Langfristige Prognose der Einnahmeentwicklung für den Landeshaushalt des Freistaates Sachsen bis zum Jahr 2025: Gutachten im Auftrag des Sächsischen Staatsministeriums der Finanzen

This project presents a continuation of the revenue forecast of the Free State of Saxony until 2025. For sustainable regional politics, more transparency in political decision-making, and especially in the current financial and economic crisis, a continuously updated revenue forecast is of great importance. The population in the East German states is declining and consequently also the transfers from the federal fiscal equalization scheme. Moreover, the transfer payments for East Germany since the German reunification will end 2019. All of these three facts lead to decreasing state revenues. The aim of the project is thus to estimate the extent of the decline and to formulate recommendations for the fiscal policy in the Free State of Saxony This project presents a continuation of the revenue forecast of the Free State of Saxony until 2025. For sustainable regional politics, more transparency in political decision-making, and especially in the current financial and economic crisis, a continuously updated revenue forecast is of great importance. The population in the East German states is declining and consequently also the transfers from the federal fiscal equalization scheme. Moreover, the transfer payments for East Germany since the German reunification will end 2019. All of these three facts lead to decreasing state revenues. The aim of the project is thus to estimate the extent of the decline and to formulate recommendations for the fiscal policy in the Free State of Saxony

Revolvierende Fonds als Instrument zur Neuausrichtung der Förderpolitik: Gutachten im Auftrag der Sächsischen Landesbank (SAB)

Das vorliegende Gutachten liefert eine umfassende Analyse der Vor- und Nachteile revolvierender Fonds als Instrument zur Neuausrichtung der Förderpolitik. Dabei ist zwischen zwei Fragen zu trennen: Zum einen bieten Fonds die Möglichkeit der intertemporalen Optimierung von Förderentscheidungen, zum anderen kann die Förderung im Rahmen von Fonds prinzipiell sowohl über Darlehen als auch über Zuschüsse erfolgen. Die Möglichkeit der intertemporalen Optimierung von Förderentscheidungen durch Fonds ist ein wichtiger Beitrag zur Erhöhung der Fördereffizienz und somit grundsätzlich zu empfehlen. - Im Rahmen des Gutachtens wurden auch mögliche kritische Fälle für revolvierende Fonds analysiert. Problematisch könnte eine Ausgestaltung der Förderpolitik über revolvierende Fonds in den Fällen sein, wo durch hohe anfängliche Subventionen ein Cluster initiiert werden soll und wo global agierende Unternehmen im Rahmen des internationalen Fiskalwettbewerbs durch Subventionen ins Land geholt werden sollen. In diesen beiden Fällen besteht die Gefahr, dass die über revolvierende Fonds zu erreichenden Subventionssätze zu niedrig ausfallen; hier ist eine unmittelbare Steuerung über direkte Zuschüsse vorzuziehen. - Für die große Masse der Förderfälle bieten revolvierende Fonds jedoch Vorteile gegenüber der traditionellen Vergabe von Zuschüssen. Insbesondere die bessere Risikoselektion von geförderten Projekten und die bessere Überwindung von Kreditrationierung sprechen für revolvierende Fonds

Long Non-coding RNAs: At the Heart of Cardiac Dysfunction?

During the past decade numerous studies highlighted the importance of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in orchestrating cardiovascular cell signaling. Classified only by a transcript size of more than 200 nucleotides and their inability to code for proteins, lncRNAs constitute a heterogeneous group of RNA molecules with versatile functions and interaction partners, thus interfering with numerous endogenous signaling pathways. Intrinsic transcriptional regulation of lncRNAs is not only specific for different cell types or developmental stages, but may also change in response to stress factors or under pathological conditions. Regarding the heart, an increasing number of studies described the critical regulation of lncRNAs in multiple cardiac disorders, underlining their key role in the development and progression of cardiac diseases. In this review article, we will summarize functional cardiac lncRNAs with a detailed view on their molecular mode of action in pathological cardiac remodeling and myocardial infarction. In addition, we will discuss the use of circulating lncRNAs as biomarkers for prognostic and diagnostic purposes and highlight the potential of lncRNAs as a novel class of therapeutic targets for therapeutic purpose in heart diseases

Die Mannheimer Scheidungsstudie: Aspekte der Durchführung der telefonischen Befragung zu Determinanten der Ehescheidung

