Speaking Acquaintances or Helpers in Need: Participation in Civic Associations and Individual Social Capital

It is widely believed that civic associations are capable to produce social capital, here understood as an individual asset resulting from relations of mutual support and assistance. Although hardly anybody denies that socializing is widespread in many civic associations, it still remains to be shown that this socializing provides a genuine commitment to support. This paper explores the relationship between involvement in civic organizations and social support. The data analysed come from a nation-wide survey “Organized Sport and Social Capital—Revisited” (OSSCAR) representing the adult population in Germany. Findings show that participation in civic associations is associated with higher levels of social support. This effect is stronger for active participants and weaker for passive members. Path analyses further indicate that this effect is mediated by a person’s sociability orientations as well as her commitment to prosocial values. These findings help providing a more nuanced understanding of mechanisms of social capital formation in civic associations.Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen (3114)Peer Reviewe

In whom do we trust? The level and radius of social trust among sport club members

This paper refers to the widespread notion that voluntary (sport) organizations produce social capital, popularized through the works of Robert D. Putnam, and compares social trust levels of sport club members with members in other voluntary associations and non-members. We differentiate between in-group trust and out-group trust, highlighting that not only the level of trust but also the “trust radius” counts for social cohesion in modern societies. Refining Putnam’s claims, we argue that social trust among members varies with the quality and intensity of participation captured (for instance, through volunteering), diverse social contacts and the level of membership trust experienced in an association. Based on a nation-wide survey, carried out in Germany during 2017/2018, it is demonstrated that members of civic associations indicate higher levels of trust towards in-groups and out-groups compared to non-members and they regard present society as more solidary and trusting. A fine-grained analysis among members of associations further shows that increased trust is typical for volunteers and individuals in socially diverse associations which, at the same time, are characterized by high levels of membership trust. We conclude that sports clubs need to provide beneficial context conditions for producing high levels and a wider radius of trust.Peer Reviewe

Social Capital Trends in Germany in the Face of the Covid-19 Pandemic

This research note reports social capital trends in Germany during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is based on a comparison of survey data from 2017/18 and 2020/21, i.e., trends reported here inform about changes of social capital levels during the “second lockdown” of the pandemic, when containment policies were in effect throughout the country. Findings point to stable levels of in-group trust, out-group trust and prosocial attitudes. At the same time, sociability orientations are lower and society is generally perceived as less solidary. Members in voluntary organizations have more social capital compared to non-members—this difference is found before as well as during the pandemic. Regarding that changes are generally small, it can be concluded that the pandemic did neither strengthen social capital considerably, nor did it lead to a massive overall decline of social capital.Peer Reviewe

Development of a low-cost method for quantifying microplastics in soils and compost using near-infrared spectroscopy

Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy is a promising candidate for low-cost, nondestructive, and high-throughput mass quantification of microplastics in environmental samples. Widespread application of the technique is currently hampered mainly by the low sensitivity of NIR spectroscopy compared to thermoanalytical approaches commonly used for this type of analysis. This study shows how the application of NIR spectroscopy for mass quantification of microplastics can be extended to smaller analyte levels by combining it with a simple and rapid microplastic enrichment protocol. For this purpose, the widely used flotation of microplastics in a NaCl solution, accelerated by centrifugation, was chosen which allowed to remove up to 99% of the matrix at recovery rates of 83%–104%. The spectroscopic measurements took place directly on the stainless-steel filters used to collect the extracted particles to reduce sample handling to a minimum. Partial least squares regression models were used to identify and quantify the extracted microplastics in the mass range of 1–10 mg. The simple and fast extraction procedure was systematically optimized to meet the requirements for the quantification of microplastics from common polyethylene-, polypropylene-, and polystyrene-based packaging materials with a particle size 10% determined by loss on ignition). Microplastics could be detected in model samples at a mass fraction of 1 mg g−1. The detectable microplastic mass fraction is about an order of magnitude lower compared to previous studies using NIR spectroscopy without additional enrichment. To emphasize the cost-effectiveness of the method, it was implemented using some of the cheapest and most compact NIR spectrometers available.BMBFPeer Reviewe

Oxidation of Silicon Carbide Composites for Nuclear Applications at Very High Temperatures in Steam

Single-rod oxidation and quench experiments at very high temperatures in steam atmosphere were conducted with advanced, nuclear grade SiCf/SiC CMC cladding tube segments. A transient experiment was performed until severe local degradation of the sample at maximum temperature of approximately 1845 °C. The degradation was caused by complete consumption of the external CVD-SiC sealcoat, resulting in steam access to the fiber–matrix composite with less corrosion resistance. Approaching these very high temperatures was accompanied by accelerated gas release mainly of H2 and CO2, the formation of surface bubbles and white smoke. Three one-hour isothermal tests at 1700 °C in steam with final water flooding and one three-hour experiment with fast cool-down in Ar atmosphere were run under nominally identical conditions. All isothermally tested samples survived the tests without any macroscopic degradation. The mechanical performance of these quenched clad segments was not significantly affected, while maintaining a high capability to tolerate damages. Despite these harsh exposure conditions, load transfer between SiC fibers and matrix remained efficient, allowing the composites to accommodate deformation

