Wirkungsanalyse der Neuausrichtung der Arbeitsvermittlung im neuen Kundenzentrum (The impact of the new PES customer centre model on transitions to employment )

"The new 'customer centre' model is at the core of the organizational restructuring of German public employment offices. One of the main objectives of the reform is to improve the quality of services in order to bring job seekers back into employment more quickly. This paper examines whether this major organizational restructuring of the employment service agencies has met these expectations, i.e. whether the new customer centre model has contributed to a more rapid transition of job seekers into regular employment. It should be noted that the evaluation only covers a one-year period following the implementation of the new customer centre model and is limited to the organizational reforms introduced within the observation period. Taking advantage of the gradual introduction of the new PES agency model, the evaluation uses a control group design to identify the causal effect of the customer centre model. Selection bias is controlled for by adjusting the basic population parameters at the aggregate level of PES agencies rather than matching individuals. In a first step, the customer centre pilot agencies are matched with similar control agencies based on key labour market indicators. In a second step, random samples of the unemployment inflow in the pilot agencies and the respective control agencies are drawn from unemployment register data. To assess the causal effect of the customer centre model, a difference-in-differences estimator is applied, using a discrete time proportional hazards framework. The main results can be summarized as follows: The new customer centre model has not yet had an overall effect on transitions of job seekers into employment. However, a positive effect was estimated for men in eastern Germany, whereas disadvantaged groups did not benefit from the customer centre model. Worse, for unskilled men and older unemployed males in western Germany the estimates show a negative impact of the new customer centre model on transitions into employment." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))Hartz-Reform, Kundenzentrum - Erfolgskontrolle, Arbeitsvermittlung, Arbeitsmarktpolitik - Reform, Integrierte Erwerbsbiografien, Vermittlungsprozess

Regulating ChatGPT and other Large Generative AI Models

Large generative AI models (LGAIMs), such as ChatGPT or Stable Diffusion, are rapidly transforming the way we communicate, illustrate, and create. However, AI regulation, in the EU and beyond, has primarily focused on conventional AI models, not LGAIMs. This paper will situate these new generative models in the current debate on trustworthy AI regulation, and ask how the law can be tailored to their capabilities. After laying technical foundations, the legal part of the paper proceeds in four steps, covering (1) direct regulation, (2) data protection, (3) content moderation, and (4) policy proposals. It suggests a novel terminology to capture the AI value chain in LGAIM settings by differentiating between LGAIM developers, deployers, professional and non-professional users, as well as recipients of LGAIM output. We tailor regulatory duties to these different actors along the value chain and suggest four strategies to ensure that LGAIMs are trustworthy and deployed for the benefit of society at large. Rules in the AI Act and other direct regulation must match the specificities of pre-trained models. In particular, regulation should focus on concrete high-risk applications, and not the pre-trained model itself, and should include (i) obligations regarding transparency and (ii) risk management. Non-discrimination provisions (iii) may, however, apply to LGAIM developers. Lastly, (iv) the core of the DSA content moderation rules should be expanded to cover LGAIMs. This includes notice and action mechanisms, and trusted flaggers. In all areas, regulators and lawmakers need to act fast to keep track with the dynamics of ChatGPT et al.Comment: under revie

Methoden und Grundlagen des Lebenslagenansatzes

"Im Rahmen des Forschungsprojekts erfolgt eine theoretische Fundierung und Operationalisierung des Lebenslagenansatzes. Es werden empirische und statistische Analysen durchgeführt, um die kausalen Zusammenhänge hinsichtlich Unter- bzw. Überversorgungslagen zu hinterfragen und auf der Basis relevanter Dimensionen defizitäre Lebenslagen zu definieren. Auf der Grundlage bevölkerungsrepräsentativer Datensätze werden Möglichkeiten und Grenzen der statistischen Erfassung von Lebenslagen im Hinblick auf die Konzeption eines darauf bezogenen Berichtssystems sowie zur Konstruktion sozialer Indikatoren überprüft." (Autorenreferat

Characterization of early disease status in treatment-naive male paediatric patients with Fabry disease enrolled in a randomized clinical trial.

