Die ungarndeutsche Minderheit in der europäischen Kulturhauptstadt Pécs im Spiegel der internationalen, europäischen und ungarischen Minderheitenpolitik

Diese Diplomarbeit gibt eine Einführung in die Minderheitenforschung und widmet sich anschließend der Minderheitenpolitik auf verschiedenen internationalen Ebenen (UNO, Europarat, OSZE, EU) und auf der nationalstaatlichen Ebene (Ungarn). Im Anschluss daran folgt eine empirische Forschung in der ungarischen Stadt Pécs, welche 2010 Europäische Kulturhauptstadt war und im Zuge dessen sich als Stadt der Minderheiten präsentierte. Ziel war, anhand der empirischen Forschung die lokalen Auswirkungen der internationalen, europäischen und ungarischen Minderheitenpolitik zu erkunden. Dies geschah am Beispiel der ungarndeutschen Minderheit in der Europäischen Kulturhauptstadt 2010 Pécs

Overview of central banks’ in-house credit assessment systems in the euro area

Los sistemas de evaluación del crédito desarrollados internamente por los bancos centrales nacionales (ICAS) son una fuente importante de valoración del riesgo de crédito dentro del marco de los activos de garantía de política monetaria del Eurosistema. En particular, los ICAS permiten que las entidades financieras aporten los préstamos concedidos a sociedades no financieras como garantía en las operaciones crediticias en las que se instrumenta la política monetaria del Eurosistema. En este sentido, los ICAS contribuyen a que los préstamos puedan ser utilizados como colateral, dado que generalmente no son aceptados como tal en la operativa privada de repos, y benefician potencialmente en mayor medida a los bancos de tamaño mediano o pequeño que financian a las pymes. Esto último conduce no solo a una ampliación del conjunto de activos de garantía disponibles en las entidades financieras y a una mejora del mecanismo de transmisión de la política monetaria, sino también a una menor dependencia de fuentes externas de valoración del riesgo de crédito, como las agencias externas de calificación. La importancia de los ICAS se ha puesto de manifiesto en las medidas aprobadas por el Eurosistema en abril de 2020 en respuesta a la crisis del COVID-19. Dichas medidas apoyaron un mayor uso de los préstamos como activos de garantía e, indirectamente, incrementaron la importancia de los ICAS como fuente de valoración del colateral. Este documento analiza en detalle el papel de los ICAS en el contexto de las operaciones crediticias de política monetaria del Eurosistema, describiendo las guías y los requerimientos más relevantes exigidos a los ICAS en términos, entre otros factores, de la estimación de las probabilidades de impago, el papel de los modelos estadísticos frente al análisis experto, la información utilizada en el proceso de evaluación y la validación periódica de su funcionamiento. Adicionalmente, describe los principales aspectos de cada uno de los ICAS actualmente aceptados como sistema de calificación por el Eurosistema, destacando tanto sus elementos comunes como los diferenciales.The in-house credit assessment systems (ICASs) developed by euro area national central banks (NCBs) are an important source of credit risk assessment within the Eurosystem collateral framework. They allow counterparties to mobilise as collateral the loans (credit claims) granted to non-financial corporations (NFCs). In this way, ICASs increase the usability of non-marketable credit claims that are normally not accepted as collateral in private market repo transactions, especially for small and medium-sized banks that lend primarily to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This ultimately leads not only to a widened collateral base and an improved transmission mechanism of monetary policy, but also to a lower reliance on external sources of credit risk assessment such as rating agencies. The importance of ICASs is exemplified by the collateral easing measures adopted in April 2020 in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. The measures supported the greater use of credit claim collateral and, indirectly, increased the prevalence of ICASs as a source of collateral assessment. This paper analyses in detail the role of ICASs in the context of the Eurosystem’s credit operations, describing the relevant Eurosystem guidelines and requirements in terms of, among other factors, the estimation of default probabilities, the role of statistical models versus expert analysis, input data, validation analysis and performance monitoring. It then presents the main features of each of the ICASs currently accepted by the Eurosystem as credit assessment systems, highlighting similarities and differences

Effects of maternal history of depression and early life maltreatment on children's health-related quality of life

BACKGROUND There is a well-established link between maternal depression and child mental health. Similar effects have been found for maternal history of early life maltreatment (ELM). However, studies investigating the relationship of children's quality of life and maternal depression are scarce and none have been conducted for the association with maternal ELM. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of maternal history of ELM and depression on children's health-related quality of life and to identify mediating factors accounting for these effects. METHODS Our study involved 194 mothers with and without history of depression and/or ELM and their children between five and 12 years. Children's health-related quality of life was assessed by maternal proxy- and child self-ratings using the KIDSCREEN. We considered maternal sensitivity and maternal parenting stress as potential mediators. RESULTS We found an effect of maternal history of depression but not of maternal history of ELM on health-related quality of life. Maternal stress and sensitivity mediated the effects of maternal depression on child global health-related quality of life, as well as on the dimensions Autonomy & Parent Relation, School Environment (maternal and child rating), and Physical Wellbeing (child rating). LIMITATION Due to the cross-sectional design of the study, causal interpretations must be made with caution. Some scales yielded low internal consistency. CONCLUSIONS Maternal impairments in areas of parenting which possibly developed during acute depression persist even after remission of acute affective symptoms. Interventions should target parenting stress and sensitivity in parents with prior depression

Building in Quatar - Field excursion of the Faculty of Civil Engineering of the HTWG Konstanz

