Generous to Workers ≠ Generous to All: Implications of European Unemployment Benefit Systems for the Social Protection of Immigrants

Record-high levels of international migration both toward and across Europe have recently given rise to a new body of research on the social protection of immigrants. A recurring argument in this literature maintains that migrants are generally more likely to gain access to social benefits in generous welfare states. The article offers a critical review of this hypothesis with a focus on unemployment benefit provision. The tides of European welfare politics have produced a set of systems in the past which are today highly stratified on the basis of employment. This mechanism generates a considerable benefit gap in reference to migration, especially for those who arrived to their country of residency only recently. Empirical analyses with micro-level data for 14 Western European countries provide supporting evidence for this argument. The findings indicate a negative relationship between generosity and social protection which has not been accounted for in previous research

REVIEW: Quest for the Dragon Stone

Review of the picture book Quest for the Dragon Stone, by Ami Blackford

Gait, mobility, and falls in older people

My doctoral thesis contributes to the understanding of gait, mobility, and falls in older people. All presented projects investigated the most prominent and sensitive markers for fall-related gait changes, that is gait velocity and gait variability. Based on the measurement of these spatio-temporal gait parameters, particularly when using a change-sensitive dual task paradigm, it is possible to make conclusions regarding walking, balance, activities of daily living, and falls in older people. The research summarized in my doctoral thesis will help in the detection of early fall risk and modulation of therapeutic interventions to improve gait and consequently reduce fall risk in older people. To identify modifiable fall risk factors, such as gait disorders, the GAITRite electronic walkway system was used for objective spatio-temporal gait analysis. The simplicity and feasibility of the administration of single and dual task gait analysis make it a desirable clinical and research measurement tool. Gait analysis with walking as a single task condition alone is often insufficient to reveal underlying gait disorders present during everyday activities. However, measuring gait with a dual task paradigm can detect subtle gait deficits. Dual-tasking, walking while simultaneously performing an additional task, was used to assess the effects of divided attention on motor performance and gait control. The presented publications in this doctoral thesis investigated the association between gait parameters and several hypothesized fall-related modalities: (a) Our first review article highlighted the association between gait disorders and falls, and how related motor and cognitive impairments can be detected by measuring gait while dual-tasking. (b) A second review looked at how the dual task paradigm can be used for gait assessment in older people and how spatio-temporal gait parameters are associated with increased fall risk. (c) Our systematic literature review provided evidence about effective fall prevention interventions (exercise, home modifications, footwear, and walking aids) to reduce the risk of falls in vulnerable older people. (d) To evaluate which exercise modalities are effective in modifying risk factors for falls, we conducted an eight-week salsa intervention trial and measured the effect of dancing on static and dynamic balance, and leg muscle power in older people. (e) Besides exercise, inadequate nutritional intake is another modifiable risk factor for falls in older people, and therefore our most recent cross-sectional study examined how serum 25-hydroxvitamin D levels are associated with functional mobility in older people assessed in a memory clinic. (c) Walking aids are commonly prescribed for older people with a high risk of falls which is why we examined the influence of walking aids on spatio-temporal gait parameters in older people who used a cane, a crutch or a walker. (g) Finally, besides predominantly investigating fall risk factors for motor abilities, our prolonged and ongoing randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled intervention trial explores the potential influence of ginkgo biloba on the cognitive domain relevant for dual-tasking in older people with mild cognitive impairment

Parametric investigation of room-temperature fluoride-ion batteries: Assessment of electrolytes, Mg-based anodes, and BiF₃-cathodes

Little is known about room-temperature fluoride-ion batteries (RT FiBs), and no investigations that have varied their potential electrolytes, cathode preparations, or anode materials have been reported. In this publication, an overview of our recent investigations of these parameters for the purposes of improving the discharge capacities of RT FiBs is provided. The poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-based electrolytes in these systems function as ligands for fluoride ions. The impact of the increasing ligand length on battery capacity was investigated. Using Mg as an anode, different anode builds (e.g., foil or pressed pellets), as well as several composite anodes (e.g., Mg/MgF2) were tested. Furthermore the difference between cathodes prepared as hand-spread slurries or by spray-coating was investigated. Additionally the impact of using a water-soluble binder was examined. Finally, problems due to the leaching of alkaline (and/or alkaline earth) metal ions from the glass-fiber separators into the electrolyte were considered. In summary, it was demonstrated that FiBs will work using magnesium anodes, and that the capacities of such batteries are sensitive to every small change in their components

A spatial data infrastructure dedicated to the interoperable exchange of meteorological measurements in renewable energies

The 16th Annual Meeting of the European Meteorological Society (EMS) and the 11th European Conference on Applied Climatology (ECAC) will take place 12 - 16 September 2016 in Trieste, Italy. The conference theme is: Where atmosphere, sea and land meet: bridging between sciences, applications and stakeholders

Panel "Arbeitsmarkt und soziale Sicherung" - Die PASS Campus Files : Datensätze für den Einsatz in der Lehre

"Exclusively for use in academic teaching at universities or research institutes, the IAB generated absolutely anonymized data, so-called campus files (CF), based on the data of the 'Panel Study Labour Market and Social Security' (PASS). This documentation briefly provides a description of the data and its limitations." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en)) Additional Information Hier finden Sie weitere Informationen zum Datensatz PASSIAB-Haushaltspanel, Datenanonymisierung, Datensatzbeschreibung, Datenorganisation

Three years of experience with the SoDa Web service delivering solar radiation information : lessons learned and perspectives.

Information on solar radiation is a critical issue in several environmental domains as well as for sun-powered sys-tems. The present means for accessing information by users present several severe drawbacks. Three major problems were identified and should be solved to supply users with relevant information: improved access to information, improved space and time description / knowledge of the radiation field and related quantities, improved matching to actual user needs. The SoDa project was launched (2000-2003, IST programme of the European Commission) to bring solutions by an efficient use of advanced information and communication technologies. An integration of information sources of different natures was initiated by the SoDa Intelligent System (see online at http://www.soda-is.com). These sources include databases containing solar radiation parameters and other relevant information; several of them originate from the processing of images taken by satellites. The sources! also include user-oriented applications. The successive prototypes of the SoDa Service were validated through users trials. The outcomes of the project SoDa represent a significant step forward beyond the current state of the art and include substantial original work. The main innovations of SoDa are to offer a smart access to diverse networked sources of information that are geographically dispersed, and to supply users with information of high quality. Surveys of users demonstrated that large gains in terms of efficiency, costs, etc. were expected by engineers, companies, agencies and research institutes if relevant information were more easily available for virtually any geographical location at any time. Accordingly, it was decided in 2003 to create the SoDa Service and to operate it. During these past three years, the SoDa Service underwent several improvements, all aiming at consolidating it with respect to access by users. Improvements were made on the SoDa Intellig! ent System, including works on the user interface and on the p! resentation of the services. Promotion efforts were made towards media, including TV. The effective use of the SoDa Service is increasing from year to year. In 2003, 2000 requests for information were satisfied; in 2004, 20 000 requests; 35 000 are expected in 2005. This communication presents the lessons learned from the past and the perspectives of the SoDa Service. We discuss the sustainability of the SoDa Service, the technologies used and the approach to customers, in the perspective of developing a B2B merchant site