Trial designThis analysis characterizes the degree of early organ involvement in a cohort of oligo-symptomatic untreated young patients with Fabry disease enrolled in an ongoing randomized, open-label, parallel-group, phase 3B clinical trial.MethodsMales aged 5-18 years with complete α-galactosidase A deficiency, without symptoms of major organ damage, were enrolled in a phase 3B trial evaluating two doses of agalsidase beta. Baseline disease characteristics of 31 eligible patients (median age 12 years) were studied, including cellular globotriaosylceramide (GL-3) accumulation in skin (n = 31) and kidney biopsy (n = 6; median age 15 years; range 13-17 years), renal function, and glycolipid levels (plasma, urine).ResultsPlasma and urinary GL-3 levels were abnormal in 25 of 30 and 31 of 31 patients, respectively. Plasma lyso-GL-3 was elevated in all patients. GL-3 accumulation was documented in superficial skin capillary endothelial cells (23/31 patients) and deep vessel endothelial cells (23/29 patients). The mean glomerular filtration rate (GFR), measured by plasma disappearance of iohexol, was 118.1 mL/min/1.73 m(2) (range 90.4-161.0 mL/min/1.73 m(2)) and the median urinary albumin/creatinine ratio was 10 mg/g (range 4.0-27.0 mg/g). On electron microscopy, renal biopsy revealed GL-3 accumulation in all glomerular cell types (podocytes and parietal, endothelial, and mesangial cells), as well as in peritubular capillary and non-capillary endothelial, interstitial, vascular smooth muscle, and distal tubules/collecting duct cells. Lesions indicative of early Fabry arteriopathy and segmental effacement of podocyte foot processes were found in all 6 patients.ConclusionsThese data reveal that in this small cohort of children with Fabry disease, histological evidence of GL-3 accumulation, and cellular and vascular injury are present in renal tissues at very early stages of the disease, and are noted before onset of microalbuminuria and development of clinically significant renal events (e.g. reduced GFR). These data give additional support to the consideration of early initiation of enzyme replacement therapy, potentially improving long-term outcome.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT00701415

Renal outcomes of agalsidase beta treatment for Fabry disease: role of proteinuria and timing of treatment initiation

Background. The purpose of this study was to identify determinants of renal disease progression in adults with Fabry disease during treatment with agalsidase beta. Methods. Renal function was evaluated in 151 men and 62 women from the Fabry Registry who received agalsidase beta at an average dose of 1 mg/kg/2 weeks for at least 2 years. Patients were categorized into quartiles based on slopes of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) during treatment. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with renal disease progression. Results. Men within the first quartile had a mean eGFR slope of -0.1 mL/min/1.73m2/year, whereas men with the most rapid renal disease progression (Quartile 4) had a mean eGFR slope of -6.7 mL/min/1.73m2/year. The risk factor most strongly associated with renal disease progression was averaged urinary protein:creatinine ratio (UP/Cr) ≥1 g/g (odds ratio 112, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 4-3109, P = 0.0054). Longer time from symptom onset to treatment was also associated with renal disease progression (odds ratio 19, 95% CI 2-184, P = 0.0098). Women in Quartile 4 had the highest averaged UP/Cr (mean 1.8 g/g) and the most rapid renal disease progression: (mean slope -4.4 mL/min/1.73m2/year). Conclusions. Adults with Fabry disease are at risk for progressive loss of eGFR despite enzyme replacement therapy, particularly if proteinuria is ≥1 g/g. Men with little urinary protein excretion and those who began receiving agalsidase beta sooner after the onset of symptoms had stable renal function. These findings suggest that early intervention may lead to optimal renal outcome

HDAC9 is implicated in atherosclerotic aortic calcification and affects vascular smooth muscle cell phenotype.

