The Fukushima Disaster and the “Clash of Risk Cultures”: Japanese and German Journalists’ Perceptions of a Nuclear Crisis

The article examines how nuclear risk was perceived by German and Japanese journalists covering the Fukushima Disaster. Drawing from the theoretical framework of Beck’s World Risk Society, the journalists’ personal risk perceptions are reconstructed from narrative interviews, adding an important variable to the understanding of journalistic communication on risk and disaster. The results indicate that German correspondents in Japan were highly concerned about their personal safety while Japanese journalists hardly showed any anxiety with regard to the nuclear disaster. The varying perceptions also widely applied to the journalists’ professional experience of the disaster, although further influences like organizational culture came into play as well. The article concludes that historically shaped discourses are an important macro factor for media reporting on risk and disaster

Reorganisation der Medienwirtschaft durch Nachhaltigkeitsmanagement? Explorative Analysen der Kommunikation von Unternehmensverantwortung

Der vorliegende Beitrag beschäftigt sich mit der Bedeutung, die Nachhaltigkeitsmanagement für die anstehende weitere Reorganisation der Medienwirtschaft haben kann. Dazu wurde in zwei explorativen Studien einerseits die "interne" Selbstberichterstattung verschiedener Industrien in Bezug auf Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) der Vereinten Nationen untersucht, andererseits die "externe" Medienberichterstattung zu diesem Thema. Beide Studien liefern interessante Einblicke, die sowohl in Bezug auf Nachhaltigkeitskommunikation als auch auf Nachhaltigkeitsmanagement interessante neue Erkenntnisse liefern. Besonders deutlich werden diesbezüglich zahlreiche Defizite bezogen auf die kritische Selbstreflexion gerade in der Medienindustrie.This article deals with the significance that sustainability management can have for the upcoming further reorganization of the media industry. To this end, two explorative studies were conducted to examine, on the one hand, the "internal" self-reporting of various industries with regard to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations and, on the other hand, the "external" media reporting on this topic. Both studies provide interesting insights that yield interesting new findings with regard to both sustainability communication and sustainability management. In this regard, numerous deficits related to critical self-reflection become particularly clear, especially in the media industry

Simulation-based analysis of abstraction degrees in the context of Digital Twins for intralogistics transport systems

Current challenges in the planning and control of internal logistics systems are based on permanent changes in the requirements on the system, e.g., due to fluctuating order numbers or changes in their structure. For the representation and planning of in-house logistics processes, digital twins offer the possibility to verify different operational decisions such as predictive workforce scheduling. In this context, the quality of the results and their in-time presentation plays a decisive role. However, both target criteria are influenced by the detail-level of the digital representation. Based on a case study, this paper investigates the influence of the level of detail on the simulation runtime and result divergence to provide an evaluation for detail levels in the modelling of intralogistic transport systems

Implementing a benchmarking and feedback concept decreases postoperative pain after total knee arthroplasty: A prospective study including 256 patients

Perioperative pain reduction, particularly during the first two days, is highly important for patients after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Problems are not only caused by medical issues but by organization and hospital structure. The present study shows how the quality of pain management can be increased by implementing a standardized pain concept and simple, consistent benchmarking. All patients included into the study had undergone total knee arthroplasty. Outcome parameters were analyzed by means of a questionnaire on the first postoperative day. A multidisciplinary team implemented a regular procedure of data analyzes and external benchmarking by participating in a nationwide quality improvement project. At the beginning of the study, our hospital ranked 16(th) in terms of activity-related pain and 9(th) in patient satisfaction among 47 anonymized hospitals participating in the benchmarking project. At the end of the study, we had improved to 1(st) activity-related pain and to 2(nd) in patient satisfaction. Although benchmarking started and finished with the same standardized pain management concept, results were initially pure. Beside pharmacological treatment, interdisciplinary teamwork and benchmarking with direct feedback mechanisms are also very important for decreasing postoperative pain and for increasing patient satisfaction after TKA

Integration of an SAP transport control system in a simulation environment to support decisions in operational management

