R&D and Price Elasticity of Demand

This note explores the relationship between the price elasticity of demand and the R&D intensity of the product. We introduce the concept of R&D intensity into a standard Dixit-Stiglitz/Krugman-type setting. R&D activity is treated as a fixed cost of production. Within this framework, sectors with a higher R&D intensity show a lower price elasticity of demand. This proposition is confirmed by an empirical investigation of export demand for manufactured goods from major industrialised countries. Consequently, real exchange rate changes have an impact on the commodity structure of exports.R&D intensity; Price elasticity; Exports

MineWolf Flail and Tiller Machines: Testing the Differences between two Demining Technologies

MineWolf is the first demining concept, manufactured in Germany by Arthur Willibald Maschinenbau GmbH (AHWI), that overcomes the limitations of flail and tiller machines by combining the advantages of both systems. Extensive tests with live anti-tank and fragmentation mines were carried out at the German Army proving ground to determine whether the MineWolf meets the operational requirements for humanitarian demining. The aim was to discover the effects of detonations on the operator, MineWolf, clearing tools and cabin, and to work out instructions for reparability

Quality Assurance for Mined and Survey Areas

Mechanical demining is an important and essential part of any demining process, and quality-assurance methods must constantly be revised to address the balance between safety and efficiency. Based on experience from the MineWolf mechanical demining experience, the tiller system would improve the demining process significantly, thereby increasing speed and reducing the costs of demining operations

Does Telemedical Support of First Responders Improve Guideline Adherence in an Offshore Emergency Scenario? A Simulator-Based Prospective Study

OBJECTIVE: To investigate, in a simulator-based prospective study, whether telemedical support improves quality of emergency first response (performance) by medical non-professionals to being non-inferior to medical professionals. SETTING: In a simulated offshore wind power plant, duos (teams) of offshore engineers and teams of paramedics conducted the primary survey of a simulated patient. PARTICIPANTS: 38 offshore engineers and 34 paramedics were recruited by the general email invitation. INTERVENTION: Teams (randomised by lot) were supported by transmission technology and a remote emergency physician in Berlin. OUTCOME MEASURES: From video recordings, performance (17 item checklist) and required time (up to 15 min) were quantified by expert rating for analysis. Differences were analysed using two-sided exact Mann-Whitney U tests for independent measures, non-inferiority was analysed using Schuirmann one-sided test. The significance level of 5 % was Holm-Bonferroni adjusted in each family of pairwise comparisons. RESULTS: Nine teams of engineers with, nine without, nine teams of paramedics with and eight without support completed the task. Two experts quantified endpoints, insights into rater dependence were gained. Supported engineers outperformed unsupported engineers (p<0.01), insufficient evidence was found for paramedics (p=0.11). Without support, paramedics outperformed engineers (p<0.01). Supported engineers' performance was non-inferior (at one item margin) to that by unsupported paramedics (p=0.03). Supported groups were slower than unsupported groups (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: First response to medical emergencies in offshore wind farms with substantially delayed professional care may be improved by telemedical support. Future work should test our result during additional scenarios and explore interdisciplinary and ecosystem aspects of this support. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: DRKS0001437

GTP-dependent Ca2+ release from rat liver microsomes Vesicle fusion is not required

AbstractThe GTP-dependent calcium release from rat liver microsomes is known to be promoted in the presence of colloids like polyethyleneglycol (PEG), polyvinylpyrrolidine, or albumin. Dawson et al. [(1987) Biochem. J. 244, 87–92] using the ‘fusogen’ PEG have concluded that both GTP-induced calcium efflux and the enhancement of InsP3-promoted calcium release in the presence of GTP could be attributed to a GTP-dependent vesicle fusion. Here, using the more physiological colloid albumin we report that GTP-induced calcium release from rat liver microsomes may not be linked to vesicle fusion

