Institutionelle Erfolgsfaktoren einer Ausdehnung des Ökologischen Landbaus – Analyse anhand von Regionen mit einem besonders hohen Anteil an ökologisch bewirtschafteter Fläche

Ziel dieser Untersuchung war die Gewinnung von Informationen darüber, inwieweit die Ausdehnung des Ökologischen Landbaus in Regionen mit einem auffallend hohen Anteil an ökologisch bewirtschafteter Fläche auf den Einfluss institutioneller Faktoren zurückzuführen ist, welcher Art diese institutionellen Erfolgsfaktoren sind und ob sie politisch gestärkt werden können. Forschungsleitend war die Arbeitshypothese, dass auch bei ansonsten günstigen Bedingungen das Fehlen oder der ungenügende Entwicklungsstand institutioneller Voraussetzungen für die Ausdehnung des Ökologischen Landbaus einen entscheidenden Engpass bilden kann. In einem ersten Arbeitsschritt wurde zunächst ein umfassendes Verständnis des Ökologischen Landbaus aus einer institutionellen Sichtweise entwickelt. Ausgehend von einer problemorientierten sowie von einer historisch-kulturalistischen Sicht werden Erfolgsfaktoren (gesellschaftliche Einbettung, Organisation des Wissens, staatliche Förderung, regionale Nachfrage) ausgewählt, die die regionale Ausdehnung des Ökologischen Landbaus theoretisch beeinflussen können, und Erfolgskriterien (Flächenausdehnung, Einkommen, Qualität, Stabilität, Breite gesellschaftlicher Aktivitäten, Akzeptanz und Legitimation) benannt, die der empirischen Beurteilung einer nachhaltigen Entwicklung des Ökologischen Landbaus dienen. Den Kern der Studie bilden vier regionale Fallstudien in Regionen mit einem verhältnismäßig hohem Anteil an ökologisch bewirtschafteter Fläche (Südbaden, Region Bonn, Südthüringen, Uckermark). Aufbauend auf eine Beschreibung wird die Bedeutung der Erfolgsfaktoren für die Ausweitung des Ökologischen Landbaus sowie ihre Wirkung auf die o.g. einzelnen Erfolgskriterien analysiert. Hierbei wird erkennbar, dass die Bedingungen, die zu einer Flächenausdehnung des Ökologischen Landbaus beitragen, lokal sehr spezifisch sein können und sich heterogene Wirkungen der untersuchten Erfolgsfaktoren abzeichnen. Einzig die verbesserte finanzielle staatliche Förderung begünstigt in allen Regionen eine Ausweitung, allerdings bevorzugt auf den extensiv bewirtschafteten Grünlandstandorten. In den Fallstudien wird ein grundlegender Wandel des gesellschaftlichen Systems Ökologischer Landbau deutlich. Spezifische Stärken des alten, endogen gewachsenen Ökologischen Landbaus drohen verloren zu gehen, ohne dass gegenwärtig adäquate funktional äquivalente Strukturen entwickelt worden sind. Diese Beobachtungen legen insgesamt den Schluss nahe, dass die politisch unterstützte Ausdehnung des Ökologischen Landbaus einen riskanten Wachstumspfad darstellt. Vor diesem Hintergrund wird davor plädiert, sowohl den Fokus als auch die Art der politischen Intervention zu verändern, wofür Vorschläge gemacht werden

Apparent Temperature and Air Pollution vs. Elderly Population Mortality in Metro Vancouver

Background: Meteorological conditions and air pollution in urban environments have been associated with general population and elderly mortality, showing seasonal variation. Objectives: This study is designed to evaluate the relationship between apparent temperature (AT) and air pollution (PM2.5) vs. mortality in elderly population of Metro Vancouver. Methods: Statistical analyses are performed on moving sum daily mortality rates vs. moving average AT and PM 2.5 in 1-, 2-, 3-, 5-, and 7-day models for all seasons, warm temperatures above 15uC, and cold temperatures below 10uC. Results: Approximately 37 % of the variation in all-season mortality from circulatory and respiratory causes can be explained by the variation in 7-day moving average apparent temperature (r 2 = 0.37, p,0.001). Although the analytical results from air pollution models show increasingly better prediction ability of longer time-intervals (r 2 = 0.012, p,0.001 in a 7-day model), a very weak negative association between elderly mortality and air pollution is observed. Conclusions: Apparent temperature is associated with mortality from respiratory and circulatory causes in elderly population of Metro Vancouver. In a changing climate, one may anticipate to observe potential health impacts from the projected high- and particularly from the low-temperature extremes