Digital twins enable the digital representation of physical systems and provide comprehensive modelling and analysis capabilities. An online data exchange between the Digital twin and SAP is feasible, through integration of a transport control systems (SAP) via RESTful API. This interface allows decision making in resource allocation and furthermore the adaptation of the digital model if the real system changes. Despite the associated challenges in terms of data synchronisation, the integration has benefits such as a reduction in modelling effort and an increase in the lifetime of the digital twin. In the context of this work, the design of the interface between the simulation software and a SAP transport control system via RESTful API is described

Hyperon Beta-Decay and Axial Charges of the Lambda in view of Strongly Distorted Baryon Wave-Functions

Within the collective coordinate approach to chiral soliton models we suggest that breaking of SU(3) flavor symmetry mainly resides in the baryon wave-functions while the charge operators maintain a symmetric structure. Sizable symmetry breaking in the wave-functions is required to reproduce the observed spacing in the spectrum of the (1/2)^+ baryons. The matrix elements of the flavor symmetric charge operators nevertheless yield g_A/g_V ratios for hyperon beta-decay which agree with the empirical data approximately as well as the successful F&D parameterization of the Cabibbo scheme. Demanding the strangeness component in the nucleon to vanish in the two flavor limit of the model, determines the structure of the singlet axial charge operator and yields the various quark flavor components of the axial charge of the \Lambda-hyperon. The suggested picture gains support from calculations in a realistic model using pion and vector meson degrees of freedom to build up the soliton.Comment: 14 pages, minor revisions, paper accepted for publication in Nucl. Phys.

Sorption und Abbau ausgewählter Pflanzenschutzmittel-Wirkstoffe (PSM) auf tiefgründigen Lößböden

Einträge von Pflanzenschutzmittel-Wirkstoffen (PSM) können erheblich zur Belastung von Grundwasser und Oberflächengewässern beitragen. Eine Identifizierung der Eintragsquellen ist jedoch oft problematisch, da zahlreiche Wirkstoffe sowohl in der Landwirtschaft als auch in Siedlungsbereichen eingesetzt werden (=duale Wirkstoffe). Bisherige Untersuchungen zeigten in den meisten Fällen keine Übereinstimmung zwischen der PSM-Anwendung in der Landwirtschaft und Wirkstoff-Funden im Oberflächengewässer. Belastbare, stoff- und standortspezifische Migrationsparameter, welche die Basis für eine gesicherte Stoffprognose darstellen, existieren für den Anwendungsfall bisher nicht. Um diese Informationen zur Mobilität und Persistenz der PSM zu gewinnen, werden im derzeit laufenden Projekt Laboruntersuchungen unter möglichst natürlichen Be-dingungen zum mikrobiellen Abbau relevanter Wirkstoffe im Boden (ungesättigte Zone) und im Wasser (Fließgewässer)sowie zur Sorption an der Bodenmatrix durchgeführt. Als Versuchsmethoden für die Untersuchungen dienen Bodensättigungs-extraktionsversuche (BSE) sowie klassische Batchversuche. Im Rahmen des Projektes wurden die folgenden umweltrelevanten PSM berücksichtigt: Glyphosat, MCPA, Diflufenican, Bentazon, Epoxiconazol, Terbutylazin, Metazachlor und Imidacloprid. Auf der Grundlage bisheriger Versuchsergebnisse der Abbauversuche konnte in der Regel ein höherer Abbau unter aeroben als unter anaeroben Bedingungen festgestellt werden. Dabei zeigten die PSM-Wirkstoffe MCPA (Halbwertszeit von ca. 3 d unter aero-ben Bedingungen), Glyphosat und Terbutylazin eine vergleichsweise gute biologische Abbaubarkeit und die Wirkstoffe Bentazon (Halbwertszeit von ca. 1.500 d unter aeroben Bedingungen) sowie Imidacloprid eine schlechte Abbaubarkeit. In Hinblick auf die Sorption ist ebenfalls ein stark stoffspezifisches Verhalten feststellbar. Für das Glyphosat konnte hier im Vergleich zu den anderen PSM eine deutliche höhere Sorptionsneigung für den Lößboden ermittelt werden