Binnenstruktur der Langzeitarbeitslosigkeit älterer Männer und Frauen

Um den erwerbsbiographischen Hintergrund von älteren Langzeitarbeitslosen zu erforschen und geeignete Maßnahmeempfehlungen für eine Wiederbeschäftigung zu erarbeiten, wurden in einer kombinierten Querschnitt- und retrospektiven Längsschnittuntersuchung Gespräche mit rund 2000 Langzeitarbeitslosen und 70 Arbeitsvermittlern geführt. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, daß es sehr unterschiedliche Wege in die Dauerarbeitslosigkeit gibt. Die These, daß instabile Erwerbsverläufe ursächlich sind, konnte für den überwiegenden Teil der Befragten nicht bestätigt werden. Der Großteil von ihnen weist - abgesehen von gesundheitlichen Problemen - weder gravierende berufliche Qualifikationsmängel noch starke außerfachliche Qualifikationsdefizite auf. "Für die Genese der Älteren als Problemgruppe des Arbeitsmarktes müssen neben den Wirkungen von Selektionsprozessen der lang anhaltenden Unterbeschäftigung auch personalpolitische Maßnahmen zur Verjüngung von Belegschaften berücksichtigt werden. Von daher sollten gezielte PR-Arbeit gegen altersselektive Vorurteile gegenüber älteren Arbeitslosen, intensivere Betriebskontakte der Arbeitsvermittlung und vor allem Lohnkostenzuschüsse zur Wiedereingliederung in Beschäftigung frühzeitig nach kurzer Arbeitslosigkeitsdauer eingesetzt werden. Darüber hinaus sind als längerfristige Strategien grundlegende Maßnahmen gegen die vorherrschende altersdiskriminierende Personal-, Arbeitsmarkt- und Gesellschaftspolitik zu ergreifen. Die Anhebung der Erwerbsquoten von älteren Erwerbspersonen ist auch von herausragender Bedeutung für die Sicherung der Rentenfinanzen. Angesichts der auch mittelfristig drohenden Unterbeschäftigung kommen hierfür vorrangig Maßnahmen zur Attraktivitätserhöhung von Teilzeitarbeit in Frage. Dieses Instrument erscheint auch hilfreich, um die gesundheitlichen Belastungen bestimmter beruflicher Tätigkeiten zu verringern und einen Wiedereinstieg der betroffenen Personen in das Erwerbsleben zu ermöglichen." (IAB2)ältere Arbeitnehmer, Langzeitarbeitslose, Arbeitslosigkeit - Risiko, Zukunftsperspektive, berufliche Reintegration - Förderung, Rente - Motivation, Arbeitslose - Struktur, Berufsverlauf - Auswirkungen, Arbeitsmarktpolitik

The influence of the geomorphological and sedimentological settings on the distribution of epibenthic assemblages on a flat topped hill on the over-deepened shelf of the western Weddell Sea (Southern Ocean)

Epibenthos communities play an important role in the marine ecosystems of the Weddell Sea. Information on the factors controlling their structure and distribution are, however, still rare. In particular, the interactions between environmental factors and biotic assemblages are not fully understood. Nachtigaller Hill, a newly discovered seabed structure on the over-deepened shelf of the northwest Weddell Sea (Southern Ocean), offers a unique site to study these interactions in a high-latitude Antarctic setting. Based on high-resolution bathymetry and georeferenced biological data, the effect of the terrain and related environmental parameters on the epibenthos was assessed. At Nachtigaller Hill, both geomorphological and biological data showed complex distribution patterns, reflecting local processes such as iceberg scouring and locally amplified bottom currents. This variability was also generally reflected in the variable epibenthos distribution patterns although statistical analyses did not show strong correlations between the selected environmental parameters and species abundances. By analysing the interactions between environmental and biological patterns, this study provides crucial information towards a better understanding of the factors and processes that drive epibenthos communities on the shelves of the Weddell Sea and probably also on other Antarctic shelves