'Telefoninterviews werden immer häufiger auch bei großangelegten Untersuchungen mit einer langen Interviewdauer und sensiblen Themen eingesetzt. In diesem Beitrag werden die Erfahrungen aus einer telefonischen Befragung von 5.O2O Personen zu Determinanten der Ehescheidung berichtet. Es zeigte sich, daß sich das Telefon als Suchinstrument bei der Stichprobenziehung von in der Bevölkerung nicht häufig anzutreffenden Personen, wie etwa in erster Ehe Geschiedenen, bewährt. Darüber hinaus erwies sich die zentrale Organisation einer telefonischen Erhebung als entscheidend für die genaue Aussteuerung komplexer Stichprobenpläne. Zudem werden die Möglichkeiten, den Interviewer bei computerunterstützten Telefonbefragungen durch vielfältige Implementierungen im Programm zu unterstützen, dargestellt. Eine Untersuchung der Vollständigkeit von Angaben gibt abschließend Hinweise darauf, daß auch bei schwierigen Themen Telefoninterviews bezüglich der Datenqualität nicht schlechter zu beurteilen sind als face-to-face-Interviews.' (Autorenreferat)'Telephone interviews are being used increasingly, even in large-scale surveys with lengthy interviews and sensitive topics. This paper reports on a telephone survey of 5.O2O persons on the determinants of divorce. The telephone proved to be useful for locating hard-to-find people, such as those whose first marriage ended in divorce. In addition, the centralized organization of a telephone survey proved decisive in realising the complex random sample design. The paper also discusses possibilities for interviewer support in computer-assisted telephone surveys via a variety of program implementation options. Finally, an examination of the responses for completeness indicates that data gathered in telephone surveys are comparable in quality to data gathered in face-to-face surveys, even on sensitive topics.' (author's abstract)

A signature of circulating microRNAs differentiates takotsubo cardiomyopathy from acute myocardial infarction

Aims Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) remains a potentially life-threatening disease, which is clinically indistinguishable from acute myocardial infarction (MI). Today, no established biomarkers are available for the early diagnosis of TTC and differentiation from MI. MicroRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) emerge as promising sensitive and specific biomarkers for cardiovascular disease. Thus, we sought to identify circulating miRNAs suitable for diagnosis of acute TTC and for distinguishing TTC from acute MI. Methods and results After miRNA profiling, eight miRNAs were selected for verification by real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in patients with TTC (n = 36), ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI, n = 27), and healthy controls (n = 28). We quantitatively confirmed up-regulation of miR-16 and miR-26a in patients with TTC compared with healthy subjects (both, P < 0.001), and up-regulation of miR-16, miR-26a, and let-7f compared with STEMI patients (P < 0.0001, P < 0.05, and P < 0.05, respectively). Consistent with previous publications, cardiac specific miR-1 and miR-133a were up-regulated in STEMI patients compared with healthy controls (both, P < 0.0001). Moreover, miR-133a was substantially increased in patients with STEMI compared with TTC (P < 0.05). A unique signature comprising miR-1, miR-16, miR-26a, and miR-133a differentiated TTC from healthy subjects [area under the curve (AUC) 0.835, 95% CI 0.733-0.937, P < 0.0001] and from STEMI patients (AUC 0.881, 95% CI 0.793-0.968, P < 0.0001). This signature yielded a sensitivity of 74.19% and a specificity of 78.57% for TTC vs. healthy subjects, and a sensitivity of 96.77% and a specificity of 70.37% for TTC vs. STEMI patients. Additionally, we noticed a decrease of the endothelin-1 (ET-1)-regulating miRNA-125a-5p in parallel with a robust increase of ET-1 plasma levels in TTC compared with healthy subjects (P < 0.05). Conclusion The present study for the first time describes a signature of four circulating miRNAs as a robust biomarker to distinguish TTC from STEMI patients. The significant up-regulation of these stress- and depression-related miRNAs suggests a close connection of TTC with neuropsychiatric disorders. Moreover, decreased levels of miRNA125a-5p as well as increased plasma levels of its target ET-1 are in line with the microvascular spasm hypothesis of the TTC pathomechanis

Novel aspects of age-protection by spermidine supplementation are associated with preserved telomere length

Ageing provokes a plethora of molecular, cellular and physiological deteriorations, including heart failure, neurodegeneration, metabolic maladaptation, telomere attrition and hair loss. Interestingly, on the molecular level, the capacity to induce autophagy, a cellular recycling and cleaning process, declines with age across a large spectrum of model organisms and is thought to be responsible for a subset of age-induced changes. Here, we show that a 6-month administration of the natural autophagy inducer spermidine in the drinking water to aged mice is sufficient to significantly attenuate distinct age-associated phenotypes. These include modulation of brain glucose metabolism, suppression of distinct cardiac inflammation parameters, decreased number of pathological sights in kidney and liver and decrease of age-induced hair loss. Interestingly, spermidine-mediated age protection was associated with decreased telomere attrition, arguing in favour of a novel cellular mechanism behind the anti-ageing effects of spermidine administration

Emissionsvermeidung oder Anpassung an den Klimawandel: Welche Zukunft hat die Klimapolitik?

