Distortions in a multi-level co-financing system: the case of the agri-environmental programme of Saxony-Anhalt

In this paper we analyse the impact of the EU multi-level cofinancing system on regional policy-making and priority setting taking the case of the agri-environmental programme of Saxony-Anhalt. The implications of several co-financing scenarios are analysed and compared to respective lump-sum transfers using an interactive linear programming approach. The results reveal how regional choices on agri-environmental measures are influenced by the co-financing system leading to distortions. The extent of these distortions depends on the specific regional preferences and restrictions.agri-environmental programmes, co-financing, federalism, interactive programming, policy-making, Agricultural and Food Policy, Environmental Economics and Policy,

Distortions in a Multi-Level Co-Financing System: The Case of the Agri-Environmental Program of Saxony-Anhalt

In this paper we analyze the impact of the EU multi-level co-financing system on regional policy-making and priority setting taking the case of the agri-environmental program of Saxony-Anhalt in Germany. The implications of several co-financing scenarios are analyzed and compared to respective lump-sum transfers using an interactive linear programming approach. The results reveal that regional choices on agri-environmental measures are strongly influenced by the co-financing system leading to distortions. The extent of these distortions depends on the specific regional preferences and restrictions to be considered in the policy-making process.Agri-environmental programs, co-financing, federalism, interactive programming, policy-making, Environmental Economics and Policy, Financial Economics, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, C61, H72, Q18,

Integrierte Bewertung altbergbaulicher Risikoobjekte des Steinkohlenbergbaus der RAG Aktiengesellschaft

Aktuelle Risikomanagementsysteme verfolgen primär das Ziel, die Vielzahl notwendiger Maßnahmen zur Verwahrung altbergbaulicher Risikoobjekte objektiv und eindeutig zu priorisieren. Unterschiedliche Objektarten werden in separaten Systemen behandelt, auch wenn sich deren Auswirkungen an der Tagesoberfläche regelmäßig überlagen. In der Praxis zeigt sich dies, wenn in großflächigen Maßnahmen viele Objekte gemeinsam bearbeitet werden. Die Limitierung vorhandener interner und externer Ressourcen und die daraus resultierende lange Dauer bis zur Verwahrung aller Risikoobjekte ist der Grund für die Vorgehensweise. Auch wenn die operative Verwahrung schon wegen des Aufwands prioritär erscheint, ist das Ziel die maximale Reduzierung des Gesamtrisikos bei optimaler Nutzung vorhandener Ressourcen. In diesem Beitrag wird eine ganzheitliche Behandlung der altbergbaulichen Risiken vorgestellt. Die Einführung einer linearen Superposition ermöglicht eine modulare Vorgehensweise zur Integration unterschiedlicher Sachverhalte und Objekte in einem System. Neue Erkenntnisse können eingeführt werden, auch wenn sie nur einzelne Risikosachverhalte betreffen. Dabei reichen oft wenige geometrische Parameter, die aus dem markscheiderischen Risswerk oder Sanierungsmaßnahmen abgeleitet werden können. Eine rasterbasierte Berechnung des Risikos aus dem übertägigen Gefährdungspotenzial (= Stärke des Ereignisses) und der Sensibilität der Oberfläche (= Schadensausmaß) ermöglicht es, sinnvolle Bearbeitungsbereiche abzugrenzen. Dabei berücksichtigt eine normalverteilte Nachbarschaftsfunktion die Mobilität der Menschen, um deren Schutz es ja letztlich geht. Die flächennormierte Risikozahl wird zentraler Parameter für eine stets eindeutige Priorisierung. Die im vorliegenden Beitrag vorgestellte Lösung zur ganzheitlichen Bearbeitung altbergbaulicher Risiken wurde ausführlich in der Dissertation (S. Hager, 2022: Integrierte Bewertung altbergbaulicher Risikoobjekte des Steinkohlenbergbaus der RAG AG, TU Freiberg) beschrieben und war Gegenstand eines Vortrags beim Altbergbaukolloquium 2022 in Freiberg