Excess cardiovascular mortality associated with cold spells in the Czech Republic

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The association between cardiovascular mortality and winter cold spells was evaluated in the population of the Czech Republic over 21-yr period 1986–2006. No comprehensive study on cold-related mortality in central Europe has been carried out despite the fact that cold air invasions are more frequent and severe in this region than in western and southern Europe.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Cold spells were defined as periods of days on which air temperature does not exceed -3.5°C. Days on which mortality was affected by epidemics of influenza/acute respiratory infections were identified and omitted from the analysis. Excess cardiovascular mortality was determined after the long-term changes and the seasonal cycle in mortality had been removed. Excess mortality during and after cold spells was examined in individual age groups and genders.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Cold spells were associated with positive mean excess cardiovascular mortality in all age groups (25–59, 60–69, 70–79 and 80+ years) and in both men and women. The relative mortality effects were most pronounced and most direct in middle-aged men (25–59 years), which contrasts with majority of studies on cold-related mortality in other regions. The estimated excess mortality during the severe cold spells in January 1987 (+274 cardiovascular deaths) is comparable to that attributed to the most severe heat wave in this region in 1994.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results show that cold stress has a considerable impact on mortality in central Europe, representing a public health threat of an importance similar to heat waves. The elevated mortality risks in men aged 25–59 years may be related to occupational exposure of large numbers of men working outdoors in winter. Early warnings and preventive measures based on weather forecast and targeted on the susceptible parts of the population may help mitigate the effects of cold spells and save lives.</p

Effects of Anacetrapib in Patients with Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease

BACKGROUND: Patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease remain at high risk for cardiovascular events despite effective statin-based treatment of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. The inhibition of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) by anacetrapib reduces LDL cholesterol levels and increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels. However, trials of other CETP inhibitors have shown neutral or adverse effects on cardiovascular outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 30,449 adults with atherosclerotic vascular disease who were receiving intensive atorvastatin therapy and who had a mean LDL cholesterol level of 61 mg per deciliter (1.58 mmol per liter), a mean non-HDL cholesterol level of 92 mg per deciliter (2.38 mmol per liter), and a mean HDL cholesterol level of 40 mg per deciliter (1.03 mmol per liter). The patients were assigned to receive either 100 mg of anacetrapib once daily (15,225 patients) or matching placebo (15,224 patients). The primary outcome was the first major coronary event, a composite of coronary death, myocardial infarction, or coronary revascularization. RESULTS: During the median follow-up period of 4.1 years, the primary outcome occurred in significantly fewer patients in the anacetrapib group than in the placebo group (1640 of 15,225 patients [10.8%] vs. 1803 of 15,224 patients [11.8%]; rate ratio, 0.91; 95% confidence interval, 0.85 to 0.97; P=0.004). The relative difference in risk was similar across multiple prespecified subgroups. At the trial midpoint, the mean level of HDL cholesterol was higher by 43 mg per deciliter (1.12 mmol per liter) in the anacetrapib group than in the placebo group (a relative difference of 104%), and the mean level of non-HDL cholesterol was lower by 17 mg per deciliter (0.44 mmol per liter), a relative difference of -18%. There were no significant between-group differences in the risk of death, cancer, or other serious adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease who were receiving intensive statin therapy, the use of anacetrapib resulted in a lower incidence of major coronary events than the use of placebo. (Funded by Merck and others; Current Controlled Trials number, ISRCTN48678192 ; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01252953 ; and EudraCT number, 2010-023467-18 .)

The formation and transformation of business co-operation Some preliminary observations from the rural North East of England

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:9350.1997(46) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo