Long-run Patterns of Labour Market Polarisation: Evidence from German Micro Data

The past four decades have witnessed dramatic changes in the structure of employment. In particular, the rapid increase in computational power has led to large-scale reductions in employment in jobs that can be described as intensive in routine tasks. These jobs have been shown to be concentrated in middle skill occupations. A large literature on labour market polarisation characterises and measures these processes at an aggregate level. How- ever to date there is little information regarding the individual worker adjustment processes related to routine- biased technological change. Using an administrative panel data set for Germany, we follow workers over an ex- tended period of time and provide evidence of both the short-term adjustment process and medium-run effects of routine task intensive job loss at an individual level. We initially demonstrate a marked, and steady, shift in em- ployment away from routine, middle-skill, occupations. In subsequent analysis, we demonstrate how exposure to jobs with higher routine task content is associated with a reduced likelihood of being in employment in both the short term (after one year) and medium term (five years). This employment penalty to routineness of work has increased over the past four decades. More generally, we demonstrate that routine task work is associated with reduced job stability and more likelihood of experiencing periods of unemployment. However, these negative ef- fects of routine work appear to be concentrated in increased employment to employment, and employment to unemployment transitions rather than longer periods of unemployment

Fourier-transform spectroscopy of Sr2 and revised ground state potential

Precise potentials for the ground state X1Sigma+g and the minimum region of the excited state 2_1Sigma+u of Sr2 are derived by high resolution Fourier-transform spectroscopy of fluorescence progressions from single frequency laser excitation of Sr2 produced in a heat pipe at 950 Celsius. A change of the rotational assignment by four units compared to an earlier work (G. Gerber, R. M\"oller, and H. Schneider, J. Chem. Phys. 81, 1538 (1984)) is needed for a consistent description leading to a significant shift of the potentials towards longer inter atomic distances. The huge amount of ground state data derived for the three different isotopomers 88Sr2, 86Sr88Sr and 87Sr88Sr (almost 60% of all excisting bound rovibrational ground state levels for the isotopomer 88Sr2) fixes this assignment undoubtedly. The presented ground state potential is derived from the observed transitions for the radial region from 4 to 11 A (9 cm-1 below the asymptote) and is extended to the longe range region by the use of theoretical dispersion coefficients together with already available photoassociation data. New estimations of the scattering lengths for the complete set of isotopic combinations are derived by mass scaling with the derived potential. The data set for the excited state 2_1Sigma+u was sufficient to derive a potential energy curve around the minimum.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures, some small corrections done especially to the potential description of the excited state (already included in the published journal version

Experimental study of the Ca2 1S+1S asymptote

The filtered laser excitation technique was applied for measuring transition frequencies of the Ca$_2$ B-X system from asymptotic levels of the X$^1\Sigma_{\mathrm g}^{+}$ ground state reaching $v''=38$. That level has an outer classical turning point of about 20~\AA which is only 0.2 \rcm below the molecular $^1$S$+^1$S asymptote. Extensive analysis of the spectroscopic data, involving Monte Carlo simulation, allowed for a purely experimental determination of the long range parameters of the potential energy curve. The possible values of the s-wave scattering length could be limited to be between 250$a_0$ and 1000$a_0$.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figure

Administration of Ratanhia-based herbal oral care products for the prophylaxis of oral mucositis in cancer chemotherapy patients: a clinical trial

Oral complications are a common side effect of cancer chemotherapy, as antineoplastic agents affect both the immune system and the oral mucosa. This study demonstrates preventive and therapeutic effects of dental treatment and regular use of Weleda Ratanhia-Mundwasser® (herbal mouthwash) and Weleda Pflanzen-Zahngel® (herbal toothgel) on oral mucositis during chemotherapy. Thirty-two female patients with breast cancer starting on chemotherapy were evaluated in this study. Plaque index, gingival index, degree of mucositis and 10 single symptoms were monitored once weekly for four consecutive weeks. After four weeks, plaque and gingival indexes were slightly decreased compared to baseline values. The degree of mucositis was increased by one grade in 15.6 % of the patients and over 70 % remained without symptoms. On the whole, single symptoms decreased from day 7 since beginning of chemotherapy to day 28. Mucositis symptoms were moderate in severity, and the results indicate a positive influence of using Weleda Ratanhia-Mundwasser and Weleda Pflanzen-Zahngel. Further studies might be promising

The potential of the ground state of NaRb

The X$^{1}\Sigma ^{+}$ state of NaRb was studied by Fourier transform spectroscopy. An accurate potential energy curve was derived from more than 8800 transitions in isotopomers $^{23}$Na$^{85}$Rb and $^{23}$Na$^{87}$Rb. This potential reproduces the experimental observations within their uncertainties of 0.003 \rcm to 0.007 \rcm. The outer classical turning point of the last observed energy level ($v''=76$, $J''=27$) lies at $\approx 12.4$ \AA, leading to a energy of 4.5 \rcm below the ground state asymptote.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures and 2 table

Strategies for the analysis of osteitic bone defects at the diaphysis of long bones

Septic diseases of the bone and the immediate surrounding soft tissue, i.e., osteitis, belong to the most alarming findings in recent traumatology and orthopedic surgery. The paramount goal of this therapy is to preserve the stable weight-bearing bones while maintaining a correct axis and proper working muscles and joints, in order to avoid permanent disability in the patient. “State-of-the-art” therapy of osteitis/osteomyelitis therapy has two priorities: eradication of the infection and reconstruction of bone and soft tissue. Surgical treatment of the affected bone segments and soft tissue, followed by reconstructive methods, continues to be the main basic therapy. It is often extremely difficult to decide whether the affected bone segment has to be resected, or whether bone continuity can be preserved. The following paper provides strategies and guidance to help guide decisions in this complex and challenging area

Preservation of the shoulder joint by the use of a hybrid-spacer after septic loosening of a reversed total shoulder joint arthroplasty: a case report

Infections of a total joint replacement (TJR) of the shoulder are rare complications. After revision surgery, the incidence rises dramatically. If infection occurs, it leads to a loss of function and may be devastating to the joint. Treatment options range from single- to multiple-staged revision programs, permanent resection arthroplasty or exarticulation. In this case, a reversed shoulder endoprosthesis, which was implanted after multiple revisions of a TJR due to a posttraumatic omarthrosis and rotator cuff insufficiency, got infected. A hybrid-spacer, made of a humeral nail and a custom-made PMMA spacer forming the humeral head, was used during the revision program. After two operations, clinical and paraclinical signs turned back to normal. The patient felt well and was satisfied with the result of the therapy. The hybrid-spacer was then left in situ as a definitive solution with a satisfying range of motion. This case report shows that a hybrid-spacer can be helpful in the treatment of an infected shoulder TJR