Die gegenwärtige im Kyoto-Protokoll festgelegte Klimapolitik versucht vorrangig, dem Klimawandel mit einer Strategie der Emissionsverminderung zu begegnen. Die dort festgelegten Reduktionsziele für den CO2-Ausstoß sind für viele Länder nicht mehr zu realisieren. Und einige Länder, die zu den größten Emittenten gehören, vor allem die USA, haben sich dem Kyoto-Protokoll nicht angeschlossen. Sollte die Klimapolitik in Zukunft weniger auf Emissionsvermeidung und eher auf eine Anpassung an die Erderwärmung zielen

Emissionsvermeidung oder Anpassung an den Klimawandel: Welche Zukunft hat die Klimapolitik?

Die gegenwärtige im Kyoto-Protokoll festgelegte Klimapolitik versucht vorrangig, dem Klimawandel mit einer Strategie der Emissionsverminderung zu begegnen. Die dort festgelegten Reduktionsziele für den CO2-Ausstoß sind für viele Länder nicht mehr zu realisieren. Und einige Länder, die zu den größten Emittenten gehören, vor allem die USA, haben sich dem Kyoto-Protokoll nicht angeschlossen. Sollte die Klimapolitik in Zukunft weniger auf Emissionsvermeidung und eher auf eine Anpassung an die Erderwärmung zielen?

DGK and DZHK position paper on genome editing: basic science applications and future perspective

For a long time, gene editing had been a scientific concept, which was limited to a few applications. With recent developments, following the discovery of TALEN zinc-finger endonucleases and in particular the CRISPR/Cas system, gene editing has become a technique applicable in most laboratories. The current gain- and loss-of function models in basic science are revolutionary as they allow unbiased screens of unprecedented depth and complexity and rapid development of transgenic animals. Modifications of CRISPR/Cas have been developed to precisely interrogate epigenetic regulation or to visualize DNA complexes. Moreover, gene editing as a clinical treatment option is rapidly developing with first trials on the way. This article reviews the most recent progress in the field, covering expert opinions gathered during joint conferences on genome editing of the German Cardiac Society (DGK) and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK). Particularly focusing on the translational aspect and the combination of cellular and animal applications, the authors aim to provide direction for the development of the field and the most frequent applications with their problems

Evaluating Biosphere Model Estimates of the Start of the Vegetation Active Season in Boreal Forests by Satellite Observations

The objective of this study was to assess the performance of the simulated start of the photosynthetically active season by a large-scale biosphere model in boreal forests in Finland with remote sensing observations. The start of season for two forest types, evergreen needle-and deciduous broad-leaf, was obtained for the period 2003-2011 from regional JSBACH (Jena Scheme for Biosphere-Atmosphere Hamburg) runs, driven with climate variables from a regional climate model. The satellite-derived start of season was determined from daily Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) time series of Fractional Snow Cover and the Normalized Difference Water Index by applying methods that were targeted to the two forest types. The accuracy of the satellite-derived start of season in deciduous forest was assessed with bud break observations of birch and a root mean square error of seven days was obtained. The evaluation of JSBACH modelled start of season dates with satellite observations revealed high spatial correspondence. The bias was less than five days for both forest types but showed regional differences that need further consideration. The agreement with satellite observations was slightly better for the evergreen than for the deciduous forest. Nonetheless, comparison with gross primary production (GPP) determined from CO2 flux measurements at two eddy covariance sites in evergreen forest revealed that the JSBACH-simulated GPP was higher in early spring and led to too-early simulated start of season dates. Photosynthetic activity recovers differently in evergreen and deciduous forests. While for the deciduous forest calibration of phenology alone could improve the performance of JSBACH, for the evergreen forest, changes such as seasonality of temperature response, would need to be introduced to the photosynthetic capacity to improve the temporal development of gross primary production.Peer reviewe