Aortic calcification is an important independent predictor of future cardiovascular events. We performed a genome-wide association meta-analysis to determine SNPs associated with the extent of abdominal aortic calcification (n = 9,417) or descending thoracic aortic calcification (n = 8,422). Two genetic loci, HDAC9 and RAP1GAP, were associated with abdominal aortic calcification at a genome-wide level (P < 5.0 × 10-8). No SNPs were associated with thoracic aortic calcification at the genome-wide threshold. Increased expression of HDAC9 in human aortic smooth muscle cells promoted calcification and reduced contractility, while inhibition of HDAC9 in human aortic smooth muscle cells inhibited calcification and enhanced cell contractility. In matrix Gla protein-deficient mice, a model of human vascular calcification, mice lacking HDAC9 had a 40% reduction in aortic calcification and improved survival. This translational genomic study identifies the first genetic risk locus associated with calcification of the abdominal aorta and describes a previously unknown role for HDAC9 in the development of vascular calcification

Evaluation der Maßnahmen zur Umsetzung der Vorschläge der Hartz-Kommission: Modul 1a, Neuausrichtung der Vermittlungsprozesse ; Bericht 2005 für das Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Arbeit

"Das Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Arbeit hat das Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung und das infas Institut für angewandte Sozialwissenschaft im September 2004 mit dem Evaluationsvorhaben Arbeitspaket 1, 'Modul 1a Neuausrichtung der Vermittlungsprozesse' beauftragt. Im Mittelpunkt steht die zentrale Frage, ob eine 'Verbesserung der Qualität und Schnelligkeit der Arbeitsvermittlung' nachgewiesen werden kann, die auf die Reformgesetze und -maßnahmen zurückzuführen sind. Implementationsanalysen untersuchen die Praxis der Agenturen bezüglich Bewerberdifferenzierung, Kundenmanagement, Aktivierung sowie Neuregelung von Zumutbarkeit und Sperrzeiten sowie die Vermittlungsdienstleistungen an Arbeitgeber. Auch der Einsatz vermittlungsnaher Dienstleistungen (Einschaltung Dritter nach Paragraph 37, Eingliederungsmaßnahmen durch Träger Paragraph 421i, Vermittlungsgutscheine, Personal-Service-Agenturen -PSA-) wird unter Umsetzungsgesichtspunkten untersucht. Über die Vermittlungsorganisation in Arbeitsgemeinschaften nach Paragraph 44b SGB II liegen erste Ergebnisse einer Grunderhebung vor. Die mittels Fallstudien, Dokumentenanalyse, schriftlichen und telefonischen Erhebungen gewonnenen Ergebnisse umreißen den Stand der Neuausrichtung der Vermittlungsprozesse. Die Wirkung der neu ausgerichteten Vermittlungsprozesse werden unter zwei Gesichtspunkten untersucht. Mittels multivariater Auswertungen wird zum einen die Wirkung des Kundenzentrums auf die Abgänge aus Arbeitslosigkeit geprüft. In einer instrumentenspezifisch angelegten Wirkungsanalyse wird zum anderen die Effektivität von vermittlungsnahen Dienstleistungen (Beauftragung Dritter, Beauftragung von Trägern mit Eingliederungsmaßnahmen, Personal Service Agenturen, Vermittlungsgutschein) analysiert und eine entsprechende Kosten-Nutzen-Bewertung vorgenommen. Der Bericht 2005 legt die Ergebnisse nach neun Monaten Laufzeit des Evaluationsvorhabens vor. Er ist vom Bemühen getragen, bereits belastbare Ergebnisse nach diesem vergleichsweise kurzen Zeitraum vorzulegen. Die Berichterstattung steht allerdings unter dem deutlichen Hinweis, dass die Organisation der Vermittlungsprozesse in den Agenturen und Arbeitsgemeinschaften weiterhin im Fluss ist. Die Implementationsstudien versuchen deswegen über die Momentaufnahme hinaus, grundlegende Konstruktionsfragen und -probleme aufzuzeigen. Wegen des vergleichsweise kurzen Beobachtungszeitraums seit Einführung der Kundenzentren und der vermittlungsnahen Dienstleistungen stehen auch die Wirkungsanalysen noch unter Vorbehalten." (Textauszug