Strategies for simulation software quality assurance applied to open source DEM

We present a strategy to improve the software quality for scientific simulation software, applied to the open source DEM code LIGGGHTS [1] [2]. We aim to improve the quality of the LIGGGHTS DEM code by two measures: Firstly, making the simulation code open source gives the whole user community the possibility to detect bugs in the source code and make suggestions to improve the code quality. Secondly, we apply a test harness, which is an important part of the work-flow for quality assurance in software engineering [5]. In the case of scientific simulation software, it consists of a set of simulation examples that should span the range of applicability of the software as good as possible. Technically, in our case it consists of a set of 10-50 LIGGGHTS simulations and is being run automatically on our cluster, where the number of processors, the code features and the numerical models are varied. Qualitative results are automatically extracted and are plotted for comparison, so thus a huge parameter space of flow regimes, numerical models, code features and parallelization situations can be governed. A test harness can aid in (a) finding bugs in the software, (b) checking parallel efficiency and consistency, (c) comparing different numerical models, and, most importantly, (d) experimental validation. Parallel consistency means that within a parallel framework, we need to have the possibility to compare the answers that a run with a different number of processors gives and the time that it takes to compute them. Experimental validation is especially important for scientific simulations. If experimental data is available for a test case, the experimental data is automatically compared to the numerical results, by means of global quantities such number of particles in the simulation, translational and rotational kinetic energy, thermal energy etc. The LIGGGHTS test harness aims to be a transparent and open community effort that everybody can contribute to in order to improve the quality of the LIGGGHTS code. We illustrate the usefulness of the test harness with several examples, where we especially focus on experimental validation

Co-financing Implications for Regional Policy-Making: A Case Study for the Agri-environmental Programme in Saxony-Anhalt

Financing agri-environmental programmes in the European Union (EU) takes place in a multi-level system with mixed co-financing and shared financial responsibilities. In this paper we analyse how co-financing influences policy-making in regions taking the case of the agri-environmental programme in Saxony-Anhalt. Using an interactive linear programming approach the implications of several co-financing scenarios are analysed. EU co-financing certainly enhances the financial volume for the agri-environmental programme in Saxony-Anhalt; but as regional policy-making is distorted by the scheme of mixed co-financing as compared to unconditional financial transfers, the priorities for measures vary depending on different EU co-financing scenarios.agri-environmental programmes, co-financing, federalism, interactive programming, policy-making, Environmental Economics and Policy,

Last Resort from Nursing Shortage? Comparative Cost Analysis of Open vs. Robot-Assisted Partial Nephrectomies with a Focus on the Costs of Nursing Care

Despite perioperative advantages, robot-assisted surgery is associated with high costs. However, the lower morbidity of robotic surgery could lead to a lower nursing workload and cost savings. In this comparative cost analysis of open retroperitoneal versus robot-assisted transperitoneal partial nephrectomies (PN), these possible cost savings, including other cost factors, were quantified. Therefore, patient, tumor characteristics, and surgical results of all PN within two years at a tertiary referral center were retrospectively analyzed. The nursing effort was quantified by the local nursing staff regulation and INPULS® intensive care and performance-recording system. Out of 259 procedures, 76.4% were performed robotically. After propensity score matching, the median total nursing time (2407.8 vs. 1126.8 min, p < 0.001) and daily nursing effort (245.7 vs. 222.6 min, p = 0.025) were significantly lower after robotic surgery. This resulted in mean savings of EUR 186.48 in nursing costs per robotic case, in addition to savings of EUR 61.76 due to less frequent administrations of erythrocyte concentrates. These savings did not amortize the higher material costs for the robotic system, causing additional expenses of EUR 1311.98 per case. To conclude, the nursing effort after a robotic partial nephrectomy was significantly lower compared to open surgery; however, this previously unnoticed savings mechanism alone could not amortize the overall increased costs

Selective metal‐complexation on polymeric templates and their investigation via isothermal titration calorimetry

Selective complexation of metal ions represents a powerful tool for the development of versatile supramolecular architectures. While research in the field of molecular devices and machinery is sophisticated, the selective formation of metal complexes is not prevalent in polymer chemistry. Thus, the implementation of orthogonal binding concepts into a polymeric matrix is presented. In this context, an end‐functionalized poly( N ‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm) carrying zinc‐porphyrin (ZnTPP) as well as a terpyridine (tpy) ligand side by side is utilized. With these binding sites, the polymer can simultaneously interact with a pyridine moiety via a ZnTPP interaction and a terpyridine unit by the formation of a bis‐terpyridine complex. The complexation behavior of this polymer and different model compounds is intensively investigated by isothermal titration calorimetry. The obtained results indicate that the reported orthogonality of these two systems is successfully transferred into a functional polymeric architecture

Comparing Microwave and Classical Synthesis of Oxymethylene Dimethyl Ethers

Polyoxymethylene dimethyl ethers (OME n ) are considered as substituents or additives for fossil diesel fuel. Efficiency of the synthesis is crucial for the development of industrial scale production plants. Therefore, the design of suitable catalysts and the efficient heating play important roles in OME fuel synthesis. In this work, microwave‐assisted synthesis (MAS) is carried out and compared to a classical approach using standard thermal heating. Different polymeric materials, e.g., Amerlyst15, are utilized as catalysts, and screened for the catalytic synthesis of OME. Within this approach, the kinetics of the reaction are analyzed in detail