Fachreferat heute : Analyse des Berufsbildes von Fachreferenten anhand von Stellenanzeigen der Jahre 2003 bis 2013

Dieses Projekt untersucht anhand von Stellenausschreibungen für Fachreferatspositionen, ob sich das darin zum Ausdruck kommende Berufsbild des Fachreferenten analog zu den stetig wachsenden und sich erweiternden Anforderungen der Bibliotheken geändert hat. Dazu wurden Stellenanzeigen in der Mailingliste Inetbib und der Zeitschrift Bibliotheksdienst über einen Zeitraum von zehn Jahren erfasst und ausgewertet. Neben formalen Kriterien wie den geforderten Ausbildungsvoraussetzungen von Fachreferenten wurden auch fachlich-inhaltliche Aspekte sowie geforderte Soft Skills einbezogen. Als Ergebnis der Untersuchung lässt sich festhalten, dass die Position des Fachreferenten zwar inhaltlich gleich geblieben ist, jedoch weitere Aufgaben hinzugekommen sind. Diese sind bedingt durch die dynamischen Veränderungen der Informationsinfrastruktur und die damit einhergehenden neuen Anforderungen an fachlich fundierte bibliothekarische Informationsdienstleistungen.This project examines job advertisements for field librarians in order to find out how the changing demands on this position have been reflected in the job descriptions. Therefore, employment ads for field librarian positions published on the mailing list Inetbib and the journal Bibliotheksdienst were collected and evaluated over a period of ten years. Besides formal criteria such as educational requirements and prior work experience, aspects such as professional qualification as well as soft skills were taken into consideration. As a result of the research it can be said that professional demands on field librarians have remained constant while the duties of this position have increased in scope and complexity due to the dynamic changes of the information infrastructure and the new demands on state-of-the-art information service activities in libraries

Die Relevanz von Sozialkapitalindikatoren für die Mitgliederbindung in Zeiten von Corona

Bereits vor der Corona-Pandemie berichteten immer mehr Sportvereine von zurückgehenden Mitgliederzahlen, episodischen Engagements und Schwierigkeiten bei der Gewinnung und Bindung von freiwillig Engagierten. Angesichts der komplexen Einschränkungen der Sportvereins- und geselligen Aktivitäten während der Corona-Pandemie stellt sich die Frage, wie diese außergewöhnliche soziale Situation die Mitgliederbindung in Vereinen beeinflusst hat und welche Bedeutung dem Sozialkapital zukommt. Der vorliegende Beitrag, in dem die Mitgliederbindung nach der Corona-Pandemie abgeschätzt werden soll, greift eine Forschungslücke auf, wobei v. a. die Relevanz von verschiedenen Sozialkapitalindikatoren betrachtet wird. Basis der empirischen Analysen bildet eine repräsentative Bevölkerungsbefragung, die Ende 2020/Anfang 2021 durchgeführt wurde. Die Mitgliederbindung der Sportvereinsmitglieder ist nach wie vor recht hoch. Sozialkapitalindikatoren, die sich eng auf den Sportverein beziehen, erklären wenig zur Vorhersage der Mitgliederbindung. Neben den im Verein wahrgenommenen Reziprozitätsnormen erhöhen Hilfsbereitschaft und Ingroup-Vertrauen die Bindung an den Verein, während Geselligkeitsorientierung und Outgroup-Vertrauen die Wahrscheinlichkeit verringern, auch nach der Pandemie noch Mitglied im Verein zu sein. Unter Einbeziehung aller Prädiktoren erhöht sich die Modellgüte auf knapp 26 %. Neben wenigen soziodemographischen Merkmalen tragen v. a. mitgliedschaftsbezogene Merkmale (z. B. Krisenmanagement des Vereins) zur Varianzaufklärung bei. Hilfsbereitschaft, Outgroup-Vertrauen und tendenziell auch Geselligkeitsorientierung stellen im Gesamtmodell die einzigen bedeutsamen Sozialkapitalindikatoren dar, wenngleich sie mit beachtlichen Gewichten zur Varianzaufklärung beitragen

Ehrenamtliches und freiwilliges Engagement im Sport in ländlichen und städtischen Räumen