Feasibility study of an automated assembly process for ultrathin chips

This paper presents a feasibility study of an automated pick-and-place process for ultrathin chips on a standard automatic assembly machine. So far, scientific research about automated assembly of ultrathin chips, with thicknesses less than 50 µm, is missing, but is necessary for cost-effective, high-quantity production of system-in-foil for applications in narrow spaces or flexible smart health systems applied in biomedical applications. Novel pick-and-place tools for ultrathin chip handling were fabricated and a process for chip detachment from thermal release foil was developed. On this basis, an adhesive bonding process for ultrathin chips with 30 µm thickness was developed and transferred to an automatic assembly machine. Multiple ultrathin chips aligned to each other were automatically placed and transferred onto glass and polyimide foil with a relative placement accuracy of ±25 µm

Structural characteristics and contractual terms of specialist palliative homecare in Germany

Background Multi-professional specialist palliative homecare (SPHC) teams care for palliative patients with complex symptoms. In Germany, the SPHC directive regulates care provision, but model contracts for each federal state are heterogeneous regarding staff requirements, cooperation with other healthcare providers, and financial reimbursement. The structural characteristics of SPHC teams also vary. Aim We provide a structured overview of the existing model contracts, as well as a nationwide assessment of SPHC teams and their structural characteristics. Furthermore, we explore whether these characteristics serve to find specifc patterns of SPHC team models, based on empirical data. Methods This study is part of the multi-methods research project “SAVOIR”, funded by the German Innovations Fund. Most model contracts are publicly available. Structural characteristics (e.g. number, professions, and affiliations of team members, and external cooperation) were assessed via an online database (“Wegweiser Hospiz- und Palliativversorgung”) based on voluntary information obtained from SPHC teams. All the data were updated by phone during the assessment process. Data were descriptively analysed regarding staff, cooperation requirements, and reimbursement schemes, while latent class analysis (LCA) was used to identify structural team models. Results Model contracts have heterogeneous contract partners and terms related to staff requirements (number and qualifications) and cooperation with other services. Fourteen reimbursement schemes were available, all combining different payment models. Of the 283 SPHC teams, 196 provided structural characteristics. Teams reported between one and 298 members (mean: 30.3, median: 18), mainly nurses and physicians, while 37.8% had a psychosocial professional as a team member. Most teams were composed of nurses and physicians employed in different settings; for example, staff was employed by the team, in private practices/nursing services, or in hospitals. Latent class analysis identified four structural team models, based on the team size, team members’ affiliation, and care organisation. Conclusion Both the contractual terms and teams’ structural characteristics vary substantially, and this must be considered when analysing patient data from SPHC. The identified patterns of team models can form a starting point from which to analyse different forms of care provision and their impact on care quality

Neutrino Masses, Mixing, and Oscillations

The Review summarizes much of particle physics and cosmology. Using data from previous editions, plus 2,873 new measurements from 758 papers, we list, evaluate, and average measured properties of gauge bosons and the recently discovered Higgs boson, leptons, quarks, mesons, and baryons. We summarize searches for hypothetical particles such as supersymmetric particles, heavy bosons, axions, dark photons, etc. Particle properties and search limits are listed in Summary Tables. We give numerous tables, figures, formulae, and reviews of topics such as Higgs Boson Physics, Supersymmetry, Grand Unified Theories, Neutrino Mixing, Dark Energy, Dark Matter, Cosmology, Particle Detectors, Colliders, Probability and Statistics. Among the 118 reviews are many that are new or heavily revised, including a new review on Neutrinos in Cosmology. Starting with this edition, the Review is divided into two volumes. Volume 1 includes the Summary Tables and all review articles. Volume 2 consists of the Particle Listings. Review articles that were previously part of the Listings are now included in volume 1. The complete Review (both volumes) is published online on the website of the Particle Data Group (http://pdg.lbl.gov) and in a journal. Volume 1 is available in print as the PDG Book. A Particle Physics Booklet with the Summary Tables and essential tables, figures, and equations from selected review articles is also available. The 2018 edition of the Review of Particle Physics should be cited as: M. Tanabashi (Particle Data Group), Phys. Rev. D 98, 030001 (2018)