of SDSS 0956+5128, so the object may provide a challenge to our general understanding of quasar physics.Comment: ApJ, accepte

Dissipationless Mergers of Elliptical Galaxies and the Evolution of the Fundamental Plane

We carry out numerical simulations of dissipationless major mergers of elliptical galaxies using initial galaxy models that consist of a dark matter halo and a stellar bulge with properties consistent with the observed fundamental plane. By varying the density profile of the dark matter halo (standard NFW versus adiabatically contracted NFW), the global stellar to dark matter mass ratio, and the orbit of the merging galaxies, we are able to assess the impact of each of these factors on the structure of the merger remnant. Our results indicate that the properties of the remnant bulge depend primarily on the angular momentum and energy of the orbit; for a cosmologically motivated orbit, the effective radius and velocity dispersion of the remnant bulge remain approximately on the fundamental plane. This indicates that the observed properties of elliptical galaxies are consistent with significant growth via late dissipationless mergers. We also find that the dark matter fraction within the effective radius of our remnants increases after the merger, consistent with the hypothesis that the tilt of the fundamental plane from the virial theorem is due to a varying dark matter fraction as a function of galaxy mass.Comment: 14 pages, 6 figures; MNRAS, in press. Minor revisions, results from an additional simulation adde

The ACS Fornax Cluster Survey. VI. The Nuclei of Early-Type Galaxies in the Fornax Cluster

The Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) Fornax Cluster Survey is a Hubble Space Telescope program to image 43 early-type galaxies in the Fornax cluster, using the F475W and F850LP bandpasses of the ACS. We employ both 1D and 2D techniques to characterize the properties of the stellar nuclei in these galaxies, defined as the central "luminosity excesses" relative to a Sersic model fitted to the underlying host. We find 72+/-13% of our sample (31 galaxies) to be nucleated, with only three of the nuclei offset by more than 0.5" from their galaxy photocenter, and with the majority of nuclei having colors bluer than their hosts. The nuclei are observed to be larger, and brighter, than typical Fornax globular clusters, and to follow different structural scaling relations. A comparison of our results to those from the ACS Virgo Cluster Survey reveals striking similarities in the properties of the nuclei belonging to these different environments. We briefly review a variety of proposed formation models and conclude that, for the low-mass galaxies in our sample, the most important mechanism for nucleus growth is probably infall of star clusters through dynamical friction, while for higher mass galaxies, gas accretion triggered by mergers, accretions and tidal torques is likely to dominate, with the relative importance of these two processes varying smoothly as a function of galaxy mass. Some intermediate-mass galaxies in our sample show a complexity in their inner structure that may be the signature of "hybrid nuclei" that arose through parallel formation channels.Comment: 34 pages, 27 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ

Nachgefragt: 25 Antworten zum Stand des Wissens rund um Öko-Landbau und Bio-Lebensmittel