Die große Exkursion 2010 der Fakultät Bauingenieurwesen führte in das Emirat Qatar am persischen Golf. Qatar verfügt über 15% der weltweiten Reserven anErdgas und investiert u.a. in Infrastruktur- und Bau¬maßnahmen. Deutsche Firmen sind an diesem Aufbau beteiligt. Bei der Exkursion wurden verschiedene Hoch- und Tiefbaustellen, „Mega-Projekte“ deutscher Unternehmen, aber auch eines arabischen Baukonzerns besucht. Auch das Ausstellungszentrum der Deutschen Bahn stand auf dem Programm. Der Bericht gibt die Eindrücke beim Besuch der Projekte wie auch die Reiseerlebnisse wieder.The student excursion of the University of Applied Sciences, Konstanz, Germany, lead to the Emirat of Qatar at the Persian Gulf. The country possesses 15% of the reserves of natural gas and is investing in building and infrastructures measures. German companies are part of this development. During the excursion different structural sites of “mega-projects” of German and Arabic Companies as well as the exposition Center of the “Deutsche Bahn” have been visited

Planning the International Competition Schedules for the Health of Elite Athletes: A 21-Year Retrospective Study Evaluating the Effectiveness and Economic Impact in an Olympic Sport

BACKGROUND: The increased number of trips and competitions scheduled in the international agonistic calendars meets commercial demands while acting as a source of stress for the athletes. A model, developed in biathlons to monitor the so-called competition load, revealed an upward trend over time. The aim of this study was to evaluate, in a 21-year period, the effects of the International Biathlon Union's rescheduling of the competitive calendars to control the competition load, as well as its stability over time and the economic impact of this intervention. METHODS: For each season competition, the load factors from the international agonistic calendar (number of venues/events, competition days/distance) were considered, and the athletes' daily and maximal stress scores were calculated. The calendar rescheduling, which started in 2001, involved the length of competitions, number of resting days and frequency of travels. Data from the period pre (1994-2000) and post (2001-2007) the intervention, as well as follow-up (2008-2015), were compared and analyzed in relation to the federation's budget. RESULTS: The competition load and athletes' daily stress score progressively increased pre, plateaued post and remained stable in follow-up. Their annual variations within the final two periods were significantly lower than in the pre period, in spite of the higher average values. The maximal stress score decreased over time. The direct correlation between most of the competition load factors with the economic budget present in pre was lost in post and follow-up. Similarly, the athletes' daily stress score had a stable trend in post and follow-up, while budget continued to increase. CONCLUSIONS: The management of an athlete's potential source of stress by an international federation stabilized the competition load over time, but it did not affect the budget. Furthermore, it uncoupled the relationship between the athlete's effort and federation incom

Humanoid socially assistive robots in dementia care:a qualitative study about expectations of caregivers and dementia trainers

OBJECTIVE: To examine the expectations of informal caregivers, nurses, and dementia trainers regarding the support of (physical and psychosocial) human needs by humanoid social assistive robots (SARs) in dementia care. METHODS: A qualitative study was conducted with 11 homogeneous focus groups of informal caregivers, nurses and dementia trainers providing dementia care at home, in adult daycare centers, or in nursing homes. A qualitative content analysis was performed using a concept- and data-driven coding frame. RESULTS: Focus group discussions with 52 individuals were held. Participants reported mostly positive expectations and stated that SARs could offer potential support in all components of human needs, especially in avoiding danger (e.g. recognise danger, organise help), communication/contact with others (e.g. enable telephone calls, provide company), daily activities (e.g. remind of appointments, household obligations), recreational activities (e.g. provide music), eating/drinking (e.g. help cook), and mobility/body posture (e.g. give reminders/instructions for physical exercise). Participants also mentioned some negative expectations in all human needs, predominantly in communication/contact with others (e.g. loss of interpersonal interaction) and avoiding danger (e.g. scepticism regarding emergencies). CONCLUSION: Participants stated that SARs had great potential to provide assistance in dementia care, especially by reminding, motivating/encouraging and instructing people with dementia. Informal caregivers and nurses also considered them as useful supportive devices for themselves. However, participants also mentioned negative expectations, especially in communication/contact with others and avoiding danger. These findings demonstrate the support caregivers and dementia trainers expect from humanoid SARs and may contribute to their optimisation for dementia care

Effects of maternal history of depression and early life maltreatment on children's health-related quality of life

Background: There is a well-established link between maternal depression and child mental health. Similar effects have been found for maternal history of early life maltreatment (ELM). However, studies investigating the relationship of children's quality of life and maternal depression are scarce and none have been conducted for the association with maternal ELM. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of maternal history of ELM and depression on children's health-related quality of life and to identify mediating factors accounting for these effects. Methods: Our study involved 194 mothers with and without history of depression and/or ELM and their children between five and 12 years. Children's health-related quality of life was assessed by maternal proxy- and child self-ratings using the KIDSCREEN. We considered maternal sensitivity and maternal parenting stress as potential mediators. Results: We found an effect of maternal history of depression but not of maternal history of ELM on health-related quality of life. Maternal stress and sensitivity mediated the effects of maternal depression on child global health-related quality of life, as well as on the dimensions Autonomy & Parent Relation, School Environment (maternal and child rating), and Physical Wellbeing (child rating). Limitation: Due to the cross-sectional design of the study, causal interpretations must be made with caution. Some scales yielded low internal consistency. Conclusions: Maternal impairments in areas of parenting which possibly developed during acute depression persist even after remission of acute affective symptoms. Interventions should target parenting stress and sensitivity in parents with prior depression