Die Gewinnung und Bindung von ehrenamtlich und freiwillig Engagierten ist für Sportvereine auf der lokalen Ebene ein zentrales Bestandserhaltungsgebot. Speziell Sportvereine, die in ländlichen Regionen vielerorts das Dorfleben prägen, klagen jedoch seit längerem über wachsende Mobilisierungsprobleme. Der vorliegende kommentierte Datenbericht zielt darauf ab, das ehrenamtliche und freiwillige Engagement im Sport mit Blick auf sozialräumliche Unterschiede und Gemeinsamkeiten zwischen ländlichen und städtischen Räumen zu beschreiben. Der Bericht basiert auf einer Sekundäranalyse der repräsentativen Bevölkerungsbefragungen der „Deutschen Freiwilligensurveys“ (FWS) aus den Jahren 2014 und 2019. Die FWS-Daten zeigen, dass der Anteil an Engagierten im Sportbereich von 2014 bis 2019 leicht abgenommen hat. Auf dem Land sind die Verluste an Engagierten noch etwas stärker als in der Stadt. Die Engagementquote fällt auf dem Land höher aus als in der Stadt und fällt im ländlichen Raum der alten Bundesländer höher aus als in den neuen Bundesländern. Engagierte auf dem Land unterscheiden sich – auch aufgrund der sozialstrukturellen Zusammensetzung der Bevölkerung – von Engagierten in der Stadt. Dies gilt ebenso für Engagierte in Leitungspositionen. Die FWS-Daten lassen erkennen, dass altruistische Motive für ein Engagement bedeutsam sind, aber durch extrinsisch-egoistische Motive angereichert werden. Von den Nichtengagierten werden insbesondere zeitliche und berufliche Gründe angeführt, sich nicht zu engagieren. Als persönlicher Mehrwert wird von Engagierten v.a. der Erwerb sozialer Fähigkeiten herausgestellt. Verbesserungsbedarfe werden von den Engagierten häufiger an den Staat und weniger an die Vereine gerichtet. Angesichts dieser Befunde stellen sich u.a. Fragen nach der Gewinnung und Bindung neuer Zielgruppen von freiwillig Engagierten im organisierten Sport insgesamt und in ländlichen Sportvereinen in besonderer Weise.The recruitment and retention of volunteers is a key "survival requirement" for sports clubs at the local level. However, sports clubs in rural areas in particular, which in many places shape village life, have been complaining about growing mobilisation problems for some time. This commentated data report aims to describe voluntary engagement in sport with a view to socio-spatial differences and similarities between rural and urban areas. The report is based on a secondary analysis of the representative population surveys of the "German Volunteer Surveys" (FWS) from 2014 and 2019. The FWS data show that the share of people involved in sports has slightly decreased from 2014 to 2019. In rural areas, the losses in engagement are even slightly higher than in urban areas. The engagement rate is higher in the countryside than in the city and higher in the rural areas of the old federal states than in the new federal states of Germany. Rural volunteers differ from urban volunteers - also due to the socio-structural composition of the population. This also applies to volunteers in leadership positions. The FWS data show that altruistic motives for engagement still predominate, but are enriched by extrinsic-egoistic motives. The non-committed cite time and professional reasons in particular for not getting involved. The acquisition of social skills is the main personal added value cited by those who are committed. The need for improvement is more often addressed to the state and less to the associations. In view of these findings, questions arise regarding the recruitment and retention of new target groups of volunteers in organised sport as a whole and in rural sports clubs in particular

From Cancer to Immune-Mediated Diseases and Tolerance Induction: Lessons Learned From Immune Oncology and Classical Anti-cancer Treatment

Success in cancer treatment over the last four decades has ranged from improvements in classical drug therapy to immune oncology. Anti-cancer drugs have also often proven beneficial for the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. In this review, we report on challenging examples that bridge between treatment of cancer and immune-mediated diseases, addressing mechanisms and experimental models as well as clinical investigations. Patient-derived tumor xenograft (PDX) (humanized) mouse models represent useful tools for preclinical evaluation of new therapies and biomarker identification. However, new developments using human ex vivo approaches modeling cancer, for example in microfluidic human organs-on-chips, promise to identify key molecular, cellular and immunological features of human cancer progression in a fully human setting. Classical drugs which bridge the gap, for instance, include cytotoxic drugs, proteasome inhibitors, PI3K/mTOR inhibitors and metabolic inhibitors. Biologicals developed for cancer therapy have also shown efficacy in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. In immune oncology, redirected chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells have achieved spectacular remissions in refractory B cell leukemia and lymphoma and are currently under development for tolerance induction using cell-based therapies such as CAR Tregs or NK cells. Finally, a brief outline will be given of the lessons learned from bridging cancer and autoimmune diseases as well as tolerance induction