Die Broschüre „Nachgefragt: 25 Antworten zum Stand des Wissens rund um Öko-Landbau und Bio-Lebensmittel“ wurde 2006 in Kooperation mit externen Experten ausgearbeitet, in zwei Auflagen gedruckt und 2008 durch 3 Fragen ergänzt, die derzeit nur Online verfügbar sind. Die erste Auflage mit 5.000 Stück hat der BÖLW kostenlos an Multiplikatoren verschickt. Die zweite Auflage – ebenfalls in einer Auflage von 5.000 Exemplaren gedruckt – wurde zu den Kosten für Druck und Versand verkauft. Der Argumentationsleitfaden ist nahezu vergriffen. Hauptabnehmer waren Verbände und Wirtschaft. So fragten den Leitfaden beispielsweise viele Einzelhändler und Einzelhandelsketten für die Schulung ihres Verkaufspersonals nach. Für Journalisten und Politiker ist der Argumentationsleitfaden eine prägnante Einführung in aktuelle Fragen der Ökologischen Lebensmittelwirtschaft und übersichtliches Nachschlagewerk. Gerade in der Politik kann damit Verständnis für die Leistungen und die Bedeutung des Ökologischen Landbaus erreicht werden. Auch viele Privatpersonen haben den Leitfaden bestellt, um sich fundiert über die Ökologische Landwirtschaft zu informieren. Der Argumentationsleitfaden hat eine Lücke bei den Informationsmaterialien und Nachschlagewerken zur Ökologischen Lebensmittelwirtschaft geschlossen. Dazu und zu der inhaltlichen Aufarbeitung der Themen haben wir sehr gute Resonanzen erhalten und sind davon überzeugt, dass auch eine Neuauflage gut angenommen würde. Der Leitfaden ist bereits in der kurzen Zeit seit der Erstauflage ein Grundlagenwerk zum Ökologischen Landbau geworden, sodass Aktualität gewährleistet werden muss. Zentrales Qualitätsmerkmal eines Argumentationsleitfadens ist seine Aktualität. Besonderes Merkmal des Argumentationsleitfadens ist, dass er kurze prägnante Antworten auf zentrale Fragen zur Ökologischen Lebensmittelwirtschaft gibt und dabei den aktuellen Stand des Wissens zur Grundlage hat. Einerseits hat sich seit der Erstauflage die gesetzliche Grundlage für die Bio-Branche wesentlich verändert, da die EU-Öko-Verordnung einer Totalrevision unterzogen wurde. Andererseits wurden seither zahlreiche neue wissenschaftliche Studien veröffentlicht – insbesondere auch im Rahmen des Bundesprogramms Ökologischer Landbau – die bei der Fragenbeantwortung im Leitfaden berücksichtigt werden müssten. Aus diesen Gründen ist es unerlässlich, den Leitfaden inhaltlich gründlich zu überarbeiten und neu aufzulegen, damit seine bisherige erfolgreiche Leistung weiter zur Verfügung stehen kann. Ziel des Projektes ist daher die Überarbeitung und Veröffentlichung einer 4. Auflage des Argumentationsleitfadens, der Antworten auf grundlegende und besonders kritische Fragen zum ökologischen Landbau gibt. Auf einen Blick wird Wissen verfügbar gemacht, das über das allgemeine Grundlagenwissen zum Ökologischen Landbau hinaus geht und auf aktuellsten wissenschaftlichen Erkenntnissen beruht. Der neue Argumentationsleitfaden soll sowohl in elektronischer, als auch in gedruckter Form der Zielgruppe zugänglich gemacht werden. Wie die zweite Auflage soll auch diese der Zielgruppe zu einem Preis, der Druck und Versand abdeckt, zu Verfügung gestellt werden, so dass veraltete Exemplare ausgetauscht werden können. Für Journalisten und Politiker soll der Argumentationsleitfaden kostenlos zur Verfügung gestellt werden

Binary Quasars at High Redshift I: 24 New Quasar Pairs at z ~ 3-4

The clustering of quasars on small scales yields fundamental constraints on models of quasar evolution and the buildup of supermassive black holes. This paper describes the first systematic survey to discover high redshift binary quasars. Using color-selection and photometric redshift techniques, we searched 8142 deg^2 of SDSS imaging data for binary quasar candidates, and confirmed them with follow-up spectroscopy. Our sample of 27 high redshift binaries (24 of them new discoveries) at redshifts 2.9 < z < 4.3 with proper transverse separations 10 kpc < R_{\perp} < 650 kpc increases the number of such objects known by an order of magnitude. Eight members of this sample are very close pairs with R_{\perp} 3.5. The completeness and efficiency of our well-defined selection algorithm are quantified using simulated photometry and we find that our sample is ~ 50% complete. Our companion paper uses this knowledge to make the first measurement of the small scale clustering (R < 1 Mpc/h comoving) of high-redshift quasars. High redshift binaries constitute exponentially rare coincidences of two extreme (M >~ 10^9 Msun) supermassive black holes. At z ~ 4 there is about one close binary per 10 Gpc^3, thus these could be the highest sigma peaks, the analogs of superclusters, in the early Universe.Comment: Submitted to Ap